Page 98 of Stolen Slave

The “park” was a huge grow bay that didn’t feel like a bay but like being outside back home. I tipped my head back and spread my arms wide, letting the light and warmth touch every part of me.

“You’ve adapted well to the systems dress,” the woman wearing the same said.

“The pajamas I’d been wearing during my abduction had been reduced to rags by the time Khorahn found me. Afterward, I was so hurt, it made sense that he hadn’t given me anything to wear.”

“I didn’t want to cover your beauty,” Khorahn said.

I rolled my eyes at him, and the women laughed.

Stacy sobered first and motioned to the blanket spread out, waiting for us. As soon as we were settled, she continued our discussion.

“The Prime Assembly is not against genocide when warranted. Your case and the way they treated you almost saw them hand down that verdict. However, there are two extenuating circumstances. The first is that females of their race are kept as you were—in chains in their underground burrows and used solely for breeding. The second is that their planet contains an element needed for a lot of the technology the systems use.

“So they cannot destroy the planet.”

My stomach churned, and I wasn’t sure if it was because they’d considered destroying a planet because of what happened to me or that they’d voted against it.

“For breaking the systems law regarding the treatment of breedable females, the inhabitants of Narlin Four have been given a choice. Surrender all males that are five years or more into their adulthood and free all females, or surrender the rights to their planet.”

“Both would mean death to many of their males and a severe reduction to their numbers,” Adriana said. “They’ve chosen to surrender their mature males, who will go to mining camps on prison planets while the younger ones will stay with the freed females, who have been abused their whole lives. Our hope, along with the Prime Assembly’s, is that their society will evolve to have more respect for females. The Prime Assembly won’t forgive their race another violation.”

I felt horrible for the females who’d lived their lives like I had those few weeks, but I had no remorse for the males who would spend the rest of their lives on a planet not their own.

“Their decision seems fair to me,” I said. “But, I don’t want what happened to me to end there.”

“What do you mean?” Adriana asked.

“You shared your story to help sway the people on our planet. Don’t hide my story, either. Let everyone know what happens when a female is mistreated out here. Acknowledge that it’s not all rainbows and sunshine but that the Prime Assembly stands by its laws.

“Then, maybe someday, things will settle down, and I’ll get to go back home.”

“What will you do until then?” one of the other women asked.

I looked at Khorahn, who was studying the grass under our feet, and smiled.

“I’m going to learn more about what it means to be a loved and protected female in the systems and embrace the new life that’s been handed to me.”

EPILOGUE

VYA

“I don’t like this,” Khorahn said softly.

Grinning, I patted his hand.

“I know you don’t, but you know how much I like doing this and won’t stop me, right?”

He let out a sigh that matched his father’s.

Knowing I’d won, I straightened my systems dress, touched the tracker implanted in my wrist, and told the ship to open the bay doors.

All movement in the docking bay stopped as I descended the ramp.

I’d made a name for myself in the past few months. The systems hadn’t ever heard of a female bounty hunter before me. I guessed none of the women born in the systems had ever experienced how epic it was. If they had, they would have rushed to follow in my footsteps. As it was, I was happy enough to be the only one. It gave me a level of unparalleled infamy, which meant it hadn’t taken long for the word to spread.

My gaze swept over the dock and landed on the biggest, baddest, and ugliest male present. Another Zoshesh. I sincerely hoped this one didn’t smell.

“Hey. You. Lead me to the canteen,” I called.

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