22. Hugo

Roark took me shopping the following evening. After a week spent at the space-mall-planet I figured I’d bought more than enough things to last me a lifetime. Roark seemed to think otherwise. In fact, he told me before we left our room that while he appreciated my frugality with his money—he had the means to take care of us for many lifetimes—and refused to miss the opportunity to spoil me.

I’d never been a spoiled kid—and on F’ukYuu I’d had very few belongings, so it was mind-boggling to suddenly find myself the owner of…

Of everything .

Everything I’d ever wanted.

Except…well…

Except for the one thing I truly needed.

Both of us had slept like the dead till early afternoon. I’d woken first, enjoying a solid half hour of Roark snoring, his big chest heaving as I slung my body over his and soaked up his warmth. We’d talked again when he’d roused, shared brunch—and jokes—and Roark had nuzzled all of my toes and called them delightful.

He told me he couldn’t wait to take me home.

That he couldn’t wait to hold me in his bed.

That he couldn’t wait to fuck me the way I so clearly wanted.

To show me the planet his heart always longed to return to.

But those sweet promises didn’t negate the loss I felt as our last true conversation ended and we’d headed downstairs. Now, standing in the lobby with the alien clerk waiting expectantly, I tried to summon some of the peace I’d felt in Roark’s arms.

We had to return the translators to the hotel clerk at check-out.

I knew that.

But it hurt to have the power of conversation taken away from us only a few short hours after we’d gotten it.

Roark looked just as jarred as I felt. When he paid our bill and handed back both of our translators, he wavered—like he wasn’t sure he wanted to return them either. His spots went gray and I latched on to his elbow, rubbing the soft skin—he was shirtless, like usual—until his spots turned pink and he flashed me a grateful smile.

It was rough, leaving them behind, for both of us.

Silence weighed us down as we stepped out of the lobby and the sprawl of the city spread at our feet below the steps.

Roark, as always, was quick to reassure.

Exhaling, he leaned down to nuzzle the top of my head. The hot puff of his breath in my hair soothed us both as he guided me down the steps and to the busy street on our way toward the main stretch of shops.

“Huu-goh is go-een shopping with me.” Roark spoke carefully in English, the words gruff and stilted like I’d grown to expect from him. We’d already hashed this out, so I knew he was trying to get my mind off things—which I appreciated.

“I’ve already been shopping.” I blinked at him and he huffed in amusement, eyes shifting into happy crescents. His spots were white.

“Huu-goh went shopping with Ushuu,” Roark shook his head. “Has not gone with me .”

My belly flipped.

There was no room for argument in his tone, and I liked that even more now that we’d shared so much the night before.

I knew him in a way I hadn’t before.

I didn’t think I’d ever been closer to another person.

Scientifically speaking, I’d never contemplated the idea of soulmates. I’d never thought that could be a thing. It was magic—and I didn’t believe in that. But…maybe I’d need to rethink my earlier hypothesis. Because I was pretty sure I’d met my soulmate. And he was big, and pink, and his cum tasted like pineapple—and I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

I kinda wanted to send A&R a thank-you letter.

“Lead the way, Captain.” I made sure to use the word for “Captain” in sharkish. Roark sounded so sure of himself, so proud of his bossiness that I wanted to tease.

He stumbled a little, then barked out a laugh, shaking his head at me.

“Brat,” he said in perfect English.

For a second, I didn’t know how to respond. Because the fact he knew that word meant that he’d learned it from Ushuu. And that was just—so fucking funny and embarrassing I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or scream.

Instead, I just grinned, wide and unrepentant.

And let Roark lead the way.

He’d already done so much for me, I was hesitant to take more. But…there was nothing but pleasure on Roark’s face as he brought me to my very first tech store. My eyes went wide, the possibilities endless. I’d never seen Roark more proud of himself than he was at that moment, as I proceeded to spend the next two hours flipping the fuck out over alien electronics.

I couldn’t read the price tags, and without Ushuu there to translate I had no idea how much anything cost.

