Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“But on one condition.”
Her eyes widened an inch, and he marveled at her beauty.
“W-what?” she stuttered out, her breathing still fast, her fear right on the surface, but her arousal heavier.
“If you want my help, want me to try to find your friend, help him even, I want you to try and relax, to understand I won’t hurt you, won’t force myself on you.” He stared in her dual-colored eyes. “I want you to understand that this is not something I do for anyone, but with you I find I want to give you anything you want.” He heard her breath stall and heard her heart race a little bit. “Just learn to trust me. Don’t fear me, don’t try to run. Just try to accept this, Greta.” Tolcan had never tried to reason with anyone, never tried to talk them into understanding something. But with her he wanted her to be here, wanted her to want to be here.
She swallowed, her eyes still so wide, her heart still racing, but he did feel her relax against him. “Okay,” she said softly, licked her lips, and he actually heard her heart slowing, scented her fear lessening.
He moved away from her, pleased they’d come to this understanding that she was willing to trust him after everything he’d done and what his people had done. She had every right to be afraid, to hate him, and she probably still did; but this was a first step, a starting point to making her want him willingly, submit to him because she wanted that, too.
13
Tolcan moved through the stalls in the market, scanned the Rogues and humans that were buying goods, and knew he wouldn’t find Jayce. The ones that frequented the shops were mainly human females with their Rogue owners, or humans caring for the young.
There were also human males helping set up and break down the stalls, and although the majority of the males were working on more labor–intensive things, such as building structures, there were some Rogues that took on human males for their personal uses as well.
He moved off to the side, stood in view so he could see the main entrance where Masters and their slaves came and went, and waited to see if any new shipments came through. He knew what Jayce looked like, remembered his face when he’d been trying to pull Greta away and flee the cave.
As he stood there, taking in the sight of the slaves, how they followed their masters, their faces downcast, the looks of anger, hatred, even hopelessness covering their expressions, he couldn’t believe how in just a short time a human female could make him feel differently.
This had always been his world, yet seeing the slaves, and picturing Greta like that, her hope and the light in her eyes fading, made him feel sick. He’d had her for such a short time in his life, yet already he thought of her as his mate, not his property, but … his nonetheless.
As the time moved by he decided he’d inquire about the slaves, knowing standing here could prove fruitless. Moving up to the stalls, he started asking them one by one if they’d heard of the new shipment of slaves that had been captured. No one seemed to know anything, and his senses were able to pick up on the fact that they weren’t lying.
He went to another stall, the last one for the day because he wanted to get back to Greta, wanted to be able to show her he’d tried, and hoped to bring her good news. The male stood up straighter when he saw Tolcan come closer, took in the sight of his Enforcer’s uniform, and the scent of his respect filled Tolcan’s nose.
“I’m looking for a male, a human slave that was just acquired from the most recent raid, a human that goes by the name of Jayce?” he asked one of the stall owners.
“I do not know a male of that name, but have heard Redon purchased many humans from the recent raid, but he’s due at the shops today.” He held up a sack. “I always save bags of Gooba berries for him.” The male looked over his shoulder. “Enforcer, Sir, Redon just arrived.”
Tolcan turned. There he saw Redon, an older Rogue that was of the higher class, who kept harems of female humans, and had a slew of male humans to do his labor at the estate he owned outside of the sectors. He watched the older man, and instantly spotted Jayce. Although a slave held no value aside from what the master deemed, rarely did a master agree to resell a slave to another Rogue.
But there was always the Dukka, a male Rogue competition for when another Rogue wanted something already owned and the master did not want to outright sell. If the Dukka was issued the owner had no choice but to fight. It wasn’t done as frequently here on Earth, but back on their home planet it was done constantly, especially since their resources had been dwindling.