A blast rocked The Sphinx, making the floor tilt under Wrylack’s feet and sending him careening into a wall. Two Meori ships had cornered them. One was firing while the other had docked. Locked in the med bay, Wrylack cursed the captain for giving him orders to stay put. He might be a medic, but he was a damn good fighter too. As it was, he was stuck in medical with no weapons. According to the onboard computer, there were now thirty lifeforms aboard The Sphinx instead of their crew of ten. Wrylack understood that the captain wanted him safe, so he could heal any who were injured, but this was ridiculous. He should be out there kicking ass with everyone else.

Behind his sealed door, he could hear the sounds of fighting down the corridor and knew it was drawing closer. A scream of pain echoed down the hall, and he hoped it wasn’t one of his brothers. If the Meori had gotten near medical, which was in the heart of the ship, it must mean his fellow cyborgs were having a hard time fighting them off. Had there been casualties? He didn’t want to link to anyone and put them in danger.

His hands clenched at his sides as he scanned the room for anything he might use as a weapon. There was an old-fashioned scalpel he still used on occasion, but it wouldn’t do much against laser weapons or ion blasters. His hand closed around the scalpel and he held it at his side, hoping that his crew would be all right. He’d unsuccessfully tried to open the medical doors three times, wanting to help the others, but the captain had recoded it so that the portal would only open from the outside. That would only keep Wrylack safe if the cyborgs won the battle, but his captain apparently hadn’t thought of that.

Wrylack tried to connect to the system with his neural transmitters, but access was locked. He had to admit the captain was smart and had thought of everything, even if he was foolish enough to leave Wrylack out of the fight. He’d trained alongside the others on Zelran and could fight as well as anyone. If anything, his cybernetic eyes, an anomaly even amongst his kind, would give him an edge in fighting. He could see the weak points on any opponent, including internal ones. Frustrated, he slammed his fist against the wall, denting the metal of the ship.

The ship grew quiet, and Wrylack tried to communicate with his fellow cyborgs, but no one was responding. He feared they’d all been killed, which meant the Meori would come for him next, once they realized he was on board. He could hear the clang of boots coming down the corridor and braced himself. When the doors to the med bay slid open, he stared at the green and gold aliens, with their serpent-like eyes and tongues.

They looked him over, laughing when they saw the scalpel clutched in his hand. Two held ion blasters pointed at him, and he knew there was no way he was taking them out. Not on his own and only armed with the scalpel.

The three Meori in front hardly had a scratch on them, but the ones in back were pooling blood on the floor. Wrylack tried not to smile at the sight. It seemed his brothers had fought hard, even if they hadn’t been victorious. Would they kill him now too?

“The healer thinks to fight us,” the larger one up front said.

Little did they know he could kick their asses, if it weren’t for the unfair advantage of the blasters in their hands. He might be enhanced, but he wasn’t indestructible. Going into a blaster fight with nothing more than a scalpel would get him killed.

“Where’s my crew?” Wrylack asked.

The alien shrugged. “Alive, but incapacitated.”

Why hadn’t they killed everyone? What was it they wanted?

“And your plan for us?” Wrylack asked.

The alien smiled, his pointed teeth showing. “The others will be dropped at Alpha9, for a fee of course, and we’re commandeering this ship. You, however… “ The alien looked him over again. “We need a medic. Ours died and since your cyborg brothers did some damage, my crew will need to be tended. Serve us well and you will be rewarded.”

Wrylack could read between the lines. Service would be required regardless, if he wanted to live. He would imagine the reward would be his freedom. What they didn’t know was that the moment he’d laid eyes on them, he’d hacked into the telecommunications system and had the computer send a message to the commanders on Xpashta, with their present location and information on who had taken command of the ship. It wouldn’t be long before the cyborgs’ other ships were on their way to lend aid. He only hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

One of the Meori gripped his arm tight, making the nerves in his arm go numb, and the scalpel fell from his hand, clattering to the floor. Wrylack allowed himself to be dragged through the ship and taken aboard the Meori vessel. He wasn’t stupid enough to think he could take on two ships himself, which meant he had to follow orders and stay alive until backup arrived. The ship was much larger than The Sphinx and had probably once been a luxury liner, judging by the artwork on the walls and the dense carpet under his feet. Slave females of all races shuffled down the hallways and gathered in open rooms. Some were dressed in transparent tunics, and he knew they were breeding stock. The thought made him ill.

