Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

KHORAHN

"What would you like to know?"

Excitement sweetened her scent as Vya leaned closer.

"Everything. What are bounty hunters like? Who do they capture? What did those people do wrong? What's their punishment? Are holding cells like jail cells? How long do they stay there?"

I chuckled, liking her inquisitive mind and lack of fear. Not many females looked favorably at those who shared my profession.

"What are bounty hunters like?" I said, repeating her first question. "They are a diverse group since any race can become one. They track and capture anyone with a bounty set for breaking a systems' laws. The amount each bounty is worth and the punishment the bounty receives varies depending on which law was broken.

"Those who break the trade laws, for example—trading banned goods—might only serve a few lunars on a prison work planet. Those who commit more serious crimes or who are deemed dangerous are worth more chit and have more serious sentencing. Some might be sentenced to immediate termination rather than rehabilitation. So they would never see a holding cell to await a transfer."

Her excitement faded quickly.

"How many women are terminated each year?"

I pressed my mouth to hers, needing to comfort her.

"None. Ever. Females are too precious."

"But what if one of us kills someone?"

I thought about it and shook my head. "Such a thing has never happened."

"That was before." A hint of fear and anger filled her scent. "If I could have killed the things that were making me…" She shook her head. "If I could have, I would have."

"You would have been found innocent." I brushed my fingers over her soft cheek. "Know that the one who kept you has already been punished."

"Really?"

"Yes. And now that you've shared your story with your people on the trade station, those involved on Narlin Four will also be punished."

"Good. What they did was shitty. A handjob wasn't worth killing all those girls. Was it?"

"No. Never. The tuber who kept you was only interested in the chit he could make off the service you provided."

"Chit? Money?"

I nodded and stroked her arm, hating that I couldn't scent mark her to calm her increasing sadness.

"How do you earn money?" she asked.

"I hunt bounties."

Her eyes grew rounded, but she didn't pull away in revulsion. Some of her excitement returned.

"Are you serious?"

"I am. Does it displease you?"

"What? No way. I think that's hot as hell. And it explains why you're so chiseled."

Her hands drifted over my chest and down my torso before she tugged them away.

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize. Touch me however you'd like."

Her gaze shifted from my chest to my face twice, and I fought not to inhale the scent of her growing arousal.

"It's better if I don't." She set her hands in her lap. "So you weren't looking for a friend but hunting a bounty when you found me? How much was he worth?"

"Far less than you."

Her smile melted me from the inside. She'd never looked happier than in that moment.

"Smooth talker," she said, patting my chest. "Is there another bounty you need to get? I'd love to witness the whole process."

"It would be too dangerous for you to witness their capture, but you can be there when I turn them in if you wish."

"I do wish," she said enthusiastically. "Is there one we can grab on the way to the Helix station?"

"I have four in my holding," I said.

"What? Really? Show me."

"Allow me to notify your trade station of our planned destination first."

She nodded.

"Command Khorahn, list the three nearest Helix locations and the estimated fuel levels to reach them."

As the ship listed our options, Vya's fingers returned to my chest, tracing the ridge of my muscles at the top of my torso.

"Are you going to be taken if we go to a Helix station?" she asked when the ship stopped speaking.

"Taken?" I captured her hand and pressed my lips to the soft tips of her teasing fingers. "Why would I be taken?"

"Mtinash said that there was a bounty on you."

"That is a private bounty. The Conservators issue public bounties, which are turned in at Helix stations. Sometimes, aggrieved parties issue private bounties. Those are turned in to the aggrieved party. In this case, it would be Wsoau from Narlin Four. Since the one who was running the bathhouse is no longer alive to place a bounty on me, it proves he wasn't the only one involved. Those who were profiting from your presence are likely displeased that I've stolen their prized possession.

"But I'm not concerned about the private bounty. Although they might have the chit to back it, there are few hunters who would be willing to attempt my capture."

"Good. Then send your message and show me your bounties."

The scent of her arousal rose again, making it difficult for me to focus on the message I sent.

When we reached the med bay and she saw the bounties in stasis, her arousal faded, and her curiosity climbed. She asked many questions about how they remained alive, what their crimes were, and how long they'd been in stasis. The next arc passed quickly as I explained how I transported bounties. She stretched her mouth with growing frequency, which I knew indicated her need for rest.

