Page 2 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien
“Let me see that contract,” the overseer said.
The male handed him a datascreen like the ones used by the Axis crop collectors. “See for yourself.”
The overseer clearly didn’t like what he saw. “This is unprecedented. I was not informed of this arrangement.”
“It’s a recent development. The Axis wasn’t able to procure our requested payment,” the male said with the tone of someone who knew he had won. “As you can see, the contract is authentic.”
The overseer’s face darkened. A shadow of dismay moved over his features. “Will they be harmed?”
The male laughed. “Thefekif I know. They’re to be sold at the next auction on Falmic-5. Terian females fetch high credits.”
The overseer turned his gaze to Turi again. He pointed at her. “That one.”
The brute blinked. “What about her?”
“That female belongs to the land I protect.” His bright silver gaze shone with a metallic glint. “She stays.”
And that was when Fivra’s panic set in and the rest of the discussion turned into mush and noise to the roaring in her ears. They would not be saved. They were going to be sold, of all horrible things. Turi was ripped away from them, despite everyone trying desperately to hold onto her. Sevas cursed viciously as they were herded toward the alien ship.
Nena, whose silvery-green hair was in Fivra’s face, snarled at the nearest male. “I have a bondmate.”
“Not anymore,” he replied. “Your incarceration here is over. You’re our property, now.”
Incarceration?What didthatmean? They were hardly prisoners. Just farmers.
It was Lilas’ expression, her friend who was typically indifferent to everything unless she had some sharp-witted thing to say, that chilled Fivra’s blood. Her friend’s typically bland expression was lit up with fear. Her unusual fuchsia eyes were wide and her nostrils flared in panic. She met Fivra’s gaze with terror.
“We’ll be okay.” Fivra tried to be reassuring, even though fear clawed up her throat.
“Not this time, Fiv,” Lilas said hoarsely. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
That was the fear, at the heart of it. For their entire lives, the females of settlement 112-1 knew what their lives held in store for them. There were no surprises. Everyone’s path was identical—work on the family farm until you become of breeding age, be given to a bondmate, bear children and work on your bondmate’s farm until you die. That was it, and the males didn’t see any variation, either. But now…
Their future was not only unknown, but it was most certainly not going to be okay. Being sold at an auction was the last thing Fivra had expected to experience in her sheltered but difficult life. But as they crowded into the ship and were strapped into seats, the foreign smells of the cluttered starship and the creatures who’d abducted them filled her senses. A tear rolled down her cheek as the ship lifted off, taking them from the only world they’d known.
TWO
Cyprian
“What thefekam I supposed to do with this?” Cyprian Dek’lak’s wings flexed in annoyance as he gazed down at the small, miserable creature cowering in his receiving room. It was female, as far as he could tell, but not the type that would fit in at Erovik, the brothel he managed for the Axis on the space Hevatica Station. He glared at Glivar, his assistant. “How many times have I told you not to get females from auctions? Our clients will not want this creature.”
Glivar crossed his green arms. “Sorry, boss. The Falmic-5 auction had a group of Terians and they’re both rare and beautiful. Said they were rescued from a forced-breeding colony, but…” He gestured with a meaty hand. “Lookat her. I couldn’t leave her there. I just couldn’t.”
“We don’t acquire females we pity, Glivar.” Cyprian took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This is a business, and the Axis demands an accounting for every credit. This is a house of pleasure, not arescueorganization.”
Glivar had the grace to wince. “Can you train her?”
“Rescuing” people did not end in rewards, as he’d learned the hard way when he’d made the same mistake a long time ago. The last female he’d tried to help was clearly traumatized—as this one was—and never acclimated to Erovik. She had remained terrified of all males, no matter what he’d done to try to calm her. Her story and life ended tragically, with her running away and ending up killed in a raider’s hive. He didnotwant to go through that again.
Cyprian tilted his head to get a better look at the small bundle on the floor. She was barefoot and curled into the smallest ball she could contort herself into. All he could see was a collection of bony limbs, a shock of pink hair, and a skinny, trembling form covered in a transparent shift that barely covered her ass. He wasn’t sure any amount of training would get this creature to become an enticingcourtia. He snorted and shook his head. “Fek. I don’t know. But I do know that you will not go on any more scouting trips. Our clients want experience and passion, not a terrified creature who won’t even show her face.”
Glivar hung his head. “There was nothing suitable at the usual spots. Sheisbeautiful, I promise you that.”
Cyprian seriously doubted that, even though Glivar was usually a good judge of that vital quality. He sat on the edge of his desk and gazed at the shaking female with a sigh. He’d either get her to accept a suite and work at the brothel or, worst case, he’d have to cut her loose and absorb the loss. The second scenario would be a hassle, so he hoped to train her to be acourtia. Explaining to the Axis, the huge entity that owned Erovik, that he’d acquired an unsuitable female was not an activity he relished. The Axis didnotlike losses on the record. “Off you go, Glivar,” he said wearily. “Go to Viparia’s quarters before you leave. She is displeased with the air purifiers in her sitting room.”
Glivar snorted and rolled his large milky eyes. “Viparia is always displeased with something.”
“Perhaps, but she is a client favorite, so we make her happy.” Cyprian ran his fingers through his hair and wondered for the millionth time what he was doing here. This was the only job—the onlylife—he’d ever known. He’d been managing Erovik for as long as he could remember. He did a good job. Thecourtiaswere happy. Most were ex-mistresses of warlords and wealthy merchants, used to luxury and attention and skilled at the art of pleasure. After completing their contract, most stayed on. The brothel itself catered to only the wealthiest and most prominent clients. Cyprian had made it an exclusive and highly in demand establishment, but he didn’t cater to clients with darker inclinations. The last thing he would do was toss this female into a suite and send in a client.
