Page 79 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
“Slave, do you know this man?”he asks immediately, his voice sharp.
Here we go.
If she tells the truth—the wholetruth—my entire rescue plan could fall apart. But honestly? In this moment, I don’t care. I just want her safe.
She hesitates, clearly unsure of what to say.
“Answer Noviosk!”snaps the Penubian beside her—Bully, as Manly introduces him.
“Yeah, I know him!”she spits, glaring at me.“I’d just managed to get away from him when you captured me. I barely had a few days of freedom.”
“Truth,”the Srebat confirms instantly with a smile.
My throat tightens. So that’s how she saw it. She thought she was escapingme. That stings more than I expected. Maybe I’m not the partner she needed after all.
“And what about you?”Noviosk turns to me, his tone cold.“You didn’t mention you knew her.”
I take a breath. Think fast.
“What exactly do you want to know?” I say, keeping my voice even. “That Iwanther? You already know that—otherwise I wouldn’t be here, ready to pay a fortune.WhyI want her? That’s my business.”
Noviosk studies me for a moment, then leans back in his chair.
“Truth,”he says.“Let’s get on with it, then.”
I exhale slowly, discreetly. The Srebat can’t read my face. That’s something. But this is far from over.
The real test is just beginning.
Manly, the master of the sale, steps forward with the practiced ease of someone who’s done this far too many times. He begins his pitch, showcasing the “quality” of the merchandise—her age, origin, condition. Then he gestures to Ileana.
“Turn around, slowly,”he says, his voice smooth but cold.
She hesitates.
Without missing a beat, Manly pulls out a small remote and presses a button.
Ileana flinches, a sharp cry escaping her lips as her hand instinctively reaches for the collar around her neck. My jaw tightens. I’d assumed it was a proportional-response restraint collar. Clearly, it’s not. That’s one more thing we’ll have to deal with when we get her out.
The light shifts, casting her in a glow that highlights every inch of her. She looks like a statue—vulnerable, exposed, and far too beautiful for this place.
Once the room has had its fill of staring, Manly clears his throat and invites the buyers to introduce themselves and declare their offers.
The first one steps forward.
“Hey Noviosk, real pleasure. I’m Julian, Human. I’m here to buy this woman—she’s from my planet. I’ve brought four diamonds. Top quality.”
Manly presents the offer to Noviosk, Bully, and Prax. None of them look impressed.
“Straight from a king’s crown,”Julian adds, trying to sweeten the deal.
“Lie!”Noviosk snaps.“Guards, remove him. Set him aside—I’ll deal with him later.”
“What’d he say that made you so mad?”Rick whispers, confused.
“His last sentence was a lie,”Noviosk growls.“And nothing pisses me off more than someone trying to feed me garbage. If he’d done his homework, he’d know better than to lie tome. He’ll regret it.”
“My bad,”Manly mutters, clearly rattled.“Ahem… anyone else thinking of leaving before the auction begins?”