Though, I didn’t think Roark really wanted me to know. He’d made that clear. And god…the smarmy little smile on his face as he followed behind me, grabbing one of every item I touched—a steadily growing pile in his arms—was just…fuck. He was gorgeous and wonderful and… man —I’d rarely seen him this elated.

Like spoiling me was doing something for him .

In light of this, I came to the conclusion that maybe I shouldn’t argue.

Maybe I should let him spoil me.

If it made him that happy—I’d do anything.

Plus…I mean. Tech. All the fucking tech.

Jesus Christ on a cracker.

By the time we finished up at the tech store I had a communicator of my own, a tablet, and a plethora of other gadgets I didn’t recognize but Roark kept insisting in garbled English that I’d need.

After the first, “Huu-goh need. No argue.”

I didn’t try to ask any more questions.

Well, I mean, a couple more times.

But that was because I liked listening to him talk, awkward English and all.

We visited a huge variety of stores. Different from the ones I’d gone to with Ushuu. There was a tailor of some sort, more tech stores, what seemed like a swap-meet full of random stuff from all over, including a few human vinyl records, and a shit-ton of candy shops. Roark had figured out early on that I had a sweet tooth—even before he’d asked me about it last night—and as I lapped at what looked like a popsicle but tasted like goddamn pumpkin pie, his fucking smile was brighter than the stars he’d told me he loved.

By that point, Roark’s entire left arm was full. Boxes, bags, and parcels stacked in a rainbow tower tall enough they settled against his chin so they wouldn’t fall. Tendrils looped to help, keeping them in place. His right arm, however, he left empty just for me.

Any time I tried to help carry something, Roark threw a big fit about it, huffing and growling till I eventually acquiesced.

Now I just enjoyed him, lapping at my popsicle as I curled around his forearm and we exited the section of shops full of food.

“One…more…” Roark spoke, distracted as his head swiveled to scan the shops like he was looking for something in particular.

I had no idea what else we could possibly buy, but I didn’t want the day to end, so I didn’t argue.

We walked for long enough that I finished my snack. I was lapping the juice from my fingertips as Roark spotted the store we’d been looking for and pushed the door open wide for me to enter. It jingled—just like doors on Earth did—and I was charmed by the similarity as I stepped into the air-conditioned space.

The scent of flowers accosted my senses. Sweet and opulent, like perfume. The carpet was plush beneath my new shoes as I moved to the side to allow Roark enough room to enter after me. He didn’t have to squeeze too hard, as the store was definitely one of the larger ones we’d visited.

A chandelier twinkled from high above and I found myself transfixed by the way shooting lights spun around it like magic.

An attendant hurried over, dressed in a spiffy black suit—similar to the style on Earth but with a lot more buttons. Maybe his species used buttons as a sign of wealth? Because otherwise, I had no idea why he needed five hundred of them.

The attendant took Roark’s bags from him, spouting off rapid-fire alien-speak, his speckled head swiveling. Roark was polite but gruff as he always was, his hand rubbing the small of my back as I took in the rest of the shop with fascination.

Glass floating cabinets lined the room. They hovered at varying levels in the air, full of rich dark velvet, and a variety of glittering jewelry in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other oddly shaped objects I had no idea the purpose of. Everything seemed to be catered to the wild variety of clientele that visited this planet.

“Huu-goh,” Roark said my name softly to get my attention. “ Come .”

I followed the order obediently, trailing behind Roark and the employee guy as we moved past the hovering cases full of glittering treasures. He led us through a hallway and into a separate, even larger room than the first. Inside it, near the back wall there was a bed with a hole in it—much like a massage bed.

Beside it was a tall dark cabinet that looked like it housed machinery of some sort, if the outlets on to its left were any indicator. I didn’t understand why the hell there was a massage bed in a jewelry store, or why we were here at all.

It didn’t take long to figure that out though, when Roark directed me to the bed and helped me up onto it. Sitting there, I tried to make sense of where we were. He tapped the collar that sat around my neck with one gentle claw and suddenly…I got it.

