Page 11 of Golden Darkness

“Uh, I don’t want to be worshipped.”

He walked out of medical and through the ship. Janessa felt like she was in a strange dream, but her body still hurt, and her inner thigh throbbed.

When they got to the dining area, a line of his people formed, and he spent time snapping the collars and cuffs that the others were still stuck in.

She sat and sipped at the soup he brought her while the line of personnel continued until the last of them had been freed.

“What happened, Kethen? Why were your people under thrall to the Vel-ech?”

He sighed. “They boarded while I was meeting with a new government. They gassed the crew, and the crew woke up in explosive collars and cuffs. The first infraction removed an arm. I was lost in my own thoughts, and the air in the ship had been scented with fruit, so we were off-world before I realized anything had happened. They threatened my crew and demanded my cooperation. So, I headed to the cell where we met, and I waited for a change in the status of the ship. If I tried to exit the cell, one of my crew died. It has been a tense few years.”

“So, why could you do it now when you could not do it before?” She pushed her empty bowl aside.

He smiled at the crewman who brought her more soup. “Pet, you know the reason for that. I have not had anyone compatible for consumption in more than a century. It was apparently well known.”

“So, they knew you were not at your best.”

“They did. And now look forward to being the best I can possibly be.” He chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Looking forward to?”

“Yes, pet. Once you are in better health, I can continue to draw on your body.”

She sipped at the second bowl of soup. “Draw, as in tattoo?”

He chuckled. “Draw as in consuming blood. What I took from you was done in an emergency, and you barely survived it. I would like the next time to involve more excitement on your part.”

“I vaguely remember that I was pretty excited.”

He stroked her cheek. “I want your arms and body wrapped around mine. That is the goal I am working toward.”

“Uh. It is nice to have goals.” She sighed. “I just want to get my body back under my control.”

He nodded. “That is my goal as well.”

She put the bowl of soup down and looked at him. “Don’t you have to continue expunging the Vel-ech or something?”

“The crew has it under control. The Vel-ech were all rendered unconscious by the lack of breathable air. If a few were in sealed areas, they were discovered and put into holding cells.”

“Oh, that is why you did that.” She resumed sipping at her soup.

“Yes, the Kethic need far less oxygen to remain consciousness than the invaders.” He stroked her hair. “Soon, you will have the same adaptation.”

“What else is going to change?”

“Your channel will become more flexible to accommodate me.”

She tried to hide her shiver. “I thought that thing was for display purposes only.”

He chuckled. “No, though it is an amusing thought. Is that why you grabbed hold of it? You thought it was a light switch.”

She blushed. “I thought it would distract you.”

“Oh, it was distracting, but now, it is time for you to rest again. Tomorrow, your goal is four thousand calories.”

“What?”

He stood and lifted her in his arms. “Now, you are going to rest again while I talk with my crew.”