Chapter 11

My first week with Krogal swept me away as if I'd landed into a fairy tale. Deep inside, a nagging little voice kept harping at me that this was too good to be true. Sooner than later, the other shoe would drop, and shit would hit the fan. Everyone acted so incredibly nice to me, and my man showered me with attention and cuddles, proving himself more than worthy of the gentle giant title.

Belle exceeded all my hopes of having a great friend here. Humble, full of life, and with a heart the size of the moon, she made me rediscover what it was like to just be oneself, not trying to pretend to be what others expected, or trying to fit within a mold imposed on us. She just embraced me the way I was and gave me back who she truly was, no pretense.

I didn't see Talin again. It was only a matter of time, and I would lie by saying it didn't unnerve me a little to wonder how that encounter would turn out. However, I did run into Krogal's father. Thankfully, he addressed me in a very polite fashion, if a little distant. He seemed mad at Krogal. It didn't take a genius to figure out why. That royally sucked. But I intended to fix it. In time, I felt confident I could help them mend the rift. The fact that Krogal still clearly loved his mother—and I perceived the reciprocal sentiment from her—further fueled my conviction everything would work out.

On a different note, Krogal gave me the bittersweet news that Joree recovered enough to return to her owner Cyric, and her mother welcomed her back. This meant the adorable little Nulia would be able to undergo a proper training and fulfill a meaningful life for one of her species. The selfish part of me continued to mourn the loss of the companion with whom I had felt instant chemistry. But maybe it was just the little girl in me who had been rejected by her mother who saw a kindred spirit in Joree.

In between all that, I lightly started looking into schools I could attend or what new career I could pursue. I hadn't devoted too much time to it as I had been too busy discovering my new home and new people's culture. As Krogal would resume his regular work hours next week, I intended to look more seriously into it then.

But our shuttle taking flight drove those thoughts from my mind. We were venturing outside the city for the first time since my arrival on Xoccoris. Krogal was taking us to the beach for a little picnic and a swim. Once more, I marveled at the beauty of this new world. Despite us living a jet setter's life, Liam never took me off-world, even though he owned multiple casinos and clubs on various planets and space stations. It was one thing to see alien landscapes on vidscreens and during holodeck sessions, but to be surrounded by it in the real world took it to a whole other level.

Krogal made a slight detour to show me the neighboring fortified cities as well as some notable landmarks. He weaved in humorous anecdotes that had me laughing to tears, especially those involving trouble Bayron, Demar, and he used to get into growing up.

We landed at the edge of the forest. He shunned the spots closer to the beach where he could have parked the shuttle and purposefully chose this area so that he could give me a little tour of the forest. Naturally, my offering to carry some of the countless items he brought earned me a stern glare that had me giggling. While he was nowhere near as much of a braggart as his cousin and many of the other Zamorian males, my Krogal loved showing off how strong and skillful he was for me.

His efforts to impress me and to earn my admiration were beyond adorable. The silly man didn't seem to realize what a huge crush I was steadily developing for him. Even with a temperature-controlled crate containing our food under his arm, a bag with various accessories in one hand, fishing equipment hanging over his shoulder, and a deployable parasol in his third hand, Krogal still managed to have a spare hand to hold mine as we strolled through the woods.

"This is where Bayron and Belle found Ferach during their first trip to the forest," Krogal suddenly said, indicating an inconspicuous area nearby. "The poor pup had been in such a horrible state, it still blows my mind that he survived. Even as a veterinarian myself, I would have put him down had I found him like this. But Belle pleaded so fervently for us to give him a chance that neither Bayron nor I had the hearts to refuse her."

"And you saved him!" I exclaimed proudly.

He hesitated. "In a way, I did, but Belle really deserves the credit. She believed in him, and I think he felt it. The bond he formed with her was phenomenal. I could only do so much for him. It was the Ordosians, a snake-like species that managed to fully heal what I could not. What I wouldn't give for the opportunity to go train with them for a few days!"

"Oh! You should ask!"

His face fell. "Not a chance. Belle and Bayron are one of the extremely rare off-worlders to have ever been allowed inside their sacred lands. Even when they took in Ferach to heal him, Belle had to remain at the hunters' base on Trangor, the Ordosian homeworld, while they treated him. It took Bayron getting stung by the Atreall Queen he saved for him to earn that privilege."

My heart constricted at his dejected expression. Bayron's rescue mission had gone viral and significantly helped shift the generally negative opinion people used to have about Zamorians. Now that he mentioned it, I vaguely remembered hearing about how territorial the Ordosians were and how people trespassing would be executed.

I'll need to ask Belle if there's any way she can put in a good word for Krogal.

In my short time here, Krogal had already done so much for me, I'd love to be able to return the favor or to at least help make one of his own dreams come true.

"I wonder if I will ever meet Ferach in the flesh," I said wistfully. "I've only ever seen him in some of the paintings and drawings Belle made of him."

Krogal nodded. "He returned to the wild where he belongs. Ferach now leads his pack, has a mate, and offspring of his own."