My thoughts spun in circles.

He’s going to take it off.

He’s going to take it off.

He’s going to take it off.

A million emotions flitted through me all at once. Fear, excitement, trepidation.

I’d been wearing this thing for so long I wasn’t sure who I was without it.

I guess I was about to find out.

Roark stroked a hand through my hair as I lay on my belly. The bed squeaked beneath me and I inhaled, then exhaled just as slow. Scratch, scratch, Roark petted me as he murmured in sweet low tones to the attendant. I was certain he spoke that way for my benefit, as he had to know how scary this was.

These fucking collars were nearly impossible to get off.

Mine had been literally welded on.

I imagined there would be some pain when it came free. Heat, more than likely—from a welding iron of some sort—like the one that had been used to secure it in the first place.

I should’ve been more scared than I was.

But Roark was there.

And when Roark was there I knew things would be okay.

My ears were ringing the entire time I waited for the employee to get set up. And the entire time, Roark purred at me, petting me to keep me from full-on panicking.

“Huu-goh yesh?” he asked, as the heat of whatever tool was going to be used to free me moved in close. I couldn’t see him. Could only see the carpet.

“Yes,” I agreed, voice a little choked.

All the while, Roark’s hand was a heavy, comforting weight on my head.

I barely felt a pinch when the collar finally came off. One second it was sitting heavy around my neck—a symbol of everything I was and wasn’t—and the next it was gone. Gone . Like it had never been there at all.

Like I hadn’t been taken, sold, and bought.

Like for three entire years I hadn’t belonged to someone else.

I hadn’t expected the sheer force of emotion that hit me as a sob tore free of my chest. Tears spilled, hot and angry as Roark cooed, caressing my hair again.

He understood what was happening. The pain, the relief, the fear.

I hadn’t realized how heavy the collar was until I no longer had to carry its weight.

I launched myself off the bench and into his arms before I could think. Roark made a surprised sound as I latched onto him like a barnacle, arms and legs pulled around as much of him as I could. He continued to purr against my ear, holding me safe above the ground.

I didn’t look at the collar. Not as the employee picked it up. And not as he took it away—probably to throw it in the trash.

“Huu-goh,” Roark said, like a prayer.

My eyes were swimming with tears, ugly and hot, and awful.

When I’d been taken I hadn’t cried.

I hadn’t let myself.

There was no point mourning a life I’d never have again. That would’ve been pointless and exhausting. I’d made the best of a shitty situation. I’d tried to be positive. I’d looked for the good—despite all the bad. All because I’d never actually thought I’d be free again, not really.

But here I was.

And I was free—and happy and—and—Roark was right here with me, feeling my pain like it was his own, his body wrapped around mine.

“Is okay,” Roark cooed, nuzzling my ears as I blubbered, fingers digging into his chest and poking inside the sticky flesh. Tiny tendrils burst out, wrapping around them—encasing them so they were safe. “Is okay, little beast.”

I wanted to tell him it wasn’t.

That it wasn’t okay.

That none of this was.

But that wasn’t true. Not anymore.

Because I may have been abducted, I may have lost my life, my family, and the future I’d been counting on. But I had gained something far more precious. Futures could be rewritten, families could be made. My life wasn’t lost, it was just reconstructed.

And now I could build from the ground up—with him.

“I thought…” I sucked in a breath, voice quaking. “I thought I’d wear that thing forever.”

Roark rumbled, nuzzling my other cheek with concern. He couldn’t understand those words. I could tell by the way he didn’t reply. But that didn’t matter. His empathy was enough. What he’d just done for me was enough. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” My gratitude spilled out, shaky and wet and needy. “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for picking me. Thank you for giving me my life back.”

Roark’s tongue flickered out to swipe at my tears and I giggled, overwhelmed and happy and excited now that the weight had begun to finally lift.

We stayed there a long time, in that quiet backroom. I don’t know when the attendant left. Some time between my first sob and the moment I’d crawled into Roark’s arms. But it didn’t matter.

