“What kind?” another answered.
“It’s been some time since we’ve gone all out on the battlefield. Let’s keep a running count,” the alien replied.
At that moment, I stopped breathing. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room.
“I’ve always been a better shot than you,” the other alien leered.
“I’ve been practicing. I bet a deluxe night with one of the top tier human females that I will kill more than you,” he countered excitedly.
I couldn’t keep quiet. My own well-being ceased to matter. Humans were going to die, and I would not stand for it.
I stood up quickly, grasping a glass of water nearby. I tossed the entirety of it on the nearest computer station that was lit up with a detailed inventory of the weaponry at their disposal. The screen blinked several times and flickered into blackness after a few seconds. I did the same with another, not caring about the consequences.
The room was dead silent. Talyn stood up from his chair, but I stood my ground.
“You cannot kill them. Take them as slaves if you must, but let them live,” I exclaimed.
“Human, it is not your place to decide such things,” Talyn said softly.
I took a step back, glaring at him with anger, then persisted. “Let me go to them. I can try to convince them to surrender.”
His expression darkened and he just shook his head. The other soldiers in the room remained quiet. The tension was palpable between us. The air was practically vibrating with it.
“No. I won’t trust humanity with your life ever again,” he growled. A flash of emotion flickered across his face, but it was gone so quickly that I wasn’t sure if it was real or I’d imagined it.
“Talyn, what if they hurt you? What if they have some new weapon or have some strategy in place that would wound you and your men? What if they kill you?” I pushed. I couldn’t stop. I had to do something, anything that might give humanity some chance at survival.
“You leave me with no choice,” he said quietly.
His words were heavy, and I took a step back, only to find myself cornered by a station behind me. He advanced toward me, and I lifted my chin bravely.
No matter what happened next, I would remain strong. I wouldn’t break for him. Not on something like this.
“You forget that this is no longer your world, human. My kind rules these lands now, but more important, you answer to me. You are to obey me when I give you a command. I can see I’ve been far too lenient with you and I’m going to have to remind you that you belong to me in every way that you can imagine,” he vowed, and I trembled.
I tried to stand my ground when he grabbed my arm. I pulled away from him, but he was much stronger than me and I couldn’t break his hold. He jerked me toward his chest roughly and I cried out. Casually, he wrapped his arm around my neck, pinning my back against him.
The men in the room had all stopped their work. Most of them had sat down and were watching the two of us intently.
That should have scared me, but I was still angry.
“Let me go!” I shrieked.
“Who owns you?” Talyn asks pointedly.
“Fuck off,” I answered brazenly. One of the men watching smirked at my audacity.
Talyn gripped the neckline of the dress in his fingers. With a quick jerk, he tore it down the front. I attempted to knock his hand away and grab the ripped edges, but he brushed my hands away with ease.
He grasped the cloth of my dress and proceeded to rip it to tatters. By the time he was finished, there was nothing left of it to pull back together. I stared down at what remained on the floor. He was so strong. I knew he’d overpower me, but I still fought him anyway.
Without my dress, I was completely naked in front of all his men. I swallowed heavily, finally beginning to feel a bit frightened.
“I’m sorry. Please. Let’s go up to your quarters and talk,” I tried, and he chuckled behind me. The effect of it chilled me to the bone.
“The time for talking is long over,” he replied. I shivered and tried to pull away from him once more. He didn’t allow me to.
He placed a foot on a nearby ledge and tossed me over his leg, suspending me in midair over his thigh.
