Page 35 of Stealing Jia

“Soon.”Swish.Swish.Swish. Trayon flicked his claws, shredding my tee-shirt, jeans, and underwear. The pieces fell to the floor.

Merda! I glanced down at my body. There wasn’t a scratch on me. I glared at him. “You could have killed me.”

“I am not a youngling with poor control.”Trayon’s gaze roved over my body.“Your form is very pleasing.”

Fighting down the urge to cover myself, I blurted out sarcastically, “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.” I toed off my boots and hurriedly dressed.Everything fit perfectly right down to my bra. I ran my hand over the velvety fabric. “Very nice. Thank you.”

“My mate wears only the best.”Trayon planted directions to the mess hall in my head. “Go eat. Have a glass of Merlot.”

“You have Merlot?”

“Yes, and Zinfandel.”

My favorites. No one had ever spoiled me before. I could get used to it. Adoz latched onto my shoulder and chirped mournfully.

“He thinks you are abandoning us,”Chiara said.

I stroked Adoz’s soft fur.“I would never do that.”

“Promise?”The fear in Chiara voice brought tears to my eyes.

“I promise.”I scooped her up and kissed her scaly little head.“We might be different species, but we’re family.”

Chiara rubbed against my face.“Thank you, Mother Jia.”

Trayon plucked Adoz and Chiara off my shoulders.“Go.”

Cason wrapped himself around my right leg and wailed, “Momma.”

“Sssh. It’s okay.” I pried Cason off my leg and put him on my hip.“Want some yummy blood worms?”

Cason gurgled in delight.

“The mess hall has been cleaned and I instructed my warriors not to enter for the next hour. Enjoy your dinner in peace,” Trayon said.

His warriors? Before I could ask about his rank, the doors slid open and a huge tarantula with grey streaked fur skittered in. “Holy Mary Mother of God!” I jumped on top of the bed.

“Grampa Bey,” LeeLee and LooLoo cried in union.

“That creature is Bey?”

“He is fierce Tabor warrior, not a creature,”Trayon corrected.

That I could believe. While LeeLee and LooLoo were cute and cuddly, Bey was scary as hell.

Eight emerald eyes surveyed me. “Another easily frightened petka.”

“Petka?”I just had to ask.

Trayon flashed me the image of a fluffy alien rabbit with its feet stuck up in the air. “When frightened petkas faint.”

“They make very tasty meals too,” Bey added.

“Thanks for the zoology lesson.”I stepped off the bed with as much dignity as I could muster. “Good luck with the cleanup.”I hurried out the door. Trayon probably thought I was a scattered brain idiot. My eyes widened in horror. When had his opinion of me become so important?

“Bloos. Bloos,”Cason babbled.

I smiled down at him. “Yes, you can eat as many as you want.” The flesh peddlers had starved the little guy. His mother deserved her horrible death.

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