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It would have honestly been a wonderful place to vacation in other circumstances. She was forced to acknowledge it as she adjusted her sunshine yellow dress with all of its accents and trim in a bright shade of blue. Against her pink hair she probably looked something of a sight judging by the prince’s perfectly blank expression when he greeted her that morning, but that little thrill of happiness it gave her was what helped her face the day. Besides, she liked it. She never quite outgrew her unicorn core phase. And if she was honest with herself, despite the reason she was there, Kaidava was wonderful and a nice change for all the pale pastel and nude tones that tended to be utilized everywhere on Caysta.
If only it wasn’t a beautiful backdrop to islands with terrifying monsters and more importantly… an escape. The scrap of paper that the human woman—Cara had tossed into her lap as she passed with her Kadesh mate had been no more than four little words: do you need help? Heart thudding with fear of being caught, Stacey had immediately crumpled the note back up in a tight ball between her two fingers and met the other woman’s eyes to give one long, deliberate blink in confirmation. Cara had only smiled in reply, but at that time it had been enough.
Now, sitting on the beach, Stacey was stewing over whether she made the right decision or not. They didn’t know Lerix and Cara. Though she knew that quite a few humans made it out into space as mates, it seemed like a strange matching which immediately made her wary. Was Cara really an evil genius looking to enslave her fellow humans with Lerix as her muscle, or was he the devious one who somehow conned a human into cooperating with him? Grim thoughts but it made her even more anxious. Could they trust them? The offer was odd, coming out of nowhere following vigorous negotiations for an activity that didn’t sound as if it would be even a little healthy for them. Hell, even the Kadesh wasn’t taking his own mate with him. Should she trust someone so willing to bargain with their lives? Why not just refuse and find another way to help them? Stacey felt as if she and the other women were just pawns in a game that they had no part in and didn’t understand. And that feeling didn’t get any better as the hours passed and one day gave way to another.
The sense of time running out was weighing heavier than ever on her. Tomorrow morning, they would be boarding the boat to head off to a forbidden island, but worst of all, soon she would have to give Gaix exactly what he wanted. It was only by chance that she continued to escape it. But he was methodically working through his all of his human mates four or five at a time, and it wouldn’t be much longer he had her or her friends at his mercy. Her stomach flipped uneasily. Even if she made it out of the resort without being forced to take him, she was certain that the island would witness that indignity—if something didn’t eat her first.
She wasn’t feeling particular hopeful at the moment. For one it was hard to feel anything positive while she had gritty sand itching her skin under her breasts and in other unmentionable spots thanks to the dance that Gaix insisted upon. While he wasn’t impatiently groping her at every opportunity as he did his other mates, his appreciation for her ability to dance, and her study of the artform before leaving Earth, was something that he often made use of for his pleasure. Normally she was happy to dance even if it meant that she was doing it naked… but naked on a beach in full sight of anyone who happened by, and with sand blowing onto her skin with the grease that Gaix insisted that the gonsi apply to her before she began, was a nightmare that she wouldn’t have relief from until she finally got back to the suite where she would be allowed to wash it off.
But the majority of her frustration lay with the fact that, as busy as Kaidava was, the resort itself was a bit more isolated from the usual planetary traffic, lending far fewer routes for escape. It was depressing to realize that the market had been their best, and missed, opportunity. It was no wonder that Athdar allowed them all much more freedom of movement within the confines of the resort. There wasn’t anywhere for them to go. Even trying to talk up guests to see if she could find a sympathetic couple or family had been met with failure. With the exclusive reputation of the resort, guests kept strictly to their own social circles and any attempts to start conversations with females and couples were politely but firmly shut down.
Stacey mentally rolled her eyes. There was a level of secrecy that seemed to be an undercurrent of the hotel that encouraged her imagination to conjure up secret cults, illicit clubs, and convert dealings of intergalactic mob bosses and pirates. She knew she was being silly but honestly wouldn’t be shocked if that was the case since Kaidava was quite literally open to just about anyone and was a metropolitan of anyone who was anyone as their reels over the vids broadcasted. Which could very well include the less savory elements. Well probably not pirates… she couldn’t imagine a pirate willingly going along with it. Then again, a pirate wasn’t exactly the best choice of rescuer either. But she could at least use a pirate or ten to cause a little chaos so that she might escape the grounds altogether without notice.
Or at least to make things interesting. There was nothing to do but watch Gaix get liberally oiled while he reclined beneath the shade of the cabana. She could comfortably wager a small fortune that it wouldn’t be too much longer before he started getting busy. She couldn’t even enjoy distracting herself from whatever Gaix was getting up to by looking at Varik anymore since he left at the shift change a couple of hours ago. The secondary group of males were about as prosaic as a loaf of bread. They didn’t appear to be anything more than muscular sentinels contained beneath identical black uniforms as they stood expressionlessly in an uninspired formal ring stationed around them. How were they not hot? She was boiling alive just looking at them.
Sighing, she picked up her fan from the table. Colorful and of a simple design of fabric stretched tightly over a wooden frame, it worked surprisingly well to cool her as she fanned herself with it and took another long sip of her cold, fruity drink. A cool splash of fluid filled her mouth and then nothing but air as the straw gurgled pitifully as gave it another determined suck. Lowering the cup, she set it firmly on the table, disappointed that it was already gone. To her left, Vera sighed heavily as she stared longingly at the water stretched out in front of them.