"Come, my beauty," I said, leading her from the med bay. "Allow me to help you to sleep."

The sweet scent of her arousal teased me all the way to our sleep bay. The way she held out her hand as she reclined nearly broke my control.

"What do you wish of me, my treasured one?" I asked.

"Lie with me? I like when you hold me."

The prexel I had my arms around her small frame, she twisted in my hold.

"What do you wish of me, Khorahn?" she asked softly. "Do you only want me for the babies I can make?"

My mouth went dry as I slowly shook my head.

"I want you for the life you can give me. Touching you, tasting you, breeding you are second to simply having your presence."

She smiled and stroked my cheek. "I wouldn't mind if you wanted to touch and taste me though. Please."

The last word, spoken so softly, like a plea, motivated me to move quickly. I flipped her to her stomach and knelt behind her as I pulled her hips up and back to meet my questing tongue. The entrance to her breeding sheath was already wet with her need. I lapped at it, humming my appreciation as I lifted her hips higher.

"I want your tongue in me, Khorahn. Please. Just once."

I growled at the stinging pain in my ambal that surged forward at her words. How long had I wanted the same? Since the halo-flash she first allowed me to taste her.

Hungrily, I thrust deep and groaned at the flavor.

She mewled and pressed back against me. I found the spot she favored with my fingers and plucked at it. Her sounds grew more frantic as her scent intensified.

Her sheath squeezed my tongue, and she wailed out her release. Her flavor washed my tongue. She collapsed forward and rolled on to her back. Unable to resist, I settled my weight between her legs and continued to consume every drop of her arousal as her pulse calmed and her breathing evened out. I knew I should stop, but I couldn't bring myself to until she pushed my face away in her sleep.

Chuckling, I tucked her against my side and closed my eyes.

I didn't know what else to do to convince her to stay with me and feared what would happen to her once we arrived at the Helix station. She'd reacted to the Oebri even over a comm. What would happen when she was in the same space as one of them?

Exhaling heavily, I focused on the taste of her on my lips and the feel of her in my arms until I slept.

When I woke several arcs later, the ship notified me of a waiting comm. Vya rolled toward my vacant spot as I stood. She reached for me even in her sleep.

"My sweet female," I said softly. "If I stay, I will be tempted to taste you again, and you will not get the rest you need."

Bending, I lightly kissed her brow then went to the cargo bay to divide the terra into smaller cubes. While there, I opened the comm. The image of the human female who'd conversed with Vya appeared, which I found odd since the message was addressed to me.

"Greetings, Khorhan," she said. "I've sent a message to the Helix station as promised. Because Vya's alone—sorry, I mean without another human to accompany her—I've asked that only one Oebri at a time have contact with her while she's on the station. They can be a bit overwhelming otherwise. I have their word they will take care with their persuasion. However, if you feel anything is wrong, please contact me immediately. I think we can both agree that Vya's been through enough and doesn't need any more unwanted attention. She trusts you to keep her safe, so I will as well.

"Extra supplies that are safe for her consumption will be waiting for you. If there's anything else you need, I'm only a comm away."

The message ended with her waving her hand, a gesture I found odd.

Returning my attention to the terra, I calculated how much I would need to trade to charge the ship's energy cells. Trading at the Helix station meant a fair price and less risk that my ship would be tracked. However, trading too much would draw attention and cause the Conservators to question where I'd acquired so much terra.

No, it was better to keep the terra for my grow bay and for trade at void stations for veg. Once I turned in the bounties, I would have plenty of spare chit for recharging the fuel cells and anything Vya might wish to purchase on the Helix station.

I loaded a narrow transfer cube full of terra and started floating it toward the grow bay.

An alert blared through the ship.

"Proximity alert. Impact in seven halo-flashes. Six… Five…"

I cursed and abandoned the cart to run for the control room.

"Command Khorahn, reduce gravity by fifty percent. Shield increased by twenty-five percent."

The words had barely left my mouth when the whole ship shook violently.

"Damage report minimal," the ship said. "Minor hull breach without environmental impact. Pressure stable. Oxygen levels stable. Confirm emergency protocol five-one-seven activation?"

I reached the control room and changed the viewer to show what had hit us.

A ship.

One I'd followed for flares that had landed on Narlin Four.

"Emergency protocol five-one-seven activation confirmed," I said before racing from the control room.