Chapter 2
TWO
Murgen interlaced his fingers and settled his hands on his prodigious gut. “A female terran, currently pregnant. She has a few months to go, by my estimates, and I’m terribly eager to observe the process firsthand. I understand it’s rather painful for their kind.”
Drakkal’s gaze roamed over the female, lingering on the blotchy bruises scattered around her body, the thick collar around her neck, and the matching cuffs at her wrists and ankles.
The cuffs weren’t attached to any visible tethers, and the skin around each was red and irritated.
Drakkal tightened his fists; a powerful instinct had sparked within him, as though his very essence rejected the sight of this female in her current condition.
She should’ve been free, should’ve been unharmed, should’ve been… his.
“The expected offspring is fully terran, of course, but these terrans have proven remarkably adaptable.” Murgen moved closer to the glass.
“Though there’s not enough research by which to draw concrete conclusions, it seems her species—after the Consortium’s mutative treatment—can reproduce with almost anything. The compatibility is astounding.”
Separating his hands, Murgen brushed his fingers lightly over the glass.
“I’m not normally inclined to partake directly in my research, but I find myself tempted by this one.
What would we produce?” He cleared his throat and stepped back suddenly, jowls jiggling as he spun to face Drakkal.
“For science, of course. You’d be a fine male specimen to breed with some of my collection, now that I’ve mentioned it.
I’ve seen many azhera, but none built quite like you.
Normally I would charge for the privilege, but in your case, I might pay to have you breed with some of my subjects.
I trust your…equipment is in working order? ”
Drakkal dipped his chin slightly, willing away some of his shock and confusion. He needed to conclude this business and leave, but that sundrinker scent perfumed his every inhalation, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the terran.
“Why is she chained and bruised?” Drakkal asked.
“Because she is amongst the most dangerous creatures in my collection. Nostrus can personally attest to that fact.”
Nostrus, still behind Drakkal, released a bitter, affirmative grunt. In Drakkal’s imagination, a brief scene played out of the volturian striking the terran and leaving one of those bruises. Drakkal barely resisted the urge to turn and hammer a fist into Nostrus’s face.
“We mustn’t allow her demure appearance to deceive us,” Murgen said.
“She’s sent several members of my security staff to the infirmary with varying injuries.
Nothing life threatening, of course. But when she’s ready to breed again…
Well, I’ve access to potent sedatives and exceptional restraints.
Unless, of course, she’s awoken something more primal inside of you.
I understand that even those of more evolved species sometimes wish to simply rut like animals.
I’ll pass no judgment regarding that; it’s not as though you’ve a reputation to protect. ”
Clenching his jaw, Drakkal pried his gaze from the terran and settled it on Murgen.
He reminded himself again that all he had to do was exercise a bit of self-control, make the deal, and go.
It didn’t matter how this place made him feel, didn’t matter if seeing all these people caged stirred old, bitter memories, didn’t matter what connection he thought he might’ve had to the terran.
Conclude the deal and walk away.
Drakkal’s ears slapped down flat against his head, and he asked through his teeth, “You have the credits for this chip or not?”
Murgen frowned, brows falling low. “Not the reaction I’d hoped for. I suppose I understand if you’re too uncultured or uneducated to appreciate—”
“Then give me a closer look,” Drakkal snapped. “Open the cell and let me see her face-to-face.”
The durgan recoiled as though he’d been physically struck, and Nostrus’s boot came down heavily as though he were advancing to attack.
“All that I’ve shared with you, and you take this tone with me?” Murgen said; Drakkal couldn’t tell how much of his host’s offense was genuine, but he didn’t care.
Drakkal growled. “You want me to come back later to fuck her, I need to see her up close. I need to smell her, to touch her. I need to see if she sparks those animal urges in me.”
Just the thought of being close to her, of touching her, heated Drakkal’s blood. His cock stirred, threatening to emerge from its sheath.
Kraasz ka’val, I already feel those urges. What’s wrong with me?
“Time to go, azhera,” said Nostrus.
Murgen shook his head sharply. “No, Nostrus. Not yet. Azhera… Why should I let you close to my prized possession? You’ve just demonstrated that you’re barely in control of yourself. I won’t tolerate disrespect in my own home.”