"It must have been hard for Belle to part ways with him," I said with commiseration.

"It was," he concurred. "But he visits from time to time. He even came to introduce his young to Bayron and Belle."

"That's awesome!" I exclaimed. "With luck, I'll get to see them, too, one of these days."

The tree line parting before us put an end to this conversation. My jaw dropped at the sight of the magnificent beach that sprawled before us. The grass gradually faded, giving way to the strangest sand I had ever seen. It was extremely fine and felt more like walking on powdery snow than actual sand. Surprisingly, it didn't stick to my shoes. Its pale gold color shone like a sea of gems under the bright rays of the sun. Crystalline water, a light shade of turquoise, spread as far as the eye could see.

Unusual trees, resembling a cross between a giant cactus and a palm tree with vines covered in purple flowers, rose in random areas of the beach, their roots buried under the sand. I could only presume they went deep enough to find proper soil to get the necessary nutrients from. Krogal made a beeline for one such tree before setting down the bags and containers he was burdened with. He laid down a picnic mat under the shade of the giant leaves of the tree. Thankfully, the prickly needles that gave it the cactus-like appearance didn't start before at least two meters from the base of the trunk.

To my delight, there was no one else in sight. Then again, we were in the middle of the week in the morning hours when most people would either be in school or at work. According to Krogal, it was possible to find secluded areas for those seeking a bit more privacy. But the risk of someone stumbling on you remained during peak hours.

Without a word, Krogal began stripping out of the sleeveless vest he was wearing and then his pants. Saying I wasn't getting an eyeful would be a bold-faced lie. Yeah, I was shamelessly checking him out. As I stripped out of my own clothes, I didn't miss the subtle glances he was casting my way. My man was totally checking me out, too.

A part of me wanted to tease and put on a bit of a show, but I felt oddly self-conscious. It didn't really make sense, considering I'd been blessed with a rather nice body and an amazing metabolism. It was all the nicer now that Liam no longer forced me to stay on the skinny side. God, I used to hate how much he controlled my food intake. He claimed it was necessary as a performer to have a perfect figure. To me, in person, I looked more like a walking bag of bones back then. But it did come out looking really nice in photos and videos.

Since my escape, I'd gotten to what I considered a healthier weight, but I suspected Krogal wouldn't mind me putting on a few additional pounds. With the gourmet food he kept preparing for me, I could see that happening sooner than later. And I intended to enjoy every moment of it.

"You are breathtaking, my mate," Krogal said, his black eyes looking even darker as they greedily roamed over me.

The coral bikini I chose looked gorgeous against my brown skin. It left just enough to the imagination while also accentuating my narrow waist, the flaring of my hips, and my endless legs. I had decent breasts, firm and perky. I wouldn't have minded them being a bit bigger, but I couldn't complain. Anyway, considering the massive size of Krogal's hand, no boob could ever be big enough to fill his palm. He could cover my entire face with it.

"You look pretty hot yourself," I said sincerely but with a hint of teasing.

Deep down, however, I couldn't stop thinking how badly I wanted to lick him all over. His body was beyond perfection. For a male this massive, I would have expected him to be a little too bulky in places. But everything was properly proportioned, each muscle flawlessly defined without that unhealthy, oversized swelling that bodybuilders who abused steroids possessed. Even his double set of arms flowed aesthetically. Those chiseled abs had me drooling, and the small buds of his nipples had my mouth watering.

The only thing unnerving about him was the bulge between his thighs. The tight bathing black shorts he wore hugged his twin peens a bit too closely. That they would form such a noticeable mound while clearly not yet erect made me want to squirm just trying to imagine how massive they would be once ready for action.

My cheeks all but burst into flames when I glanced up at Krogal's face to find his four eyes studying my reaction as I stared at his crotch. To my relief, he seemed slightly amused.

"Do not fear anything about me, my Farah. We are soulmates," he said in a soothing voice. "This means we were meant for each other in every way. When the time comes, I will take good care of you, and you'll see that I truly deserve the title of cuddly dragon."

I snorted, my embarrassment fading at the same time a wave of affection swelled within me. Things were always so easy with him. Krogal had a way of making me feel safe and helping me realize that things that seemed overwhelming or insurmountable really weren't that big of a deal. Despite being still early in our relationship, I believe at a visceral level that he would take good care of me.

Truth be told, I was getting ready to spice things up a bit. I wouldn't go all the way just yet, but my hands were seriously itching to do a bit of wandering, beyond just braiding his hair.

"Come, my mate. Let's get you wet," Krogal said with a mischievous expression that made it clear this had been a deliberate innuendo.

I chuckled, shook my head at him, and took his hand. As we approached the water, I licked my lips nervously and gave him a sideways glance.

"You should probably know that I'm the worst swimmer in the entire universe," I said sheepishly. "I've been in pools and at the beach more times than I can count, but I never got the hang of swimming. Even just treading water is a major display of incompetence."

"That's terrible!" he said with an exaggerated air of stupor. "We must fix that. In the meantime, I fear I'll have no choice but to sacrifice myself and serve as your personal lifesaver. It will be a great hardship for me, but I will let you hang on to me."

