Chapter Four

 

Fuck!

Saffron had no idea what was going on but she knew that going with these guys was the last thing she wanted to do. She couldn’t believe that they thought she was Moroco’s pet. What the hell?

Did she look like some dog?

She glanced around Moroco at the guy who lay in the bed. He looked just like these other dudes. Strange silver skin, black wings, huge. Really huge. They all wore rusty red colored plates over their chests, like plates of armor.

How did they tell each other apart? She couldn’t see much difference. The guy who spoke seemed a little taller than the two guys behind him but other than that there wasn’t any other way to tell who was who. She got another whiff of their scent. Rain on a hot pavement. That’s what it reminded her of and she felt a sense of longing for home.

“I will come with you, but my pet stays.”

She ground her teeth together. Don’t react. Don’t give them the satisfaction. She knew Moroco was trying to protect her. She might have thought it sweet, if he’d made the slightest bit of effort to explain that she wasn’t his pet.

“No. It comes with us. It can obviously speak and we do not need your people delaying us from leaving. Not when there are those who hunt us.”

“Tie her up and gag her,” Moroco suggested.

What the hell? Was he serious? She glared at his back. Just wait until she got him alone…

Coming to see him had been such a bad idea. Madness. Right now, she could be back in the small house she shared with the Ashleys. And Moroco would be facing these guys alone. He would disappear and she would’ve had no idea where he’d gone. That would have tormented her. There was no way she could have left Zerconia without knowing he was okay.

“No. Anyone could come in here and find it.”

It. She took a deep, slow breath. She just had to keep her cool. Surely, there would be an opportunity to escape. These guys had to get themselves, their unconscious friend, as well as her and Moroco to wherever their ship was hidden, that wasn’t going to be easy to do without being detected. Especially in broad daylight.

Come to think of it, she wondered how they’d managed to get in here without anyone noticing. It wasn’t like they blended in.

“Get Marcun ready for teleportation.”

“Wait,” Moroco yelled, grabbing hold of her shirt. “I don’t know if she can teleport safely!”

What did that mean? Teleport safely?

Then suddenly, she was spinning. Pure agony engulfed her, it felt like she was being ripped from limb to limb. When she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore—and boy those people who said you would pass out if the pain was bad enough were wrong—she landed against something cool and hard.

Her body shook. Long, hard shakes that made her feel like her teeth were going to rattle right on out of her jaw. Her stomach lurched and she gagged, heaving.

“Easy. Easy.” A warm hand landed against her back, rubbing. “Just take small, shallow breaths. It will get easier. Your body has had a shock.”

She knew she should recognize that voice but she couldn’t seem to get her brain to think. She grabbed hold of her head, whimpering as razor-sharp whips of pain slashed her head. Where was she? What the hell had happened?

She felt truly, truly awful. Another tremble rocked her body. Heat filled her, making her gasp followed by cold shivers that made her feel like her very bones were rattling.

“Easy. Nice, slow breaths. In and out.”

She might not recognize the voice. But it was calm and soothing. Eventually, the pain grew to a manageable level, the trembles slowing so there was more space between each one. She raised her head to stare into his face. Moroco.

Everything flooded back.

“W-where?” she got out.

He looked around, his face pale. There was a pinched look to his mouth, and he grimaced slightly as though in pain. “The Sky Warrior’s ship, I presume.”

It came flooding back. Sneaking into medical. The freaky angel things. Pet. Then indescribable pain.

Oh, fuck.

 

Moroco took one deep breath, then another. A shudder worked its way through his body and he fought the urge to lose what little food he had in his stomach. When he had first come out of teleportation, he’d been confused. Uncertain where he was. And in a lot of pain.

It had taken him a few seconds to realize that those whimpering noises he heard were coming from the small body curled up a few feet away from him. Then it had all come back to him in a rush.

A furious Saffron following him into the Sky Warrior’s room. Horror filling him as he realized they weren’t alone. Being transported, his fear that Saffron wouldn’t survive.