When they reached medical, Wrylack was shoved inside, and he froze at the sight before him. Two human females lay dead, the sheets covering them stained with blood, with a third huddled in the corner, her eyes wide in fright. Blood dripped down her arm, and her clothes were torn. Anger welled inside him, and he turned to snarl at the Meori who had dragged him on board.

“You attacked innocent females?”

The Meori shrugged. “When we purchased them, we didn’t realize they wouldn’t be sexually compatible. Their master was raving about how good it felt to fuck them. We stopped a male from mounting the third when the first two died.”

Wrylack was horrified and sickened. Moving slowly, he approached the female in the corner. He knelt in front of her and used his cybernetic eyes to scan her. Aside from some bruising and the bite mark on her shoulder, she seemed to be healthy. All of her organs were in good working order, and he was thankful to note she wasn’t pregnant. Judging by the scarring in her womb, even if the Meori hadn’t been able to breed with her, someone had been successful at some point. The haunted look in her eyes spoke of someone who had lived this life for a while. His heart ached for her, imagining the horrors she’d probably faced as a slave.

Wrylack pulled aside her slave tunic and studied the bite. It was deep and the tissue around it was badly bruised. The Meori who had tried to mount her had likely bitten her to hold her in place. Wrylack hoped she’d fought like hell. No one deserved the fate of being a breeder, especially to the Meori. He stood quickly and rummaged through the cabinets until he found what he needed. With a tube of livron gel in his hand, he sank to his haunches in front of her again. Wrylack squeezed the gel onto his fingers and spread it over her wound. She flinched at his touch, but didn’t lash out at him. He knew the gel would cool the angry wound first, then numb it within minutes. If applied regularly, the wound would seal in a few days.

“My name’s Wrylack, and I’m a medic,” he told her. “I’m going to help you.”

“She’s useless,” the Meori said. “No sense in treating her. We’re just going to toss her out an airlock. I can’t take the chance that she would sell right away when we reach Alpha9, and I don’t intend to stay there long. She’s a waste of space.”

Wrylack growled and glared at the Meori. “You’re not tossing her out an airlock.”

The Meori rocked back on his heels. “You seem rather fond of her.”

“She’s a helpless female.” Wrylack wasn’t about to admit that he thought she was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen. Looking into her eyes, he wanted to be her hero. But he was just as much a captive right now as she was. But then, if they’d met under other circumstances, how likely was it that she’d have let a cyborg get anywhere near her? Especially him with his strange-looking eyes.

“And females are precious to your people, aren’t they?” the Meori asked slyly. Wrylack wasn’t certain he liked the look on the Meori’s face. “Do what we say, and you can keep her. Consider her your reward for good behavior.”

Keep her? Wrylack hesitated and glanced down at the female. Her hair was black as pitch and hung in long curls down to her ass. The elfin face that peered up at him had beautiful lavender eyes, a color he’d never seen on a human before. The female’s skin was pale as ivory and had felt soft when he’d administered the gel to her wound. He lowered himself in front of her again, bracing his fist on the floor, and leaning in close. She didn’t shrink away or seem afraid of him.

Her gaze met his. When he reached for her, smoothing her hair back from her face, she didn’t so much as flinch. “Do you know what I am?” he asked.

“No,” she said softly.

“I’m a Zelranian cyborg.”

“Is that why your eyes are so different?” she asked. “They’re beautiful when they glow. Why do they only glow sometimes?”

Her voice was soft and mesmerizing, much like her. “My eyes are cybernetic, along with my lungs and heart. My eyes glow when I’m doing a scan to check for injuries. I’m different, even from my people. Does that frighten you?” he asked.

Her gaze strayed to the Meori in the doorway before returning to him. There was a question in her eyes that she didn’t seem to want to voice. The Meori had mentioned her previous owner had used her for sex, and the Meori had intended the same. It stood to reason she would wonder if he would hurt her if they were intimate.

“I won’t harm you,” Wrylack assured her. “Unlike the Meori, Zelranians are compatible with humans.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she held his gaze.

“If they throw you out the airlock, you’ll die,” Wrylack said. “Space is cold, and your organs will begin to freeze, assuming you don’t die from asphyxiation first. I won’t force you to be mine, but it’s the only way I can save you.”

It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment that maybe she would prefer death. It saddened him to think she might feel that way, but there was something in her eyes that said she was a fighter.

“I’m Shaylee.” She smiled softly, seeming to accept that she was his now.

“Shaylee.” Wrylack reached for her again, smoothing his fingers down her cheek. “I will treat you well, this I promise.”

The Meori moved closer. “If you try anything, she dies. And it will be a painful death. We’ll make you watch as she’s mounted many times, and you see what happened to the others with just one Meori.”