I made a face at him and playfully elbowed him. "Just for that, I'll wrap myself around you like a squid!"

"Oh no! The horror! Whatever will I do?!" Krogal exclaimed, the huge grin on his face belying the fake despair in his voice.

Tugging on my hand, which he still held, Krogal pulled me to him before sweeping me up in his primary arms. My yelp of surprise shifted into laughter as he broke into a run while carrying me like a bride. I hung on to him, my brain struggling to pick what overwhelming emotions to focus on.

My innocent side reveled at the childish, carefree fun of being carried by a behemoth, racing at dizzying speed towards the clearest water. I laughed and squealed, both eager to get in the water and apprehensive about how cold it would likely be. It had been far too long since I'd indulged in such activities without worrying about projecting the right image. Liam demanded I keep my laughter discreet, my voice calm and soothing, and my appearance flawless, with not one hair out of place. That meant no running down the beach or diving into the ocean.

My naughty side latched on to the amazing feel of Krogal's bare skin against mine. Sure, we hugged plenty before. With him mostly shirtless, it was a pleasant experience. As I'd always been dressed, my clothes had gotten in the way. But right now, my barely-there bikini was giving me greater contact than ever, and I instantly craved more. His skin was so warm, so silky against mine, I wanted to rub my face all over him.

A high-pitched shout escaped me when water splashed under his feet before quickly engulfing us. It was cold but not freezing. However, listening to me squealing, one might believe I'd been dunked into a pool of ice. The way Krogal moved through the gentle waves, you'd think he felt no resistance at all, which further testified to his incredible strength.

"How do you run so fast in the water?" I asked.

"Part of the warrior training every male undergoes as of the age of five involves racing in various heights of water, including fully submerged."

"Damn, that explains a few things."

Far from distracting me from the arousal such close proximity to my man awakened in me, the coolness of the water had me pressing myself even more tightly against him to seek his heat. It wasn't a conscious reaction, but I didn't fight it once I realized I was doing it.

It didn't hurt that Krogal seemed to appreciate having me clinging to him.

"Take a deep breath!" he warned while removing his arm from behind my knees to hold me chest to chest against him.

He didn't have to say it twice. Although we hadn't gone far from the shore, we were already deep enough in the water that my feet couldn't touch the bottom. Standing still, Krogal had water up to his shoulders. If I let go of him and let myself sink, I'd be completely submerged.

As soon as he saw me hold my breath, Krogal dove forward. His secondary arms wrapped around me kept my body aligned with his. He kicked his feet and used his primary arms to propel us forward under the waves. Eyes closed, my cheek pressed against his, and my arms hugging him, I surrendered to the caress of the water against my skin as we shot through it like a rocket.

Long before my lungs could start burning from lack of oxygen, Krogal swam back up to the surface—which had only been about a meter above us. As soon as we emerged, he spun us around so that he could swim on his back while I lay on top of him. My jaw dropped when I noticed how far he had gotten us from the shore in such a short time.

Still using his primary arms, he leisurely swam around, his black eyes studying my features with an air of awe while a happy smile stretched his lips. Eyes locked with his, a wistful smile on my face, I played with the small hairs around his nape as the water gently licked my arms and back. It struck me then that my legs were instinctively adjusting their movement to his.

"You're undoubtedly one of the best pool floats in the universe," I said teasingly.

He huffed, playfully offended. "I'm not ‘one of the best floats' in the universe, but the best! How many floats do you know who can carry a conversation with you? Hold you securely on top of them while taking you on a scenic tour? And above all, also act as a theme park attraction?"

I never got a chance to respond. Krogal's secondary arms released their embrace around me. He held me by the waist before tossing me up in the air like I weighed nothing. I screamed, my arms milling in the air as I tilted into a vertical position. Seconds later, I fell into the water, Krogal catching me before I got submerged.

He lifted me back up, holding me over his head at arm's length. On instinct, I spread my arms and legs as if I were a plane. With the dexterity of a synchronized swimmer, Krogal rotated in place while still keeping me propped up. I laughed and squealed with delight.

I couldn't say if he was trying to show off his strength, but my man quite literally turned himself into a theme park ride. With his insane muscle power, he would put his primary palms under my feet and launch me at least three meters into the air. I quickly went from petrified the first couple of times to bold and daring, performing acrobatics before splashing back into the water. Other times, he would have me riding on his back while he used his four arms to zip through the ocean, butterfly style. It almost felt like riding a bull without fighting not to be brutally bucked off. Even when he would dive and execute a few wild moves with me still latched on to him, I never felt scared or destabilized.

By the time he swam back closer to the shore, my entire being buzzed with happiness and excitement. Krogal had no idea what a wonderful gift this was. For years, I'd been deprived of just enjoying the moment, no holds barred, no judgment, no fear. Every day, every moment alongside Krogal healed a bit more of the lingering scars of the mental cage Liam had kept me trapped in for years.

