Chapter 3

three

. . .

Katarina

I woke with a scream lodged in my throat, heart slamming against my ribs. The remnants of the nightmare clung like cobwebs - dark alleyways, cruel laughter, grasping hands. I shuddered, hugging my knees to my chest.

It was just a dream. I was safe in my rented room, not abducted by faceless monsters. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, hunted. Maybe Thaumas's warnings about the dangers for human women on Reazus Prime were getting to me.

Thaumas. A reluctant smile tugged at my lips as I remembered the dashing Griffin's unexpected visit last night. The way he'd swooped in to defend my honor, then walked me home with such old-fashioned chivalry. His golden eyes had glowed with fierce protectiveness and something else, something that sent butterflies rioting in my stomach.

No, I couldn't let myself get distracted by a pair of pretty eyes, no matter how mesmerizing. I was here to survive, not swoon over the first brooding alien to cross my path. Thaumas was a complication I couldn't afford.

Determinedly, I pushed all thoughts of brawny bird-men aside and dragged myself out of bed to get ready for another shift at the tavern. The skimpy wench's uniform covered a bit more skin in the daylight. I quickly learned that the amount of cleavage I showed directly affected my tips. Ugh.

I hurried downstairs just in time for the breakfast rush. The moment I stepped into the taproom, my boss, a portly Sauren named Grix, pounced.

"There you are, girl!" he barked, shoving a heavy tray into my hands. "Table six has been waiting on their Xandarian firewhiskey for ten minutes. Hop to it, unless you want me to dock your pay!"

I bit back a retort and plastered on my "customer service" smile. "Right away, boss."

As I wove through the rowdy crowd with my precariously balanced tray, I caught snippets of conversation that made my skin crawl.

"...shipment of Viceroid spice coming in tonight, boss wants extra security..."

"...new batch of pleasure droids, top of the line from Ritaxis Prime..."

"...need more human cargo if we're gonna meet Zarath's quota this quarter..."

Human cargo. They were talking about abducted women like me, as if we were just another tradable commodity. Bile rose in my throat and I swallowed hard. What kind of nightmare planet had I crash-landed on?

Lost in dark thoughts, I didn't notice the foot thrust into my path until I was tripping over it, drinks flying. I hit the ground hard, the shattered glasses slicing my palms.

Raucous laughter erupted around me as I struggled to my feet, face burning. I glared at the culprit, a smirking Reptoid with iridescent scales. "Whoops," he hissed insincerely. "Clumsy me."

My temper flared, hot and bright. To hell with customer service. "You did that on purpose, you overgrown gecko!"

His eyes narrowed to glittering slits. "Watch your mouth, mammal. Know your place."

He lunged, clawed hands outstretched. I braced for impact, pulse thundering?—

WHAM. A dark blur slammed into the Reptoid, sending him crashing into a neighboring table. Patrons scattered as Thaumas materialized from the shadows, his fierce raptor's gaze burning into the groaning alien.

"I believe you owe the lady an apology," he growled, looming over the downed troublemaker. His wings mantled, the soft down between them ruffling.

The Reptoid spat, greenish blood dribbling down his chin. "Sssscrew you, bird. I don't take orders from off-worlders."

Thaumas smiled coldly. "Apologize, or I'll show you how a Griffin deals with those who insult our females."

Wait...OUR females? I bristled, even as that traitorous voice in my head purred at his unexpected claim. I was no one's female, dammit.

But I knew how to pick my battles. It was kind of sweet, in an overbearing alpha-male way, to have Thaumas leap to my defense. Even if I could fight my own battles, my stinging hands were grateful for the backup.

"Fine," the Reptoid spat sullenly. He flicked a venomous glance my way. "Apologies, wench. Won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't," Thaumas said icily, releasing him.

As the cowed alien slunk off, Thaumas turned to me, his gaze softening. "Are you all right, Katarina?"

"I'm fine," I managed, my voice wavering only slightly. I looked at the fresh cuts spotting my palms and winced. "Well, mostly. Occupational hazard, I guess."

He made a distressed sound, reaching for my hands. The warm rasp of his calloused fingers against my skin set off fireworks in my nerve endings.

"You're hurt," he said roughly, golden eyes blazing. "You should be seen by a medic."

I laughed a little wildly. "With what insurance? In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly flush with cash or connections here."

Thaumas's handsome face settled into stern lines. I got the distinct sense he wasn't used to being refused. "Then I'll call my personal physician. I won't take no for an answer, Katarina."

Exasperation warred with grudging gratitude. "Thaumas, I appreciate the whole knight-in-shining-feathers routine, but I can take care of myself. Besides, Grix will have my hide if I slip off before my shift ends."

Right on cue, my apoplectic boss came barreling through the crowd. "You! Girl! What's this I hear about you provoking the clientele? I won't have you starting brawls in my establishment, I don't care how pretty you are!"

I cringed, but Thaumas stepped smoothly in front of me, using his impressive wingspan to block Grix's advance.

"My apologies for the disturbance," he said coolly. "It won't happen again. If you'll excuse us, Katarina has an urgent appointment to keep. I'm sure you understand."

Grix goggled, his jowls quivering. "See here, the wench is on the clock until I say otherwise! She can't just go gallivanting off with every rich toff who crooks a finger!"

