Chapter Five

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 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'll stay behind. I 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.

Brode grinned. Their brother's timing was impeccable. Bao and Brode pushed out of the viewing room as soon as the three were out of sight. Bao quickly strode over, grinned at the noxious smoke filling the corridor, and locked the door from this side.

Within moments, BrOdByc stripped both sheets from the bed and approached the tub. Kneeling beside it, he reached for his woman.

She didn't open her eyes or resist him in any way when he plucked her from the goo. Using one sheet to wipe as much of the floral-scented substance from her body, he tossed it aside. The gelatinous kack was sticky. He then used the second sheet. Wrapping it around her, locking her hands to her side, and covering her head so no one would recognize her.

There were no complaints about having her head covered. No argument when he lifted her in his arms.

Moaning, she turned toward his touch. Squirming and panting, she demanded, "Oh, God... Make this stop. Please. Please?"

"My lady. You must be as quiet as you can be. We're escaping, and don't want to call attention to our efforts." Brode shifted her in his arms. Holding her wrapped body in front of him, he whispered into the sheet, hoping to give her mind something else to think about. Not wanting her to concentrate on the chemicals rushing through her system. "We'll go out the back. My brothers will help us."

She wiggled again. "I can't see!" Her voice rose in panic.

Brode immediately stopped, not wanting to add to her distress. He propped his foot on a low bench. Balancing her across his knee, he reached up and pulled the sheet away from her face. Frightened blue eyes looked up at him. Smiling down at her, he said, "I'm BrOdByc. We need to get out of here. Can you be quiet?"

Shaking her head, she moaned again and closed her eyes. Panting, she whispered, "I can't go. They have my sister."

"Several of my brothers followed her. They will not stop until they've rescued your sister so that you can reunite on our ship."

Her eyes flew open. She studied his face as if seeking the truth. "You promise?"

"I promise. What is your name, my lady?"

"Casey. I'm Casey." Her breath hitched, and she moaned again. "My sister is Cammy." Letting her lashes drop, she pressed her pink lips together, as if telling him she'd remain silent.

Brode transferred her weight to the center of his body and quickly moved to the door. Keeping his voice low, he warned her, "Hang in there, Casey. We need to get you to the ship so you can wash this kack off your body. When we go through the door, there will be smoke obscuring our vision. It is there to conceal us. One of my brothers is at the bottom of the stairs with a small hovercraft. One watches our backs. Your only job is to keep quiet and still for the few minutes it will take me to get you to the hover. Can you do that?"

He wanted to explain their every move so his brothers wouldn't startle her by coming out of the smoke or when they were taken to the hover. She'd been through enough.

She sighed and bit back another moan. Hissed softly, "Yes. Go!"

Bao held the door open. He had two vials of thick liquid and tucked them into a pocket of Brode's shirt. "Go, Brode. The smoke will cover you. Get her out of here!"

In seconds, they cleared the porch and were at the bottom of the stairs. BOlaBe held the door to the hover open, and he slid inside. There was only room for him and Casey in this small craft. He sat her beside him and loosened the sheet around her head so she could see outside if she opened her eyes.

His brothers remained behind. Eager to gather more information.

"We're cloaked. No one can see the hover," Brode assured her. "We'll return to the landing dock and my ship. You don't need to be silent. No one will hear your pain."

Casey's eyes opened again, and she gasped, "It's getting worse. Not better." Shaking her head, she tried again. "Searing pain, an empty ache. Do you know what that shit was? How to make this stop?"

Nodding, Brode kept his eyes on the small screen, maneuvering around any obstacles and other craft. No one could see the hover as it was cloaked, and so was their signal. It was up to him to make sure there were no collisions.

He could not withhold information from his mate. Keeping his eyes on the path in front of them, he told her, "My captain, one of the other men with me, analyzed the substance. He took a sample for further research. We know the gelatinous mixture is a potent aphrodisiac that overrides your ability to choose. I wiped off as much as I could before wrapping you in the sheet. But you will need to bathe the rest from your body as soon as possible."

Brode whipped his head around when Casey let out a guttural shriek. Before he could move, she wildly thrashed in her chair. Her eyes rolled up until only the whites showed, and her body seized—going rigid—before she slid to the floor.