Page 18 of Diamond

He looks forward again, steering Roshan down a small but steep, grassy hill, ducking before a tree branch can hit him.

When his eyes flick back to me, I can feel the weight of his gaze shift to my chest. How can I not when he continues to leer at me, his yellow eyes shifting from my face to my cold-hardened nipples? I fold my hands over my chest and pretend to focus on something on the cart's wooden frame.

He just keeps speaking. "I think we would make good friends and even better lovers. Do you not agree?"

The answer jumps out of my mouth before I have the chance to think it through, probably because of years of practice. "I'm not the greatest at making friends."

He laughs, the tinkering melody of his voice floating around us. "Is it because you are afraid of something?"

I turn away, flustered, his words feeling like mockery. My face burns hotter as I stay silent.

"So, am I right?" he adds when I say nothing. "You know, you do not need to be so afraid when you are with me. Not of the genali, not of the braceaaer, not of pregnancy."

He whispers the last part and I whip my head around, unable to hide the shock on my face. "I am not scared of pregnancy. I just am not interested in having a lover," I explain slowly, leaving the sneer in my tone.

"Why would I fear pregnancy with you, though? We are different species." I look down at the dark skin of my hands and his silvery one, trying to imagine what a hybrid between us might look like. The thought disgusts me, and I close my eyes tightly, willing the cursed images away.

Tehlmar clicks his tongue. "It's possible between species, but that's not why I mentioned it."

Ya Allah,is he really going to make me beg for answers because I rejected his appeal? Even if I were going to decide to settle with him or anyone else, I would at least have to know them for longer than a few hours.

I don't know anything about him besides the fact that he rescued me from my doom, and he doesn't know anything about me either. How would it work?

"Then why?" I press on and he lets out a sigh, like my questions are annoying him.

"Genali hunters put contraceptives in slaves to prevent them from bearing children," he says slowly, looking at me out of the corner of his green-eyelash-rimmed yellow eyes as if that should clear up some sort of issue between us.

I try to think of a response, but nothing bubbles up.

My elbow itches, and I scratch it absentmindedly, trying to ignore him. We can't be genetically compatible. I don't believe it. And this conversation has all kinds of weird layers.

Two days ago, if someone had told me my life would take this bizarre turn, I'd have laughed and asked how long they'd spent at thehookahlounge.

Although, come to think of it, there's no way I came from Earth to here in just one day. I shut my mind down before I can make any of the calculations.

We don't ride for much longer when Tehlmar rounds Roshan up around a tall rock, revealing a hollow cave protected by large, weather-beaten tree trunks. He gets down first and wanders inside for a few moments. "It is habitable and safe, and we will not be followed. This is where we will rest."

Too tired to argue, I nod. The cave looks decent and well hidden.

"I am going to gather firewood. It will be a cold night," he announces as he walks away.

A fire? With genali around?

I climb off the cart and move to Roshan's side, shaking my head. My hands move to scratch at his short neck, earning a soft bleat as he nudges me affectionately. His fur tickles my skin, drawing a chuckle from me.

"Stay still, Roshan. Let me get you out of this," I say gently.

The animal is too excited and doesn't listen, but I persist, finally separating him from the cart. When Tehlmar returns with his arms full of sticks, he dumps them inside the cave and collects dry leaves. As he emerges again, he chides me, "Don't spoil the beast with so much affection. It will make it less likely to be obedient,"

I narrow my eyes at him and scratch Roshan's nose. "I think affection makes it more obedient," I argue and I hear Tehlmar scoff as he reenters the cave.

The sound of rocks scraping against each other is followed by a flickering orange flame that brightens up the evening.

It is not dark enough that I cannot see at all, but I have to squint to focus on anything in particular. I hear Tehlmar walking off again, but I am too busy digging into Roshan's fur with my fingers, trying to figure out a way to get the reins off completely.

I lead him closer to the light and continue fiddling while giving him occasional pets to sate his endless need for affection.

As I fiddle with the reins, trying to undo them completely, my fingers brush against a rough edge. A horrified gasp escapes me when I discover a scarred, pitted hole in Roshan's snout, wherethe rope feeds through. "What did they do to you, poor baby?" I whisper, my heart sinking.

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