“It’s hot as hell. Do you think it’s safe to go in?”
“No idea,” Jasmine sighed. “There are large predators that live in the Trench. The hotel staff had advised someone earlier about a safer diving area. Maybe if we just stick to wading it would be ok.”
“Are we talking like sharks or giant krakens?” Quin mused, earning a dirty look from Vera. “I’m banking on krakens. It would figure paradise would have something horrific in its seas if their islands are fucked.”
Stacey nodded in commiseration and flicked her glass with her fingers. “I’m going to go up to the resort’s boardwalk and see about finding another drink. I just need a break from the heat and sun. Maybe find a toilet while I’m up there.”
Nancy gave her a concerned look. “Do you need one of us to come with you?”
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks though. It will just do me some good to stretch my legs.” She squinted against the sun at Athdar. “Athdar, I’m going to go up into the shade and walk around a bit around the boardwalk. Can I have a credit chip?”
The gonsi gave her an impatient look but reluctantly nodded as he fished a chip from the small pouch on his belt and tossed it at her. “Do not be long, and cease trying to speak to anyone. No one will entertain you and if you do, be assured that I will know. Guests do not come here to be bothered by bored humans that they cannot enjoy. Furthermore, if I have to come find you, I will not be pleased.”
Somehow, she managed to keep a smile fixed in place as he spoke even though a tremor ran through her. It was not just the subtle threat that suddenly made her apprehensive, but the idea that if it weren’t for the prince’s reputation that she would have been without any protection from those who might have found a use for her. And on Kaidava it would have been allowed. It put a completely different complexion on her strained interactions with people at the resort, and one that she was not comfortable with. She made a mental note to stay far away from the powerful males and females who were guests at the resort if she found a way to break away from Gaix.
“Of course,” she replied, flicking her pink hair behind her shoulder as if unconcerned. “I just need a small break to avoid heat exhaustion and then I will be back. There is a chance that one of the others may want to go up at some point though.”
“Humans are ridiculously fragile,” Gaix sighed as he turned in his seat to look over at her.
She felt a cold shiver run through her despite the heat beating down on her as she suspected that he was referring to things that she would rather not know.
He shook his head morosely but then looked up at her and grinned. “Just hurry back. I would hate to worry about my little Bunny. She is so tasty that I’m looking forward to eating her up. Oh, and get me another Sweet Kaidava Sunrise.” Gaix added as he held up his glass and jiggled so that the ice clinked inside it. “And some more oil. When you return you can rub it on me. There is plenty of me to go around for all of my loving mates’ hands.”
Stacey battled back her nausea and forced a smile to her face as she nodded enthusiastically in agreement as her fingers curled tightly around the credit chip. Somehow this romantic trip was romantic for only one person… him. Not even his favorite “breeders” were recipients of attentive and affection demonstration from him. Each and every one of them were tending to him as if he were a god reclined among them. She couldn’t help to wonder what source he was drawing inspiration from for his celebration of the human holiday if he wasn’t showing any level of appreciation for any of the women there.
“Sure thing,” she replied and held her breath as he hurried across the sand, just waiting for one of them to call her back as she made her escape back up the beach from the cabana to the waiting boardwalk that stretched across the back of the resort.
Thankfully it was a short walk, and the moment her foot touched the wooden platform of the boardwalk she released her breath in a long whoosh as some of the tension she was carrying flooded from her. Just that small distance helped a lot and gave her room to freely breathe at least a little as she visually absorbed the sights around her.
It put any other boardwalk she’d ever been to on Earth to shame. The resort’s shops and eateries were a riot of colors and exotic sights and sounds, each competing against one another as they fought for the exclusive business of the guests. While she enjoyed the activity and the visual fascination of all the species pitching their wares, she hurried with a single-minded determination toward the bar. She wasn’t joking when she said she needed another drink. She was moving with such utter focus that she didn’t even see the Lorgor coming at her until they collided, nearly knocking her from her feet. The male paused for a moment to steady her, his voice a soft rumble as he inquired if she was okay while one hand pressing tightly to hers as he grabbed ahold of her shoulder with the other.
“I’m okay,” she assured him, instinctively clinging to his offered hand as she regained her balance and steadied herself.
She lifted her head to smile gratefully over at him only to nearly topple again when he suddenly released her and stepped back. Piercing eyes met hers and she recognized the male as one who was often with the captain as he bowed with a faint smile and suddenly spun about to continue on his way. She stared after him for a long moment before she noticed a faint weight in her fingers. Strange. Had he actually intended to give her something or had it accidentally become stuck between her fingers without either of them knowing? She opened her hand and cast a furtive glance at it as she made her way to the bar. Her eyebrows promptly climbed. The tiny little metal button was unmistakable.
An internal comm implant?
Did this mean something?
Casting another quick glance around her surroundings, she slipped onto a chair and made to stretch, pressing the small button behind her ear in the process. The pain that followed was sharp and just short of agonizing but surprisingly brief as it rapidly eased leaving a faint rhythmic chiming of a waiting message. She rubbed her neck and pressed her fingers to it.
