Page 24 of Warrior's Captive
“Nadine,” her father murmured, and set bowls of steaming oxtail stew and dumplings on the table. He returned moments later with an apple pie.
Vivian put her hands over her belly, feeling the baby shift and kick.
“She’s not very nice, is she?” the baby asked.
“We must respect our elders,” Vivian informed the child. “Or else we will go to jail.”
Her mother clicked her teeth. “Kidnapped and impregnated. What will I tell my sisters?”
“That they wish they were so lucky,” her father retorted. “Those old biddies. Tai’ri is very rich, isn’t he? And not bad looking.”
“Oh, Tai’ri isn’t—” Vivian began, but stopped, confused. Tai’riwasthe father. But she didn’t remember having sex. How could she forget the conception of her own baby?
The doorbell rang, interrupting the brewing argument. Her mother got up to answer.“What’s the meaning of this?” she demanded.
Vivian’s hand jerked, and she looked up to see government officials storm the condo.
“Vivian Huang?” a black clad agent demanded. “You’re under arrest. Independent thought is illegal under Section—”
“Don’t worry about the Section,” another agent interrupted. “It doesn’t matter. Ms. Huang, we’re returning you to the lab.”
The words struck chills down her spine. “The lab?”
“You ran away, and that was a big no no. You hurt their feelings.”
They lunged at her, grabbing her arms and dragging her out of the condo as her mother folded her arms and shook her head. Her father began ranting in his native patois, but there was nothing anyone could do.
They dragged her out of the condo and into a cold, white box. A narrow bed was shoved into one corner.
Vivian began to struggle. “No! I won’t go back.”
A white-coated figure turned, and thekheter’scold stare met Vivian’s. “It’s time to have the baby, Vivian. Don’t worry. We’ll give it a good home. Halflings are delicacies, after all. You’re in no position to roast it yourself; you should leave cooking to the professionals and stick to being a disobedient daughter.”
The agents wrestled her towards the bed and Vivian screamed.
She jerked awake, her thin blouse soaked with her sweat. The nightmare played through her head, her heartbeat loud in her ears. She forced her fingers to unclench; her entire body trembled. She stilled, realizing she felt no movement inside, and held her breath. Moments later, the sluggish kick of a partially sleeping baby, snug inside her womb.
Everything was quiet, the light streaming in from the ceiling now from the twin moons, and not the sun. Tai’ri must have decided to let her sleep on the couch rather than waking her. Pushing to her feet, she walked on unsteady legs to the wide balcony doors and stepped out, looking up at a starry sky so different, and yet so similar to the one she’d known. Any sky was a blessing—at one point she’d despaired of ever seeing clouds again, or feeling a fresh breeze on her skin.
Her throat closed as tears pricked her eyes. It was ridiculous; just a nightmare. She was safe here. Thekhetercouldn’t touch her or take the baby. And her parents would never be so . . . well, her mothercould,but probably not to Vivian’s face.
Closing her eyes, she willed away the burgeoning headache, knowing her growing dizziness was from a lack of appetite earlier this evening as much as it was from stress. She grabbed the railing, inhaling lungfuls of air.
“Vivian?”
She screamed, jerking. Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her back from the balcony.
“It’s fine, you’re fine,” Tai’ri said. But he didn’t let her go, his hold inescapable.
Her teeth chattered from the shock. “I didn’t hear you approach.”
“I’m sorry.” He spoke in low, soothing tones. “I was alerted that you were outside. Your vitals are showing signs of stress.”
“Of course they’re showing signs of stress!” Was he an idiot? “You startled me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Then let me go!”