Wrylack’s jaw tensed, and he rose to his full height of well over six feet. He glared at the Meori and fought not to punch the alien. Wrylack’s bones had been replaced with metal after he’d been accepted into the Cy-Con program. In hand-to-hand combat, he had no doubt he would win. Bones easily shattered from the impact of his fist. But he also didn’t know how many Meori were on board, and knew that Shaylee would be harmed if he retaliated. That was the only thing that kept him in check right then. To even think of something so horrible happening to her, that the alien would even threaten such brutality, infuriated him.

“I’ll do as you say. For now,” Wrylack said.

“Then I’ll show you to your quarters. Bring your female with you.”

Shaylee stood on legs that trembled, and Wrylack swung her up into his arms, carrying her down the corridors as he followed the Meori. Shaylee clung to him, her arms around his neck and her face pressed against him. While it had always been his duty to treat those who were injured, he’d never been responsible for a living being before. The soft female in his arms was a surprise, but a welcome one. Even if it did mean he had to serve the Meori until his fellow cyborgs could locate and rescue him. That had been his intention, but had it just been him, he might have tried escaping if the opportunity presented itself. With Shaylee, that wouldn’t be possible. He would never risk her life, not even to save his own.

Little did the Meori know that all cyborgs were equipped with tracking devices, attached to their skeletal systems and completely undetectable by most technology. He supposed he should thank the Zelranian parliament for that, since it had been at their insistence that the trackers were installed. It meant that the parliament could locate them anytime they wished, but it wasn’t like the cyborgs were hiding. They lived their life in the open, and had lived in peace, as long as they never returned to Zelran.

Once the other cyborgs realized The Sphinx was gone from its last location and that Wrylack was not among those left on Alpha9, they would activate his tracker and come for him. Somehow, he needed to discover how many Meori were on board this vessel, and how many others were nearby, and get that information to the commanders. He only had to keep Shaylee safe from the Meori until then. Once they were picked up, he’d request time on Xpashta to get better acquainted with his mate.

Mate. It didn’t seem possible that someone like him, with his strange eyes, would be holding such a delectable female, and that she was his. She was only with him as a way to live, but he knew in time he could win her affection. Wrylack would give her everything she’d ever wanted or needed. As of now, she was his top priority.

The Meori stopped in front of a door on the second level of the ship. He placed his palm against the control panel and the door slid open. Wrylack stepped into the room, noting the large bed, bank of windows, small table and chairs, and a door he assumed led to the bathroom. It was a spacious room, compared to most ships, but probably one of the smaller ones on board. The suites of a luxury liner could be vast, but this seemed more like a common room. He crossed to the bed and eased Shaylee down onto the soft bedding, then turned to face the Meori.

“If anyone harms her, you’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of,” Wrylack said.

“I’m Vrek, captain of this ship. You have my word no one will touch your female. Now that they know she isn’t compatible with them, she will hold no interest for them. As long as you obey my commands.”

“We’ll need clothing,” Wrylack said.

Vrek nodded. “I will see if there’s anything in the cargo hold that will fit you. With your build, we may not have anything, but there are still crates down there from when we took over the vessel.”

“My female needs clothing too, and not another slave garment.”

“Very well. She’s not to leave these quarters unless you’re with her. You’re free to roam the ship as long as you don’t attempt to leave. Break your word to serve as our medic and she dies. While the human’s screams are unpleasing to my ears, I will listen to it in order to prove a point.”

Wrylack ground his teeth together. “I won’t try to escape.”

“Once your female is settled, I expect you back in the med bay. I have wounded who need attending.”

Vrek grunted and stepped out of the room, letting the door close behind him. Shaylee stayed on the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, as Wrylack walked over to the windows. He stared out at space, wondering how far they were from Alpha9. The sooner his fellow cyborgs were located at the trading post, the sooner everyone would know to search for him. Once he was more familiar with this ship and how the Meori ran things, he could take a chance on using the ship’s computer to contact his fellow cyborgs. Until he was certain it was safe, he wouldn’t risk Shaylee.

The door chime sounded a moment before it opened. Another Meori stepped inside, his arms laden with clothes. Wrylack crossed the room and took the garments from him. The Meori stared at him a moment, glanced at the female, then left. The doors slid shut, and Wrylack set the clothing down to see what they’d been given. There were three tunic style dresses for Shaylee, all of them a thicker material you couldn’t see through and much longer than what she wore now, along with a few pairs of leather pants for him. Apparently, they hadn’t been able to find any shirts in his size, not that he was surprised. He was rather broad across the chest and shoulders.

