“So, everyone who acted without orders acted without orders.I am a bit of a bitch, but I wouldn’t let that go easily.”
A light glowed in his eye.“That is a good idea.”
“Also, just because someone doesn’t wear marks doesn’t mean they aren’t able to hit.We talked to Margo, and she was a double-bladed fighter.She could have used that jewellery and added a few marks to your face and body.Do you ever wear shirts?”
He spoke absently.“No.”
She laughed.“Hmrain descendant?”
“No, but from a designer experiment that came after Ra.While he was testing one body style, the Zowoth were created to test another.”
“So, what is the deal with the unmarked?”
He shrugged.“They are less likely to assassinate their lover or, at least, in a way we can’t manage.”
“Wow.So, you aren’t afraid of poisons?Needles?Other lovers?”
“We are immune to poison, and another lover would have to get past my guards.It is also why the first coupling is public.Any jealous attacks would occur in front of my guards.”
“That must be wonderful for ladies who just want a quick fuck.”
“They all know the rules.”
“Do they?”She looked at him seriously.“Did she know that she was losing her fighting rank?That she became your property?That she lost rights to leave the women’s quarters?”
He winced.“They should have briefed her.”
“And if she had said no?”
He blinked.“I don’t know.”
“She would have said no.She was in a cell at the arena, in containment at the station, and in a small enclave on Earth, fighting for food for herself and others.She’s been in a trap, and you offered her another.She isn’t going to be near you again if I have a say in it, and I do.”Chloe looked at him with a smirk.
“What?”
“She is one of mine.A child of Terra, and I will rebuild her and make her strong again.I cannot return her child, but I can work on her spirit.”She grinned.“I can make her toxic to the Zowoth, make her stronger than your men here, give her teeth and claws.Things that cannot be fixed in a healing unit.Her soft skin can turn to scales and her lips to ice.All things that can happen if she wishes.”
Chloe watched his panic and outrage.
“Anyway, go clean up your own house.That never should have happened.”
He paused and nodded.“Please don’t change her.”
“I will do with her body what she wants done with her body.”Chloe said softly, “And that will make one of us.”
He nodded and disconnected the call.
Chloe turned to the other men in the room.“Comments?Critiques?He had to be hit with something, or there wouldn’t be an urgency to clean house.”
Baket stared at her.“He’s going to empty the women’s quarters.”
“Yes.And he’s going to take some of the ones that acted against Margo’s interest and going to let them know exactly how many cameras there are in the women’s quarters, near the cells.”Chloe grinned.“In the meantime, I get to tell Margo how many body mod options she has.There are a lot.”
Arven said, “Are you really going to change her?”
“Not more than she wants.But anything she wants, she will have.”
Soven paused.“You are urging her to accept her own skin.”