Above all, I felt safe, wanted, protected, and free. Free to be who I truly was, and free to become whatever I wished.

When he stopped a few meters from the shore and put me on my feet, a whirlwind of emotion surged within me, constricting my throat. I couldn't tell what expression he read on my face, but his mischievous smile faded, giving way to an air of tenderness laced with sympathy that turned me upside down.

A silent communication passed between us. I couldn't have put it into words, not that it mattered. Without thinking, I hoisted myself onto my tippy toes and pressed a kiss at the corner of his jaw. Krogal slightly stiffened in surprise. I buried my face in his neck and wrapped my arms around him. The infinite tenderness with which he returned my embrace had me melting from the inside out.

Seriously, four-armed hugs were freaking awesome, especially when given by the gentlest giant.

I loved how attuned Krogal seemed to be to my feelings. Most men would have started asking what was wrong upon noticing my sudden mood swing—assuming they even noticed. Although it was important to encourage people to open up about things that troubled them, sometimes, you really didn't want to talk—or even need to. You simply wanted your special someone to just be there with you and give you a world-class hug like this one.

Who would have thought such a behemoth could be so empathetic?

Then again, Krogal was a renowned veterinarian. No doubt his profession taught him to recognize when a wounded animal only craved the silent comfort and reassurance of a protector. This whole interaction could have been super awkward, but my man handled it perfectly.

With much reluctance, I eventually loosened my hold and took a step back to glance up at him.

"Ready for your first swimming lesson?" he asked.

"Oh boy! Why do I feel like this is going to be an epic disaster?" I said, partially horrified.

He chuckled and squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "It won't be so bad. Worst case scenario, you'll be at the same point and still not be able to swim."

I made a face at him which only made him laugh further.

For the next eternity, he tried to get me to tread water. Despite religiously following his instructions, my performance qualified more as pathetic flailing. Considering my light weight, you'd think I'd float to the surface like a twig, but gravity made it a point to remind me who's boss. Although baffled by my inability to master such a basic task, especially for an accomplished dancer as I was, Krogal displayed the patience of a saint. Not once did he seem aggravated or discouraged in the face of my consistent failure.

He not only made a game out of it but teased me in a way that had me laughing instead of growing mortified over my shortcomings. We eventually switched things up. With his palms under my stomach, keeping me at the surface of the water, Krogal made me practice breast strokes. Remaining focused on his instructions grew increasingly harder. After all this time spent playing in the water with him, I should have been over getting aroused by physical contact with him. Yet, all I could think about was the calloused feel of his large palms on my stomach and how badly I wanted them roaming all over me.

After a while, Krogal put some distance between us and requested that I swim to him. I complied with as much grace as a cat tossed into a pool. But as that distance grew, the more erratic my swimming became, and the more water I swallowed. He finally took pity on me when I all but sank after crossing a measly five meters. He scooped me out of the water and held me in his reassuring embrace. I clung to him, coughing and sputtering.

Peering up, I gave him a dejected look. "You're either the worst teacher in the universe, or I'm the most hopeless student to have ever set foot on Xoccoris."

He chuckled. "I think it's both."

I gaped at him in false outrage. "Hey! You're supposed to do the gentleman thing and take the blame, claim it's all you!"

He laughed some more. "Sorry, you're right. I'm a dreadful teacher. You are great. I'm just failing to bring out your potential."

I made a face at him and playfully elbowed him. Krogal smiled, his arms holding me tightening in a possessive fashion. I couldn't tell what triggered it, or when the change occurred, but the mood suddenly shifted. The dark depths of his eyes appeared to swallow me whole as our gazes locked. I melted against him as I returned his embrace. It was only once our mouths touched that I realized one of us—or maybe both—had leaned towards the other.

A bolt of fire exploded in the pit of my stomach as the plush cushion of his lips pressed against mine. It was soft and a little hesitant, as if he didn't want to frighten me. With a will of their own, my hands glided around his sides, up his chest, and then clasped behind his muscular nape. Emboldened by my positive response, Krogal increased the pressure of his lips against mine, and his palms cautiously caressed my back.

I had never kissed a male with tusks before. A part of me always assumed it would be awkward. Sure, it felt a little strange, but not in an unpleasant fashion. The fact that they were on the small side—nowhere near as massive as those certain orcish species possessed—certainly helped.

His tongue teased the seam of my mouth, and I parted mine willingly, welcoming it in. He tilted his head to the side to deepen the kiss as our tongues made each other's acquaintance. His was a little rougher than a human's, the odd but delightful sensation resonating directly between my thighs. A dull throbbing awakened in my nether region, gradually increasing in intensity as our kiss grew more passionate, and his hands on me became more feverish.

A yelp escaped me, swallowed by his voracious mouth, when his secondary hands grabbed the back of my thighs and lifted me up. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his narrow waist and sank my fingers into the silky strands of his dark hair. My stomach quivered when this new position had me feeling the hardening length of his shafts straining against his swimming trunks. My nipples began aching while my pulse seemed to be palpitating into my clitoris, which was quickly perking its head up in need of attention.

