Their actions grew more frantic as the music rose to a crescendo. The males emitted a high-pitched frequency that aligned with the drumbeats. The female shrieked a note that matched the flute-sounds. Then, without warning, all three stiffened, holding their respective notes, until the last beat. When it ended, they collapsed onto each other, a mess of tails and tentacles splayed on the table.
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” Mulo rose from his seat, clapping his paws. Much of the audience did as well, stomping or howling their praise.
I glanced at Tor, who wore a stoic expression.
“And now, for the main course.” A group of aliens emerged from beyond the back wall. It was only then I realized a black curtain hung there, separating the spaces. Three bear-like creatures with wide hips and dead eyes walked toward the capo. A lecherous smile spread across his face. “Come, my lovelies.” Grabbing the closest to him, he pushed her onto cushion. Then, he placed the other two on either side of it. “Let the festivities commence!”
As if unleashed from their chains, the crowd began to move. Several pairs rearranged their seating, while other groups of threes and fours claimed part of the table, the floor, or swinging platforms. Moans and groans quickly took the place of the music, which quieted to a low throbbing beat. Clothes were strewn about the floor.
I had no idea where to look. “I’m, ah…”
“Be at ease, ljona.” Tor grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Nothing will happen to you. Understand?” His gray-purple eyes burned into mine. “No one will come near you.”
A bellowing roar echoed from the capo who was ramming the smaller Mangox female from behind. The other two stroked his furry balls and thrust a dull claw between his ass cheeks. He finished by pushing the first onto her stomach and ignoring the other two. When his beady-eyes turned to me, I shuddered.
“Ah, Commander,” his limp cock, which had been hidden in a pouch of skin before, dangled freely as he stalked toward us, “why do you not partake in the lustrara tempara? It is an insult to the gods to stand idle, when such temptations abound.”
“Our mating rituals are not for prying eyes, Capo.” Tor rose at the Mangox leader’s approach and blocked me from view. I peeked between his legs to gets a glimpse of the interaction.
“Of course!” Mulo’s smile did not reach his eyes. “But the lovely one is not your mate, now is she? Surely, you can participate with a mere slave.”
The commander’s body vibrated with unspent anger. I laid a hand on his back, hoping to help him maintain calm.
The capo continued, “Perhaps, if she’s being unreasonable, you might be willing to sell her.” A barking laugh emanated from the Mangox that chilled my blood. “I am quite talented at breaking recalcitrant slaves.”
The deep, snarling growl that passed Tor’s lips was not that of a sentient being, but a beast on the edge of ripping apart his prey. His feet flew faster than I could track as he grabbed the capo by the shirt and held him a foot off the floor. He bared fangs at the bastard, and said one word, “Never.”
