Four Earth weeks had gone. With every passing day, Drako’s anxiety grew. Ilse wasn’t in a better state. She was listless, her spirits dwindling. Seeing nothing but the walls for days couldn’t be good for her. He opened the roof at night, showing her the stars and their constellations, but not even that helped. She made a good job of trying to hide her distress, but there wasn’t much about her state of mind or body he missed. The time the Council had granted him was coming to an end, and so was their time together.

When the morning of the day he’d agreed to take her to Kahvissar arrived, he woke her with a long and passionate kiss. As always, she reacted to him immediately, her heartbeat picking up and her pussy growing wet and swollen. The sound of her pulse and the smell of her arousal drove him insane, but he wanted to go slow today.

He moved down her body to taste her nipples, loving how they peaked in his mouth and how she arched her back when he bit down softly. His fingers tested her folds, even if his sense of smell had already told him she was ready. He was still careful of not hurting her, keeping in mind how small and fragile she was. They had grown accustomed to each other’s bodies, and her actions were confident now as she cupped her hand over his on her sex, showing him what she wanted. He parted her folds with a finger, but didn’t penetrate her. Sweet protesting sounds escaped her throat. Mercilessly, he teased her, playing with her clit until she thrashed under him.

“Take me already,” she said on a gasp.

“Not today, little doll. Today, I’m taking my time.”

He abandoned her breasts to seek out her mouth. Her lips were cool and seductive, her tongue branding him with heat. The contrast was amazing. It did wicked things to his mind, imaging those lips and tongue on his dick.

She broke the kiss, staring at him with her intoxicating blue eyes. “I want to taste you.”

Zut, yes. He pushed to his knees, straddling her stomach. She grabbed his hips and pulled him closer, until his cock nudged at her lips. Holding his gaze, she curled her tongue around the crest, dragging a path of fire down the underside to his balls. He clenched his ass, holding onto the last threads of his control. He wanted to give her this, to let her take the lead. She kissed her way back up his cock and folded her lips around him. Opening wide, she took him deep. Watching her take him almost made him lose it, coming down her throat before he’d even been inside her pussy. She moaned as she guided his hips, moving him in and out of the wet heat of her mouth. When he could take no more, he pulled free, inviting another protest.

His turn. He kissed his way down her body to the sweet spot between her legs, taking his time to nibble and lick.

“Drako.” She gripped his shoulders. “I want you to bite me.”

He lifted his head to look at her. “It’s too soon. I’ll love you beautifully instead.”

No more. He couldn’t wait longer. Kneeling between her legs, he parted her folds and pressed home. Her slickness eased his way, her muscles adapted to his size. He wasted no time in burying himself to the hilt. He wanted to be inside her as deep as he could go. After a few shoves, she pushed on his shoulders, indicating she wanted him to stop. He did so only by sheer willpower.

“Turn around,” she instructed.

He smiled at the command in her voice. Flipping around onto his back, he brought her with him. Crute. She was a sight to behold on her knees with her thighs spread and his cock buried inside her. As she lifted and lowered her hips, she gave him a prime view of how her pussy stretched to take him. He liked it. Very much. It took everything he had not to slam up and take back control. Gritting his teeth, he let her go at her pace. She moved faster, until sweat covered their bodies and the sound of their pants filled the room. He knew at the exact moment she was going to come. Her face distorted with pleasure a second before her pussy contracted around his cock. Her ecstatic moan was enough to make his tightly coiled control snap. Letting go, he came with violent spams, pouring his seed into her, claiming her as his, even if he knew it would never be.

Falling over him, she rested her head on his chest. He held her to him and rubbed her back, not ready to break their physical or emotional connection. When he couldn’t put it off any longer, he kissed the top of her head.

“Go have your shower and get dressed.” He moved her gently and stood. “I’ll fix breakfast.”

Her tone was playful. “I can cook, you know. You don’t have to prepare all my meals.”

“It’s part of the perks of being a prisoner.”

He’d said it jokingly, trying to keep the mood light, but her eyes turned somber. Damn him. He was such an idiot.

He touched her cheek. “I didn’t mean to…” What? Remind her what she was? Why she was here? His big, infallible master plan had just fallen to pieces. Revenge wasn’t sweet, after all. Instead of weaning himself of her, he’d gotten more addicted. “Never mind.” He dropped his hand and stomped from the room before he said more hurtful things.

While Ilse ate, he showered and dressed. She’d cleaned up the kitchen when he walked back into the room.

“I have something for you.” He held the gift box from the Bruma Market out to her.

A smile transformed her face into something angelic as she reached for it. “For me?”

“Open it.” He held his breath. Would she like it? Would she get the meaning, what he was trying to tell her?

Carefully, she unwrapped the box and lifted the lid. “Oh, my God. Drako, it’s beautiful.”

“Try it on.”

She slipped the ring onto the middle finger of her right hand. The stones shone like bleeding stars. The color stood out against the paleness of her skin. The design emphasized the slenderness of her hand, making her seem even more delicate.

“It suits you.”

She splayed her fingers and held her hand up to the light. “I love it. It’s gorgeous. But…”

His elation at seeing his gift on her hand faltered. “But what?” Would she refuse to keep it? Maybe she didn’t want something to remind her of him. Maybe she wanted to forget.

“But why?” she asked, watching him intently.

It was a symbol of his affection, and a selfish part of him wanted her to remember him, even when she was another Krinar’s charl. The elation of presenting her with a gift suddenly turned heavy. Where it was joyful when he’d acquired it, the significance now felt sad.