My cheeks flamed at the crude insinuation, but Thaumas's expression hardened into something dangerous. He reached into a pouch at his belt and tossed a fat coin purse at Grix's feet. It clinked heavily as it hit the floorboards.

"For your trouble," Thaumas said, each word dropping like ice. "And to ensure your silence. Katarina is finished here, effective immediately. Am I understood?"

Grix's beady eyes widened as he hefted the substantial weight of the purse. He licked his lips nervously, gaze darting between me and the implacable griffin.

"O-of course, my lord," he stammered, backing away. "Forgive my impertinence. The wench, Miss Mayberry - is free to go, with my compliments."

I gaped at them both, completely poleaxed. Had Thaumas just bought out my contract? The high-handedness of it set my teeth on edge, even as a secret, shameful part of me thrilled at being so cavalierly claimed.

But as Thaumas's muscular hand closed over my elbow to steer me toward the exit, reality crashed in. Wait, what was I doing? I couldn't just let this alien, who I barely knew, whisk me away like some kind of damsel in a bodice ripper!

I dug in my heels, yanking free of his grip. We were outside now, in the alley behind the tavern. "Thaumas, stop! What the hell was that? You can't just make decisions for me like I'm your pet human!"

Thaumas blinked, looking startled, then chagrined. "Katarina, I...forgive me. I only wanted to help. When I saw that lowlife hurt you, I just reacted."

To my shock, he lowered his great eagle's head in a penitent bow. "You're right, I overstepped. I'm not accustomed to having my protection refused. Griffin females are usually grateful for a male's guardianship."

I softened slightly at his obvious remorse. "I'm not a Griffin female, Thaumas. I'm an Earther - a human, an American. We value our independence. I need you to respect that if we're going to be friends."

His amber eyes gleamed. "‘Friends'? Is that what we are?"

My traitorous heart stuttered. What were we? Near-strangers thrown together by bizarre circumstances, for sure. But this simmering attraction between us was more than simple friendship. Dangerous, uncharted territory.

"Allies," I amended quickly. "Compatriots. Amigos. Buddies. Compadres." God, stop talking Kat!

Thaumas's wickedly sexy smile said he saw right through me. "I think I prefer friends," he purred, stepping closer. The heat of his powerful body seared my nerve endings. "Or perhaps, in time, something...more?"

I made a squeaky sound as his hawk beak grazed my cheek in a surprisingly erotic nuzzle. Mother Mary, the beak was turning me on now? I was in deep trouble.

I scrambled back, putting some much-needed distance between us before I combusted on the spot. "Ooookay, slow your roll there, Fabio! I'm not one of your swooning Griffin groupies, okay? You can't just waggle your tail feathers and expect me to-"

A piercing scream from the mouth of the alley cut me off mid-rant. Thaumas and I whipped around just in time to see three cloaked figures seize a struggling Trixian woman and drag her toward a waiting hovercraft. My blood ran cold.

It was the plot from my nightmare playing out in real time.

"No!" I shouted, sprinting toward the craft as it lurched into the air. Thaumas roared beside me, his powerful hind legs eating up the ground.

But we were too late. The hovercraft zipped away, the woman's cries fading into the distance. I slumped to my knees on the filthy cobblestones, chest heaving.

Dammit. Dammit. That could have been me. It still could be, if I let my guard down for even a second. Frustrated tears stung my eyes.

"Who were they?" I croaked, looking up at Thaumas's grim face. "Why did they take her?"

His lips thinned. "Slavers. Probably working for the Obsidian Syndicate, a major player in the galactic slave trade." He sighed heavily. "It's not the first abduction I've seen on Reazus Prime, and I doubt it will be the last."

A chill skittered up my spine. "It's not exactly the first for me, either," I said bleakly. "Those bastards who snatched me and the other women from Earth...you don't think they're connected to this Obsidian Syndicate, do you?"

Thaumas's eyes darkened. "I suspect so. An entire ship full of human females...that would be quite the prize for Zarath, the Syndicate's leader."

His talons clenched, gouging furrows in the dirt. "Katarina, you're in more danger than I realized. Zarath won't stop until he recovers his cargo. There is a 99.9% chance he knows you survived the crash. It's only a matter of time before he comes for you."

I swallowed hard as fear put a sour taste on my tongue. But like hell was I going to cower in the face of this new threat? Thaumas was right - I was a target, a juicy prize for the twisted Space Mafia. But that just meant I needed to get smarter, tougher. Learn how to defend myself.

I lifted my chin, meeting Thaumas's concerned gaze head on. "Then you'll just have to train me," I said firmly. "Teach me how to fight, how to survive. Make me the most badass human this side of the Andromeda Galaxy."

I bared my teeth in a feral smile. "If Zarath wants me, he'll have to go through the new Katarina Mayberry. And trust me - this wench bites back."

Thaumas blinked, then let out a bark of surprised laughter. "Well then, my bloodthirsty little warrior," he purred, eyes gleaming with pride and unmistakable heat. "Looks like we have some work to do."

He pressed something into my hand - a sleek chrome communicator. "If you need me, use this," he said gruffly. "I'll never be far."

His gaze burned into mine for a charged moment, a silent promise. Then, with a rush of mighty wings, he launched into the sky and was gone.

I looked down at the communicator in my bandaged palm, a smile tugging at my lips.

Badass training with a sexy Griffin warrior? Surviving the alien underworld suddenly didn't seem so impossible. Watch out, Zarath. This wench was just getting started.