Page 53 of Indentured Companion
“You know? You’re kind of hot when you’re angry possessive.” I smirk, and his scowl falls into an amused smile. “Alright. Team Korvis will get right on that. But first?” I wince and hold my stomach. Now I’m not out of my mind horny, I’m famished. “I’m really hungry. And thirsty. And kind of dizzy?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” He scoops me up and takes me into the bathroom first. “Let me tend to you, my love. I will see to all of your needs.” I smile and relax completely. I’m home, I’m safe, and Vrajan is always in his happy place when he can fuss over me.
“Okay, Team Korvis needs to freshen up, refuel, and then nap. Like, a lot.” I yawn and he laughs at me.
“That sounds wonderful.” He offers mefourRegen pills, and I give him a surprised look. “You and I have both been deprived of proper nutrient for a 24 hour period. I have now fed from you, but more than I normally would in the last two feeds. You will need to double your dosage for a while, and compensate with diet as well. For quite some time, I’d wager. In fact, I shall contact my doctor to advise me in that area. Don’t worry, my Queen. I will nurse you back to full health.” We kiss, and it’s so sweet, until he leans back and pops all four pills into my mouth. “Now swallow.” I grin, andalmostsay ‘you should ask before you tell a girl to swallow’, but I’m way too tired for that level of sass. Instead, I drink them down with a glass of water and let Vrajan help me freshen up. The shower was a sweet and tender moment, as he helped me wash my body and hair. I can tell he’s tired too, but he’s a lot stronger than I am. I also know Vrajan well enough that he will not rest himself, until he’s seen to me. Such a sweetie, my man.
We sit in towels in the kitchen, and he keeps me company as I force down plenty of food and water. I managed a few sandwiches, and now I’m spooning my way through a tub of ice cream. What? Vrajan said I need some calories, and I’m sure there must be a rule somewhere about being allowed to comfort eat after being kidnapped and nearly dying. Fuck, I have issues. I feel little wobbles in my stomach as I get flash backs of being on the cold floor of that metal room with crates in it. Of screaming and banging on the door. The agony of my organs starting to shut down and lash out at me. Slipping in and out of consciousness and fearing that the next time, I wouldn’t wake up.
I swallow the lump in my throat and push the rising dread in me away. I’m home now. Safe and sound in my little corner of heaven with Vrajan. Neither of us are going to go along with being apart for a long time, after what happened. Not without body guards we can trust, maybe. Now he’s a Councillor, I’m sure he can vet and hire some.
“Vrajan?”
“Yes?” He is sat right beside me and his arm holds me close to his side. It’s like he can’t bear to be too far away from me, or even look away from me for too long. The near loss is still raw for him too.
“There is something else we need to talk about.” I push the mostly empty ice cream tub away from me and turn to look up into his big lilac eyes. “My sister was there.”
“Yes, I remember her being at the Embassy. Did she find out you were missing or-”
“No, I don’t mean at the Embassy. I mean she wasthere.”I take Vrajan’s other hand in both of mine, needing the support. “Wherever I was taken to, I was in a bad way. A Sacron with red skin and, fiery eyes, yellow on his frills, I think?” I try to recall through the haze of pain what my captor looked like. “Everyone called him Boss? Anyway, he took me to their sickbay, and then there she was. Cassie.”
“Wait?” He sat up a little straighter with a dubious expression on his face. “Yoursisterwas with your captors?”
“Yeah. She lost her shit when she saw me there, and told ‘Boss’ I was her sister. He started to freak out, like he knew Cassie, and was horrified that I was her sister.” I shrug and sigh. “I passed out, and then came too in a hover chair coming right up to the embassy. Cassie was pushing the chair. Then you know the rest probably more than I do.”
“I see.” He looked off to one side and mulled something over.
“I need to call her.” I start to stand, and he jumps up to support me when I swoon.
“You need torest.”
“Yeah, you think I’m going to rest with my sister could be with my kidnappers?” I shoot him a sour look, and he rolls his eyes with a nod. He knows me well enough not to push that point.
“Very well, but I wish to be there with you. Off screen. And record the call.” I frown. He want’s evidence. My sister is involved, somehow, so he’s right. We’re going to need it.
“I don’tknowwhy Cassie was there, but I have an idea.” Now I’m not out of my mind in pain, a memory has popped to the forefront of my mind.
“I-no of course not! The Captain doesn’t even think of me like that. I mean, I…Boss?”
“…I need to speak to you in my office. Now.”
“Yes Boss. I’ll call you again in a few days? Love you Val.”
“I do as well.” Vrajan’s tone is foreboding. “Justwhodoes your sister work for?”
“She’s an indentured servant, like me, so anything her master has done, it’s not her fault.” I fluster, and he holds my hand to calm me.
“Of course not. If anything, your sister is likely the reason we are both alive and well right now.” I nod, with relief and total agreement. We walk back to my old bedroom, and I put on a pair of blue sleeping shorts and a long sleeved top. I fire up the laptop. He sits on the other side, so I can see him, but Cassie won’t be able to. “If her master has broken the law, he will be prosecuted, and her Caste and rights will be protected by the terms of her indentured servitude contract.”
“Good.” I nod and start entering the call request. I put a polite smile on my face and wait for the call to connect.
It doesn’t.
“The ship to ship call code you have entered is no longer in service. Please check the call code you entered, and try again.” The automated response chilled me. I checked the code, called again, and got the same monotone response.
“I feared this would be the case.” Vrajan reached over and cupped my cheek. “It is likely that upon returning you to the Embassy, she either returned or was collected by her master, and they have gone off the grid to avoid arrest.”
“…you mean…my sister ismissing?”My stomach turns and my blood runs cold. “She’s on a criminal ship, inhidingsomewhere?”With Vrajan’s nod, I gasp and tears well up in my eyes. Cassie is missing. She said she was on a ship with a full crew of Sacron men. Is she safe? Are they punishing her because she ruined their kidnap attempt and put them on the peacekeeper radar? Not to mention, ruined their payday.
