I was about two thirds of the way through the debris field when I noticed a change in pattern from the ship in pursuit. They had slipped back a little but they'd dropped down as well. The detector was also picking up on some extra heat.
Suspecting a firefight I flicked my guns to warm as well and took a deep breath. Adrenaline shot through me at the expected fight coming my way and I felt more awake finally.
I still had a long way to go but if I needed to give a pirate some merry hell first so be it.
Just as I'd begun to guess when they'd make their move, they did so, pushing their ship harder and faster towards mine. I responded in kind, not intending to make it easy for them to hit me, but they had taken me by surprise and their ship must have been using some kind of speed boost because it closed some of the gap in almost no time at
I pushed the ship to one side, trying to turn away from the fast moving Frentin ship but I'd been incredibly stupid and it was clear Icaan had outwitted me yet again.Swearing more than once, I could do little to stop it as he outmaneuvered me and hit my ship with more bolts. The shields did their best to absorb the hits and I warmed the guns to fire back, but it was too little too late.All the fighting I'd already done had softened me up and he'd found me ripe for the chasing.Despite all that I refused to just give up and I did my best to fly and dodge, making it harder and harder for him to grapple and reel me in. Eventually, he caught me with the final bolt needed to take my shields out entirely, and then my console lit up with the indicator for an incoming hail.I almost didn't accept it, but
"You're beautiful," Icaan said, my completely naked body beneath him. I felt my cheeks flush. I was still on the floor of his ship and for several seconds he'd not moved.I reached a hand up to him, wanting to reconnect us to each other but he didn't give me the satisfaction at first, still wandering my body with his gaze.The longer it went on the more self conscious I felt, but slowly he reached for me, picking me up and carrying me against him. Gently he took me to the ladder and holding me against him with one hand, he climbed with the other.Not sure what else to do, I gripped him and tried not to think of anything else but the moment we were in. The scent of his body so close to mine was already making me hungry for him and ready in so many ways.He took me all the way to his familiar bed and
A beeping from the cockpit made Icaan finally leave me in his bed. He quickly pulled his shorts and space suit back on and hurried to the ladder. I wasn't sure I could walk yet, my body well and truly claimed by him in pretty much every way it could be.I had lost track of time and I was pretty sure he had as well. But the alarm sounded a moment later and I hastily got up and pulled my suit on as well. The restraints were still around my wrists and ankles, but they didn't stop me from getting dressed.As soon as I was in the suit and protected from a hull breach I also made my way to the cockpit. I was more than a little tired, but I wasn't about to show any weakness right now."We've got company," Icaan said. "Two ships. I think they might be enforcers.""And let me guess, they'll insist on escorti
As my ship sat near the edge of a solar system with a particularly large active sun, the solar panels were all extended and sucking up as much energy as they could while Icaan patrolled nearby."Those enforcers were quick to give up," I said. "Why was that, when I was worth so much?""The pirate ship was probably worth a fair amount too. And the pirate in it. Law enforcement put prices on the heads of anyone who breaks the law if they've stolen enough to warrant it. Only way to see the fringe areas of our territory policed.""So it's not uncommon for ships to try and hunt down pirates out here?""No. I've even taken a few in before now. The credits can make a difference. The reward and the ship price.""So why don't we do that? Why don't we find a pirate worth eno
This time I took Icaan's hand and led him up the ladder to his bedroom. Everything else could wait. I wanted him and I didn't want him to doubt my desire to be with him for a second longer.As soon as I had him in the bedroom with me, I gently pushed him down into a sitting position and started to unzip my suit. His eyes never left me as I slowly pulled the zipper down, making sure to go just slow enough he was riveted, but not so slow he decided to take matter into his own hands.He watched as I stripped off every single bit of clothing I had and then stepped closer, finally putting myself in reach.Almost immediately his hands came up and cupped my hips, the palms molding over each curve. His eyes roved, drinking me in and making me heat up at the same time.His skin on mine was like a lightning r
I tried not to show the ache in my chest at having to go back to my own ship again, but did as I was bid anyway. It was the third night I'd had to do so after coming back to Icaan and making love to him.Until we found Kryan, however, it was the safest thing to do. We needed to make sure any enforcers who came across us thought Icaan was already in pursuit and didn't interfere.We had a lead finally. A report Icaan had intercepted from an enforcer that said he was once more near Antiga. It was good news of a sort even if it meant we were another step closer to the most dangerous part of our plan.Capturing Kryan wouldn't be easy. The Frentin pirate was one of the best pilots and he was stronger than most of the alien males as well. On top of that he was cunning, good at escaping and otherwise slippery.
