Page 122 of I'm Not Your Pet

“You can understand him?” I blinked.

Briar shrugged, tipping his head so I could see the back of his neck. He tapped something behind his ear, a tiny silver disk that looked like it had been inlaid directly into his skin. “I can understand everyone,” he replied as if that wasn’t the coolest shit in the world.

I stared at him for a moment, doing my best not to be jealous and failing. I knew there would be more headsets on Osheania, but seeing a reminder of the permanent implant I should’ve received but hadn’t, sucked. I’d been alone with Roark so long I’d nearly forgotten about the implants entirely. Swiftly, I shoved those feelings aside. They didn’t serve me at the moment, not so far into our travels, and so close to our new home.

There were more important things right now than envy.

I whipped around to face Roark, tipping my head to meet his worried gaze. I knew he didn’t understand me a lot of the time, and this was a big ask after all the money he’d dropped today.

But…

I couldn’t leave Briar here.

I couldn’t leaveanyof the humans here.

Not if I could help it.

I got the feeling he’d understand.

Roark’s eyes searched mine. His shoulders relaxed, his spots morphing from gray to white as I reached up and he bent down to place his big head in my hands, meeting me halfway. “Roark,” I said carefully. “Please.”

He blinked, brow furrowed, his spots yellow as he thought.

“Please.”

I knew he’d understand what I wanted.

Roark’s gaze flickered to Briar.

Then to the stage.

He was in captain-mode as he twisted out of my grip, standing to his full impressive height as he observed the dais covered in humans with a calculating glint in his gaze. Probably counting them and calculating how much they cost, and if we had room on board to take them in.

I knew this was a big ask.

Though our ship was large, there was still limited space. Limited food resources. And I was asking him to drop…fuck. I didn’t even know how many credits. I didn’t even know if he had it. I could only hope.

Roark settled, a look of determination crossing his features as his spots turned from yellow to blue and he gave me a single, solitary nod.

“Do you want to come home with me?” I jerked my attention to Briar the second I had Roark on board. “Do you want to be free?”

He glared at me like I was an idiot. “Don’t fuck with me.”

“I’m serious,” I told him. “Do you want to come? Don’t lie this time.”

Briar was silent for a moment, a war waging in his eyes. “Me and…the others?” He glanced toward the group of humans. “You’re going to buyallof us?” He sounded dubious at best.

“We’re going tofreeall of you,” I countered. Sure it was only fifteen people—sixteen, adding Briar on. But…it was a start, right? Sahrks were gentle. Maybe the humans could come home with us and find mates and occupations too.

“You’re the stupidest human I’ve ever met,” Briar sighed, but his tone was almost affectionate when he realized I was truly going to do this. “Taking all of us isn’t going to be easy. Humansare a hot commodity on this side of the galaxy. There’s a reason they’re being sold on that stage.”

“Why aren’t you…” I flushed, realizing I was being rude. “If you’re for sale, why aren’t you upthere?”

Briar’s expression barely wavered. His eyes were dark as his lips spread into a brilliant smile—the only sign that he was affected by the question at all was the stiff way he stood. “Ifthey’rethe main course.” Briar jerked his shoulder toward the platform and its slaves, decked in gossamer like he was—currently being auctioned off like cattle. “That makes me the sample plate.”

The horror of that statement washed through my body.

“For the buyers that aren’t certain, I’m offered as incentive. A little taste of what they could have,” he continued speaking, tone as acerbic as usual. It hadn’t occurred to me that there were worse fates out there than what I’d ended up with on F’ukYuu. My heart hurt for Briar as I sucked in a breath.

---