Chapter 4

KAMEER

I peer at the screen in my temporary quarters aboard the Jansonna, finally sitting down to investigate Mandy Benton, the female who’s occupied my thoughts all day.

A growl of pleasure leaves me as I recall her shocked expression when the elevator opened on Deck Fifteen. I’d gone for a walk on that particular deck after my meeting with Admiral Tornn, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

Not only did I manage to see Mandy, but I’d stood very close and inhaled the scent of her budding arousal, delicious and tinged with an innocence I ache to plunder.

Perhaps I ought to be more concerned about the recent attempts on my life and the lack of progress in the investigation, but Mandy has suddenly become my singular focus. My obsession.

My dual shafts thicken as desire builds inside me, and my curiosity about the golden-haired female peaks when I discover her age. Twenty-Three. Yet she’s not on the list. Hmm.

I study every file I can find that mentions her name. I learn the identities of her parents, and I also realize the female with her on the elevator was likely her younger sister, Tasha, a twenty-year-old who also wasn’t on today’s list. How very, very interesting.

Mandy indeed works at the salon on Deck Twenty as a beautician. She received high marks in school but left early so she could work with her mother serving the Founders and their descendants, wealthy residents of the Jansonna who bankrolled the construction of the worldship before the last of humanity departed Earth. Her sister, as it turns out, suffered from a deadly virus that Doctor Zahhn, a Darrvason physician with whom I’m acquainted, has successfully treated.

I continue pouring through the information, until I discover something that makes my blood boil.

Mandy Benton is engaged to a human male by the name of Ned Perry, a ninety-two-year-old Founder. Fluxx . I growl and lean closer to the screen, my fingers flying across the surface as I search for more details about the engagement and the elderly male called Ned.

Realization gradually dawns. The old, frail man on the floor of the salon must’ve been Ned Perry. If only one of the blasters in my hands had inadvertently discharged at the time. Murderous impulses ravage my senses. I want the male dead yesterday.

I make careful note of where Ned Perry’s quarters are located, as well as the wing of Deck Fifteen where Mandy’s quarters are located. She lives with her parents and sister, so getting her alone might prove a challenge, but I won’t let the fact that she doesn’t live alone stop me from pursuing her.

A plan starts to form, a rather genius one, and I push away from the screen and head for the bridge, where I’m certain I’ll find Captain Warren at this hour. The conniving human leader won’t be happy to see me, he never is, but as the chief Darrvason engineer organizing the continuing repairs and advancements to the once-dilapidated Jansonna , he cannot refuse to meet with me.

As expected, I find the captain of the worldship on the bridge, and I motion for him to approach where I stand in the doorway. He narrows his eyes at me, then passes command to another officer before he strides in my direction. Agitation billows from his small form, but I ignore it. He can’t intimidate me. Even if he complains about me to the emperor or the admiral of the Darrvason fleet, I doubt any of my superiors will agree to reassign me elsewhere.

Being an engineering genius who’s saved your people countless times comes with its advantages.

“Ah, Captain Warren,” I say in a forced friendly tone that I suspect grates the human male’s nerves. “It’s so nice of you to agree to join me for a walk.”

His nostrils flare and he sighs. He glances over his shoulder at the bridge, clearly reluctant to depart his station, but he turns and gives me a quick nod. We walk into the corridor, aiming for one of the lesser traversed wings so we might have the privacy I’m seeking.

“Whatever you wish to speak about, make it quick,” the captain says. “Some of the officers on the bridge are new and I’m not happy about leaving them so soon. We lost some good people during the last few rebel attacks, and I’ve been forced to install inexperienced officers in positions that usually require years of training.” His eyes go wide and he pales, probably just realizing he’d revealed a weakness to someone he doesn’t truly consider an ally.

“Captain Warren, my good friend,” I say with an air of mockery, “I have a proposition for you. One that will make you wealthy beyond your dreams.”

“I’m already wealthy. I’m the leader of the human worldship. Whatever I want is always mine for the taking.”

“Ah, but I come offering five hundred thousand galactic credits, and the task I’m asking of you is so very easy.” We pause at the end of a corridor where an alcove containing a viewscreen rests. I take a seat and gesture for him to join me.

Captain Warren eyes me warily, then settles into the seat across from me. There’s a curtain we might pull to conceal ourselves from the rest of the corridor, but there’s no one in sight, so neither of us bothers. Besides, I am hoping this conversation will be quick. Judging by the greed that flared in his eyes when I announced the amount of money in question, I suspect it won’t take much to convince him to do my bidding.

“Where did you get five hundred thousand galactic credits?” he asks, lowering his voice even though there’s no need to be quiet.

“I own the Hurrsona Asteroid Belt, which is very rich in xursollian ore. I’m nearly as wealthy as Emperor Radakk.” I don’t bother telling him that a great-great grandfather of mine purchased the asteroid belt. He doesn’t need to know it is wealth passed down through the generations, or that I’m the only soul left alive in my family to benefit from the lucrative mining operation.

“The Hurrsona Asteroid Belt?” His eyes go wider. “I’ve heard of it, and I must say, I’m impressed. All right. Go on. What is it you are asking of me?” His expression turns calculating and he settles back in his seat. Greed continues to gleam in his eyes, and I can’t help but wonder what vile deeds and crimes he might commit just to get his hands on my money.

“I would like to purchase a human bride.”

A knowing look enters his gaze. “Of course. Has Emperor Radakk not promised you a bride?”

“Emperor Radakk has assured me that I’m owed a bride. Yes, I have been promised a mate from the group of two thousand, however there is a problem.”

“What sort of problem?”

