Page 9 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien

“Wouldn’t you, if you were taken from afarm?” Siku shivered. “I have never touched my food with my bare skin. I use a utensil, or it is fed to me.”

Fivra blinked at her, not sure how that was even possible, but the blue-skinned beauty had hands that looked as fine as the silk of Fivra’s robe. She clearly had never held a tool or worked the soil. Or sweated in a field that refused to grow the quantity of crops demanded by the Axis.

“What is the problem?” a vexed-sounding Cyprian said as he strode into the room, filling the wardrobe with his large presence. His gaze narrowed on Viparia and Siku. “What are you both doing here?”

Viparia held out a jeweled hand toward Fivra. “What were you thinking, bringing an inexperienced creature like this into Erovik? You know better, Cyprian.”

He rolled his silver eyes to the ceiling and muttered something under his breath, before running a hand through his hair. “Glivar acquired her. I was not pleased, but I will do my best to train her.” His mouth pinched as he said the words, as if the thought of “training” Fivra was about the most distasteful thing he could think of doing.

“You can’t train this,” Viparia said. “Thisdoes not belong here.”

Fivra wasn’t sure if she should be insulted or relieved by thecourtia’sassessment, but her spine straightened and her chin rose.

“According to the auction records, Fivra was taken from a forced-breeding colony.”

Viparia rolled her eyes. “This female hasneverbeen bred, Cyprian.”

“I can see that, Vipa.” His voice was dry as he ran an evaluating eye over Fivra. “But she is here, and we paid aconsiderable amount for her. She will have to complete a contract to earn it back.”

Siku crossed her smooth arms. “I would not send Glivar on acquisition trips any longer, if I were you.”

Fivra looked from Cyprian to the two femalecourtiasin fascination. They spoke to him as if he were their equal, not the director of the facility, and therefore, their superior. They were not afraid of him, and he did not seem the slightest bit offended by their bluntness.

“I don’t intend to.” Cyprian’s silver eyes flickered between Viparia and Siku. He had the look of someone who was used to digging deep for patience. He was clearly very good at holding his temper in check, making for an interesting balance of power and respect that existed within Erovik’s walls. “Regardless of how she came to be here,” Cyprian said firmly, “Fivra is under my protection. I will not send her back to the auction, nor will I allow her to be mistreated under my watch.”

Viparia’s golden eyes went wide. “We were not mistreating her.” Her posture went rigid with insult. “We are concerned for her. She is not suited for the life of acourtia. She’s barely fit for the role of a companion. Look at her, Cyprian. She’s practically fading into the walls as we speak.”

Fivra’s heart raced as she stood there, the subject of their scrutiny. She felt utterly alien compared to these females.

“She could work in the kitchen or assist with the daily operations of Erovik,” Siku suggested, her icy gaze softening as she regarded Fivra. “She needs a place where she can learn and adjust without the pressure of entertaining clients.”

Fivra brightened up at that. The tension in her shoulders easing slightly at Siku’s words. The idea of not having to entertain clients, of not having to pretend to be something she was not, was exactly what she was hoping for. Shecouldwork in a kitchen. She wasn’t a bad cook, given the scant ingredientsshe’d had to work with back at the settlement. “I would not mind the kitchens.”

Cyprian shook his head at Siku’s words, his gaze shifting to Fivra. “I did not pay two hundred thousand credits to gain kitchen help, which is only needed when the replicators can’t produce an obscure or rare dish.”

“Fek, that’s a lot,” Siku muttered. “Glivar, you fool.”

“I agree,” Cyprian said, his voice thick with annoyance. “And I know that Fivra will take time to acclimate to the role of acourtia. I will work with her and see what we can do. But the Axis likes returns on investments. Youknowthis.”

Viparia huffed, her full lips pursing in displeasure. “The Axis can go rot.”

Cyprian’s lips twitched, his wings flexing slightly as he maintained a neutral stance. “They pay you well, Vipa.”

She sniffed. “They could pay better.”

He shrugged, as if to say,yes, they could, then crossed his arms. “Fivra will be given the opportunity to find her footing here before joining thecourtialifestyle. I expect you two, and the others, to help her.”

“We will, but I’m not sure what you want us todo.” Viparia’s gaze dropped to Fivra’s chest. “Pity she only has two breasts.” She placed her hands under her bottom set and lifted, pushing up the two pairs above it until the six plump mounds were almost under her chin. “Helps to have good equipment.” She released the breasts, and they bounced buoyantly to their usual position.

Unable to help herself, Fivra stared in fascination. Viparia’s breasts were truly a marvel, unlike Fivra’s own. She glanced down at her small breasts, barely making a bump in the robe.

“There is nothing lacking about her equipment,” Cyprian said roughly. “We have clients who prefer no breasts at all.”

“Cyprian, Fivra’s medical appointment is in one halflik,” Ria interrupted. “She needs to eat and dress.”

Viparia and Siku got the message and moved toward the exit, but not before Viparia wiggled a finger toward Fivra and said, “At least let your maid do something with your hair.” Thecourtiasleft with a cloud of perfume in their wake.

Fivra’s suite was instantly quieter. “Thank you, Cyprian,” Fivra said quietly, her gaze dropping to the floor before steeling herself to meet his silver eyes. “I… I don’t know how to be anything but what I am—a farmer from settlement 112-1. I am willing to contribute to Erovik in some way, but I could never be like those two.”

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