He cursed the weakness filling his body as he rubbed her back, talking to her calmly, quietly. This was only the second time he’d experienced teleportation and the pain was almost unbearable. Zerconian bodies weren’t made for that sort of travel and from the way Saffron reacted he could tell that human bodies weren’t either.

Although thank the stars she had survived it. Many species wouldn’t have.

Fury filled him. They hadn’t even known that she could be teleported. They could have killed her.

He studied her. Her face looked deathly pale. There were dark smudges under her eyes, her cheeks sunken. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face drained of color, her lips cracked and dry.

 “What the fuck did those assholes do to us?”

Moroco brushed a piece of hair back from her face, his fingertips brushing against her skin and realized he was still wearing the gloves he’d put on to examine her.

“They teleported us onto their ship,” he said grimly. He studied her critically. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been on a five-day bender and just woke up.” Another shudder worked its way through her and he grabbed hold of her as she shook and moaned. His anger grew. Once they got out of here and he got her someplace safe, he was going to return and murder these assholes. Slowly.

“Bender?” He looked around them as he spoke. Gray walls greeted him. The room was small and dark with just one light overhead. There wasn’t a bit of furniture, no storage containers, nothing that might provide some means of escape. Not that he was feeling up to fighting his way out of here right now.

“Doesn’t matter. I feel awful.”

“Yes. You look awful.”

“Thanks. I can always rely on you to be honest, can’t I?”

She was frowning now. She was upset with him? But for what?

“Yes. I am always honest. Would you prefer I lie?” The look on her face indicated such.

“Sometimes, a little white lie to spare someone’s feelings isn’t a bad thing, you know.”

“Lie’s do not have color.” Had he somehow injured her feelings? “Human females are confusing.”

“Yes, I’ve heard your opinion about us often enough. You think we’re all inferior idiots.”

“I do not believe I said that.”

She gave him a look. Another shiver racked her body and he ran his hand up and down her back. She moved away from him. “Don’t.”

“I am trying to help you.”

“Well, just don’t.”

Were those tears in her eyes? Alarm surged through him. What would he do if she started to cry? He did not know how to fix tears. He could fix injuries, illness, something that was broken. But feelings were out of his realm of understanding.

“You are in pain. You feel ill. I am a healer. It is my job to heal you.”

“And I’m telling you that I don’t want you to touch me.” She took a deep shuddering breath. “They teleported us? What does that mean?”

“I do not know that you would understand.”

“For God’s sake, Moroco. I get it. I’m stupid. You don’t have to ram your opinion down my throat. Just explain it to me in little teeny tiny words so I might understand.”

He had not meant that he thought she was too stupid to understand. “You are angry at me.”

“Give the man two hundred dollars and let him pass go.”

“Will you speak sense?” She was not the only one who was angry. If she had just listened to him, she would not be in this predicament.

“I meant that nobody really understands how they transport. Not much is known about the Sky Warriors.”

“Sky Warriors. Cute name. Can they really fly with those wings?”

“Yes.”

“Why does no one know much about them?” Another shiver racked her body and she whimpered, leaning over and dry heaving. He longed to help her. But she had told him not to touch her. He hated to see her in such pain.

“As close as I can understand it, they change the molecular make-up of our bodies and that is why it is so painful.”

“You don’t seem to be in pain.”

“A warrior does not reveal his pain to others.”

“You’re not a warrior. You’re a healer.”

“I was trained as a warrior first.”

Sweat coated her face, and strands of dark brown hair were now stuck to her forehead. Her face was flushed and red. And still, he thought her beautiful. He had to stop thinking like this. She was impulsive. Foolish. Annoying.

“So now we’re on their spaceship? Because they want you to take care of their injured friend? Why bring me?”

“Because you would be able to tell the others what happened. They wanted to make certain they got a fast getaway. Their ship must have been just outside our airspace. I am surprised they could teleport so far.”

It was no wonder they were having such a bad reaction if they had teleported them that far, although he was beginning to feel much stronger.

 Saffron groaned as her leg started to spasm. “Oh God. Oh God.” She reached for her calf, whimpering, her cries filling the room.

