Page 7 of A Mate for Vasek
She tried to remember how her shower had felt back home on Earth and the shower gel she used to use, but couldn’t. Allthat came to mind were Tallean scents, which over the years had become too familiar.
She sighed. She really had to make it back to Earth soon before she forgot everything. Then who would she be? No one. She was nothing without her memories. She’d seen it happen with her grandfather as dementia took everything from him. Sure, she was young now, but she wouldn’t stay that way forever.
The cleansing unit beeped, signaling the end of the rinse cycle and her last chance to select a longer duration. Not knowing the next time she’d have the opportunity, she selected the option to extend her rinse. The water was marvelous, soothing all her aching muscles.
By the time she stepped out of the cleansing unit, Vasek was back and already dressed in another top that hid his deceptively muscled shoulders and arms. Dawn had caught a glimpse of them when he’d passed her his top. She had to admit that he was easy on the eyes, and his face had a kind look to it when he wasn’t angry.
There was that moment when he’d come back from his talk with Morad, where he’d been furious. Dawn had seen Talleans in bloodlust before when Kotch had taken her as a companion to a party. There’d been a fight arranged as part of the entertainment, and the two Tallean fighters had gone into bloodlust. One of them had torn out the other’s throat, winning his freedom.
Then there was Morad, who would let his cheek creases and fangs out whenever he was drunk. It had terrified her, and Kotch had threatened to give her to Morad if she ever misbehaved. Morad was notoriously rough with his toys. Kotch, more the businessman than the fighter, had never gone into bloodlust, not even when fighting for his life at the end.
Vasek was meticulously picking all the gems off the floor.
Dawn saw that he’d packed everything he’d taken out to use with her and Bakum, and had it all stacked onto a wheeled luggage cart for easy travel. She quickly threw the top over her still slightly damp hair; the air from the cleansing unit’s vent was never enough to dry it thoroughly.
The top fit her like a loose dress. It also smelled like Vasek, masculine and musky, with a hint of spice. Then she started helping him, crawling under the table and beds to reach for the valuable gems. It seemed Vasek had come out the winner in this transaction, though she wouldn’t have known from the scowl on his face when she handed him the jewels.
“Come, let’s get out of here.”
But despite his scowl, his voice was soft, and the hand that landed on her arm was firm but tender as he guided her out the door. She’d expected them to go out the front, but instead they continued through the back into a transport lot.
Dawn was soon inside a comfortable and spacious transport and on her way.
Chapter 4
Dawn
Dawn held her arms out to her sides as Vasek ran the device over her body. They’d made it to the port with no complications, but he’d insisted on giving her a thorough examination before they left the planet.
Vasek didn’t just own a nice transport; he also had his own space-faring shuttle. Like the transport, which Vasek had driven right into the back of the shuttle, the shuttle was understated. It looked very plain on the outside. Dark gray, well cared for, but plain and unassuming … until she stepped inside.
He had not spared any expenses on the finishing of the inside of the shuttle. The thing about Tallean design was that it was often excessive and gaudy, with more sumptuous fabrics, gilded trim, and marble and gold than was tasteful. It was all about showing off what one had. Kotch had started with the outside of his home before moving to the drawing room, where he conducted most of his meetings, since those were the places people saw most.
Vasek had done the opposite, keeping the outside of his transport basic and going all out on the inside, where few peoplewould see. Was it because he didn’t want people to know he had the credits? Or was it because he was a private person? He did have a bunch of rules about privacy and all that.
It wasn’t the kind of shuttle to traverse long distances in space, but the type for hopping from planet to planet in the same sector.
This was great news. It meant that Morad would have a much harder time finding her once he figured out that Dawn wasn’t with Bakum. And if Bakum was half as wily as he’d been in the short time she’d known him, he’d probably evade the pirate crew for a while yet, giving them extra time.
“When was your chip removed?” Vasek asked, after running the device over her arms and legs again and stopping at the scar on her thigh.
He meant the chip that was supposed to track who owned her. The way Vasek spoke to her and looked at her was very casual, like the way Kotch had been, and she took that to mean he didn’t expect the proper slave etiquette that her first owner, the Dominion captain, had required.
Come to think of it, very few out here wanted that. They just wanted someone who was obedient and quiet.
“A while ago. My owner at the time couldn’t reprogram it with his name, so he cut it out.” She showed him the scar on her thigh.
“Not Kotch?”
“No.” She knew what was coming. Vasek would want to know how many owners she’d had.
The older female barkeeper who’d swooped Dawn up and sold her to Kotch had lied about her origins, claiming to have stolen her off the original Dominion captain and removed her chipherself. Kotch had believed her. Should she continue the lie and make it seem like she had a few owners, or tell the truth? Would Vasek be disappointed? She hated being treated like a vehicle; the fewer owners she’d had, the more she was worth.
But the question never came. Instead, Vasek said, “Very little scarring. It’s good work. One less thing for me to do. Any other trackers or chips I should know about?”
She shook her head.
Dawn wondered where they were going. Were they going to stay here in New Rhea’s Port Number Two—these Talleans had such original naming conventions—or did Vasek live somewhere else? Maybe on one of the smaller outposts? Or Vosthea? Vosthea was an even worse place for someone like her to be than New Rhea, except for Kean’s compound. But she doubted they were going there.