When my shudders calmed to sniffles, Roark carried me back down the hallway to the front room and all its sparkly treasures. He never set me down, just cradled me close, murmuring sweet words in his native tongue against my ear as we perused the collection of jewelry and Roark stroked a big palm over my body.

His tendrils were everywhere, like the need to be close was mutual. They twisted and writhed around me, keeping me safe and warm in their squishy embrace as Roark picked something out and the employee unlocked the cabinet to procure it.

It was my size, so I knew it was for me.

A glittering choker that reminded me of the pearls my mom used to wear.

My neck felt empty and barren—an unsettling sensation despite the freedom it represented.

“Huu-goh want?” Roark asked gently, a few of his tendrils tapping against the hand I’d been using to rub my neck as we looked. I hadn’t stopped rubbing my bare neck since the moment we’d stepped out of the hallway.

I had no idea how expensive that damn thing was.

But Roark looked so hopeful I couldn’t help but agree. Besides, I did want it. I wanted his mark around my neck. I wanted to rewrite the bad memories and make new ones, like he’d said.

I wanted to forget what it meant to be a slave.

But I still wanted to be his.

Roark paid, and it was his tendrils that clipped the clasp into place behind my neck.

The choker settled there, the weight of the necklace not oppressive like my collar had been. But it was heavy enough to make me feel settled. Warm. It didn’t carry darkness along with it, only love.

Only new beginnings.

Only hope.

On our way out of the space-mall, things took a turn for the worse. I’d almost convinced myself that the human I’d seen the night before hadn’t been a human—he’d had cat ears, wings, and a tail, for god’s sake. Besides, I’d only seen him for a split second, and even then, it had been from behind.

I figured I’d made it up.

Apparently, I hadn’t been mistaken.

There were humans on Sha’hPihn.

They just weren’t free like me.

“Roark,” I gave his massive hand an anxious squeeze, unsure if he was seeing what I was. Roark’s other arm was full of the packages he’d bought me, and he shifted a little, careful not to drop them as he looked where I was pointing.

A long line of humans were standing on a platform near the spiral escalator that led from the shops to the docks. Every single human was dressed in white shorts and gossamer fabric, their bodies on display, heads hanging.

None of them had a second set of ears like the man from the night before—they were simply…normal.

Like me.

An alien with a long bulbous nose and four arms was waving at them. He wore a white robe, kinda like a medieval priest—and his voice was jarring as he blurted words in his native tongue rapid-fire into a microphone as the humans stayed perfectly still. Beside me, Roark tensed, his entire body going rigid as a low menacing growl buzzed inside his chest.

A large gathering of aliens of all sorts stood between me and the stage. Creatures of all shapes and sizes—smashed close together, as though they were here for this event specifically. I wasn’t an idiot. I could guess that what was happening was bad—based on Roark’s reaction alone.

I didn’t speak Common—the language most at these ports did—but Roark did.

Without thinking, I released Roark’s arm.

It was like everything in me broke.

My ears were ringing, my head was swimming.

What were they doing here?

What was going on?

Before I knew it, I was somewhere in the middle of the crowd, and Roark was lost behind me. I hadn’t meant to leave him. For a moment, it had almost felt like I’d blacked out. Like I wasn’t in control of my body at all.

My vision swam as I took in the line of human captives from a closer vantage point.

There had to be at least fifteen of them—all with matching collars just like the one I’d just had removed. Despite my emotional exhaustion, I still managed the lurching in my stomach as I stumbled to a stop ten feet away from the stage itself, my eyes wide. A few aliens had jostled me as I’d moved, but I hardly felt their touches.

Like ice had filled my body.

Like I wasn’t me at all.

What was this?

Was this…

“Ah,” A low, sultry, masculine voice hummed behind me. “First auction?”

First—

It took me a second to realize I’d been spoken to in English.

I whipped my head around to face the newcomer, only to be distracted when I saw a frantic pink shark-man a dozen or so feet near the back of the crowd. I could hear his thudding elephant feet as he forced his way through the other aliens toward me.

