“I do hope everything’s all right in there,” Murgen called from outside.
Shay struggled against the guard’s hold, lips peeled back to bare her teeth; she was ready to tear Vanya to pieces. “I’ll fucking kill you if you touch her! I swear I’ll?—”
An electric current blasted through Shay’s body, locking all her muscles and sparking a white-hot flash in her brain, more intense than any migraine. Though it must only have lasted an instant, the fiery agony beneath her skin felt like it had persisted for hours and didn’t immediately fade when the current ceased. Her knees buckled, and her muscles spasmed in the aftermath of the shock collar’s pulse. The guard grunted and held her upright by her biceps.
Arms drawn in close to her stomach—with one hand at her holocom’s control screen—Vanya straightened and snarled, “Get thatji’tasout.”
The guard dragged Shay toward the open doors. She had no control over her twitching limbs, no feeling in her fingertips. She understood now why Murgen had never used such force on her while she was his prisoner—there was no doubt in her mind that it would have caused her to lose her baby.
She slitted her eyes as she emerged from the transport; the lights outside were bright and pure, possessing a quality that was dreadfully familiar to her. Once they’d adjusted, she was unsurprised to find herself in a large room—a loading bay or garage—with the same sleek, clean walls that made up most of Murgen Foltham’s zoo.
Murgen himself was standing a few meters away from the transport, grinning around his big stupid tusks with his hands folded over his gut. He was flanked by Nostrus and severalsecurity guards.
“Give me a hand in here,” called the guard still inside the transport.
Two of his comrades, dressed in the same suits as all the guards—a strange blend of military and upper-class fashion—hurried into the transport. The vehicle shook, and the guards cursed and shouted amidst Drakkal’s snarls, which halted abruptly after another pained growl.
A few seconds later, the three guards dragged Drakkal’s limp form out of the transport. His eyes were open, and his fangs were bared, but he was unable to resist them; what could he have hoped to do, anyway?
What hadshehoped to do?
Vanya stepped out of the transport carrying Leah’s box. She set it on the floor before Murgen. Leah was still unconscious.
Cold, nauseating fear slithered through Shay as she stared at her daughter, who looked far too pale. Leah was so small, so fragile. Had that gas harmed her? If it’d been potent enough to put down Shay and Drakkal, what had it done to Leah?
Murgen’s grin widened. He placed his hands on his thighs and ponderously squatted to examine Leah. “Fascinating. I wonder, are terran infants usually so lethargic?” He frowned and swung his gaze up to Vanya. “You didn’t damage it, did you?”
“It’ll wake eventually,” she replied nonchalantly. “Needed a stronger dose of gas for the other two. It always hits the small ones harder.”
Murgen glanced down again and tapped a thick finger on the glass. “You certainly achieved results, even if you were slow in delivering. I must admit to having had my doubts about you, azhera. These months have been troubling. I wondered if I had made a mistake hiring a being like you to hunt your own.” He straightened with a soft grunt and glanced at Drakkal, his lipsdropping into a displeased scowl. “I’ve not been impressed by the trustworthiness of your people before now.”
“You hired me to do the job, I wanted to do it right. Your cargo is delivered, more-or-less unharmed, and there’s no trail linking you back to it. That takes time. You got what you wanted in the end.”
“Yes, I did.” Murgen’s grin returned, and he approached Shay.
She glared up at him as he reached for her hair. He took several strands of it in his meaty hand and forced Shay’s head to one side, then the other.
He touched the raised scars on her shoulder. “Bite marks, hmm? Has that azhera already been breeding with you? I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised; he had that desire in his eyes the day he stole you away. Perhaps we’ll be lucky, and his seed will have taken root already. If not, we’ll just have to find another suitable specimen.”
Vanya growled, but it was cut short when she said, “I want the male.”
Murgen’s eyes widened, and he shifted his gaze back to the female azhera. Shay froze.
No!
“No,” Nostrus snapped; Drakkal snarled at the same instant.
Without looking at the volturian, Murgen lifted a hand and waved his fingers, as though to quiet Nostrus. “The male azhera was part of the deal. Changing the agreement at the last moment is not something I’m inclined to accept. It’s…rude.”
“I’ll make it worth the insult I’ve caused,” Vanya said.
Shay pressed her lips together and bit back her words.Nothing; there was nothing she could do. Vanya would only shock Shay into compliance the instant she spoke out. She looked first at Leah, then at Drakkal, who was on his kneeswith two guards holding his shoulders forward so he couldn’t straighten. Her mate and her daughter were her world, and she was completely helpless. She couldn’t save them.
Nostrus stepped forward and opened his mouth, but another sharp wave from Murgen silenced him.
A thoughtful sound rose from Murgen’s throat, and his neck flesh expanded. “I’m intrigued enough to hear what you have to say. Please.”
“He’s an escaped slave, wanted on Caldorius,” Vanya said. “Big reward for this one. I’ll waive the fee for capturing him and split the profit I make from hauling him back to his masters with you.”