Page 79 of My Wild Pet

“They say he’s telling pets about the new law,” one trainer mutters with irritation. “That humans can no longer be owned.”

“It’s absurd,” another says. “Most pets wouldn’t even want to leave. What would a human do in the galaxy? They’re better off where they are.”

I listen in silence. The idea of humans being free is absolutely absurd. The galaxy is unforgiving and humans don’t have the brain power to survive on their own. “It’s only a matter of time before the IGC reverses their decision.”

“But the humans did manage to maintain their settlement on one of their nearby planets, as is the requirement.”

“A fluke,” I say. “We all know one in a million humans has a spark of intelligence, but that’s only one in a million. And one of those managed to build something useful, but when she dies, then what? Humans will always be the lesser species. We all know that.”

“But the humans don’t know that,” the trainer from Callix Prime says. “They’d believe Gael’s lies and that’s the real danger.”

She’s not wrong.

“You’re not afraid your Wild One will run off with a man’s penis in her mouth?” The trainer from Aria-7 asks and everyone laughs at my expense.

I shake my head as if the joke doesn’t bother me. But, of course, it does and I worry. I’ve pushed Ash and Ember to their limits emotionally.

Kaelin leans in, and assures me, “They’re loyal.”

CHAPTER 42

Briar

The days in the Celestial Spire blur together with training during the day and talking with Gabirel in the night.

The hotel’s arena is relentless and the other competitors feel like Olympians compared to me. Every day, it feels like the obstacles grows harder, like Aefre is pushing us to the brink just to see if we’ll break. Sometimes, I think I’m close. But then I see Gabriel’s determination to win and it pulls me back.

Every night, we lie in bed holding hands under the blankets talking. I tell him about the life I had before all this and how this life feels more real than anything I had before. No computer screens, no bills, no emails, no paperwork, and yet I have a relationship with Gabriel that reminds me why I breathe.

Gabriel talks about freedom, about Gael the Returner. But what does freedom even mean? Where would we go? What would we do? This life with Aefre isn’t what I imagined I wanted in life, but neither was being a commodities trader. It was a job. I wasn’t really free. I really only feel free with Gabriel. He warns me that our time together is limited with Aefre and is adamant that we must escape to ensure a future together. But is leaving Aefre behind worth the risk? The stories I’ve heard from otherpets here terrifies me. What if we escaped and were caught and bought by someone else?

But with our chastity belts fitted tight, it’s a constant reminder that we aren’t free. We are controlled and it’s clear that Gabriel no longer can live like this.

CHAPTER 43

Gabriel

We’re in bed together. The lights have gone out and I’m holding Briar against me. With the damned chastity belts, it’s torture.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“For what?”

“For finding you desirable. For the damn chastity belts. I hate how it chimes when I’m beginning to become aroused.”

“And you’re sorry for that?” she says, as she turns in my arms. I love the feeling of her soft breasts against my chest.

I pull her closer and lean down to kiss her lips slowly, letting her bottom lip linger as I pull away. I know she’s exhausted, she’s mentioned it more than once since we returned to the room. But still I tell her, “I wish I could make love to you, Briar.”

“Even without the chastity belts, I assume we’re being watched,” she says.

“Watched and recorded, no doubt,” I tell her.

She sits up. Her breasts moving with her motions, her nipples hard and I can’t help but kiss one before she moves my head away. “You mean the Grand Championships would record us here and then sell it?”

“Yes.”

“And that doesn’t bother you? You would still want to have sex?”

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