I hadn’t realized till that moment what I’d done, leaving him behind. But my head was still swimming. And I couldn’t get a full breath in. And in a way, it felt like I was dying.

Shit.

I’m an asshole.

I bet he’s freaking out.

I’d seen humans and I’d…fuck. It’s like my brain went completely offline.

My mouth was dry as I addressed the person speaking. When my vision focused, I was startled to realize that I’d just come face-to-face with the same white-haired human I’d seen at the ball. Holy shit. What are the chances of that? I blinked, surprised.

Acid swam up my throat.

Don’t throw up.

Don’t throw up.

“First…auction?” I repeated hoarsely, unable to stop staring at him.

He had snowy white eyelashes and skin as pale as his hair. Paired with the lilac color of his eyes, and the pointy ears on his head, it was difficult to believe he was actually human at all. On his back sat a pair of wings, they were gorgeous and snowy, made of downy feathers that glittered in the light.

It gave him the appearance of an angel.

“They happen every once in a while,” the other human shrugged. His wings fluttered behind him, catching my attention for a moment. My stomach churned when I realized they were far too small for him to ever achieve actual flight. So why…did he have them then? “It can be jarring the first time, but you get used to it.”

“You live here?” I asked, so distracted by him that I barely registered Roark coming to a halt behind me. He was panting, a stressed little whine escaping him. Though I was still reeling, it felt second nature to lean back against his chest to comfort him. His tendrils shot out, sucking at me almost desperately—like he wanted to pull me inside himself so I couldn’t disappear again.

“I’m sorry,” I glanced up at Roark apologetically, my fingers tangling with the tendrils that wrapped around my body. They curled around my fingers, almost like a glove. Similar to the way I’d seen his tendrils mesh with Mala’s before when they were play-fighting. “I’m okay. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Is he bothering you?” the other human asked curiously. He didn’t sound alarmed, his tone scarily neutral. “Your owner?”

“Ah…no.” I flushed, feeling the weight of the glittering necklace that sat around my neck settle. “He’s my…” I licked my lips. Roark rubbed his cheek against my hair to self-soothe, the protective bastard. “He’s kinda my boyfriend?” That seemed wrong. “Space-boyfriend.” That also seemed wrong. “Lover-beast. Almost-husband. Mate.”

The other human snorted, lips twisting into a serene smile. “I see.”

“We’re just visiting.”

Roark had informed me that this was our last stop before we reached his planet. I’d actually laughed out loud when he taught me its name, “Osheania.” Seemed God had jokes, even this far out in the galaxy.

“How did you manage that?” Blondie lifted a pale brow. There was hunger in his eyes—though his expression remained serene.

“How did I manage…getting a space-boyfriend?”

“No. How are you free ?”

“Oh.” I glanced up at Roark, then the platform full of humans, then my new cat-like bird-buddy. “Um.” Something moved behind him, and I flinched—before I realized it was the tail I’d seen earlier. Because apparently the wings weren’t enough. “I was a slave on F’ukYuu and he bought me. But then…” my eyes stung a little. “But then he freed me. So I’m just…”

“How do you know you’re free?” He cocked his head. I knew he wasn’t trying to be mean. Well, actually, I didn’t know that. But I hoped. “He could be lying. Did he tell you explicitly?”

“He didn’t have to.” There were a lot of things I didn’t understand anymore. A lot of things that made me shaky and scared—that made me feel like I was stuck in a car with a bad driver at the wheel. But this wasn’t one of them. I stood firm, defending Roark to this perfect stranger as he watched me, eyes flickering with emotion. “Roark is a good person. Noble.”

“You are…fortunate,” blondie responded. “Far more fortunate than anyone else I know.”

“I am,” I agreed, rubbing Roark’s tendrils as he watched the two of us interact. I could tell he was two seconds from bolting. From taking us back to the safety of the ship where no one could touch me. Where I couldn’t be sold like cattle—or even have to see it happen to anyone else.