Krogal broke the kiss, his mouth continuing to roam over my face and the side of my neck as he gently bent me backward. As a result, my pelvic area rubbed against his twin cocks. It felt as if my clit had been struck by lightning followed by electric tendrils spreading outwards throughout my body. A moan tumbled out of my throat. That seemed to set something off inside him.

My man responded with a moan of his own, although it sounded more like the low, threatening growl a wild beast emitted as a warning not to come closer if you valued your life. It vibrated through his broad chest, making my skin tingle. It should have frightened me and been my cue to end things before they got out of control. Instead, it had moisture pooling between my thighs.

Krogal's mouth traced a blazing trail down my neck to my chest. A choked cry escaped me when it settled on my left breast, over the thin fabric of my bikini top. My inner walls contracted, and I involuntarily rubbed my pelvis against his. His stiff cocks grazing my clit had another spark of lust surging through me. Krogal's secondary hands tightened their hold behind my thighs, pressing me even more tightly against his twins.

He reclaimed my mouth in a voracious kiss, while his huge primary right hand slipped under the fabric of my bikini top to close around my left breast. I moaned against his mouth as our tongues mingled. He fondled my breast, his thumb teasing the nub as it painfully hardened.

It took me too long to notice Krogal had been on the move. Only once the sudden coolness of shade descended over us did I realize he had walked us out of the water and back to our picnic mat. Without breaking the kiss, he laid me down on the mat before lying on top of me. The small voice of reason at the back of my mind was timidly saying now would really be a good time to stop.

But the voice of lust had a completely different idea in mind.

With a will of their own, my legs parted open so that Krogal could settle more comfortably over me. He supported his weight with his secondary forearms so as not to squish me, while his primary hands explored my body with increasing boldness. Surprisingly, they didn't venture under the thin pieces of fabric hiding my naughty bits. Although he caressed my sides and even went further south to my thighs, Krogal steered clear of my sex.

Thinking he was waiting for an unequivocal signal to proceed from me, I began caressing his broad back with both hands, allowing them to journey down to the firm and round mounds of his behind. Krogal had the sexiest butt. It should be illegal to achieve such perfection. I gave his cheeks a firm squeeze while lifting my pelvis to press against his. Even as I did this, that little voice protested a bit more loudly without becoming assertive.

It had been too long since I'd been with a man, and even longer since I'd actually wanted to be intimate with someone.

Am I rushing into it for the wrong reasons?

Krogal's throaty growl resonated directly in my clit. When he broke the kiss and buried his face in my neck, I thought he would venture down like he had previously done when we were in the water. To my dismay, he merely pressed his lips on my pulse there, rubbed his face in the crook of my neck, then lifted his head to look at me.

His obsidian eyes shone with a lustful haze laced with infinite tenderness.

"You are far too tempting, my mate," he said, his voice even more rumbly from desire. "Let's feed you before I lose what little control I still possess."

I almost blurted out for him to go right ahead and lose control. At the same time, the stupid voice of reason heaved a sigh of relief. I didn't want him to stop, and yet I loved that he was going at a slow pace, making sure I was in the right headspace every step of the way.

I gave him a shaky smile as he got up and helped me to sit up. As he went to the other side of the mat to start retrieving the various dishes he had prepared from the temperature-controlled containers, I couldn't help but steal a few glances at him. Naturally, my gaze zeroed in on the massive bulge that his wet bathing trunks hugged in the most indecent fashion.

My inner walls once more contracted, but this time a hefty dose of apprehension seeped into the frustrated arousal that still lingered. Nevertheless, that he could show such discipline when he was clearly uncomfortably erect did wonders to reassure me I was truly in good hands.

The sexual tension quickly gave way to the laidback and amiable atmosphere that always reigned between us. I smiled while greedily buttering one of the homemade spiced buns Krogal had baked for us.

"It's been such a long time since I've been on a picnic like this," I said wistfully while taking in the generous spread before us and our fairy tale surroundings. "In fact, it's also been far too long since I've been able to enjoy so much good food without being told I've had enough."

"Oh?" Krogal said, a slight frown marring his forehead.

Despite his obvious curiosity, my man was forcing himself not to pry, showing enough interest to encourage me to continue without feeling pressured to do so. That was yet another thing I loved about him. He let me be and never demanded more than I was ready or willing to give. But it was time for me to open up.

"Liam, my ex, controlled everything. I was so young and impressionable when we first met that I was too mesmerized to see what was happening," I said, looking at the ocean without seeing it. "By the time I finally opened my eyes, I had already fallen far too deep down that rabbit hole. He controlled what food I ate and how much of it, the clothes I wore, my weight, my finances, and even who I could be friends with. My life was no longer my own, but entirely dictated by him."

"How did you meet?" Krogal asked in a gentle voice.

I sighed and ran a hand over one of my braids. "As far as I can remember, I always loved singing and dancing. Like most teenagers, I wanted to become a superstar. As you can guess, my mother didn't approve," I said with derision.

