Page 20 of Golden Darkness
“So, this is happening now. There isn’t any stopping it.” She whispered her words.
“No, pet. There isn’t. You are mine until you tire of life, and I am yours until that moment.” He stroked her cheek.
“There is a lot of you to deal with.”
He smiled. “You will get used to me. I promise.”
He was showing a lot of fang for a fairly benign promise.
Janessa looked past him and into the stars. It was a strange place she had fallen into, but she hadn’t fought her way to the lift point just to give up on a chance at a new life. She put her hand on his cheek, and he grinned before he asked, “Is there anything you would like?”
“Shoes.”
He smiled. “If you wish, but are you strong enough to walk on your own?”
She frowned. “If I am not, then I will fake it.”
“Then, we shall get you shoes.” He stroked her cheek. “Are you feeling stable?”
“No, but I am not in a mental spin, and I know what is real and what isn’t.” She pressed her hand to his chest and felt the scarred skin beneath. “You are real. The wings are real, and the throb on my inner thigh from your teeth is real.”
He pressed his forehead to hers in the act of a longtime lover expressing affection. “I will refresh that mark from time to time. You will know when.”
She shivered and whispered, “Shoes?”
He chuckled and carried her to one of the manufacturing units down a few floors. It scanned her feet, and he selected some toe-baring sandals.
She bit her lip. “Can I get some boots instead?”
“When you have upgraded your activity level. For now, your cute, little toes will be on display.”
When the shoes were completed, her cute little toes were out for everyone to see, but she was walking next to him. It was progress.
Chapter Five
She stood outside the container while the captain and Kethen explained the situation, the restrictions, and the freedoms. They also explained the punishments for assaulting any member of the crew.
When the threats were over, Janessa stepped back and hid in the shadows as the Terrans came out and were escorted by the crew to their new zone.
When they were on their way, she stepped toward Kethen. One of the Terrans turned his head and shouted, “There she is! She’s alive!”
They turned toward her as one and stepped forward, arms reaching.
She froze, shifted her feet, and prepared to defend herself while wearing a glorified nighty.
The first guy was ten feet away when a deafening roar sounded. The Terrans froze in place.
Kethen walked over to Janessa and folded her in his wing. “We just explained that the females on board were not to be approached without consent.”
One of the men frowned. “But, she’s one of ours, not yours.”
Kethen growled, “She’s mine.”
He gathered her up and held her on one arm. The claws on his right arm were out. “No one touches her. Are we clear?”
The guys looked irritated, and she swallowed as she guessed they had been planning... things.
She addressed them. “I have no romantic or sexual interest in any of you, and any attempts to press an interest are going to end up with you missing a head or other body parts.”