“Would you like to bathe and change?” Wrylack asked.

Shaylee hesitated a moment and reached for one of the dresses, a deep rose colored one that would leave one shoulder exposed. She skirted around Wrylack and disappeared into the bathroom, the door closing behind her. He heard the cleansing unit turn on and wished she’d asked him to join her. He didn’t expect her to fall right into his arms, but he’d hoped that by helping her he might have gained her trust. Humans were strange creatures. If a Zelranian female had been given to him, she would have wanted him to take care of her. There was no denying that he wanted her, but he wouldn’t press for more than she was willing to give. It had probably been a long time since a male had asked her what she wanted.

“Shaylee,” he called through the door. “I’m going to medical to treat the wounded. Don’t leave this room.”

“I won’t,” came her muffled response.

Wrylack exited the room and wound his way through the ship back to the med bay. There were several Meori waiting to be tended. He went through them as quickly as possible, giving them the medical care they needed, but not exactly using a gentle touch. It went against his training to cause pain to those in his care, but he made an exception after the way they’d threatened Shaylee. By the time the last Meori was patched and sent on his way, Wrylack was worried about his new mate. He didn’t know when she’d last slept or ate. He felt like a bad mate, leaving her the way he had. But if he didn’t keep the Meori happy, he would lose her.

She was staring out the window when he returned to their quarters. She turned slowly to face him. The tunic she’d donned hugged her curves perfectly and accented her ample breasts and hips. He felt his cock harden and hoped she didn’t notice. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. After the abuse she’d suffered, he would imagine a gentle touch would be needed when it came to his mate.

“When is the last time you ate or slept?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Time passes differently here. As a slave, I was kept in a windowless room with other women. Sometimes it felt like forever between meals. The men mostly came when they needed us for other things.”

He didn’t want to think about what those other things were. The thought of someone touching her angered him, especially knowing what she’d recently suffered.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

She hesitantly nodded.

“Let me get cleaned up, and we’ll go find something to eat. I don’t want to touch you until I’m certain I don’t have any Meori blood on me.”

Wrylack grabbed a pair of the leather pants, hoping they would fit decently enough, and stepped into the bathroom. He peeled his leather suit off and let it drop to the floor before entering the cleansing unit. He washed quickly, ignoring his hard cock. As much as he’d love to take the edge off his arousal, now wasn’t the time. He stepped out of the unit and pressed the button for the automatic dryer. It evaporated the water on his skin and dried out his hair. Wrylack pulled on the leather pants, which fit better than expected, and picked up his suit, tossing it into the corner of the bedroom to be cleaned later.

Shaylee’s eyes were wide as she stared at him. She trembled on the bed, her gaze glued to his bare chest. Wrylack wished he had the words to soothe her, but he didn’t yet know what exactly she’d been through. It was obvious they’d traumatized her, but were the Meori the first to harm her? From the look in her eyes, he would say no. He’d seen that expression before, on slaves who had been sold time and again, and often to unkind masters. He wanted to learn everything about his new mate, but he knew it would take time. Until then, he would try to go slowly.

He moved closer and held out a hand to her. She hesitated only a moment before standing and sliding her palm against his. His lack of clothing seemed to distract her, and he noted her elevated pulse. It was just unclear if her reaction was one of a female who desired him, or more out of fear and uncertainty. He hoped it was desire because the thought of frightening her made him ill. He didn’t want her to fear him.

Shaylee seemed nervous as they exited their quarters, and he kept a tight hold on her hand. It didn’t take long to find the galley. If the ship had a designated cook, he wasn’t nearby. Wrylack rummaged through cabinets and the cold locker until he’d gathered a large platter of meats, bread, and fruit. He could tell Shaylee didn’t like being out in the open, so he carried their food back to their quarters and sat on the bed, placing the large plate between them. He could have used the table across the room, but this felt more intimate, and he wanted to be closer to her.

Shaylee stared at the food, her lips trembling. And yet, she didn’t reach for a single thing on the platter. Wrylack picked up a chunk of meat and offered it to her, holding it up to her mouth. Her gaze clashed with his and she opened, accepting the bite of food. He waited until she’d chewed and swallowed, then offered her another bite. It wasn’t until she waved him off a few minutes later, placing a hand over her belly, that he allowed himself to eat anything. She watched him quietly, and he wished that she’d talk to him.