"So she forbade you from doing it?"

I shook my head. "No. She didn't mind it as a form of social activity. She believed a well-rounded person had some artistic knowledge or gift. Mother simply didn't want me to pursue it as a career. Like many Haitian parents, even in this day and age, Mom wanted me to become a nurse, a teacher, or a lawyer. Those were proper professional options for a woman."

The commiseration in his eyes touched me deeply. He, more than most people I knew, understood perfectly what it was like to have a parent try to impose a specific future on their child.

"The problem was that I totally sucked at school. I did well enough with general topics like literature, geography, and history. But math and sciences did not agree with me," I said with a shudder. "But I would do some small singing and dancing gigs on the side. I even had my own band for a while. One day, they held one of those reality shows singing competitions. I decided to participate, not holding high hopes that anything would come of it."

"But it did," he said. "You blew them away, didn't you?"

I snorted. "I wouldn't go that far, as I didn't win. But I did reach the semifinals. The beauty of those types of competitions is the amount of exposure they give you. Often, runners-up end up achieving even bigger careers than the actual winners. And that's exactly what happened in my case. So many contracts started flooding my way, it was overwhelming and very hard to choose."

I took a sip of wine as memories of those early days came back to the fore. Once again, Krogal didn't rush me as silence stretched between us for a few moments.

"Despite getting many record deal offers, I ended up accepting contracts in fancy clubs, hotels, and casinos. I loved the more intimate settings of those places. And truth be told, as much as I enjoy performing, the thought of being on the road doing music tours really did not appeal to me. It just so happened that Liam owned many of the venues where I was featured."

"So he saw you perform and approached you?"

I nodded. "He didn't start off flirting with me or anything like that. Liam was very professional in the first few months. He understood the type of career I wanted and offered to take me under his wing. Naturally, I couldn't accept fast enough. He was a legend in that arena. That he was also incredibly handsome, filthy rich, and twelve years older than me gave him a mythical aura of authority and power that was mesmerizing to the naive eighteen-year-old that I was back then."

Despite the slight frown creasing his forehead, Krogal nodded slowly, indicating he fully understood how all of this had come about.

"How did your mother feel about this?" he asked.

"Ugh! She was totally unhappy about it all. She wanted me to stay in school and get what she considered a ‘real job' instead of this nonsense. But I was of legal age, and Liam was offering me the type of contract people would kill for. And he truly held his end of the deal. He had me performing in some of the most sought-after venues and A-listing events. Money was pouring in, and all I had to do was to follow his instructions."

"What type of instructions were those?" he asked in a suspicious tone.

I shrugged. "The type of things agents and managers often request, from being careful with my weight, taking good care of my image down to the clothes I wear and the way I do my hair, and picking the right type of crowd to hang out with, as all of those things could affect my career in both good and negative ways. But it gradually grew more and more extreme to the point I became isolated and no longer had a say as to who was allowed inside my inner circle. He even took over my finances. Initially, he offered to help me invest my earnings so that the day I decided to end my career, I would have a comfortable nest egg and never have to worry about the future."

"But he stole your money instead?"

I hesitated. "Honestly, I can't really say that he stole it because it's still there, and he hasn't touched or spent it. However, he had all the accounts set up in a way that I cannot make withdrawals without his consent. As he made sure I never needed to spend any of my own money, since he had tabs anywhere I was allowed to go, it never even dawned on me that I had no access to it until the day I decided to escape. Liam essentially has me under a form of conservatorship that has no ending date. We would need to go before a court to get it lifted. But the process would drag on for so long that God only knows what he could do to me in the meantime."

"So the wealth your singing career generated is still available but under his control?"

I nodded. "Like I said, everything happened so gradually and in such a subtle fashion that I got completely blindsided. Liam kept everything platonic between us for the entire first year. Meanwhile, he was increasingly isolating me. But as I had turned into his official arm candy for every event he participated in, we naturally evolved into a couple. Obviously, I was flattered that such a man would pick me of all people as his woman. My mother was livid. With her constantly nagging me, and Liam encouraging me to cut her out of my life if she couldn't be supportive, it not only made me double down pursuing my own path, but also drove me to sever all contacts with her."

"Was her issue the career you were pursuing or the man you were involved with?" Krogal asked.

"Both. Mom definitely wanted me to pursue a more traditional profession, less reliant on the whims of a fickle public. She hated the fact that he was much older than me, but I think she hated how powerful his influence was over me even more. Things were going so well for so long that I never even saw when the first rifts began. One day, I was living a fairy tale, and the next I abruptly woke up inside a nightmare."

"What happened?" Krogal asked, genuinely intrigued.

I shifted on the mat, and crossed my legs into a Lotus position as I gathered my thoughts.

"I started asking questions and challenging him," I said, bitterness seeping into my voice. "Three years into our relationship—which is four years after he took me under his wing—the number of performances I did significantly dwindled. I became more his companion than the star he was supposed to turn me into. The only shows I did were huge ticket events. But I asked to take part in various smaller events that supported causes dear to my heart, and he systematically refused. If I insisted, he got angry. He never hit me, but the verbal cruelty started, with him reminding me that I was an uneducated little girl with nothing more than a high school diploma. That I should let my betters make the decisions."

