NICOLA

I’ve been found out. Of course, I knew I would be. It was just a matter of time before I’d have to confess. But the way it happened has me rattled. I knew he’d be angry. I just hoped…

Well, I’m not sure what I hoped. But the dark anger shining in my new husband’s eyes isn’t entirely unexpected. Time for me to launch into the speech I’ve been practicing over and over again since Leandra and I first concocted this plan. “Allow me to explain,” I begin, trying to keep my voice smooth and calm, and to keep my ‘human’ accent out of my words as much as I can.

“Oh, please do.” His eyes narrow and his tone is hard and furious.

Right. I pull off my gloves, tugging on the fingers. My ring finger is throbbing from being bound to my middle finger for so long in the hot plas-leather, but the gloves were necessary as part of the disguise. All mesakkah have three fingers and a thumb, and my hands would have given me away immediately. “I know you sent off for a mate,” I continue calmly. “Your requirements were that she have no criminal record, which I do not. That she be willing to work hard on a farm for the rest of her life. I am. And you asked that she be willing to bear your children. I’m willing and quite capable of doing all of those things.”

The look he gives me is downright incredulous. “You’re human. I don’t even know what that is. I’ve only seen one in…” He stops and gets a funny look on his face.

“In deviant sorts of vids? I know. My kind is stolen from our planet and sold on the black market like animals.” I smooth my gloves in my hand, because it gives me something to do to stop my trembling. “We’re not a lesser species, though. We’re just different.” 

“Yet you speak our language well. No pauses. No accent.”

I nod. No pauses because I’ve learned his language without having to rely on an internal translator chip. No accent because I’ve worked hard to train it out of my voice. I wanted everything to be perfect for my disguise. “I’ve been among your people since I was twelve.” He physically recoils, staring at me, and I realize why. The mesakkah don’t consider a female ‘adult’ until she reaches twenty of their years, which is about seventeen of Earth years. “That was over twelve years ago,” I add so he doesn’t panic and all of this comes crashing to a halt.

“So you’re a…” he coughs.

“Pleasure slave?” I shake my head. “I was sold to a very kind, very wealthy elderly mesakkah lady who enjoyed owning a menagerie. She thought I was interesting, and when she realized I was smart, she made me a companion of sorts.” I think of Leandra with a little ache in my breast. She was difficult to get along with at times, but being her friend was the closest thing I’ve had to a family since being stolen from mine. “My lady was very old, though, and when she realized she would not live for much longer, she helped me make arrangements for my future.”

“Arrangements,” the male says flatly. Emvor, I remind myself. That’s his name. He has a face now. He’s not just a notation on my travel documents.

I nod, pushing forward even though I can see I’m losing him. I was hoping for more sympathy, more understanding from a lonely farmer who wanted a wife. But this is what I’ve got to work with, so I’ll give it all I’ve got. “Yes. She was worried—and rightly so—that when she died, her possessions would be confiscated by family and no one would give me a home. Humans are illegal to own, you see. We’re not taken to our home planet when we’re found. No one’s allowed to go there, and those that stole me certainly aren’t going to bring me back. So I’d end up in a zoo somewhere, experimented upon, or, if I’m very unlucky, I’d end up in a brothel on a seedy station somewhere. My lady loved me in her way and didn’t want to see that happen. So we tried to think of someplace that I could be safe and out of the way of most that would harm me.”

“And so you came here.”

“Yes. Your planet is very sparsely populated, and I looked up your farm records. You’re the farthest out from all other claims on this continent, and you do well. I figured if I could just stay here on the farm and bear your children, you wouldn’t mind so much that I’m not…mesakkah.” The look I give him is pleading. I need for him to understand. I need for him to realize how hard this is for me, too. I’m trading my body and my future in the hopes that he’ll keep me safe, because I will end up in that spaceport brothel if he doesn’t give me a chance.

Life is hard for a human in charted space. I’ve learned that over the years. Leandra has carted me around with her on a leash and I’ve been pinched in more places than I realized I had places. I’ve been abused and groped by people who thought she wasn’t paying attention. And I’ve gotten far too many curious, lascivious stares from male aliens who wonder what it’d be like to be on top of a human. Ever since Leandra died, I’ve been all too aware of these things. I’m alone in the universe and no one will help me if I get in trouble. If an alien grabs me and rapes me and another alien comes along? I’m more likely to be raped by the newcomer than rescued. No one thinks humans are real people.

So…I’m stuck. And I need this man’s help desperately.

“It’s illegal to own a human,” he says slowly, his expression as hard and unforgiving as ever. “But I’m supposed to marry you?”

“You just want company, right? Help around the farm? I can do that. I don’t need to be mesakkah. A human can help out just as easily.”

“Can you, now?” Emvor tilts his head at me. “You good with beasts?”

I smile, eager. “Yes! I actually took care of Leandra’s menagerie and read several farming manuals on the trip out here. I’m acquainted with what needs to be done and how to take care of them. I grew up on a farm back on Earth, so I’m positive I can be helpful.”

He grunts. “You’re half the size of a mesakkah female and I’d wager half as strong. What happens if I need help hauling hay for the meat-stock?” 

I’ve been preparing for questions like this. “A farm mech can help with those sorts of things just as easily as a mesakkah. You don’t need me for carrying. We both know that.”

He doesn’t admit that I’m right, that the robotic mechs probably do most of the farming. Instead, his expression gets more and more remote and I can’t help but feel like I’ve said something even worse. He looks me up and down after another silent moment, and his expression is as cold as ever. “And I’m supposed to take you to my bed? Get you with child so no one can take you away?”

I have to admit, that was part of my plan. If I’m a parent to his children, and they’re even part mesakkah, I’ll be safe. “I realize we’re differing species, but I’ve been working with a fertility doctor, thanks to my old owner, and I’ve been taking hormone supplements. I can get pregnant at any point within the next two months and after that, I can take additional supplements to extend my fertility.” 

Emvor’s expression is impossible to read. “Well, you’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“I tried to,” I say nervously. So much rides on his decision.

“Everything except how I might feel about being tricked and being forced to take a runt of an alien for my wife.”

I flinch at the anger in his voice and remain where I am as he storms away. I knew he’d be mad. I’m just hoping he’s the type that gets over his anger easily. That maybe he can see I’ll be just as good as any other woman he wanted to marry. He wasn’t picky about looks in his bride request, so why should my humanness matter? We’re so remote from most civilized hubs in the galaxy that no one will ever come out here looking for contraband aliens. I’ll be safe…as long as he lets me stay.

I need to convince him that I can be the right woman for him. So, even though I’m tired, I change clothes and get to work.