Cara scrubbed as much of the filth off her body as she could, banishing the thought.As always, she’d deal with it if it ever happened.She’d learned it was no use dwelling on something that might never come.
When she felt slightly better, slightly more refreshed, she hopped out of the tub, looking at the dirty cloak in dismay.There was no towel to dry herself with so, unless she wanted to roam around naked, she realized she had no choice.
Cringing, she donned the heavy material that smelled like acrid, sour piss, feeling it stick to her damp skin, erasing all feelings of cleanliness that had marginally lifted her spirits just a few moments before.
The room was cramped even with just her inside.A small bed was shoved into the corner, a brown stained-covered blanket draped over top.The tub the alien had dragged out took up the only space in the center of the room.She spied a small chamber pot that emanated a foul smell off to the side.
Better than your cage, she told herself, over and over again.A sense of relief drifted over her.Yes, she would live in that small, dirty room for the rest of her life if it meant she didn’t have to return to her cage.
The moment Cara gingerly sat on the rock-hard mattress, she heard a fist pound on the door, a question.Taking a deep breath, she lifted her voice slightly and said, “Yes.”
The horned alien immediately shoved himself through the small, narrow doorway and locked and latched the door behind him.
Again, she felt breathless looking at him.His eyes were glued to the opening of her hood, as if still trying to peer inside.She wondered why he didn’t just rip it off if he wished to see her.
The intense blue of his gaze made her belly warm and she turned her head away, feeling a flush in her cheeks.It was a combination of shame and desire, which irritated and confused the hell out of her.
Cara cleared her throat, shielding her body with her arms, but the alien spoke before she could.
“Are you hungry, female?”
Her eyes flashed up to his.It was strange looking at someone, knowing they couldn’t see your own facial expressions.
She’d been hungry ever since she’d been abducted.Considering her chosen profession was in the food industry, she was always around food, always tasting, sampling.She’d never felt the type of gnawing hunger that plagued her every single day in the Pit.
So, she told him honestly, “Yes.”
The alien’s lips turned down slightly, as if her answer displeased him, but she couldn’t understand why it would.Then he asked, “Did they not feed you?”
Brows furrowed, she replied quietly, “Once a day, but never enough.”
In alarm, Cara watched his fists clench at his sides.His fingers were tipped in long, sharp claws and they cut into his flesh easily, blood beginning to drip.In reaction, her automatic response was to huddle her body, curving her spine towards her thighs…and she hated it.She hated how fearful, how afraid she’d become.She wondered if her own father would recognize her, if he’d still been alive.
The alien hissed when he saw her reaction and immediately took a step away, which, for some reason, shocked her.
A heavy moment of silence stretched thin between them.Cara eyed him warily, all while drops of blue blood pooled on the floor beneath his palms.
Then he spoke, his voice like a whisper of rough velvet across her skin.“Female, I will not harm you.Never.If you trust in nothing else, trust in this.I give you my vow as a Luxirian war—” he cut himself off, something crossing his expression that made Cara want tocomforthim of all things.He simply ended with, “I give you my vow.”
Cara felt her heart pounding deep in her throat.Nothing would ever make her trust him completely.She doubted she could trust anyone fully again.Regardless, she felt her body release its defensive position, uncurling slowly.
After another moment of silence, Cara licked her dry lips and murmured, “Your hands will need wrapping.”
His sparse brows thinned to a line and he glanced down.He seemed surprise when he saw the blood, as if he hadn’t felt the pain of slicing into his own hand.
He simply said, “It will heal.”
Then, he reached into a pocket near his waist, retrieving a small metal tin.Cara heard something rustle around inside, piquing her curiosity.
His blood smeared the outside of the tin, but he popped open the lid and held it out for her.
“What is it?” she asked, peering down.Inside were dark, flaky rectangular chips of something, no bigger than a business card.
“Travel rations,” he replied.“Just one should fill you.”
Cara swallowed.“Just one?”Judging by the size, it looked as if it wouldn’t keep a mouse full.But she couldn’t be picky.Food was food.And she hadn’t eaten since…yesterday, wasn’t it?
As she gently pulled a flake off the small stack, he said, “Tev.It expands.”