“I want a specific human female who is not on the list of two thousand. There’s nothing in the Darrvason-human alliance that says a Darrvason can’t purchase a specific female if he so desires. I read every word of the terms.” Though I’m eager to claim Mandy as my own, I don’t allow the desperation I’m feeling to tinge my voice. I keep my tone even and almost disinterested, and as I glance out the viewscreen at the Darrvason fleet, my gaze comes to rest on the Rorrsa , the ship that serves as my home when I’m not stationed on the Jansonna .

“You want to buy a human woman?”

“That’s what I said.” Again, I strive to keep my tone even, though I’m starting to grow impatient with the leader of the worldship.

“Very well. I suppose I can arrange for you to claim a human female who’s not on the list of two thousand. For a price, of course. Five hundred thousand galactic credits, just like you said, and I want it in writing. Now, tell me, what’s her name?” Interest lights the male’s eyes as he leans forward.

“Mandy Benton. She works in a salon on Deck Twenty, and she lives on Deck Fifteen. She’s twenty-three years old. Are you familiar with this female?”

A look of horror comes over Captain Warren. “I know the female in question. But she’s engaged to a powerful and wealthy Founder. A man named Ned Perry. I-I don’t believe I could interfere in such a union. They’re supposed to get married in seven days, and I’m scheduled to officiate the ceremony.”

Seven days? No . I won’t allow the marriage to occur.

Even if I must break the terms of alliance, I will make sure Mandy doesn’t exchange vows with Ned.

Though it’s my understanding that human marriages are no longer physically consummated, at least they aren’t supposed to be, I still reel at the prospect of Mandy belonging to Ned in name. I won’t stand for it, and I struggle not to let my anger show.

I regard the captain with what I hope is an air of indifference. “How strange that according to the worldship’s constitution, which I’ve read in full, the captain is permitted to sell or trade citizens of the Jansonna at his discretion for the good of the ship. But if you can’t prevent Mandy Benton from marrying Ned Perry, if that is not within your power , I suppose that is the end of it. Such a pity.” I rise to my feet and make to leave the alcove, but the panic-stricken captain reaches for my arm, only to retract his hand quickly and point at the seat I just vacated. If he’d actually touched me, I would’ve blackened his eyes.

“Please, please sit down, Chief Kameer. I-I didn’t say it was impossible. I’m sure we can work it out. Please sit.”

Satisfied that my performance is working, I fake a bored sigh and return to my seat. I cross a leg over my knee and lounge back, shaking my foot in a casual manner as I stare at the captain and wait for him to continue. Hope rises inside me as I witness his visage come alive with the darkness of a scheme, the exact moment he arrives at a solution. He folds his hands together and leans forward, appearing quite pleased with himself.

“All right, he won’t be happy about it, but I will order the termination of the engagement between Mandy Benton and Ned Perry. I’ll cite Ned’s advanced age as the reason. Then I will quietly switch Mandy’s name with another female on the list of two thousand, and you may claim her when we hand this final wave of women over to your people in one month, after we arrive on planet 58-Zallnanis. Is that acceptable?”

I furrow my brow, using a human mannerism as I pretend to consider his offer. Then I shake my head. “It’s almost acceptable, Captain, but if I’m going to spend five hundred thousand galactic credits on a bride, I don’t want to wait a moon cycle to take possession of her. I expect to claim Mandy Benton as my mate immediately. Tonight, or tomorrow at the very latest. She will reside in my temporary quarters aboard the Jansonna until my work on the worldship is complete and we return to the Rorrsa together.”

“Do you realize the headache that sort of arrangement is going to cause me? The fucking rumors that will spread?” Captain Warren huffs and casts a disgusted look at the Darrvason fleet. “It was bad enough when Officer Brute bent the rules by claiming an unsanctioned female outside the bounds of the alliance.”

I don’t budge on my terms. I stare at the captain, waiting for him to come to his senses. Waiting for him to realize that if he wants the exorbitant amount of money I’m offering, he doesn’t have a choice.

“Five hundred thousand galactic credits is no small sum. You could buy your own fucking planet. You could build a fucking empire.” I release a dark chuckle. “Or you could travel to Shinzza Prime and sleep with every courtesan on the planet twenty times each. I don’t care what you do with the money, my good captain, but if we’re going to have a deal, I must insist on taking possession of Mandy Benton in the immediate future.”

Captain Warren takes a deep breath. “Fine. It’s a deal. The official story will be that I, in my infinite wisdom, have decided to award you with a human female for your services aboard the Jansonna . After all, I suppose it could be argued that without your expertise, the worldship wouldn’t be ready for a safe landing on 58-Z.” He clears his throat. “You may claim your bride tonight—after the funds have been deposited in my account. But you mustn’t make a scene in the corridors. I must insist on having her delivered to your quarters under the guise of a temporary detention, and I’d prefer for it to occur after curfew so there are few witnesses, if any. Having her delivered to you will also give the appearance that she’s a gift. I’ll have a contingent of morality officers escort her to your quarters. Please, I must insist. Again, the headache Officer Brute caused by chasing his mate down in the corridors for all to see… I don’t want a repeat of that.”

“Very well. You may use morality officers to deliver her to my quarters tonight after curfew, however they must all be female morality officers, and no one is to harm her. If she resists and force is used… I will not be happy, Captain, and I will hold you personally responsible.”

“Fine, fine. Female morality officers. No harm. No force. Got it.”

He thrusts his hand out, and we shake.

Tonight .

Tonight, I will claim my human bride. My mate.

“I will deposit two hundred fifty thousand in your account immediately, Captain, and the rest upon delivery of the female.”

He tells me his banking details, and I use my wrist comm to complete the transaction. I also draft a quick contract—or rather, a bill of sale—and we sign our names. Then I depart the alcove, my blood humming with victory.

Anticipation tightens in my loins, and my ancestral markings tingle.

Tonight, I will take possession of Mandy and claim her as my mate.