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“That’s crazy,” I reply. “Most Kiphians mate with other Kiphians. Besides, there aren’t enough humans on Kiphia for that. The future you are worried about will never come to pass.”
“And what of your children?” he replies. “If we allowed you to mate with a Kiphian, who would your vulgar mixed breed children mate with? They’d dilute other Kiphian’s genetics, and their offspring would do the same.”
His words chill me. Does he really think he has the power to decide who I mate with? Who my children mate with?
“My children will mate with whoever they desire. It will be their choice, not yours. You do not have the authority to decide who mates with who. Only love can decide that.”
“Then we shall see if we can change your mind,” he says, calmly slipping a knife from his boot.
My eyes fix on the blade, and I try to edge away. “Okay,” I say desperately. “Let’s talk.”
He smiles like a snake and slides the weapon back into his boot. “Good girl,” he says.
The bleakness of my situation hits me. Nobody knows where I am. Hell, I don’t know where I am. I have to face the fact that there is no rescue party coming. I am alone, and I am at the mercy of these deranged people. I have to agree with whatever they ask if I am to survive this.
24
RENXEL
Igaze morosely out at the storm, my glass nearly empty on the table in front of me.
“Do you want another?” Satay asks. She doesn’t normally wait on tables, but Mira is late for her shift and she’s short-staffed.
“No, thanks, Satay,” I say. “To be honest, I’m a bit worried about Mira being out in this weather. I might go see if I can find her.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s probably just waiting until it dies down a bit. I certainly wouldn’t want to go out in it,” Satay replies.
“Has she ever been late before?” I want to know. I can’t shake the feeling that she is in some sort of trouble.
She looks apprehensively out at the rain lashing down against the window. “Maybe you could be right. She is usually very prompt no matter the weather.”
At that moment, a colossal bolt of lightning hits close by. The thunder accompanies it instantaneously. And underlying it, I swear I can hear Mira screaming.
“Did you hear that?” I demand.
“What? The thunder? It was kind of hard to miss.”
“No, afterward. I thought I heard a scream.”
“I didn’t hear a scream. It was probably the wind,” Satay assures me. “She’ll be here soon, I’m sure.”
Satay goes to serve another customer and leaves me to worry alone. I swear I can hear her screaming again, but I don’t know if it’s just in my mind.
Fuck this. I’m going to find her.
Dragging on my coat, I head out into the storm. I can barely see ten paces ahead of me because of the driving rain.
My heart stops when I see something red caught against a fence post. I take it in my hands. I would know the item anywhere. It’s Mira’s hat.
Frantically, I look around, but the street is empty.Mira, oh, Mira, where are you?
I retrace her route back to her place, scanning the ground for signs as I go. If there is anything, the rain has washed it away. I bang on the door, praying she will open it. Maybe she had to go back for something. But my pounding goes unanswered.
Shit.I’m really worried now. Where could she be?
I walk toward the inn again, carefully looking for clues. Thankfully, the rain has eased up a bit and the sky is finally getting brighter.
I’m frantic with worry. Every second I don’t know where she is feels like an eternity.
