Chapter Five

 

 

I awake in the cage to a hand on my shoulder. I start to gasp, but no sound issues forth—even my throat fails to vibrate. I sigh inwardly and shame heats my face. It’s because I recently swallowed Vonn’s seed. Every time he comes down my throat, I can’t talk for days afterward. I’m not allowed to talk without permission anyway, so I don’t really care.

Except now I do, because the pale servant is touching me and gazing at me through the bars.

I’m stunned when I hear words inside my mind, words that come from the alien.

My name is Zell and I will not harm you. Your mate has left on a fishing trip on the Carmuit Lake. I am sorry for your suffering, Katrina. Here, have some food and water.

He pulls a canteen from his pocket and slides it through the bars. I pick it up and drink greedily, desperate to assuage the constant dryness in my mouth. Next, he inserts a wrapped bundle, and I open it to find bread, berries, and cheese. My eyes burn, and I wish so desperately I could speak and thank Zell for his kindness.

Instead, I smile at him through my tears. He returns his hand to my shoulder.

No need to thank me. I understand you are unable to speak right now. Please eat and listen to my thoughts, Katrina.

I nod again and select a berry from the bundle. The sweet but tart flavor explodes across my taste buds, and though I long to shovel every last bit of food into my mouth because I’m beyond famished, I force myself to slow down and chew carefully. I haven’t stomached anything more than breadcrumbs and water for days, and I don’t want to become sick.

Zell commences speaking inside my mind.

I am from a race of aliens known as the Ghessans. All our females are gone, and our remaining males are slaves to the Kleaxians, though they usually refer to us as servants, as we have a long lifespan and have been with them for most of our lives.

I wish I could do something to help your situation, my poor Katrina, but unfortunately as a servant I cannot raise a hand against my master. His strength surpasses mine, and he would kill me. Forgive me for my sense of self-preservation.

But I will make a promise to you, Katrina, because I sense the goodness in you, and though I have never touched Vonn, I easily sense the darkness in him. When I can sneak food and drink to you, I will, and if your mate ever inflicts grievous harm upon your body, I will attempt to alert the neighbors and seek their help. It is illegal for a Kleaxian to kill a female, even a female from another race.

Though Vonn has beaten you badly, he has yet to cause you what constitutes permanent damage. I hope that day never comes, but if it does, I will encourage you to scream, if you can. The houses are close together, and you might be heard. Other Kleaxians are suspicious of Vonn for claiming you as his mate, when he has yet to take you out in public, and when it is common knowledge that you are the former mate of the human male who killed his precious Erixa.

I finish the berries and taste the cheese next, as grateful for the information Zell is imparting as I am for the food and drink.

It pains me to tell you this, but I believe Vonn is sick. Not in body, but in mind. He has mated with you, yet he treats you as if he hates you. This is not normal behavior for a Kleaxian, as the mating bond is strong and is supposed to produce love between the male and his female. Kleaxian males and Kleaxian females feel this bond, but females of other races cannot, though if they mate with a Kleaxian male, the male still experiences the strength of a mating bond. It is my hope that Vonn’s mental state improves, but if it does not, I will keep my promise to seek help from the neighbors if he abuses you more grievously than he already has.

I’ve finished eating by now, and I absorb his words and how they confirm my confusion over Vonn fucking me but not treating me with even remote kindness. Technically, I am his mate, yet he treats me as though I’m the dirt beneath his boots.

Zell prompts me to take another drink, and once I’m done he takes the canteen and the empty cloth and shoves them into his pocket.

He returns his hand to my shoulder. Apparently, he must touch me in order to speak in my mind. I guess that’s why he mentioned he’s never touched Vonn before. I wonder if he can hear my thoughts.

I am not able to open your cage, Katrina, or I would let you out until your mate’s return. The lock only responds to his thumbprint.

I nod in understanding. Thank you for the food and the water, Zell, I think, hoping he can truly hear my thoughts. I’m so grateful, and I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, as well. Thank you for promising to help me.

He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. You are most welcome, Katrina.

I smile. He indeed heard my thoughts, and I’m so thrilled. It’s the first spark of hope I’ve felt since the Kleaxians’ attack on the humans.

Zell releases me and stands up. He gives me a comforting look and then departs the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

It’s as I suspected, after all.

Something isn’t right with Vonn.

Though his kind typically mates and bonds for life, his hatred of my people, or perhaps just his hatred of me for my association with Harry, has blinded him to the mating bond we should be sharing since he’s fucked me.

Not that I’m happy I’ve been claimed by a Kleaxian male, but at least if the traditional mating bond were in place, I wouldn’t be fearing for my life every hour of the day.

Escape.

It’s my only hope.

My gut tells me Vonn will never, ever change. He’s consumed by grief and darkness, as well as an immense desire for revenge. I have to get away from him at the first opportunity.

Run and hide, run and hide.