Page 8 of BrOdByc

Before she could find her sister, she needed to escape. The red beast holding her grunted and squeezed her chest even harder. She gasped, struggled to breathe, and a tear slid down her cheek. Damn, that hurt.

It brought her focus back to what was happening in the room. The alien holding her wasn’t happy. He growled at the woman who guided them upstairs.

The birdlike female pointed at the tub. “The master said you were to give the woman to me and leave.”

Casey winced when the red beast increased the pressure around her body, and once again growled his displeasure. She gasped when he moved toward the thin female in a threatening manner. How the hell did he expect to fight when all four of his arms were wrapped around her?

But the beast didn’t frighten the bird lady. Her trilling laugh filled the room, and she pointed at the door to the hall, warning her captor, “There are guards just outside this room. Touch me or refuse to turn over the Earth female and you will pay with your lives.”

The arms tightened again, blocking Casey’s air supply. But hearing that there were more guards in the hall hurt worse than being squeezed to death.

Another of the red, four-armed freaks started toward the hall door. Telling the alien who held her, “Put the female down. Leave her for now. She’ll marinate for a bit and when Andaran has finished with her, we’ll come back. By then, the compliance pool will have done its job. She’ll stop fighting and beg us to fuck her.”

It frightened her that the alien holding Casey didn’t argue, finally releasing his hold. His easy compliance meant he believed what they planned—would make her beg. She gulped in air, standing on her own, trying to regain her balance.

The red aliens didn’t waste time—quickly leaving her alone with the bird woman.

As soon as the door closed, the avian woman sighed, turning to face her. She gestured at the steaming bathtub. “You can’t fight it. They’ll beat you or use anything you care about. You have two choices. The guards will come in and strip off your clothes, or you can undress yourself and get in the tub.”

Casey tried to rally, to come up with a plan. Once more, she looked around the room, this time noticing another door on the opposite wall from the hall. Did it lead outside? Straightening her spine, she prepared to make a run for it.

The avian female crushed her plan with her next warning. “The master mentioned you have a sister. He won’t hesitate to use her against you.”

Casey’s head snapped up, and she met the woman’s gaze. She might be sorry—but the bird woman was completely serious. This warning was tailor made for Casey. If she ran... the man who bought the defective twin would make sure Cammy paid the price. And since she didn’t know how to find her sister, she believed he would get to her first.

The fight went out of her. She dropped her head and shoulders in defeat, then turned and faced the tub. It took seconds to step out of the single-piece, too-large coverall.

Compliance pool? Casey knew that meant they drugged the water. Maybe this drug would work, and she wouldn’t have any idea what was happening to her. Wouldn’t worry about her sister anymore. Her tears flowed freely as she stepped into the tub.

This wasn’t water. It was wet... but it was more like hot Jello. Casey had to push her way down the stairs and into the middle of the tub. Into the deep part, where the gelatinous goo oozed around her body, covering her completely. Only her head was free of the gunk.

Holy shit, it was hot. Gasping, Casey leaned her head back. Closing her eyes, she moaned. Oh my God! Every nerve in her body jerked awake.

Bringing her hands up to her breasts, she moaned. Compliance pool? Shaking her head at the thought. She hissed. No. No, this was so much worse.

Chapter Five

BrOdByc

Brode willed the slender avian woman to leave. But she lingered. Mumbling something about waiting until the tub had worked its dark magic, she flitted from one side of the room to the other. Straightening pictures, swiping at dust. Not once did she look directly at the woman in the center of the room. She was careful to avoid that area.

He kept his eye on his mate. Worried about her reaction.

Glancing over at his captain, he noticed the man fixated on the tub. Brode knew his leader was trying to catalog the light blue substance inside, what the effects were, and if needed... what his woman would need to counter the results. He heard the Siloth refer to it as the compliance pool—which indicated that anyone who spent time within it—would become obedient, submissive, and generally less combative. And if he could believe the Siloth... the material was also sexually stimulating.

Using such a substance would be highly illegal. This Earther certainly wasn’t willing. She’d been coerced, threatened with her sister’s well-being if she didn’t get in it.

Planets belonging to the galactic alliance had long ago signed a treaty. One of the very specific rights granted to all peoples within the alliance was dominion over their own bodies. Any haircut, tattoo, body ornamentation, sexual contact, medical procedure, herbal supplement, or pharmaceutical drug could only be administered with consent.

Viant was one of the oldest members of the alliance. The laws were well-known and supposedly observed. Yet, the air here was filled with the aroma of a native plant that was not only a known aphrodisiac but a mild emotional suppressant.

Bao turned and met Brode’s questioning gaze. The captain put a hand on his shoulder. For support, or in order to keep Brode from rushing to his mate’s rescue, he wasn’t sure.

“The gelatinous mixture is a potent aphrodisiac. I doubt it will shock you to learn that the principal ingredient is Viant Violeta. The longer she remains in the tub, the less resistance she’ll have. It requires only a few moments to erase all defiance. It will destroy her innate modesty or any ability to choose—as she’ll welcome any and all to her embrace. This is the ultimate date rape drug—removing all sense of discernment and free will, making anyone who uses it... animalistic. It becomes almost impossible to quench their physical needs. The substance is also noted to be highly addictive,“ his leader snarled.

Bao took a deep breath. “We need to get her out of there. Now. Get as much of the kack off her body as you can, then wrap her in the bedding and leave. I’ll stay behind with our brother. Let me get a sample of the mixture for you to take back to the ship so we can seek prosecution. I also want to know who shows up to claim her. But your only goal is to get her out and away from here. Our brother left a personal hover at the base of the stairs. He will meet you there and ensure you find it, as the machine is cloaked. Keep it that way and take your mate back to the ship. Wash away all residue and be prepared to resist her demands.”

An explosion rocked the building. By the blast of sound, it had been nearby. Either inside the pleasure station or very close. The avian woman stifled a squeal and ran to the door. Brode saw two guards bolting toward the stairs and she followed them.