“It is a cramp.”

“I know it’s a cramp! Do something!” she yelled.

“That would involve touching you.”

“Then touch me. Touch me.”

He reached for her calf, pushing her skirt out of the way and pressed into the spasming muscle, massaging it.

She screamed. “No! Stop! Stop!”

He shook his head. “I must keep up the pressure. It is painful, I know. But the pain will fade soon.”

“Painful! It’s not fucking painful! It’s excruciating. Stop, please, stop!”

He had to harden himself to her pleas, surprised at the urge to give in to her. This was what was best for her and he didn’t shy away from doing what had to be done. But he still didn’t enjoy that he was adding to her pain.

Finally, the cramping muscle eased out.

He ran his hand up and down her calf soothingly.

Her breath came in shuddering gasps and she wiped her hand over her face with a grimace. “Gross. I don’t suppose you have a tissue?”

Fluid was leaking from her eyes and nose and it appeared to making her uncomfortable. He grasped hold of the bottom of his shirt and quickly wiped her face clean. She attempted to shy away, but he held the back of her head until he had dried her face.

Red stained her cheeks once more and she glanced away. “T-thanks. For helping with the cramp and well, wiping my face. You were very…um…thorough.”

He nodded. He prided himself on being thorough. He looked at her leg once more. “Lie back.”

“Pardon?”

“We need to stretch out your muscles. Lie on your back.”

“I’m only wearing a skirt.”

“I am a healer. I have seen legs before.”

“No, I mean I’m only wearing a skirt. I don’t have underwear on. There’s nothing on under my skirt. It’s been a bad week for laundry.”

He frowned slightly.

“I suppose you never run out of clean clothes,” she grumbled as she lay back and tucked the front of her skirt under her ass. He turned his gaze away. “You probably have all your chores set for different days. Monday is laundry. Tuesday is cleaning the bathroom. Wednesday is making soap. Thursday is cleaning the floors. There, I’m covered now.”

“Why would I make soap?”

“I don’t know. Ignore me, I’m babbling.”

He grabbed her right leg then pulled it up and holding it straight, pushed it gently forward.

“Oh. Oww.”

“You are very tight.”

“That’s what men like, right?”

“What?”

“Sorry. Being crude. Don’t mind me. I tend to get mouthy when I’m being held prisoner. What can I say? Fear makes me talkative.”

“You talk a lot no matter what the circumstances.”

“That’s me, a regular chatterbox. Ouch! Easy!”

“We must stretch out the muscles. Had I known you were so tight, I would have recommended stretching exercises for you before now. How often do you exercise?”

“Um, have you looked at me? Do I look like I exercise?”

He studied her. “I do not understand. How is looking at you supposed to tell me whether you exercise?”

“I’m fat, Moroco. Surely you have to have noticed the extra sponge I’m carrying.”

He shook his head. “You think you are overweight?”

“I don’t think it, I know it. Look, I know I’m not a beauty. Sophie got all the looks and I’m perfectly okay with that.”

How could she think so poorly about herself? She was beautiful. She had long, dark hair that was thick and lush. Brown eyes that sparkled, especially when she was in the middle of a temper, and curves he had admired too many times to count. He did not like this view she seemed to have of herself, that she was somehow less attractive than her sister. Personally, Sophie was too fragile for him.

“I’ve tried so many diets but none of them ever work. In fact, half the time I end up fatter than when I started.”

“Diets? You restrict your food intake?”

“That’s generally what a diet is. Ow, ouch. That’s hurting.”

He eased off on the stretch, realizing that he’d been pushing too hard. He stepped back and she sat up slowly. “Thanks, that feels better.”

“You should not be restricting your diet, you will do that no longer.”

“I will? You know you have a real knack of making everything sound like an order.”

“Because when I speak to you it is an order.”

She rolled her eyes. “And you wonder why you and I clash.”

“I do not wonder about that. We clash because you are disobedient and reckless. You should have obeyed me earlier when I told you to leave the room in medical. Now, we find ourselves here.”