“If you don’t know why, you’ll figure it out in time.” He held out a hand. “Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Home.”

“Home?”

“My planet.”

“Your planet!” She took a step away. “You’re out of your mind.”

“At least there you’ll be safe. If you stay here, your government will eventually catch you. They’re a lot more powerful with more resources than you.”

She clutched at the island counter at her back. “I don’t want to go to your planet.”

“It’s not a request, Ilse. You don’t get a choice in the matter. Look at it this way, at least you’ll be rid of me.”

“You’re letting me go?”

“Yes.” The word sliced right through him. “I’m letting you go.”

“I’m free?”

From here. From him. “That’s what I said.”

She reached for him. “Drako, please don’t do this. I don’t know your planet. This is my home. This is where I belong.”

“No more arguing!”

At his tone, she flinched.

“We’re leaving. Now. It’s not up for discussion. Either you come willingly or I’ll use the necessary force.”

“Where exactly are you taking me? To a town? A settlement? Does it have a name? How am I supposed to live there? Will I be able to even breathe in your atmosphere? Where will I live? How will I earn a living?”

So many questions, not enough answers. “You’ll see.”

She grabbed his arm. “No. This is my life. I have a right to know.”

“You have no more rights, little doll, only goodwill, so don’t test it.” Not able to stand her wounded look, he added in a softer tone,“We’ll stop at a space station first. You’ll learn all you need to know about Krina there.”

Resignation showed in the drop of her shoulders.

He turned his back on her and made his way to the docking bay where the pod was parked.

Ilse squinted at the bright sunlight when they got outside. The way she looked around and dragged the polluted air into her lungs as if it was the first time in her life she came outdoors released a dam of guilt inside him. Pushing it aside, he helped her inside the pod. When he’d secured her safety harness, he took off for the Krina station where Kahvissar was waiting.

“This is unreal,” she said, staring down at her planet through the transparent floor as the pod lifted off.

He didn’t miss the way her nails dug into the armrests of her chair.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re safe.”

“You crashed with a thing like this, didn’t you?” she asked in a thin voice.

“It’s been upgraded since.”

“What if someone sees us? If we can see out, they must be able to see in, right?”

“We’re invisible to the outside world.” He regarded her pale cheeks. “Are you all right?”

“It’s just a bit frightening, the way we’re flying as if we’re in nothing but a chair, and how fast we seem to move, but it’s better than to feel closed into the small space of your plane.”

He smiled. We call it a pod,” he reminded her.

“Your pod.”

He cupped her hand. “You’ll be fine.”

He wasn’t only referring to the flying. Thinking of it made him to want kick objects and tear at the sky. He released her hand.

This way was best.

For both of them.

* * *

It was like being in a dream. Ilse wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad one. She looked around the space station as Drako led her from the parking bay to security and from there to a set of rooms with long windows showing the darkness of space sprinkled with stars and planets. A man taller and bulkier than Drako but with the same yellow eyes and flawless, golden skin came to his feet as they entered a room at the end of the corridor.

Feeling overwhelmed, she wanted to reach for Drako’s hand, but he’d been strangely distant since this morning’s sex. Instinctively, she knew he wouldn’t welcome the contact.

“Bienvenue,” the man said, walking to her with outstretched arms.

She gave Drako a bewildered look, but he offered no explanation as the man placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed his cheek to hers. “You are even more lovely in person than in hologram.”

“You’ve seen pictures of me?” She glanced at Drako again.

“But of course.”

“This is Kahvissar,” Drako said tightlipped. “He offered to take you as charl.”

“What?” She slipped from Kahvissar’s hold, looking between the men. “What is that supposed to be? Some kind of maid?”

“A maid?” Kahvissar gave a hearty laugh. “It’s a life-long companion. A human mate. In Earth terms, I suppose you’d call it a wife.”

The world gave way under her feet. If not for Kahvissar’s steadying hands, she would’ve dropped to her knees. Pain lanced at her heart. She searched Drako’s eyes, but he simply stood there with a cold expression. Unfeeling.

“Is she unwell?” Kahvissar asked.

“She’ll be fine. It was her first space journey.”

Pressing a hand on her stomach, she took a shaky breath. It took all her strength to hold back the tears that burned behind her eyes. “Am I a commodity to be passed from one of you to another? Like a pet or possession?”

“Ah, zut.” Kahvissar shot Drako a look. “You didn’t tell her. You’re a first-class troll, Drako.”

“It’s not safe to let you go back to Earth,” Drako said. “Your government will convict you for your crimes, if not assassinate you for the role you played in my escape. You can only be granted access to Krina or one of its settlements as a charl. Kahvissar volunteered for the role.”

She backed up to the wall. She felt sick. Shocked. Betrayed. “I see. Is that why you gave me the ring? It’s a keepsake?” she asked bitterly.

“It’s best like this for both of us,” Drako continued. “It’s not you, per se. It’s that I can never trust you.”

“I didn’t work for the government agents. It was a ploy to win time to help you escape. Neither did I steal medicine to run a black market operation. Yes, I bought medicine on the black market to help a patient, but as for the rest, I was framed.”

Drako’s face turned hard. “Ilse, stop. Don’t make a fool of yourself. I was there. I heard and saw with my own eyes and ears.”

It hurt. The coldness in her heart seemed to spread through her whole body until there wasn’t a part of her that didn’t feel frozen. She’d developed feelings for him, strong ones at that, but if this was truly what he believed of her, he didn’t deserve her.

Biting back her tears, she lifted her chin. “Goodbye, Drako.”

He nodded once at Kahvissar and then stalked from the room, not looking back.