The empty plate was placed in the corridor, and then Wrylack didn’t know what the hell to do. Shaylee seemed unsure around him, as if she didn’t yet know her place. He knew the best thing to do would be to open up to her, but he worried he’d make her more nervous. He didn’t yet know what would or would not upset her, and the last thing he wanted to do was traumatize her further. Wrylack eased onto the bed.

“Are you tired?” he asked, noting the shadows under her eyes.

Shaylee looked longingly at the bed before returning her gaze to his.

“Shaylee, I would never hurt you. I want to take care of you.”

“I’m yours. They gave me to you,” she said, licking her lips. “I’m your slave now.”

“No!” he said harshly, making her flinch. He slowly reached for her, cupping her cheek with his palm. “Mine, but not my slave.”

“Not a slave?” she asked.

Wrylack shook his head.

“But yours,” she said.

“Mine. Only mine.”

Confusion clouded her eyes, and Wrylack leaned closer, giving her time to pull away. His lips brushed against hers, softly, slowly. He knew he shouldn’t have made such a move so soon, but he’d wanted to taste her. Shaylee didn’t push him away, but she wasn’t exactly throwing herself into his arms either. Wrylack slid his hand down to her waist and lifted her onto his lap. Her breath caught and she tensed a moment, but he continued kissing her gently, hoping she would realize she had nothing to fear from him. It wasn’t long before she relaxed against him, her hand pressing against his chest.

Wrylack drew back and stared down at her. “Mine.”

Shaylee curled against him, and he wrapped her in his arms. Wrylack was content to hold her, even though he wanted more. The taste of her lips was sweet, and he wondered if she was as sweet everywhere. He wasn’t foolish enough to think she’d let him claim her anytime soon, even if he was hopeful. It was almost cruel to finally have a mate and not be able to savor every inch of her.

“We should sleep,” Wrylack said. He stood and set Shaylee on her feet before turning down the bed. He motioned for her to crawl in.

She seemed to freeze when he reached for the fastenings on his pants, but he knew from experience that sleeping in leather wasn’t a good idea, and the sooner she became familiar with his body, the better. Wrylack stripped out of the pants. Reaching for her, he pulled the tunic over her head and let it fall to the floor. She gasped and her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t try to cover herself.

Wrylack held back a groan at how fucking beautiful she was. His hands itched to trace every inch of her, and his lips wanted to taste her. He got into the bed and pulled her down beside him.

“We’re just going to sleep,” he told her. “I meant what I said. I will never hurt you.”

He held his arms open, and Shaylee settled against him. He breathed in her scent and felt more content than he had in a long time, which was ridiculous since they were being held hostage by the Meori. There was no sense in doing anything but accepting his fate at this point, unless he wanted to risk Shaylee, and he’d never do that. He’d play by the Meori’s rules until his fellow cyborgs arrived. However long that would take.

She shifted in his arms, and Wrylack smoothed a hand down her back, pressing her closer. Shaylee sighed and fidgeted some more. His cock was harder than it had ever been before, and he felt pre-cum gathering on the tip. He knew she had to notice.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“What’s going to happen to me?” she asked softly.

“One day I’ll take you to my world. Xpashta. It’s beautiful there. Very peaceful.”

“Because I’m yours,” she said.

“Yes. Mine.”

She was quiet for a moment. “What does that mean? You say I’m yours and yet say I’m not a slave. Then what am I?”

Wrylack tightened his arms around her. “You’re my mate, Shaylee. The Meori gifted you to me, and I plan to keep you. I’ll have the commanders make it official when we get to my planet, but with or without their blessing, you will always be mine.”

“Mate. Like a pair? A breeding pair?” she asked.

He growled. “You’re more than that to me. A mate is… I believe your Earth term is husband and wife.”

Her gaze jerked to his. “Wife? I’m your wife?”

“Is that acceptable to you? I swear that you will never be a slave again. You’re mine, and I will protect you with my life. No male shall ever touch you except me.”

She stared at him, as if she were trying to see into his soul, and eventually she nodded. If she’d balked, or had seemed frightened, Wrylack didn’t know what he would have done. He didn’t want to force her to be with him, but he didn’t want to let her go either. Soon she would see that he would be good to her, treat her gently, and give her anything she wanted. Even though he’d never had a woman in his life before, he knew he could be a good mate.

Shaylee settled against him again, and after a few minutes, her breathing evened out. While she slept, Wrylack held her tight and vowed to keep her safe at all costs. He’d been given an incredible gift, and he would do anything to keep her alive and in his arms. Even if it meant finding a way to kill every Meori on board the ship. If only he knew how to do that without risking Shaylee.