As I flew, I noticed a hail coming from Kryan. I took a deep breath and tried not to sound as anxious as I felt."What do you want, Kryan?" I asked."Oh, my dear. It's you. How interesting. I did wonder who might be helping out the disgraced prince. But I don't think the two of you understand what you're dealing with. You might have beaten me once, but you're not going to manage it a second time."I shook my head at his bravery and bravado. He might be right, but we had something on our side that he didn't; desperation. Trying not to panic, I merely waited for the guns to warm and kept him in my sights.Before I was ready, he banked to return fire. I tried to dodge, but Kryan was already moving away and I knew it was more important to keep within shooting distance of him. The first two bolts hit my
Kryan's words barely registered as I hung there, the wrench still in my hand. At the moment I clutched it in the middle and I couldn't reach him, but now he'd turned me and lifted me up, there was a chance. If I could just get him to lower his guard a little."Don't hurt him," I said, trying to sound more panicked than I was. "Please, I'll do whatever you want. Even help you fix the ship. I'm good with tools," I said as I shifted my grip more to one end of the wrench and waved it briefly."Or I can cook," I offered. "But let Icaan go, and let him keep his cargo.""And why would I do that?" Kryan asked, reaching to take my shoulder as he lifted a little higher again. I could feel his arm growing tired and took what would probably be the only opportunity I was going to get.I swung the end of the wren
It took a little while to get back to the shuttle platform, but immediately I noticed a similar large carriage to the one I'd used to get to this dome. It was sitting on a section of track out of the way, but as soon as we approached more guards in red hurried over to it and got it moving back onto the main line."Come on, I'll help you strap in," Icaan said, as he also helped me up and into the shuttle in the first place.There wasn't room for every single red guard and my own loyal team of six, but there was a second compartment on this shuttle and a selection of them made their way in there as Icaan got me safely in my seat and then sat down beside me and took my hand once more.The doors slid down again with a much gentler and less noisy motion and then, almost effortlessly and with almost no jerking the shuttle started moving. We
Silence had settled into the room for at least a minute as no one seemed to know what to do or say and my mind slipped into the turmoil it felt. I couldn't be bought by Icaan. Despite our best attempt at bringing in the credits, he didn't have enough.I couldn't help but cry as my fate ran through my head. Despite Icaan wanting me and me wanting him I was stuck as a slave and I had been put there initially by the very Frentin I loved. It seemed so heartless and unfair but there was nothing I could do about it.Although I considered trying to run again, I knew it was pointless. Every man in the room bar Icaan was now bound to keep me here and I didn't doubt Sadisk planned to punish me enough as it was. Shaking, I reached for Icaan, but he shook his head and pulled away.The movement broke a dam as almost half the room started to talk a
"Stop this madness and let my slave go!" Icaan's voice commanded from somewhere nearby. Immediately I opened my eyes, but the baton struck me anyway, catching me in the side. Despite my resolve to handle this with dignity I screamed, the pain as it shot through my torso so intense I couldn't do anything but."I gave a command. Let that slave go!" Icaan yelled and immediately the pain receded and I crumpled to the floor.Tears streamed down my face, the pain still so intense I could barely move. Frith appeared at my side and gently tried to lift me as Brinto and several of the other guards hurried to my side and surrounded me, physically pushing Sadisk and the other men back, but the slave trader didn't appear to want to give up."She's not your slave yet, and she needs to be punished. Twice now she has tried to escape."