I knew for a fact that Roark would’ve preferred I hadn’t seen this.

But I was glad I had.

“What’s your name?” the human asked.

“Hugo.”

“Interesting.”

“What’s yours?” I wasn’t sure he’d give it, but I hoped he would.

“Briar.”

Briar. It suited him. As beautiful as he was—and he was , Jesus Christ, the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in my entire fucking life—I could tell he had thorns. Something twisted and scared lurked behind his eyes, his serene smile nothing but armor.

What had he lived through that had taught him to hide like that?

I could see the envy bubbling behind his gaze as he watched me and Roark. The longing. The desperation.

“Do you want to stay here, Briar?” I asked, though I got the feeling I already knew the answer. Roark had asked me that same exact question a lifetime ago.

“Why wouldn’t I?” He smiled, wide and bright. “It’s wonderful .”

“I…” Didn’t know what to do. He was lying. He was so clearly lying. I peered up at Roark and he rumbled quietly back to me to reassure me. He said something in his native tongue, but I couldn’t understand.

“Tell your friend to stop worrying,” Briar rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to hurt you—convert you—adopt you, or enlist you.”

“You can understand him?” I blinked.

Briar shrugged, tipping his head so I could see the back of his neck. He tapped something behind his ear, a tiny silver disk that looked like it had been inlaid directly into his skin. “I can understand everyone,” he replied as if that wasn’t the coolest shit in the world.

I stared at him for a moment, doing my best not to be jealous and failing. I knew there would be more headsets on Osheania, but seeing a reminder of the permanent implant I should’ve received but hadn’t, sucked. I’d been alone with Roark so long I’d nearly forgotten about the implants entirely. Swiftly, I shoved those feelings aside. They didn’t serve me at the moment, not so far into our travels, and so close to our new home.

There were more important things right now than envy.

I whipped around to face Roark, tipping my head to meet his worried gaze. I knew he didn’t understand me a lot of the time, and this was a big ask after all the money he’d dropped today.

But…

I couldn’t leave Briar here.

I couldn’t leave any of the humans here.

Not if I could help it.

I got the feeling he’d understand.

Roark’s eyes searched mine. His shoulders relaxed, his spots morphing from gray to white as I reached up and he bent down to place his big head in my hands, meeting me halfway. “Roark,” I said carefully. “ Please .”

He blinked, brow furrowed, his spots yellow as he thought.

“ Please .”

I knew he’d understand what I wanted.

Roark’s gaze flickered to Briar.

Then to the stage.

He was in captain-mode as he twisted out of my grip, standing to his full impressive height as he observed the dais covered in humans with a calculating glint in his gaze. Probably counting them and calculating how much they cost, and if we had room on board to take them in.

I knew this was a big ask.

Though our ship was large, there was still limited space. Limited food resources. And I was asking him to drop…fuck. I didn’t even know how many credits. I didn’t even know if he had it. I could only hope.

Roark settled, a look of determination crossing his features as his spots turned from yellow to blue and he gave me a single, solitary nod.

“Do you want to come home with me?” I jerked my attention to Briar the second I had Roark on board. “Do you want to be free?”

He glared at me like I was an idiot. “Don’t fuck with me.”

“I’m serious,” I told him. “Do you want to come? Don’t lie this time.”

Briar was silent for a moment, a war waging in his eyes. “Me and…the others?” He glanced toward the group of humans. “You’re going to buy all of us?” He sounded dubious at best.

“We’re going to free all of you,” I countered. Sure it was only fifteen people—sixteen, adding Briar on. But…it was a start, right? Sahrks were gentle. Maybe the humans could come home with us and find mates and occupations too.

“You’re the stupidest human I’ve ever met,” Briar sighed, but his tone was almost affectionate when he realized I was truly going to do this. “Taking all of us isn’t going to be easy. Humans are a hot commodity on this side of the galaxy. There’s a reason they’re being sold on that stage.”

