Rok sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Come here, Lily.” He beckoned her back to his side.
She dutifully returned, keeping her eyes lowered out of habit.
“Lily, you’ve already seen Jaso and Janu, my brothers. This is Gaurdo.” He lifted his chin at a giant, rock-like being, almost as wide as he was tall. One of his legs had been amputated, and he had a metal post in its place. “And Depri.” He indicated the tall, thin being with brown skin and green eyes. “He is also a brother, of sorts.”
“Also from Stornig?” She wasn’t sure what made her think it was appropriate to quiz them, but no one seemed troubled by it.
“No, we met them on one of our early expeditions.” She wondered who “them” was, but something had clouded in Rok’s expression so she no longer felt comfortable asking.
“How about you?” she asked Mierna as the old female steered her back toward the equipment. “How did you become a part of this crew?”
“They freed me from imprisonment in Bangi. I had nowhere else to go, so I joined them.”
Her words sent such a streak of longing through Lily’s chest, she almost couldn’t breathe. Her present situation was not unlike what Mierna described. This crew had helped her escape slavery—although not willingly—and she had nowhere in the galaxy to go. She did not have a single friend or family member. Nothing. To be invited in as a crewmate on this aircraft would be a fate beyond her dreams.
She thought back to the day she’d escaped. What would’ve happened if she hadn’t stolen their ship? Rok had seemed content to accept payment for her fare in sexual trade. Would he have offered her a position when she told him she had nowhere to go?
She shook her head to clear the thoughts. She couldn’t think this way. Her situation wasn’t the same. She was wanted by the Ocretions—Rok couldn’t keep her aboard a ship that traveled through the galaxy on dangerous trade missions. She’d threaten the safety of all of them. He’d be accused of transporting runaway slaves and put to death along with her.
The males had begun sparring in hand-combat in the center, one on one. Her eyes followed Rok’s graceful movements. Though he was large, he moved with fluidity and ease, as if born fighting. The twins fought fast and dirty, lunging in, clamping sharp teeth on their opponent, but apparently not biting down.
Mierna handed her one end of an elastic band attached to the wall. She followed Mierna’s action, pulling an elastic band out and in with her arm in different positions, mimicking it. Her muscles grew tired after only a few repetitions, but she kept at it. If she planned to escape and survive, she needed to become strong. These beings could show her how. Perhaps even teach her to fight.
The old Venusian nodded as if she knew Lily’s thoughts. “Your destiny is much bigger than you see now. Do you know that?”
A tingle ran across her skin. She’d always had the sense that something came after. That sexual slavery wasn’t her only episode in life. That belief had kept her from desperation or depression. Kept her from contemplating suicide, like some of the other girls.
But the Venusian might say such things to everyone. She hadn’t said anything specific, and it probably didn’t mean anything.
“I-I don’t know,” she murmured.
The old being nodded again. “You do know. You have always known. A great destiny. You will help many other beings find freedom and peace. Rok does not believe in destiny, yet he, too, has one he must face.”
Her doubt increased, even as the hairs on her arms stood up. For a few months, she’d believed such a thing. She’d been a part of an escape plan and had learned to survive in the wilderness. She’d thought they might build a new human community of free beings.
But it had been too good to be true. Just when she’d started to care about something, it all had been destroyed. Every being she’d grown to care for, every hope and dream crushed.
And now she was on a ship, rushing to her death.
“You will not die yet,” the old Venusian said softly, turning away to repeat the exercises with her other arm.
Lily’s breath caught.
The female did read thoughts.
Chapter Three
Rok couldn’t wait to get Lily back into his bedroom for her final torture. Keeping her on edge all day had been his own delicious deprivation, as well. He’d been hard for her all planet rotation. Stars, just having her in the exercise room while he sparred made his aggressive hormones flow to a height he’d never before experienced. He’d nearly harmed his brothers twice, throwing them to the ground. In the end, they’d gone four-on-one instead of the usual two-on-one, because no one, not even Gaurdo, could hold him back.
They’d accused him of showing off for his slave.
Perhaps he had been. Her green eyes followed every move he made, though he sensed neither approval nor disapproval at his performance. All he knew was her mere presence in the room gave him the knife-like certainty of winning. He supposed it was a primitive response to enable a male to protect his mate.
Not that he considered Lily his mate.
He kept her close to him all day, pinching her nipples and rubbing between her legs every moment they were alone to keep her wet for him. Her scent filled his nostrils, inciting lust sharper than the crack of a whip.
Which, sadly, he wouldn’t be using on her.