Drakkal took a slow step forward, releasing a huff through his nostrils; he was surprised that smoke didn’t flow out given the heat of the fires raging inside him. “Then stop disrespecting my time. Let me see her face-to-face or pay me for this ID so I can leave. A simple choice.”
“Perhaps this attitude works with the other sorts you do business with, but I will not be swayed by intimidation, azhera.”
“You’re the sort I usually do business with. A criminal,” Drakkal replied. “You have the best security in the business glaring at my back. You afraid I’ll hurt your pet? Maybe you weren’t serious about breeding her.”
Murgen narrowed his eyes and stared at Drakkal for several seconds, stroking his fingers along his dangling jowls. Drakkal kept his focus on the durgan; there’d be a signal, perhaps a subtle one, that would precede Nostrus’s inevitable attack, but so long as Drakkal was ready for it…
“I was right about you, azhera,” Murgen finally said.
“When I looked at you in the study, I thought you were a prime candidate for breeding with my pets. You’re big, strong, and bold.
Direct. A male who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to reach out and take it.
You remind me a little of myself. I’ll put your rudeness behind us this time.
” He lifted his hands and activated the holocom on his right wrist. “You’re the perfect male to breed with my terran.
An exceptional specimen. Of course, we’ll have to finalize the details later, but for now, yes.
You may see her up close. I know you’ll enjoy what you find. ”
Nostrus stepped forward, his brows angled down over the bridge of his nose. “Master Foltham, I think it best to finish your transaction and have this azhera escorted off the premises.”
“Haven’t you paid any attention, Nostrus?
This azhera is a prime specimen. Exactly what I’m going to need access to in the future.
Why, he seems the sort who might even pull himself up out of poverty and become something respectable someday.
” Murgen twisted to glance over his shoulder at Drakkal.
“He may even be the sort whose services I employ for other sensitive endeavors. The two of you may one day be colleagues.”
Nostrus didn’t try to mask his disgusted sneer.
Drakkal clenched his fists tighter still, and the claws of his right hand dug into the rough flesh of his palm. He flicked his gaze to the terran. She remained hunched in the same spot, her position seemingly unchanged, her beauty somehow greater than it had been a few moments before.
That only further sparked Drakkal’s desire and rage.
His want for her had already grown into something undeniable and overwhelming.
His fury was like a maddened beast, a snarling thing antagonized by Nostrus, fed to immense size by Murgen, and now threatening to break out of its cage at the sight of this trapped, suffering terran.
Murgen’s fingers moved with surprising dexterity, manipulating the controls on his holocom.
A soft whoosh called Drakkal’s attention to the left.
A section of the wall—likely one of countless concealed doors in this place—had opened between this observation window and its neighbor.
Drakkal stepped backward to grant himself a better angle; the opening revealed a long corridor with dull gray walls and floors.
Two doors stood across from one another a few meters beyond the entryway, lining up with the cells on either side.
Murgen cleared his throat and walked through the opening. “This way, azhera. A rare treat, indeed, especially for such as you. Why, this terran…”
With the concealed door open, that sundrinker fragrance was even stronger.
Drakkal tuned out Murgen’s words, shifting his attention back to the terran.
She looked so small and fragile, so…broken, and he wanted to draw her into his arms and make her feel safe and sheltered.
But there was something more to her. Drakkal sensed it in the same way he sensed the gentle air current created by the ventilation system brushing over his fur, or the scents riding that air, even if he couldn’t define it.
What are you thinking, Drakkal? Don’t be stupid. Take your look and get out of here.
He followed Murgen into the corridor. Nostrus fell into place behind Drakkal, bristling with palpable agitation. Murgen stopped in front of the right door.
Turning his head toward Drakkal, Murgen smiled. The expression created lines of strain around his jutting tusks and pulled his jowls taut. Drakkal did his best not to reflect upon the arrogance, condescension, and eagerness conveyed in the durgan’s features.
Murgen’s was the epitome of what Drakkal and Arcanthus considered an extremely punchable face.
The interior door slid up when Murgen touched his holocom control screen again. Murgen’s smile widened, and he stepped into the open cell.
About to walk into a cage with a man who says he wants me to breed with his pet. Guess I’m making nothing but great decisions today.