“That’s not my fault,” she protested. “Even if I hadn’t been there they would have taken you. And then you would be here alone.”

“Which would be vastly preferable!” Then he wouldn’t have to worry about her getting hurt. He wouldn’t have to protect her. He wouldn’t have this fear filling him at the thought of something happening to her that he couldn’t prevent.

“Right. Of course, because you’d much rather be here alone than with me.”

Yes. He bit back the word, seeing the way she hunched over as though in pain. “You being here is a complication.”

“Uh-huh.” She tightened her arms around her legs, which were pulled up against her chest. She looked so small, so defenseless. Normally, he had little care for how his words affected others. It wasn’t as though he spoke to many females, especially human females, and other warriors did not care that he was abrupt and bad-tempered.

But he did not like that he had hurt this little female.

He sighed. “I now have you to worry about as well.”

“I get it. I fucked up. You wish I wasn’t here. Next time, I’ll run away and let you get taken by the big, bad aliens on your own, okay?”

She understood. Good. “Yes.”

“I’m not some weak idiot who you have to protect. I can take care of myself.”

She obviously had no idea of the danger they were in. Perhaps that was for the best. It would stop her from being too fearful. He was not a man who enjoyed hysterics or tears. He shuddered at the thought.

“What’s wrong? You look like you’re going to vomit or hit someone. I’m not sure which.”

He watched her attempt to move around, saw her wince with pain.

“You should be doing stretches every day.”

“I’ll take that under advisement. In fact, I could get started right now. Not like there’s anything else to do around here. They could at least provide us with a bathroom.” She looked around, her eyes growing wide. “We’ve really been kidnapped, haven’t we?”

He could see that this was just starting to sink in.

“Yes, we have.”

She stood, swaying slightly. He reached for her, clasping hold of her arm to steady her. “Easy.”

“Sorry. Guess I stood too fast.” She looked up at him, those beautiful brown eyes filled with alarm. “How are we going to get out of this?”

 

Saffron could feel herself starting to panic. Logically, she knew that panicking wasn’t the answer, it wasn’t going to help anything. But still, she couldn’t seem to stop the fear coursing through her. Those other alien dudes had been freakishly cold. She could tell they wouldn’t think twice about killing them. In fact, she was kind of surprised they hadn’t killed her rather than bring her along.

“You are frightened.”

Duh. “Yes. Aren’t you?”

He shook his head, looking calm. “No. They need us. They would not have brought us with them if they intended to kill us.”

“They need you. I’m just a pet. Seriously, in what realm would I be considered a pet?”

“Indeed. I found that difficult to believe, also.”

“Thank you.”

“After all, any pet of mine would be much more obedient and well-behaved.”

“Hey, what? Obedient? Well-behaved? Are you kidding? No, of course you’re not kidding. You never kid.” She ran her hand over her face. “I can’t believe that the only reason you think I wouldn’t be your pet is because I’m not obedient enough. I’m a person. Not an animal.”

“There are many races who keep other species as pets. Who would probably keep a human as their pet.”

Her mouth dropped open. All right, she had to stop doing that. She knew it wasn’t attractive.

“I can’t believe this. So, they really do think I’m your pet?”

“Yes, a very disobedient one. What did you think you were doing, following me into that room?”

“I was angry at you! You were refusing to listen to me.”

“That is no excuse for the way you disobeyed me. As soon as you saw there were strangers present, you should have deferred to me as your minder.”

She raised her hands again. “There you go again. You aren’t in charge of me!”

“Until we are rescued or I find a way to free us, you will do exactly as I say. No more doing whatever you wish and foolishly putting yourself at risk. Understand?”

“I understand that you think pigs are about to fly.” She snorted.

“What? Why do you wish to speak of flying pigs?”

“I’m saying that in your dreams will I obey you. I have a mind of my own. You guys all think you have to look after the little woman. I know how to look after myself; I’ve been doing it a long, long time.”

