“That’s it.” His meaty hand curls around my throat and squeezes. “A firm hand and you’re docile as a kit.”
I blink up at him as suddenly something clicks, and all my fight comes roaring back. I scratch my claws down his face, leaving a bloody trail behind. He howls, and his fingers tighten around my throat. Jamming my palm under his chin, I pry my other fingers under his littlest finger, wrenching it back until there is a crunch. He screams, and his grip loosens enough that I’m able to shift under him. I try to knee him in the stones, but he manages to dodge my aim.
I growl in frustration. My cunt is throbbing, and the pressure he’s putting there makes me want to vomit.Kurvinghelp me, Iwantmore of the pressure between my legs. But not from him.Neverfrom him. There is only one male whose touch can ease me, and it’s not this male!
Like a vengeful spirit, Brox appears over the guard’s shoulder, teeth bared and eyes wild.
“Youdaretouch my female,” Brox growls just before he rips one of my knives out of his back, only to bury it into the side of the guard’s neck.
Blood sprays, and the male falls to the side with a gurgling scream.
Stepping over the guard’s twitching body, Brox lifts me into his arms, and, without so much as a glance at the dying male, he runs with me toward theShade.This time he doesn’t stop until we’re safely locked inside.
CHAPTERTEN
BROX
* * *
“Igid, did he hurt you? Please, tell me what’s wrong,” I beg her as the door to theShadeslides shut behind us. She’s curled into a tight ball in my arms, and her face is scrunched tight with pain. I can’t see or smell any blood on her, except for the spray across her cheek from the guard. What I do smell is the most enticing bouquet. A scent that has my head spinning and my cock trying to punch through my pants.
“Just…take me to my room,” she grits between her clenched teeth.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t take you to the medbot?” What if she has an internal injury? My mind is spinning, running through scenario after scenario of what might be the matter.
Igid shakes her head. “No. My room.” She lifts her face to look at me, her expression determined. “Leave me there and do not come back, no matter what you hear. I need you to stay far away from me.”
This throws up all sorts of red flags, but when I force my head to nod, some of the tension leaves her face. How can I not do as she asks?
Carefully, I lay her down on her narrow bunk and watch as she quickly pushes herself so her back is pressed to the wall.
“Thank you,” she pants. “Now, leave.Please.” The last word leaves her lips as a whine and, even though everything in me is screaming not to, I force myself away from her. Clenching my fists, I turn my back on her. It feels wrong, but I do it anyway. Her door slides shut behind me, and each step that takes me away from her is a fight against an unseen force.
Something is wrong. The Igid that has been snapping at me since we left Pamia has been replaced by a stranger. Maybe I should go back and put her in the medbot anyway. My feet shuffle and slow. I start to turn back, but then I make myself stop.
My mind is at all-out war with my body, and I have to remind myself that we need toleavebefore someone finds the guard and comes after us.
Dropping into the pilot’s seat, I bring the engines to a roar and waste no time heading back through the asteroid field. As soon as theShadebreaks through, I hit hyper and then set the autopilot.
When I’m certain that we’re safe enough for now, I comm Pamia.
Rovos appears on the screen, and I sag with relief. “What have you found out?” he asks me before I can say a word.
“The auctioneer confirmed that three females were sold to Madame Athea,” I tell him quickly. “One was sold to a group of raiders, like you said, and the other two were sold to Kurrahstka. But there’s a prob—”
Anna appears at Rovo’s side. “Are you on your way to Kurrahstka’s, then? Is it far?”
“No, it’s not far. But—”
Rovos pulls Anna into his lap. “Annah, Kurrahstka is known for being brutal in how he runs his business.”
Treto appears at Rovos’ side. “You’re going to free the females from Kurrahska? You’ll need backup if you’re going to try.” He shakes his head. “No doubt word of Bela and Skylar’s escape has certainly reached him by now, and he’ll be prepared for anyone wanting to steal the humans.”
I rub two fingers between my eyes. I have no intention of busting into Kurrahstka’s pleasure house to steal the females. Not without an army at my back, but maybe we can do some recon as soon as I find out what is wrong with Igid.
“Where’s Igid?” Rovos asks, finally realizing she isn’t with me.
“I’ve been trying to tell you,” I snap. “Something is wrong; she’s…she’s fallen suddenly ill but won’t let me help her. She begged me to take her to her room and leave her there.”
