Chapter 28

Fiona

I stare up into Master Antroli’s eyes, my gut churning as he looks off into the distance. Tall buildings rise out of the ground, crowding the sky. Already I miss the wide-open freedom of the ranch. Though the air seems clean and clear, it has all the claustrophobia of New York City.

Crawling over my Master, I peer outside, my eyes widening as I take in all the various life forms. Most look humanoid, with varying colors of skin, but others seem far more at home in a horror film. Pulling back, I hide my face in his shoulder, the enormity of my fate crashing in on me.

Sooner or later, I’m going to have to come face-to-face with the consequences of my actions. Will the courts force me to go home? Is that what I want? Digging my fingers into Master Antroli’s arm, I breathe in his unique scent. Unlike Jakroon, there’s nothing sour underneath—just pure masculinity and wide-open fields.

“You seem far away, little human. Where are you?”

“I don’t want to leave.” My mind whirls about as I feel out the words as they leave me.

It’s the truth, though. Yes, I have family back on Earth, but also the day-to-day grind. Here, I may have moments of boredom, but I also have a fierce love I don’t think I’ll ever find back home.

“Nor I you, little human.”

“You do love me. Yes?” My heart thumps in my chest as I wait for his words.

“You know I do, Fiona.”

“I need to hear it. I need to believe it. If I’m going to give up everything, there cannot be a question in my mind.”

Leaning down, he cups my face with his hand. The heat of his palm stings my bruised, abraded flesh, but I don’t care. The tenderness flowing through him surrounds me, easing away the hurt.

“I love you, my human, my Fiona, my stubborn little Highland cow. I would be lost without you.”

“Even if I’m disobedient?”

“Especially so. It will give me a chance to take you in hand.” He reaches over and grips my arse. “And I do so love taking you in hand.”

“Enough already,” Master Vrokjan grinds out. “Save that for your room. We are here. The enforcers will be here soon.”

My heart stops for a moment as I stare up at the tall, white, imposing building. Enforcers pour out from the doors and surround us, their weapons pointed at the door. Terror infuses my limbs as Master Antroli gives my hand a squeeze before allowing them to open up the transport.

I’m glad he’s so calm. Maybe it will help me be stronger. Rough hands grab me, tearing me away from my Master. In my distress, I moo as loud as I can so he can hear me. But he doesn’t come to my aid. He can’t. Masked men stand between us, keeping us apart.

“This cow belongs to my right-hand man,” Master Vrokjan informs them. “He and I are to be with her in trial.”

After a moment, they part, allowing them to come near. “Do not touch or speak to the prisoner unless directed by the judge.”

Master Antroli nods then gives me a reassuring smile. Off to the side, Jakroon walks of his own free will, head held high. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to know about the plot awaiting him.

The enforcers lead us down a myriad of hallways until I’m so turned around, I cannot think. Eventually, they lead us to a set of double doors. When they part, I cannot help the gasp that rips from my throat. There, on a dais, an older Icorian sits with the world swirling behind him.

It’s like we’re back on the ship that took us from Earth. Again, I have the urge to reach out and touch the universe, just to see if it’s real. Before I can marvel too much, rough hands tear me away and drag me toward the older man. There, at the base, Master Nagán stands, his lips twisted into a frown.

“Seems as if you’re a bit worse for wear,” he says, waving a wand over me. “This will sting a bit.” He thrusts a large needle into my biceps, drawing a ragged cry from my lips.

Master Antroli fights against Master Vrokjan’s grip as he tries to get to my side. I cannot hear what he says, but soon, my Master calms down. His eyes blaze with fury, but he no longer struggles against his boss. Master Nagán thrusts the needle into a metal device before handing all of it over to the enforcer.

Once he walks away, they put me down on all fours and step back. Only the enforcer carrying the metal rides up with me as the dais rises to meet the older man who holds my fate. He does not address me at first. Instead, he looks at the metal object then bangs a gavel against the stone.

