She lifted her chin. “You're a fanatic. You're not looking past whatever Source has shown you. Listen to me, Vor. I can't help you or your people. Music can't make you feel something you've . . .” She trailed off, thinking about how deeply music affected her. Not only her. She'd learned early on that music had the power to make people feel things deeply. It awakened emotion, sparked memories, and even summoned laughter. Combining the right words with compelling music and a pleasing voice could create a song that changed a person as easily as magic. Was it magical? No, not like energy granted from the Source of Magic, but it had power over people. Music could bring a crowd to tears or fill them with the determination to fight for a cause. It could soften a heart or harden it. Musicwasmagic.
“Lena?” Vor whispered.
She flinched. Stared at him. Built a wall around her heart. Maybe music could make the Nethren feel something, but it wouldn't change them permanently, and it certainly wouldn't help them get to the surface. Instead of arguing about it with Vor, she pivoted and focused on his personal expectations. “I will never be yours. Not even if you were to become the manyou say you're not and force me into your bed. Still, I will not be yours. Only a prisoner forced to do her captor's bidding.”
Vor's hands clenched. “It's only been a week. You will change your mind. As I have. For now, let's talk about something else. You seemed shocked by my body when I undressed before you. Am I the first man you've seen naked?”
Lena gaped at him. “Excuse me?”
“You looked upon me as if you'd never seen male flesh before. I was curious if you had. Are you a virgin, Lena?”
Lena burst out laughing.
Vor frowned.
“You'd like that, wouldn't you, you male-chauvinist machine-man!”
“Chauvinist?” Vor scowled at her. “I don't believe men are better than women.”
“No, of course not. You just think women aren't as strong as men and should be protected.” Even as Lena sneered, she felt the lie in her words. Not about Vor, but herself. Some women were strong enough to protect themselves, but Lena didn't count herself as one of them. Even worse, she liked the thought of a man protecting her. Her sister would probably grimace at that.
“There are many female soldiers under my command,” Vor said. “I don't believe any of them are in need of protection.”
“Just me?”
As if he could hear her thoughts and wanted to justify them, Vor said, “Yes, because you're different, Lena. You'regentle and kind. You're not a trained soldier. You need to be protected.”
“I see. And so you don't care if I've had sex before?”
“No, of course not.” Vor's eyes twitched. “Have you?”
“Of course, I have!” Lena leaned forward. “I'm thirty-seven years old!”
“I see.” He cleared his throat, his disappointment clear. “Then why did you look at me like that?”
Lena paused, and then lied, “Because you're the first Nethren I've seen naked. I was curious.”
“You were curious about my cock?”
A flush rushed up her neck. “Yes, all right? I had wondered if it would be metal.”
Vor lifted an eyebrow. “Some Nethren men do have metal cocks. As I said, the metal in us is alive. It responds to stimuli like regular flesh.” He laid his hand on the table, palm up, and slid it halfway to her. “I am willing to appease your curiosity anytime you wish.”
Lena shoved his hand away. “You already have.”
He chuckled. “When you're ready for a second look, let me know.”
“No, thank you.”
Vor just nodded and poured her another glass of whiskey.
Chapter Eight
Liria
Liria stood in the open flap of the tent that had been provided for Thax and her, staring at the Nethren standing guard atop the walls of Fortress 6. The bastards would randomly drop the ward, fire upon them, and then reset the ward before Paradefense could respond. They'd already taken out most of their blasters and forced them to move their tents back several yards. There was a constant watch set, but they had to be extra-vigilant, and everyone was on edge.
Night had fallen, but torches and lights from the fortress lit the siege camp. Rinna hadn't left her tent in a week, focused on converging the device to bring down the ward tower. Liria wanted to help, but Rinna was the only one who knew the right frequency. Thax and Liria had helped move the camp, but that had been done on the second day of the siege. There was nothing more for her to do, and it was driving her insane.
