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Daddy reaches over my head, grabs something, and brings it to my line of sight.

It’s a stuffed animal. I don’t recognize the species, but it’s cute. It’s pink and fluffy.

“I held it in my arms while I was working this morning and you were still sleeping. So it should smell like me.” He gives it a shake, and I take it from him, tentatively, uncertain whether I’m allowed to.

I bring it to my face. It’s even softer than it looks, and it smells so good. Exactly like Daddy. I press it against my nose, taking deep breaths.

“It’s a marn. I think marns are similar to cats you had on Earth. I have a few in the shelter. They’re very sweet creatures. We brought them over from another planet about a decade ago. They’re fully domesticated. I’ll let you meet them soon. Real live marns are even fluffier than that stuffed animal.”

My chest is tight. He’s being so kind. What a sweet gesture. He got me a gift, and he went to the trouble of making sure it smelled like him. I’m going to cry.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“You’ll need to name him,” Daddy points out as he cleans my folds with a wet cloth.

“She’s a girl,” I inform him, not looking at Daddy directly.

Daddy chuckles. “Of course. Silly me. Do you have a good name for her?”

This is so babyish. I haven’t had a stuffed animal since I was a toddler. But I remember sleeping with them and feeling comforted by their softness. Why did I stop enjoying their company?

“I’m not sure yet,” I mumble. There’s something so warm about this moment. I feel special. Cherished. I’ve only known Daddy one day, but something shifts between us. I don’t even make a fuss about him changing my diaper.

I moan when he takes his time rubbing ointment on my folds, and I frown when he fastens me into the absorbent material, leaving me needy.

He chuckles as he picks me up. “My Little pet is already so attached to me that her body is greedy and desperate.”

He holds me upright this time, settling me on his hip.

His shirt falls around me, and I grip the stuffed animal in one arm while I settle my head against his shoulder. “Who were those men?” I ask, uncertain whether I’m permitted such impertinence. “And why were you arguing with them?”

Daddy fixes me a bottle while he answers. “Not arguing, Little pet. Frustrated. Those men were from the Pet Adoption Council. They were informing me of the increased threat level.”

I sit taller, lifting my head. “Threat of what?”

“Human pet abductions.” He glances at me as he shakes the bottle.

I gasp.

“I turned off your translator while I met with them so you wouldn’t understand our conversation, but I don’t want you to be uninformed.”

I’m not sure I agree. Maybe it would be better if he kept this detail to himself.

Daddy sits and spins me so that I’m across his lap. He leans me back and brings the bottle to my mouth.

I accept the nipple and start sucking, but I’m tense. I grip his forearm as I swallow.

“A doctor from the Pet Adoption Council is coming in a few minutes. He’s bringing a new kind of tracking device.”

Why would I need more than the collar? It’s already got a tracker in it. Daddy said so. And it’s not removeable, so no one can take it off me.

Daddy rocks me gently. “It’s a precaution, Little pet. I’m adding a few other security changes around here, too.”

I doubt I want to know what those changes are, but he’s going to tell me when he’s ready whether or not I want to know about them and agree to them. I don’t have the option of turning down anything. He’s made it clear that his rules are the law and arguing will only land me over his knees.

When the bottle is empty, he turns me so I’m straddling him and flattens me to his chest, rubbing my back. “You put my shirt on,” he points out.

“I was cold, Daddy.”