Two males appeared at the bridge entrance while behind him and Gweneth, four Scothage males stalked forward, brandishing stunners.
“How did they get loose?”the Scothage captain demanded.
“Who are they?”the big man at his side asked.
The newcomer stood taller than the captain and appeared older with a spare yet muscular frame.His face bore a network of tiny scales, and two slightly curled horns extended from his bald skull.An aurora of power simmered from him, but Ellard had never seen a male of this species before.A quick glance at Gweneth told him she hadn’t either.
“They be with the Incorporeals,” the captain said.“We be ransoming them.”
The horned man stared at them both until Ellard wondered why, then the man smiled, and a chill raced down Ellard’s spine.Whatever the horned man’s thoughts, they didn’t bode well for their safety.
“How fortuitous,” the horned man crooned.
Fear licked Ellard now, and he felt Gweneth sidle closer, as if she experienced the same foreboding.They were outnumbered.Nowhere to run.Nowhere to hide.
“The Incorporeals will require food.You will produce it for them.”
Gweneth gave a soft gasp, and every muscle in his body tightened.This new arrival knew about the sexual energy necessary for the Incorporeal survival.
“You be feeding them to the other creatures.”Disappointment and a touch of horror filled the Scothage captain’s voice as he saw his unexpected profit slipping away.
“Have no fear,” the horned man said, amusement curling his straight mouth into a mocking joke.“You’ll still have your prisoners once they feed the Incorporeals.You’ll have entertainment too,” he promised, his amusement creating a terrifying expression.“The Incorporeals feed on sexual energy.I thought I’d have to order all your men to touch themselves.It would’ve done in a pinch.This will work much better.”
“Take ’em back to their cell,” the Scothage captain ordered.
Two of the Scothage reivers grabbed Gweneth.She used her knee and got one in the groin before they overpowered her.Ellard bit back his amusement and didn’t resist when the other two reivers pulled their weapons on him.
“A feisty woman,” the horned man said, rubbing his hands—black fingernails, Ellard noted—together.“This feeding will provide great entertainment.I can hardly wait.”
Chapter 13
Gwenethstaredattheman and tried to keep her expression impassive.Did he mean what she thought he meant?A quick glance at Ellard confirmed her horror.This man… He’d truly commanded them to have sex to feed Sheera and Leeam.The sex part, she didn’t mind so much, but if he thought they would do it with him and the Scothage crew watching…
“No,” she said.
“Yes,” the man said, his voice calm.Scary calm.“You will have sex and provide food for the Incorporeals, and before you refuse again, if you don’t, I will give you to the crew.They won’t suffer the same sensibilities.”
“We’ll do it,” Ellard said.
The man rubbed his hands together, flashing those black fingernails again.“I thought you might.Escort them to the cells.I expect my new possessions to be in full health when I come to inspect them.Do not disappoint me.”He strode away without waiting for a reply, each step a confident swagger.
A Scothage pirate grabbed her upper arm and thrust her down the corridor.He bore a black eye and a nasty-looking bump on his temple plus a scowl.“Get off with you.”
Gweneth jerked free and glowered back.“I’m going.No need to push me.”
“Hush, Gweneth,” Ellard murmured, striding to keep up with her.“We don’t want to upset them.”
“It’s too late for that,” Gweneth said, eying another of the Scothage reivers who appeared worse for wear.“We should have thought of that before we hit them over the head.”
“Only a few of them.”
Gweneth snorted.
“Enough talkin’,” one of their escorts snarled.He walked with a slight limp and looked familiar.Yes, Gweneth held responsibility for his limp.
Soon they reached the cell area.One of the reivers opened the cell door and gestured for them to enter.He shoved Gweneth on the shoulder and pushed her to the back of the cell.Ellard followed secs later, and they both turned to watch the reivers lock the door.With the cell secured, both parties glared at each other.
“Lock the main door too.Make sure they can’t escape again,” one of the reivers ordered.
