Page 32 of Essa

"Discard your shirts," I tell Adam as I step around him. "You won't need them anymore. I'll reattach your leashes after I change."

"No shirts." Adam nods and pulls his black t-shirt over his head, giving me a full view of the hard ridges of his abdominal muscles. I skate over the various scars on his skin, knowing it's all from experiments done on him, ones that make me hate his captors even more. He snorts when he catches me staring at him but makes no comment before moving over to Seth and helping him undress.

I close the bathroom door and change into clothing I never thought I'd have to wear. I adorn my horns with dark metallic rings and attach chains that crisscross between them. Jewels glittering along the chains make my appearance more regal, something I haven't been in a long time. My reflection is beautiful, but this isn't who I want to be.

This is the role I need to play now to keep my sister safe. I'd do anything to keep her safe, even if it means giving up the crew and my life exploring space and helping others. I'll give it all away if it means she doesn't have to marry a male she doesn't love. I just wish someone out there might've done the same for me.

twelve

Adam

Ican't stop looking at Essa. It's going to become a problem. I don't know what her game plan is when she's dressed like this, but I want her to bite me, maybe tie me down, and call me a good boy.

She looks like a fucking queen. It's just the lust still burning up inside me, but I'd be willing to bow to her if it meant fucking her when she looks like this.

The dress, if it could even be called a dress, is more of a few pieces of dark fabric. One swath flows over each shoulder, clasped at the high point with a dark metal that contrasts nicely with her skin. It's pulled taut over her torso in a v shape. Around her waist is a thin metal band with small rings where she can attach our leashes. The fabric meets under the belt and flows between her legs, stopping shy of dragging on the floor. Jewels drip from her neck and between her horns, catching the light and making her sparkle even more than she already does.

There's not a single weapon on her, which is surprising since I've always seen her with at least a blaster. Now, it's just scraps of fabric and metallic adornments.

"If you don't comm us twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed, we'll start a whole intergalactic incident to retrieve you. Do you understand?" Alik's tone is hard, not leaving room for any arguments or questions.

It has my lips pulling back to bare my teeth at him. I want to tell him that he's not in charge here. That he can't just order Essa to do what he wants. I don't get a chance to word what is undoubtedly going to be a scathing and assholish retort because Essa places the tips of her long fingers across my lips to silence me. I'm so caught off guard it takes me a few seconds to shoo her away.

"We'll be as safe as we can. You don't start a rescue mission until I've missed three check-ins."

Alik frowns at Essa's bargaining but gives her a stiff nod. With that out of the way, Sloane all but launches herself against Essa, who's thankfully ready for it. I'd hate to get angry at the human woman for making Essa fall over. Mainly because I'm pretty sure Sloane's mates would relish the opportunity to kick my ass.

"I'm going to miss you," Sloane says, her words muffled against Essa's neck as the two women continue to embrace.

Essa wipes at the moisture rimming her eyes, and Sloane sniffles. I'd like to say it has no impact on me, that I'm a cold-hearted bastard, and I still am, but something has been happening since being on this ship, and my heart isn't nearly as dead anymore as it used to be.

When Sloane pulls away from Essa, her eyes are rimmed in red, and her face is blotchy with her emotions. She frowns hard before a sob wracks her body. Essa cups her face between her palms, stroking away the tears as best she can.

"When everything is settled, and it is safe, you will visit, and you will finally get to taste the skin of a quash." Essa smiles, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Sloane nods a pitiful action, but it does help to soothe her a bit. She returns to stand between Jovi and Alik, who both wrap one of their four arms around her.

"You're sure there's nothing we can do to help?" Avery asks.

I haven't spoken to her without Phial being around, and he does enough talking for the two of them. Still, I kind of wish I would've tried a little harder to get to know these people before we were sent off. They're important to Essa. As much as I'd like to say I don't care about any of them, I do because she does. The thought has me scowling at how soft I've gotten.

"I don't want any of you to even think about doing anything to help me," Essa says, her eyes staying on Avery long enough for the words to sink in before staring down everyone else in the room. "No rescue missions, no sneaking planetside, and no explosives."

The last part is directed at Phial, who looks more mischievous than chastised. It makes me wonder what kind of explosives he has. Maybe he wouldn't hate me so much if I gave him the coordinates to a research facility that would benefit from meeting some explosives.

"We'll let you martyr yourself in peace," Phial says, waving his hand through the air like this is a normal occurrence and not something that shouldn't have ever needed to happen.

I'd be more upset at all of them allowing Essa to go to Haven III if not for the fact that I know she'd do it with or without their blessing. At least this way, she has Seth and me, and the rest of the crew will keep track of her.

A notification pings on the navigation pit's dash and grabs everyone's attention. We don't need to read it to know it's thepirates alerting us that they're about to jump to meet us because their ship appears right next to ours, way too close for comfort.

Phial's eyes light up at the reckless jump, but at least Alik's frowning at the ship that's trying to show off. I'm doing the same and crossing my arms over my chest just to add to the disappointed and irritated look I'm going for.

"Initiating docking," Phial says into his comm before pressing a few buttons on the navigation dash.

Avery stands next to him, staring at him with wide, adoring eyes until he turns to her and gives her a smile that tells me more about their relationship than I need to know.

"Last step," Phial says, and Avery jerks with excitement as she leans over the dashboard and flicks one switch.

Phial wraps an arm over her shoulder and pulls her tight to him, praising her like she's done more than just flicking a switch. I frown harder at their display, but they don't seem to care.

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