Despite Sadisk's declaration that Icaan had abandoned me, I still didn't want to believe it. And it seemed neither did anyone else. No one moved."Come here, slave. I will begin by dealing out your punishment for escaping your masters and costing them a significant sum of money to have you returned.""No," I said, "Not yet. I said I would wait three hours to allow for issues with your transport shuttles. My heart doesn't believe me abandoned yet."Then I shall break your heart as well if need be, but you will learn to obey." Sadisk seemed to produce some kind of baton from somewhere inside his clothes and strode toward me.I moved to one side and attempted to put the sofa between us as Brinto also stepped into the way."You cannot be serious, Sadisk. Those things
The dawn light shone through the window and woke me from an uneasy sleep. Frith immediately looked my way and gave me a nod.I sat up once more but didn't get out of the bed."Do you know how long I've got until the council will have met and decided Icaan's fate?" I asked.Frith pulled out a small device and tapped at it."They're in session now. He'll know within the next twenty minutes," Frith replied a moment later. I sighed. This was the crunch moment. This was the next trial for me to endure.I got out of bed and neatened my clothes and brushed my hair as quickly as I could. I then made sure my pack contained everything that mattered to me and I carried it over to Frith."I know you have no reason to do anything for me, but
As the night went on I still found sleep didn't want to come and I considered giving up. With his shift up, Brinto was relieved by Frith and another of the guards and I listened as they talked quietly before Brinto and his companion left.Frith then ordered the guard with him to wait outside. Although I thought this was a little odd, the guard seemed to think nothing of it and moved into the corridor outside, shutting the door behind himself.It was still dark outside, but the room was lit by enough starlight and lamp light from somewhere that I could see Frith move. He came over to the bed, stopping at the foot of it when I moved."You're awake?" he whispered."Yes. It's hard to sleep when you don't know what your fate will be," I replied, keeping my voice quiet but not bothering to whisper.
Although sleep would have done me some good, I drifted in and out of consciousness, barely able to get more than a snatch of sleep here and there. I was too wired and ready to be back with Icaan.The sun had taken a long time to set on the planet and it appeared to operate on its own time zone, not helping me sleep when for everyone here it was still afternoon.I'd also been left with two of the more basic guards during the day, with Brinto returning six hours later to watch me through the late evening and first section of night. He gave me a nod when he noticed me checking out the handover between the two sets of guards but no one spoke to me and I soon lay myself down again.I drifted off again, but I came awake more when someone knocked on the door and the young slave with Sadisk came in carrying more food and drink for me and the
The nicest rooms in the compound turned out to be little better than a basic hotel room all to myself, with the slight advantage that it was at least large enough I could sit at a small table or sofa while the guards gave me enough space. It was also several floors up and I had a reasonable view from the two barred windows.It was clear, however, that it was still a gilded cage. I wasn't free and I was being kept here until Icaan laid claim to me.Brinto didn't leave me, and unlike before he seemed less talkative, even pacing back and forth while I sat myself down on the sofa.We'd only been there a few minutes when the Frentin in charge came in as well, a girl who couldn't be more than about fourteen following him, a collar around her neck and her eyes down turned.The Frentin carried a handheld co
As a much larger and more robust looking carriage came rattling down the tracks, my guards all got to their feet and I took it as an indication I should do so as well.The side panel opened up to reveal an interior with far less seats. The seats it did have were arranged in a circle, and they looked as if they were not only padded, but the straps holding the occupant in place appeared to be far less worn and much more sturdy.I allowed myself to be led inside and immediately aimed for the seat in the middle of the circle. I soon got myself seated and tried to work out how to do the straps. A few minutes later I was still fumbling with them, until Brinto came closer."Permission to aid you, ma'am. We don't really want to still be here when the next shuttle comes through.""Oh, yes. I have no idea wha