“This is a situation you know nothing about. Sky Warriors are dangerous. One wrong look from you and they could kill you without a qualm.”

He moved closer to her and she had to force herself to hold her ground. “I am male. I am stronger. I have more fighting experience. And they believe you are my pet. Do you know how close I came to having to punish you in front of them? Is that what you want?”

“You’d enjoy that, wouldn’t you?” she muttered.

“Believe me the idea of it is growing more attractive by the minute.”

Asshole.

“Do you want them to find out that you’re not my pet? Because I can tell you what they’ll do then. They’ll either separate us or they will kill you. Is that what you wish?”

“Of course it’s not,” she replied, but her voice had lost its strength. Be separated from him? Fear filled her at the thought of being alone here.

“Fine. I won’t argue with you when they’re around, is that what you want?”

“No. What I want is for you to obey me without argument, whether they are close by or not.”

She snorted. “Don’t ask for much, do you?”

“You are not making things easy for me. You cannot lead them to believe that you mean nothing to me.”

Ouch. Wow, he knew how to pack a punch.

“When we are around them I’ll be an obedient little pet who will hang on your every word. Happy, now?”

“Not in the slightest. I will be happy once we are safe and free.”

“Your people will come for you, right?” Fear sent chills through her or was that the reaction to being transported? Right now, she wasn’t so sure.

“Yes. But as they have no idea where we are, it will likely take them awhile. Our best hope is that once their packmate is well that the Sky Warriors will drop us off at a port and I can call for help.”

“So what do we do in the meantime?”

“You do nothing. You will trust me to get us out of here.”

“I don’t trust anyone but Sophie.”

“Then you will have to start. I will not let any harm come to you, Saffron.”

Warmth filled her. “I’m surprised you care.”

“So am I.”

Right. Because she meant nothing to him. Coming to see him had been a bad idea. In more ways than one. Now she was stuck on a strange spaceship, headed God knows where.

And she had to pretend to be his obedient pet.

Someone, somewhere was definitely pissed off at her.

“You really think they’ll kill me if they know I’m not your pet?”

He swung around to her. “That is the last time you say that you’re not my pet, understand? From now on, that is exactly what you are. It’s not a pretense. It is our reality until we are safe. Because if you forget and allow them to see that you are not under my protection then yes, they could easily kill you. It is obvious you are not Zerconian. They may not believe you have the protection of Zerconia. Sky Warriors are very loyal to each other, but they do not like or have time for other races. They would not understand that the Emperor might go to war with them over you.”

Saffron was pretty certain he wouldn’t go to war over her.

“If you are my pet you have my protection.”

Part of her wasn’t certain that he wasn’t punking her. Except Zerconians didn’t really joke around.

“I know this will be difficult for you.”

“You have no idea.”

“But you need to try, Saffron. I am serious. You keep disobeying me and they might wonder why I am not punishing you. If they insist that I punish you in front of them then we are both going to be placed in a difficult and uncomfortable situation.”

Great. Just wonderful. This situation just kept growing more and more impossible.

“If I’m your pet then you can’t act like touching me will give you some terrible disease.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You practically jump away from me every time I come close to you. Which is weird, considering you offered to show me your cock.”

“That was a mistake.”

“Yeah, don’t worry. I got that message loud and clear. Is it some sort of phobia?” she asked, curiously. Or did it have something to do with his mate dying?

Although part of her wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Not that she thought he had killed her. She just wasn’t sure she could stand listening to him talk about the woman he’d loved. It would be self-torture, knowing how little he thought of her.

You mean nothing to me.

He pulled at something on his wrists and tugged a pair of gloves off. She hadn’t realized he was still wearing those things.

“I do not have a phobia of touch.”

“Good to know. What are you doing?” she asked as he lay down on the cold, hard floor and closed his eyes.

“Sleeping.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now. I have had very little sleep these past few days and I will need to be at full strength to deal with all of this. Provided you remain quiet long enough for me to fall asleep.” He opened one eye and glared at her. “Do you think you are capable of doing that?”

“Yes, of course I am.”

Maybe.