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“Fuck you,” I mutter, but take the bottle anyway. It can’t make things any worse.
Tareq is silent as I drink, shuffling around the other side of the cell. Staying away from me, just like I wanted. Fuck this polite asshole!
“I want answers,” I say after finishing the water. The pain doesn’t lessen, but it also doesn’t get worse, not even when I open my eyes. A small win, but a welcome one. I need to watch Tareq’s expression as we talk to make sure he isn’t lying to me. “I want the truth. No lies. Understood?”
“Yes, As’Trah. I vow to never lie to you.”
His words sound earnest, so I decide to believe him. For now. “Why exactly did you tell those gray freaks to drill holes into my head?”
Tareq rubs his forehead, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, “I convinced them to implant you with the translator nodes and update mine so that we could communicate. The procedure is something that’s usually done under sedation. I swear I had no idea they wouldn’t give you any pain relief. I never would have asked them to do it if I knew that was their intention. But they were getting impatient. They want you pregnant and I can only stall them so much, so-”
“Wait. Hold your horses, tigerman. Did you just say PREGNANT?!”
Chapter 13
Astra
Tareq shifts uncomfortably as I yell at him. “Please, As’Trah, not so loud. I don’t want them to hurt you further.”
Oh, but he didn’t have a problem with them drilling HOLES into my fucking head? Actually, amend that thought; he did. He seems awfully distressed about it. Good. He should be. Being able to communicate is a good thing, but I could have certainly done without the whole skull-drilling business.
“Alright,” I agree, lowering my voice. I don’t want the guards to come back, either. “But did you just say you want to get me pregnant? For fuck’s sake, Tareq! Now is not the time to be having babies. I’m not even— Wait. Is that why you wanted to touch me?” Now I’m offended. I thought he was interested in me, but he was just following some stupid mating drive of his species.
“No, As’Trah,” he says, his voice desperate. He shuffles closer until he’s kneeling just a few feet away from me. “You don’t understand. Will you please let me explain?”
“Like I have a choice,” I scoff.
His face falls ever further. “I shall not speak to you if you do not want me to, but I would really like a chance to explain everything. I swear I was just trying to protect you.”
I consider it. He’s had a million chances to hurt me and yet he’s barely even touched me. Not until I let him. “Okay, I’ll hear you out.” My headache is easing up a little, as if his voice is soothing it. “But first, is your name really Tareq? The gray ones called you ‘Syndoran’.”
He offers a small smile. “My name is Tareq. My people are the Syndorans. The Genixarians don’t really care about prisoners’ names.”
“Genixarians are the gray ones?” Why do their names have to be so complicated? It’s making my head throb anew. “Actually, nevermind, it’s not important. Since we’re sharing names, I’m Astra. Short, single word. I guess As’Trah is close enough, though. As long as you’re not calling me ashtray, I’m fine.” I smirk at the elementary school memories. Kids are assholes. Which reminds me, “Why in the world do you want to knock me up now? We’re both in a cell being hauled off like fucking cargo to god knows where. It’s hardly the best time to start a family.”
The thought of starting a family with Tareq is intriguing, but I chase it away. I’m more interested in the baby-making activities anyway, rather than the screeching, smelly results.
“Astra,” he says, careful to pronounce my name right this time. “It is the Genixarians who decided you should be impregnated, since it would increase your price on the slave market.”
I shudder at his words. “Slave market? You’re all so damned advanced you’re flying around in spaceships, but you still have slaves?”
“Slavery is outlawed by the United Galactic Congress. It has been for centuries. But not all planets are under the UGC’s control and even on those that are, there’s still a criminal underground. But trust me, it’s not normal, nor is it generally accepted.”
“So, there are authorities that will help us?”
His smile brightens. “Yes. I promise, all will be good. I won’t let any harm come to you. It’s why I volunteered to breed you when the Genixarians wanted to put you in the cage with that lizard over there.”
I eye the lizardman across the hallway, remembering how he masturbated in front of me. He wouldn’t hold back like Tareq did. Given a chance, he’d take me whether or not I wanted it. I suppose I should be grateful. “You haven’t been ‘breeding’ me, though,” I say, cringing over the word.
“I never intended to do so. I just wanted to protect you until I can get us out of here and—” He pauses, considering his words. “And save us,” he finishes eventually. There’s something he isn’t telling me.
“Save us, huh? How exactly are you planning on doing that? Do you have some magical alien skills you haven’t shown me yet?” I snicker.
He has that thoughtful look again but doesn’t explain further. “I have many skills I haven’t shown you yet,” he teases, his eyes sliding over my body. I’m still wearing only the thin blanket that barely covers my ass, so there are plenty of things to see. “I will get us all out of here, Astra,” he adds in a more serious tone. “I promise you that. Do you trust me?”
“I don’t know, Tareq,” I sigh. “I don’t know you.”
Even as I say the words, I realize they aren’t true. I know a lot about him. He’s honorable and caring, funny and inventive. He truly wishes to protect me. I’ve never had anyone who wanted to protect me and I like the feeling.
