Page 10 of Diamond

A laugh?

"Yes, they are worse. While the genali abduct females to make profit, the braceaaer capture them for personal use, sometimes to kill without reason. They are quite violent and brutal," he says, his tone making goosebumps rise on my arms.

I push my hair back and look straight ahead, aware of his gaze lingering on me. "I don't remember much from the abduction. I was home with my brother's wife; the next, I was here. It's all a blur." I sigh, reaching out to touch a feathery leaf.

The plants here look so similar, yet different from those on Earth. It's surreal, and I wish that I could truly enjoy it; I've dreamed of seeing more of the world since I was young. But this is far more exotic than I ever dreamed.

"Females can't protect themselves. It is a fact," he says simply.

My hands clench, and I bite back a retort just in time.

"Anyone who treats females that way should be exterminated. I have known males like that," I growl out.

The look on Tehlmar's face is strange—discomfort, maybe—but I can't quite tell.

I swallow my frustration and give him a tight smile. "Knowing their filthy hands tampered with my body makes me feel sick."

A heavy silence falls between us, one I hope lasts a while. Talking to Tehlmar sets off alarms in my head. I'm not sure if it's his choice of words or some deeper instinct, but it leaves me uneasy. Not that I would trust him anyway, but it adds to the confusion and mental strain I'm already feeling.

As we walk across a clearing, his words echo in my mind. It seems there's absolutely nowhere in the galaxy where women are safe.

I wonder if he knows any women who were abducted, but the question feels too personal, so I keep it to myself. There might be other human women on this planet, and I hope we cross our paths, and find a way out of this together. No one should have to live this kind of nightmare alone.

It makes me curious about women's rights in his homeland. If women are such a prize for these aliens and other species know about it, are there any laws to help?

I turn to him. "At this point, I don't think there is any place where females are protected."

He huffs out an inarticulate response, his hair whipping around as he looks both ways, his long ears twitching.

"Are there any laws protecting them on your planet?" I ask in a low voice, but he is already moving faster, crossing over shrubs as I struggle to keep up.

I try to match his pace, but I'm panting and my legs are too short to close the gap.

"Tehlmar," I gasp, heaving. "Wait."

He glances at me, but doesn't slow down. "I recognize this area. There was a cart tied to a tree up ahead."

"Is it still there?"

"No, but there are tracks in the soil," he says, motioning for me to catch up. "If we hurry, I am sure we can find something useful."

I groan under my breath but follow, glancing over my shoulder to check for any hunters following us. Tehlmar looks back, his gaze briefly sweeping over me before he speeds up even more. I feel that strange sensation between my legs again, not arousal, just frustration at his pace that leaves me trailing behind. It's clear I'm in for a long journey with this alien, one I might not enjoy.

Thankfully, this time he pauses, waiting for me to catch up before heading into a small clearing with a long tree downed in the middle. There, the cart and an animal hitched to it come into view.

A long tug of excitement pulls at my heart; I want to run to the creature, but I hesitate, intimidated by its sheer size. I glance at Tehlmar to see if he shares my caution, but he's focused on inspecting the area, slipping behind trees and scanning to ensure we're alone.

I stay where I am, continuing to study the animal.

It is much larger than me and about the size of a draft horse, with beautiful deep-blue fur and wavy brown patterns scattered across it.

I take a few steps closer, relieved that it appears to be asleep.

Its legs remind me of a spider, with knees that jut out beneath as it lays down, three on each side. That's where the resemblance ends, though; its bulky body leads to a short neck tied to the tree with a thick rope halter.

The cart is secured to it with similar ropes, one thick buckle at the bottom, with the rest disappearing into the fur around its face.

Its face is endearing, with a short snout and wide nostrils that flare with every whistled breath it lets out. I'm tempted to reach out and touch it, even as a voice in my mind warns me to be cautious.

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