Page 83 of Stolen Slave

I didn’t know what to do, and my panic was growing,

Khorahn made an angry sound and flexed harder, breaking Anerman’s hold. Having freed his arms, he thrust his fist up into Anerman’s jaw, knocking the creature so hard his head snapped back. Then, Khorahn gripped Anerman’s tail and pulled hard. I heard something crunch. The guy cried out, arms flailing as his tail fell lifelessly to the ground.

“Anerman Cu Behan, you are being detained in accordance with warrant 75204377,” Khorahn rasped. Then he hit the guy in the forehead with the back of his wrist.

His wrist beeped.

“Warrant 75204377 confirmed,” a voice said.

Anerman was making odd sounds. Growls and pants interrupted with clipped groans.

“Go willingly into stasis, and I will give you a stim to mend your tail. Fight me, and I will break another section. Do we understand each other?” Khorahn asked.

“My ship,” Anerman panted. “You need me.”

“You’re right,” Khorahn rasped. “I do need your cooperation to disconnect your ship and repair mine. However, you will give that willingly to protect the female’s presence—confirmed and tracked by the Conservators—on this ship.”

Anerman made a wretched sound and gingerly picked up his tail.

I barely paid his pathetic whimpers any attention. My gaze was focused on the growing discoloration around Khorahn’s neck and his progressively more labored breathing.

“We can deal with the ship after you’re scanned,” I said.

Khorahn motioned to Anerman. “Walk.”

Anerman turned around and led the way to the med bay where the stasis thingies were. Khorahn stumbled twice, wheezing more loudly with each step. Anerman quieted before we reached the med bay and glanced back at us. I could see the calculation in his gaze.

“Don’t,” I said.

He chuckled.

“You are as intelligent as you are uniquely appealing in your furlessness. However, the hunter doesn’t look well. I think I should stay and see what happens.”

A replica of Khorhan stepped out of the med bay. Fully nude and hiding nothing, he took in our group with a sweeping glance as I took in all of him. He looked almost exactly like Khorahn, except this version had nipples.

“I can tell you what happens,” he said. “You cooperate with me, we disconnect your ship, and you go quietly into stasis. Now.”

The new Khorahn’s gaze swept over me. “Are you willing to stay with my genetic replication while I deal with this?” He nudged Anerman roughly.

“Yes. I’ll take care of Khorahn,” I said, not sure what was going on.

He nodded to me and pushed Anerman down the hall, away from us.

Supporting Khorahn, I helped him into the med bay and got him onto the table. The arm swung out toward his feet. Without releasing his hand, I stepped back and let the beam run up his length.

“Internal tissue damage has occurred to the airway. Recommend regeneration and anti-inflammation stims. External tissue irritation. Recommend pain lubricant. Scan complete. Proceeding with recommendations according to emergency protocol five-one-seven.”

The arm moved and gave him two shots right in his neck.

He continued to wheeze painfully for another minute while whatever was in those shots kicked in. His breathing became less labored after that and his eyes, which he’d closed the moment he’d lain down, opened and shifted toward me.

“You are not calm, Vya,” he said.

A half-sob-half-laugh escaped me as I threw myself onto his chest.

“I’ve never been so afraid in my life. Not even when I was bathing those creepy shelled aliens. I thought you were going to die, Khorahn.”

His hand smoothed down my back.

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