Guarded by the Hybrid (Kindred Tales)

I warned him again that he’d better not lay a hand on her and I swear by the Goddess, if I see any new marks on her I’ll kick his narrow ass into the next solar week.

Does it sound crazy to say I’m seriously considering taking Isla and leaving with her?

It probably does. If I did that, Le’rank would have a genuine grievance against me and I’m sure word would get around. You don’t just violate your Security contract and steal away the client you’re supposed to be protecting—it isn’t fucking done. Plus, I’ve only known her a few days. And I’m a Hybrid, so even if she wanted to go with me and we started some kind of relationship, I probably wouldn’t be able to bond her to me.

But none of that matters when I think of the vulnerable look in her big, dark eyes and remember the feel of her in my arms. I’ve never felt this way for a female before—like I need to protect her—to enfold her somehow.

I’m not here for the paycheck or my reputation and I’m sure as hell not here for her asshole of a husband. I’m here for Isla. To defend her—to serve her and keep her safe. And the Goddess knows I’ll do my best to fulfill my duty.

I still don’t know the endgame though—am I just supposed to stay until she starts to glow and then leave her to Le’rank? That male is a fucking sexual predator! The way he bragged about raping every female servant in his palace…I’ve never wanted to punch someone in the face so damn badly in my life. He ought to be fucking castrated so he can’t do any more harm—not allowed to breed and continue his disgusting line.

I’m in total agreement with the angry people of the Northern Continent—the Le’rank monarchy is nothing but a parasite—a fucking bloodsucking leech draining the local economy dry so they can live a life of luxury while the regular people starve.

It’s understandable that I don’t want to give Isla over to him, even if she does start to glow. I’m hoping it just won’t happen, though I’m bound by my contract to at least try to bring it about.

No—fuck the contract! I know for a fact if Isla’s skin starts to glow, Le’rank is going to try and breed her. And then I’ll have to kill him because I can’t stand the idea of handing her over to that little fuck and letting him rape her. Because that’s what sex amounts to with him—the fucking asshole!

As hard as it is, I’m not going to touch her again. I’m not going to bring on her glow. I’m bound by my contract to stay with her and protect her the whole time we’re on Fenushia Alpha but after that, as Le’rank pointed out, the contract is up.

If she’s still not glowing by then, he may decide she never will and might be happy to get rid of her. Or she might decide she wants to leave him.

Either way, I’ll help her go.

Though she won’t admit it, I’m pretty fucking sure he’s been beating on her. Even if he hasn’t, I know for certain now that he’s been basically torturing her sexually since day one of their Joining. No one should have to live like that—especially not a female as sweet and kind and delicate and innocent as Isla.

Will she want to come with me or does she have some other place in mind? I don’t know. I’ll respect her decision either way, but I’m not leaving her here for Le’rank to torture some more. That shit has to fucking end.

All right, we’re getting close to Fenushia Alpha—I can see its rings. So I’m going to end this log now and start the landing sequence. More later.

Sark out.

NINETEEN

From the diary of Lady Isla, wife to Lord Baslik Le’rank of Telmar Two of the Orinthian System:

Finally, some time alone to write! Though wishing to make an account of my day is not the only reason I have sequestered myself. I fear I am in terrible trouble, for I think I feel the Second Sign of my glow coming on.

But there is nothing I can do about it, since Sark has said he will not touch me again. I understand his reasons—he does not wish to make me glow and then hand me over to Baslik to brutalize. But he cannot know the pain I am in!

No, I must not think of the pain. There is nothing I can do about it, so I must simply endure. I shall try to distract myself by writing what has happened today—which is quite a lot.

First, I was forced to ride in Baslik’s space yacht with him, though I wished desperately I could have gone with Sark in his own ship instead. I had half an idea of begging him to help me escape, though I know he cannot do such a thing. It would violate his contract, which I gather is sacred to him.