The pod chose that moment to propel down the chute and out into space as she cried out and buried her face in my neck. My arms tightened their hold and I cradled her close as the velocity didn’t allow any further movement once we reached max speed. I wasn’t aware how long we traveled this way. All knowledge flew out of my head. I was in a fog, dazed by the experience we just shared. A part of me hoped it would last forever. I never wanted to release her from my touch.
That one kiss had decided everything in less than the blink of an eye.
She wasmine. Truly. If ever I doubted, it was now no longer possible.
I had to find a way to keep this female close. Somehow. Some way. I couldn’t entertain the idea of walking away from Kerra once we returned to Vindar. It was no longer an option.
The screens lit up as we approached our destination. I already knew where we were headed and decided it was best not to mention the planet before we arrived. Kerra would have too many questions and she currently had enough to worry about.
“We’re almost to the planet’s atmosphere. It’s going to be bumpy.”
She whimpered as the little pod shook and flames licked up the outside of the small vessel. Colors of red and tangerine mixed with a cool blue and vivid purple. The window above us rattled as she gripped my arms tighter. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she missed our grand, fiery entrance. I was glad. My human was entirely too fearful at times. Her anxiety became my own and the less I had to worry about, the better.
The pod began to slow and evened out where moments ago we had been moving with the nose pointed downward. Landing gear popped out beneath us and made loud clicking noises as she trembled.
“Almost there,” I whispered, placing another kiss by her temple.
The pod banged through a few trees and we landed roughly. The hull bounced a few times and then skid along the ground for a full minute before coming to a complete stop. I didn’t dare to inhale a deep breath until I was sure that we were safe on solid ground.
“Where are we?”
“Altos.”
Chapter 11 – Kerra
“What kind of planetis this again?” I was certain I didn’t hear Tok correctly.
We spent the last half hour disguising the pod with various plant life and tree branches. He must have been worried that we were followed or tracked but he didn’t say so aloud. I was ready for answers now that I was no longer afraid of dying. He seemed reluctant to confide much information which only made me want to know more.
“Slavers, public auctions,” he repeated with disgust as I shifted from foot to foot.
“Slavers?” I gulped loudly. “As in human trafficking?”
“All lifeforms are trafficked, sold, bought, and abused on this planet. There is no government. Altos is undeclared in the system and as such the Galactic Conclave does not recognize its existence. Because of that, there’s no protection for those taken to the outer rim of the galaxy. Heed my warning,hoy’nva. Do not move from my side.Ever,” he emphasized.
I slid my hand around his arm and nodded. “Not a problem.”
