Page 76 of Stolen Slave

He left the room and returned several minutes later with a handful of necklace-dress.

“Whoever you speak to will likely ask how soon we will arrive. We’re several jumps away from the Senwar system. In order to get there quickly, I’ll need to stop to refuel. It would be safer for you if we stopped at a Helix station. Tell them we will send them the coordinates of our next destination after I run the jump calculations.” As he talked, he helped me to my feet and fitted the chains around me. His hands were at my waist when I caught his face between my hands.

“You know this isn’t what I meant when I said I shouldn’t be naked, right?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

KHORAHN

Vulnerability reflected in Vya’s gaze, and I struggled not to pull her close and soothe her again. My ambal ached with the need to mark her. To calm her.

“Seeing you dressed in my clothes will not assure them you are with a male who knows how to care for a female. Seeing you in a systems dress will. If they believe you are not being cared for, they will attempt to remove you regardless of what you want. Wearing this will give you the freedom to choose.”

She fingered a piece of mineral waste that hung at the end of the chain over her chest mound and reluctantly nodded.

I helped her straighten everything and sit.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Is there anything I shouldn’t say?” she asked.

“Speak freely. Anything you wish to share with them, you may.” They would know everything about me and my ship as soon as we established the link.

I sent the link request, and the screen pulsed with a light blue light as we waited.

The human female who appeared surprised me since I’d anticipated another Oebri.

Vya’s scent changed, filling with distress as her eyes began watering in earnest.

“Oh, sweetie,” the female said. “I am so sorry I’m not there to hug you in person. My name is Stacy. Is anyone with you? Are you okay?”

Vya nodded and wiped at the moisture trailing down her face. “My name’s Vya. I’m sorry for crying. I just thought I wouldn’t see another human again.”

A spear of despair shot through me. I’d felt the same when Vya admitted she had no wish to breed and wanted to return to her homeworld.

“I bet,” the female said. “Can you tell me what happened? Are you safe?”

“I’m safe,” Vya said, meeting my gaze and smiling. “An amazing man found and rescued me. He’s helped me feel safe again.” She looked at the woman. “I shouldn’t feel safe. Not after what happened.”

And she began her story from the moment she’d woken in the bathhouse. My gut ached with rage as I listened. She talked about her fear when I’d found her, and I longed to hold her and promise her I would always come for her. That she would never be alone again.

When she lifted her watery gaze, looking at me with gratitude, I knew I would never need to come for her again—because I would never leave her. No matter where she was, I would remain at her side and damn the consequences.

“Can you ask your savior to send your scans to us?” the female asked. “We want to ensure you’re fully healed.”

I nodded when Vya looked at me in question.

“He will,” Vya said to the woman.

“I’m curious…is there a reason he’s hiding out of sight?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Vya said, grinning. “He’s completely naked. And he’s convinced this is the prettiest dress he can provide. Not going to lie, but I might have to agree. Do you see the size of this?” She lifted the clear mineral waste at her throat. “I think it’s a real diamond. He was going to throw it away but added it to my dress instead because I liked it. And that was before I had a translator so we could understand each other.”

“He sounds nice then,” the female said.

I could see the uncertainty in her gaze, though.

“He’s very nice,” Vya said. “Different but nice.” She sighed and looked at the female. “I asked him to bring me home. He said it would take a few jumps to get there. He’s planning on stopping at a Helix station—whatever that is—to get more fuel. He said it’ll be safer for me.”

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