“Why aren’t you…” I flushed, realizing I was being rude. “If you’re for sale, why aren’t you up there ?”

Briar’s expression barely wavered. His eyes were dark as his lips spread into a brilliant smile—the only sign that he was affected by the question at all was the stiff way he stood. “If they’re the main course.” Briar jerked his shoulder toward the platform and its slaves, decked in gossamer like he was—currently being auctioned off like cattle. “That makes me the sample plate.”

The horror of that statement washed through my body.

“For the buyers that aren’t certain, I’m offered as incentive. A little taste of what they could have,” he continued speaking, tone as acerbic as usual. It hadn’t occurred to me that there were worse fates out there than what I’d ended up with on F’ukYuu. My heart hurt for Briar as I sucked in a breath.

“Fucking hell, dude. That’s awful.”

“Yes, well. It is my life.” Briar’s smile never wavered. “But apparently you want to change that.” He eyed the glittering diamonds around my neck, the packages in Roark’s arms, and then the big pink man himself. It felt like a test. “Are you sure you’re going to do this? I mean—you do realize you’re going to be painting a giant neon target on the back of your ship?”

Roark already knew that.

I was certain.

And he’d said yes.

“I’m sure,” I reached out to squeeze Roark’s palm as he rumbled thoughtfully, probably doing math still—or calculating the logistics of taking home sixteen humans. I knew it wasn’t a simple ask, but I just…

I couldn’t leave them.

Especially after finding out what happened to Briar.

Roark returned my tight grip, before he pulled his communicator out of his pocket and began making calls. My eyes never strayed from the humans for sale. Briar was quiet beside me, as somber as I was despite his dazzling smile.

I didn’t know how Roark was going to manage this. Didn’t know how that was possible—at all. But I had faith anyway. Roark was a planner, a captain, a leader. If anyone could figure this out, it was him.

He had a bigger heart—hearts—than anyone I’d ever met.

Forty minutes later, Roark showed me exactly why he’d been named Captain.

There was a line-up of humans trailing behind us, all of them varying versions of terrified as they followed us down the escalator and toward our ship. Briar stayed beside me, silent for the most part. His eyes flickered everywhere, like he was searching the crowd for a danger only he could see.

As far as I could tell, he was the only human who had been experimented on. None of the others had tails or wings. Additionally, I was one of the only humans without a permanent translator implant. I could only assume Briar’s body modifications had something to do with the statement he’d made earlier about being a sample for customers.

Which was an awful thought that also led me to wonder why he’d been at the ball the night before.

Had he been in the process of being “tasted” then?

That’s so fucking awful.

The thought made me sick to my stomach, and I was quickly distracted from it as Roark’s crew met us at the bottom of the escalator. There were more Sahrk’s than humans, and they fanned out around the procession, guarding them silently while Roark and I led them toward the ship that would take us to our new home.

The colorful variety of aliens that wandered the docks shifted to the side, making room for us as they paused what they were doing to observe the steadily moving procession. All of them stared as we passed, their many eyes trained on the humans and their toothy saviors. It wasn’t positive attention. And some aliens wore more calculating expressions than others.

The attention was as sobering as it was frightening.

When I glanced up to check on Roark, his expression was grim, his spots were blue, and his eyes were distant. Like he was seeing a tragedy occur before it even happened.

After what he’d told me, I ached to comfort him.

So I tugged on his arm a little. He glanced down at me as we finally —ohmygod—reached the ship’s boarding ramp. He blinked away the daze with a soft smile, but I could tell he was still worried.

“Huu-goh,” he said, a tendril leaking out of his arm to tuck a wayward strand of my hair behind my ear. “Is okay, little beast. Roark will make okay.”

It was the second time he’d made that promise.

And this time I was just as worried as the first.

I wasn’t sure it was okay.

Not if Roark was scared.

“Is okay ,” he promised. “Roark will keep safe.”

I believed him.

Because of course I did.

It wasn’t till much later that I realized by trying to save all the humans I’d made Roark’s worst nightmare come true.