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Fiona stood up and looked around the room for a hiding place. She dashed over to a plush chair near the closet and shoved it underneath the cushion, then straightened the decorative pillows so nothing would appear amiss. “There,” she said, brushing her hands together as she faced a worried Chrisna. “It’s hidden and he’ll never find out. You won’t get in trouble.”
Chrisna didn’t appear convinced. The heavy footsteps continued echoing outside the door. Rentzaq was pacing up and down the corridor, clearly waiting for his errant wife to emerge from Fiona’s room so he could catch her red-handed. Catch her and punish her, no doubt.
“I’m so sorry, Chrisna,” Fiona said, now wringing her hands. “I-I fear I’ve gotten you in trouble again.”
The young Kall female gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s not your fault. Besides, it’s not as bad as the time we sneaked out of the house without an escort to attend a music festival. Or the time we brought a pregnant Horrfollian feline into the house, against our husbands’ wishes, and she birthed a litter of two hundred little kittens in the library. Pah! I still don’t care that Horrfollian felines are considered an invasive species on your planet, they are so adorable I’d do it all over again if one followed me home.”
Fiona smiled at the memory. “I was so sad when they had to go live in the wildlife refuge, but I’m glad they got to stay with us for a few weeks.”
The footsteps got louder, as though Rentzaq were intentionally stomping right outside the door, and Chrisna blew out a quick breath. “He knows I’m in here, but he won’t knock because it would be considered rude to intrude upon his master and mistress’s bedroom. I suppose I ought to go out there and face him.” She sighed and retrieved the tablet from its hiding place, and Fiona didn’t have to ask what she was doing.
If Chrisna feigned ignorance over the location of the tablet, Rentzaq would likely interrogate her until she confessed, and Fiona knew from experience that Kall husbands weren’t gentle when they questioned their wives.
She followed Chrisna to the door and poked her head out once her friend exited the room. She shuddered at the fury in Rentzaq’s dark eyes as he glared at his wife. A growl emanated from his throat when he noticed the tablet.
“It’s not her fault, Rentzaq,” Fiona blurted, desperate to save Chrisna from her husband’s wrath. “Chrisna had no idea the technology in the house had been turned off intentionally, and as the mistress of this house, I ordered her to assist me by retrieving the tablet from storage.”
Rentzaq narrowed his eyes at Fiona. “In case you’ve forgotten, Mistress Fiona, there are security cameras throughout this house. I know the full truth.”
Busted. Fiona’s mouth went dry, and she shot Chrisna a remorseful look. But Chrisna’s head was lowered as she passed the tablet to her husband.
Guilt settled over Fiona. Though she hadn’t asked Chrisna to fetch the tablet and go against Merokk’s orders, she still felt responsible for the situation, and she wished there was something she could say to prevent Rentzaq from punishing his wife. But she came up empty, and she knew there was no point in telling more lies.
“Forgive me, husband.” Chrisna lowered her head further, appearing thoroughly repentant.
Rentzaq growled again and pulled his wife close. He placed his lips at her ear and said something in the Kall tongue that Fiona didn’t quite catch, his tone harsh and clipped. Chrisna nodded and scurried down the hallway, and Fiona suspected the young woman had been sent to her room to await her punishment.
“She was only trying to help. She knew how anxious I’d be about Merokk’s safety, and she wanted to help assuage my worries. Please go easy on her. She’s a gentle soul and she’s my friend and I care about her very much.” Fiona ran a trembling hand through her hair.
Merokk. At this moment, he was leading his warriors onto a battlefield. Would he survive? Would he suffer any injuries? How many humans would he slaughter in a bloodthirsty rage?
The Head of Security’s expression softened ever so slightly, as though he sensed the dark turn Fiona’s thoughts had taken. “You needn’t concern yourself with Chrisna’s punishment. She will survive it, and it’s my hope the pain and humiliation will help her become a more obedient wife.” He turned to leave. “Goodnight, Mistress Fiona.”
She watched him walk away and disappear down the stairs, then she retreated into her bedroom. It didn’t take long for the tears to come, and she sank to the floor and buried her face in her hands.
It was all too much. Merokk was currently fighting human rebels and Norfozzian mercenaries. Thousands of her people would likely die tonight. After the Kall’s victory, of which she had no doubt, they would lengthen their occupation and demand recompense from humankind. They would demand more war brides. And at this moment, Chrisna, one of Fiona’s dearest friends, was probably enduring a severe punishment from her husband. All because she’d wanted to help Fiona.
Fiona wiped away her tears and stood up. She walked to the window and took a seat, her gaze on the backyard where Merokk’s airship would land after he got back from battle.
She would keep vigil until his return.
* * *
Chapter 5
Merokk
Less than three hours after he’d led his warriors onto the battlefield, Merokk stood on the ramp of his ship, surveying the field of human and Norfozzian corpses. Bloodlust still hummed in his veins, and he took great satisfaction in yet another Kall triumph. He watched as Kall warriors walked the battlefield, stabbing anything that still breathed.
There were very few survivors on the enemy’s side; Kall forces had only taken a handful of rebel leaders captive. Just enough for a sensationalized trial that would be broadcast around Earth. The terrified rebel leaders were already spilling their secrets, revealing their nefarious but foolish motives for attacking his people—revenge as well as a lust for Kall technology.
The days that followed would be tense, but the humans had no one to blame but themselves. If Earth leaders had done a better job of keeping their own people in line, this would’ve never happened. All around the world, Kall forces had destroyed the rebels and mercenaries.
Merokk attended a short debriefing with other commanders and a few generals, then he boarded his airship and ordered the pilot to take him home.
His cock thickened as he imagined slamming into Fiona’s slick heat and pounding her hard, fucking her with so much brutality she begged for mercy. He suppressed the lustful growl that built in his chest, not wanting the pilot to worry he was about to be mauled.
A message came through on his wrist comm, and he settled into a chair just before the ship took off, frowning at the news Rentzaq was sharing. Apparently, the security chief’s own wife had defied Merokk’s orders to disable the televisions and other communication devices that could be used to watch the news. Fluxx. He hadn’t wanted Fiona to catch any glimpses of a battle, nor had he wanted to cause her extra worry.