The feral anger that flashed over Krogal's features should have scared me. Instead, it acted like a balm on the many scars that still lingered from all the ways in which Liam put me down, belittled me, and undermined my fragile confidence as a young woman.

"As if to punish me for questioning him, my number of performances dwindled even more. I believe it was a dare on his part, to teach me a lesson. As I disliked the two-faced snakes who constituted our inner circle, I mostly kept to myself. Anyone outside of that circle that I dared befriend would get fired or suddenly disappear. Even Lorna, a lovely maid who had started working at our penthouse, was punished because I liked her."

Krogal frowned. "How so?"

"Liam came home to find us laughing about some joke I don't even remember. He was livid. He told her to get back to work, that he wasn't paying her to chat. I figured he had a tough day to display such an irrational reaction to something this innocent. But less than thirty minutes later, I heard Lorna crying and pleading while she was being escorted out."

"Escorted out?" he echoed, confused.

"Liam fired her. She was a single mom and desperately needed that income. When I confronted him about it, he got even angrier. I asked what the hell was wrong with him, how was me liking her a crime? He told me I was too stupid to see when people were trying to take advantage of me, like Lorna had been. He said that I was the one who changed. I used to be so pure and so sweet, but I was allowing people and fame to corrupt me. For my own sake, he would have to be more selective of who I could hang out with."

"That's insane!" Krogal exclaimed, anger audible in his voice.

"It certainly was. Liam was the master of gaslighting. Thing is, what he described as me being pure and sweet was me being na?ve and mesmerized by him. I was his trophy, and the narcissist in him loved how I was constantly fawning over him. When that stopped, he thought he could make me go back to that girl by becoming more and more controlling. My life became hell from that moment forward. If I expressed admiration or envy for any other artist, he would ruin them. If I smiled or showed any kindness to anyone outside of his inner circle, he would fire them or hurt their business, whatever field they were in."

"He wanted to be the center of your universe," Krogal said with sudden understanding.

I nodded grimly. "From the start, Liam made it clear he didn't want children. At first, I simply thought he feared I would try to trap him with a baby. After all, he never wanted us to get married, which seemed to contradict his need to otherwise fully own me. But children would have taken my attention away from him, and marriage would have given me rights and powers he didn't want me to possess over him."

"So what prompted you to finally leave him?"

"The straw that broke the camel's back was when we attended one of the biggest UFC championships," I said, hugging myself as my stomach roiled at the horrible memory. "Gabriel had been an up-and-coming UFC fighter who everyone believed would break every possible record, he was that talented. Before the match, we got personal introductions, as was often the case with Liam. Gabriel made the mistake of complimenting me and saying how beautiful he thought I was. I merely smiled as a thank you, but Liam felt disrespected."

"You can't be serious? A simple smile in response sufficed for him to be angered?" Krogal asked, shock and disbelief filling his voice.

I nodded, a shudder coursing through me. "He'd been growing increasingly paranoid. For him, the fact that I smiled was a form of encouragement, of me welcoming another man's attentions. I told him I was merely being polite, but Liam insisted I disrespected him and that he couldn't allow that to go unpunished."

"Do I dare ask what he did?" Krogal asked in a gentle voice.

"They stopped the match halfway through the first round so that Gabriel could be rushed to the hospital," I said, my voice constricted. "Liam had his opponent bust his kneecap. The bones of his jaw and cheeks had been shattered in multiple places thanks to the metal plates hidden under his opponent's hand wraps."

"Surely that was easily proven! They didn't prosecute him?!" Krogal exclaimed in outrage.

I shook my head. "Liam owned the venue. The security guards worked for him. And Gabriel's agent and family were very strongly encouraged not to make waves or ask too many questions. That's when I realized that Liam was involved in even darker things than I thought. From that day forward, I planned my escape in earnest. As I had no money, and no way of withdrawing any without him being immediately alerted, I had to get creative."

"Couldn't you just go to law enforcement?"

"No. He had too many friends and too many connections everywhere. The risk of them ratting me out was much too high. As I could never leave the penthouse without an escort, even to go shopping or for a medical appointment, I had to find a way to sneak out unnoticed."

"Kromor's teeth! How did you manage?"

"I escaped in the one place no one would ever think to look. When the cleaning service came to pick up the curtains, duvet, and all other items that required an industrial washing machine, I hid inside one of the laundry bins. The whole way out, I thought my heart would burst at the prospect of being discovered. As Liam often worked from home, I pretended to be taking a long bubble bath while he was having a meeting, so that no one would come looking for me for at least an hour or two."

"Were the employees in on it?" he asked, looking impressed.

I shrugged and once again ran a hand over one of my braids. "Honestly, I don't know. A part of me believes they suspected it. I'm not all that heavy, and some of the curtains weighed a ton. But I'm sure they felt a difference while carting the bin around. Either way, I snuck out the minute they dropped the bins at their facilities. As far as I know, no one noticed me coming out of the bin, but I was spotted walking out of the building. I doubt the staff recognized me, but I'll never know."