“You, cow, are hereby accused of attacking a Rancher, causing injury to his person.” He pauses for a moment and looks over at me, raising an eyebrow. “Rise. I wish to see you.”

My legs quake as I force myself to stand. Up close, he seems like a perfectly charming male of his species. I could see him as a loving and doting grandpappy. To someone of his species, that is. To me, I doubt it very much.

He looks me over, his lips turning down into a disapproving frown. “Turn.” Heat licks up my face as I rotate, allowing him to see all of me, naked as the day I was born. “This slip of a human is who you accuse of attacking you?”

I turn, following his gaze. Jakroon’s skin is splotched with blood and bruises. Nowhere near as bad as mine must be, but I do take satisfaction in seeing the havoc I’ve etched into his face.

“I was caught unawares, magnificent judge. She used Earth tricks on me that I had no defense for.”

He snorts and motions for him to sit back down. “Tell me, cow. Is what he says true?” I turn to Master Antroli, not sure if I’m actually allowed to speak or not. “Don’t look at him,” the judge barks out. “Obey me.”

“Forgive me, your honor. I was not sure I was allowed to speak.”

“I commanded it. Why would you question my order?”

“Master Jakroon asked me questions after he kidnapped me. He trapped me with his words and hurt me when I obeyed him. I am still learning the ways of Icora and do not wish to be hurt for doing things wrong.”

Around the room, harsh words and hissed conversations flit about.

“Silence,” the judge cries. “I will have silence in this room.” Turning to me, he frowns. “I will not mislead you, cow. If I ask you a question, you are to speak. Did you cause these injuries to this Rancher?”

“I did, your honor.”

“Then why am I here? She did it. She faces the punishment. You are hereby ordered to-”

I fall to my hands and knees, the action jarring my head until it throbs. As I kneel there, I moo as earnestly as I have ever mooed before. The man stops and smacks his hand against the stone.

“Stop this incessant noise. Speak.”

“Please. It was in defense of my person. He hurt me, drank from me, left me without water. I-”

“Yes. I see the evidence plain as day. That does not mitigate your actions in all of this. He will be dealt with as the law demands, just as you are.”

“Please, your honor. If you are to send me away, I have one final plea, if you will grant it.”

“And that is?”

I turn to look at Master Antroli and Master Vrokjan, my lips trembling as I give them both a watery smile. “What I have to ask of you is for your ears alone.”

He leans back in his chair and strokes his chin. “An odd request. An odd request indeed. If your proposition is of a sexual nature, I am in no need of your services. I am happily mated and get my milk from any number of Ranchers who sell it.”

“I promise you, your honor. It is nothing of the sort. It is, in fact, a revelation of corruption. One that resides under your very nose.”

Soft titters race about the room until the judge holds up his hand. I refuse to look over at Jakroon for fear of tipping him off to what I know. To the whole assembly, save Master Vrokjan and Master Antroli, I’m just a human, a cow, no one of importance. For now, I’d like it to stay that way.

“Such an odd statement from one who lazes about in the fields all day, but I will entertain it. Do not waste my time, cow, or you will wish Earth was your only punishment.”

Waving his hand, he lowers us both to the floor. The enforcers flank me on either side, leading me into a room in the back. Once in there, they stand guard at the door as the judge sits behind a large desk.

“My patience is known throughout all of Icora, but it does have a limit. Speak quickly and plainly. What corruption do you speak of?”

“Master Jakroon is only licensed to sell milk on Icora and nowhere else. Is that correct?”

Without saying a word, he uses the same damned finger motions to turn on his terminal. After a few moments of typing, he turns back to me. “Correct.”

“What if I were to tell you he sells intergalactically?”

He leans back and steeples his fingers. “I would say it is impossible for you to know the transactions of a Rancher. But let’s go on this little journey and pretend you do. It is still impossible. For him to sell outside of his jurisdiction would mean someone within the capitol aids him. You are not accusing the capital of corruption, I hope.”