"What did you do then? How did you get to Khendis?"

"I didn't want to go to the cops, so I went straight to a pawn shop and asked to be put in touch with the Enforcers. The owner was obviously reluctant both to take the jewelry I wanted to pawn and to contact the galactic peacekeeping forces."

Krogal snorted. "I can imagine. Considering he was likely running a shady business of his own, he wouldn't want the Enforcers sniffing around his affairs."

"Exactly. He only consented because I agreed to a ridiculously low price on the pieces I had. I reeked of desperation, so he knew I would accept pretty much anything. Although he pretended not to recognize me, I'm certain he knew who I was."

"Didn't you fear he would rat you out?" Krogal asked with a frown.

I shook my head. "I specifically went to him because Liam majorly screwed him over in the past. He wanted to get even or to at least hurt him in some way. Helping him lose his woman would undoubtedly be satisfying for him. In the end, he gave me a throwaway phone so that I could contact the Enforcers myself."

"So that's how you ended up leaving Earth," Krogal said with understanding.

"Barely," I said with bitterness. "The Enforcers didn't believe I was a victim of domestic violence. In fact, they denied me the status, which made my life a lot more difficult on Khendis. They believed I had been in on whatever criminal activities Liam was involved in and that, now that things had gone south between us, I was trying to play the victim to get a free ride out of there."

"But didn't they ask a Temern to confirm your honesty or deceptiveness?" Krogal argued. "I believe it is a standard procedure for most major cases handled by the Enforcers."

I nodded. "That's the only reason they finally allowed me to go to Khendis. But it was with much reluctance. They wanted to use me as bait to catch Liam."

"Are you serious?!"

I gave him a dejected smile. "Sadly, yes. They delayed as long as possible before allowing me to transfer to Khendis. Obviously, the first thing I did was to change my name and appearance. It was a good thing, too, because some of Liam's goons showed up at the shelter. That's what allowed me to obtain a restraining order against him. I just fear what will happen the day he eventually finds me again."

"So Farah Toussaint isn't your real name?" Krogal asked, surprised.

I smiled. "Yes, it is. But on Khendis, I went under a pseudonym and wore prosthetics on my face to change my appearance."

"Ah, I see. Do you seriously think he's still looking for you?" Krogal asked with genuine curiosity laced with concern.

"Absolutely!" I said with conviction. "I humiliated him by leaving. He will never forgive me for that. He will want to punish me. But he also considers me his property. And nobody is allowed to take or touch what's his."

"You are safe here, my Farah. You not only have me as your protector, but the entire clan will also stand by you."

"You don't know Liam, Krogal. You have no idea the types of lengths he will go to get what he wants," I said with a shudder. "For this reason, I also need to tell Belle that I can no longer model for her collection, unless she makes some major modifications to the pieces."

Krogal stiffened. It didn't take a genius to see my comment highly displeased him. "You fear he will recognize you in one of her paintings?"

"There is no question he will. And then he'll come after me, which means he'll also come after you for touching what's his."

"Let him come," Krogal hissed, a dare in his voice. "I will take great pleasure in teaching him the error of his ways."

"No, Krogal. You do not want him coming here. The best thing is for him to never find me. Belle must agree to change my face and use a fake name if she wants to use me in her paintings."

"I do not wish for you to live in hiding, my mate. You realize that going this route is setting up yet another prison for yourself?" he asked in a gentle voice.

"This is the type of prison I'm comfortable living in," I said stubbornly.

"Is it?" he challenged. "Is this why you aren't looking into any of the music programs here on Xoccoris?"

I shifted uneasily but lifted my chin defiantly as I held his gaze. "Yes. My music career ended a long time ago. Liam is far too well connected in this field. The minute I perform again, he will find me."

"Do you not realize how much power you are giving him over you with this approach?"

My throat tightened, and I blinked back the tears pricking my eyes. "All I know is that pretending that Liam is not a threat is foolish. I will spend the rest of my days living in fear that he might show up again. With luck, he never will. But I certainly won't make it easier for him to find me. I just hope you can respect that."

My heart sank when Krogal clenched his jaw. Judging by the hard glint in his eyes, he wanted to argue. I braced for what would follow as he continued to stare at me intently.

He heaved a frustrated sigh, then pursed his lips into a disgruntled expression. "I do not agree with your stance on this matter. But I will never force you to go against your better judgment, even though I am not thrilled by your decision. If this is what you desire, I will stand by you."

A wave of emotions dominated by gratitude swelled within me. I rose to my feet and circled around the dishes sprawled before us on the mat to embrace him. Krogal wrapped his four arms around me. Despite the anguish and torment thinking of Liam always stirred within me, in this instant, I felt sheltered and protected.

"Thank you. Thank you for being my soulmate," I whispered, my face buried in his broad chest.

"Always, my mate. As long as I draw breath, I will always be by your side."