I hang my head. “No, your honor. I know nothing of this capitol or how the milk is shipped. But I have proof-”

“Proof, hah. You are a cow. A human woman made to give milk. I tire of this stalling.”

“I require only a moment of your indulgence to prove it.”

“Make it quick.”

Sliding over to the terminal, I inch past the judge, humiliation crawling over my skin as I brush against him. Mimicking his finger strokes, I open up the screen and wait for the lights to flash. The enforcers shift behind me, their gasps flooding my ears.

“I have not learned as much of your written language as I would like. But I know the basics.” Typing into the bar, I pull up a record of his financials.

With a strangled cry, he shoves me away and hits a few keys to back out of it. “This information is private. How do you have access to it?”

Taking a deep breath, I give him a shortened version, leaving out Master Antroli allowing me to speak to my mum. He certainly doesn’t need to know that much. I do, however, impress upon him how vulnerable their information is. If I, a human, can hack into their databases with only a couple weeks of studying their language, how much more could someone with ill intent create havoc?

“Call in the Ranchers. Send enforcers to stand by Jakroon, but do not spook him. This human is right. If he knows what we seek, he can destroy it all. Confiscate his terminal at once.”

“If I may, your honor, if you can program your side of things to where I can access it in my language, I can find what you need.”

“And how will I know you are not planting information?”

“If you can allow me access to my language, I can talk you through how to find it yourself.”

Master Vrokjan and Master Antroli stand by, their expressions a mixture of pride and amusement as I give my instructions. No doubt none of them actually believe me. Soon, however, everything changes. The more he digs around at my command, the more tense the room becomes.

Minutes go by as I coach this older man. Thankfully, he’s far more intuitive than I gave him credit for. Soon, the same screen I saw in Jakroon’s room pops up, complete with all the information still intact. Curses fly under his breath as he hits a few buttons to print out the reports.

“Take Jakroon into custody. He will await his own trial and punishment. As for this human...” He taps his long finger against his lips. “Whatever shall I do with you? You’re far too valuable to send back to Earth, but you’re too much of a liability to stay here.”

“Judge,” Master Antroli calls out. “I will make her my mate. With my brand, she will stay by my side as my personal cow.”

“That could work. But she still has to atone for her actions against Jakroon.”

This time, it’s Master Vrokjan’s turn to speak. “Judge. The evidence of his mistreatment is in your hands. You need only gaze upon her flesh to see the horrors visited upon her.”

He raises his hand to silence him. “There is no law dictating the treatment of cows. There is, however, a law against cows rising up against their Masters. However, I have seen where we’ve been remiss in our treatment of humans. What he did was foul and against the spirit of the laws, even if they didn’t break them. I wish to have this human at my disposal. She will assist me in finding these vulnerabilities and shoring them up.”

“Your wish is my command, judge,” Master Antroli murmurs, his lips twitching into a smile.

“We are known throughout the galaxies for our speed and efficiency with transportation, and of course, the quality of our milk. But that is all for nothing if we can be laid low by a species as mentally inept as Earthlings.”

I bite down on my lower lip, not wishing to incur any additional punishment or wrath. The fact that he still thinks I’m beneath him galls me, but if it means staying by Master Antroli’s side, I will take any verbal punishment he throws at me.

Master Vrokjan and Master Antroli bow and motion for me to stand with them. “My cow is at your disposal whenever it is required. She is milked both morning and night but is available between then.”

He shakes his head and waves his hand. “No. She is no longer a mere cow. I will have a Medical Rancher adjust her serum. I will not leave you without milk, but she has far more important jobs than that.”

“Yes, judge. I hear and obey.”

“Very well. Next time I see her, she must bear your mark, or there will be consequences to pay.”

As he motions for us to leave, my heart soars as Master Antroli wraps his arm around my waist. “You’re mine now, my beautiful Highland. And I will make it so no one can take you away from me again.”