I snagged Vince before he attacked the busk and probably got beaten to a pulp. I held him against my chest and moved out of the busk’s way. “It’s not worth it.”
Huffing, Vince turned to the screen to watch the end of the race.
The crowd roared when a sleek Maykian shuttle pulled in first. However, as the racers docked at a station, the feed focused on the person who took fifth. His long white hair was shaved on one side, and his royal purple scales had a sheen like a snake. Drakcol. I didn’t know much about the species and I’d never seen one in person, but they had changed my life.
My gaze slid over the drakcol. He was handsome, with his strong chin, long nose, and full lips. His plump bottom lip had a single gold ring in the middle. That was not his only piercing. His tapered ears were pierced from tip to lobe; the lobe having long golden earrings that ending in emeralds the same color as his eyes.
Apparently, one of the drakcol princes had taken a human as their mate. I wasn’t sure how it had happened, but that human was the reason we’d all been abducted. Humans had become hot ticket items to be bought and sold as the newest fad.
I really wanted to hate that human, but they’d been abducted like I had. For all I knew, they hated their mate and hadn’t had a choice in the matter. In the end, it didn’t matter. I was here now, and the last two years had happened; there was no changing that.
Vince slid his arm through mine and drew my focus away from the screen. He was clinging to me as he watched the crowd with narrowed eyes. He was always nervous when we left the ring, even though if someone so much as gave me the stink eye, he would snap and growl. He was practically feral about protecting me. But he worried about someone taking us whenever we left.
It wasn’t that I didn’t worry, because I did, but at the same time, we needed to leave our cell and see sunlight, even if it was filtered through smog. But Vince wasn’t as calm as I was.
He constantly yelled and railed about Agk or the unfairness of our situation. Honestly, I was pretty sure if given the chance, he would straight-up murder Agk. Me? I wasn’t sure. Agk might deserve it, but killing him didn’t guarantee freedom and the thought of ending someone’s life, even his… My stomach churned. No. I had enough ghosts without adding another one to the horde.
Vince often talked about his past, the people he missed, his home, and whatever else he was pissed about. I would nod along, occasionally sharing, but most of the time, I listened to him without giving anything back. Talking it out helped him calm down, which he often needed. Vince sometimes was an asshole in his aggression, but it didn’t bother me—we were friends. The closest one I’d ever had. Of course, in this situation, we didn’t have much choice but to band together.
We stayed for a few minutes after the conclusion of the race, listening to the interviews, before shuffling back to the ring. Our rations, if Agk had made enough money tonight, were going to be given soon and more fights were scheduled tomorrow, so we needed rest. I slung a bony arm over Vince’s shoulders to keep him tucked against my side.
The shared space was empty when I stepped out of my bedroom in the morning. I peeked into Dontilvynsan’s room, but it was empty; he was probably occupied with navy business. He oversaw several science stations and was charged with monitoring the Immortal Planet—one of our most important studies. Monqilcolnen, Hallonnixmin, and Gilvaxtin were gone, probably exploring the station together.
Zoltilvoxfyn growled and Caleb released a sound that made me distinctly uncomfortable when I rang their door. They were fucking, again, and I had no desire to interrupt them,again. Last, I went to Kalvoxrencol and Seth’s room. The door was ajar, so I peeked inside.Theywouldn’t fuck with the door open—I was safe.
Seth stood in front of a large screen depicting a tube full of green liquid. Lucy, his black cat, was in his arms. He rubbed her flabby belly, and she purred in what I assumed was cat contentment, but his focus never deviated from the screen.
I grinned and leaned against the doorframe. His and Kalvoxrencol’s kit. Seth watched the fetus almost constantly—it was an obsession. He hated being away from their growing child, though it would be some months yet before the fetus was viable.
“Watching again.” Kalvoxrencol snagged Seth around the waist, biting his neck.
“I can’t help it. What if something goes wrong?”
“Nothing is going to go wrong,” he answered. “This is common, Husband. Many couples use this service.”
“I’m allowed to be worried. That’s our kid.”
I almost stepped forward at Seth’s rough tone to protect my younger brother, who wasn’t as confident as he acted, but I controlled the instinct. Seth wouldn’t hurt Kalvoxrencol—not ever.
Kalvoxrencol kissed his cheek. “My apologies. Of course, you’re worried. This is the first time for you. For us. But…” He pointed at the corner of the screen. “The baby’s vitals are strong. Edith is monitoring them. You know she’ll never let anything happen.”
Edith was one of Seth’s closest friends, and a NAID who had gained sentience when Kalvaxrencol first took Seth from Earth over three cycles ago. She had slowly forced her way into each of our lives. I quite liked how hilarious she was, even if she did impart unwanted advice frequently.
“Wyn is checking on the baby daily,” Kalvoxrencol added.
Lucy seemed to sense the seriousness of the conversation, or Seth’s stress, because she squeaked and wiggled until her head was pressed under his chin. The cat was an odd creature that Seth had brought from his planet, and I’d only seen her a handful of times, including right now, because she wasn’t friendly. When she did make an appearance, she usually hissed at everyone and then hid.
Wyn, like he’d been summoned, appeared on the screen. His bright pink hair was shaved on both sides and braided down the middle of his scalp. His lavender scales were glorious, as were his delicate features. I had never seen a prettier person in my life, no matter the species, though he was too short for my preference. I liked taller people, regardless of their gender. Wyn sat and began to read to the fetus, who probably didn’t have ears.
Kalvoxrencol held Seth tightly in his arms as they stared at their kit. A little family in the making.
My soul hurt at the thought. Both of my younger brothers had taken mates, as had my eldest. I wanted that but hadn’t found anyone I enjoyed spending more than a few days with. As I watched my youngest brother and his mate, I felt as if I was being left behind. He, Zoltilvoxfyn, and Hallonnixmin were out pacing me. They were busy with their families, and Dontilvynsan was always busy with his duties.
This feeling was ridiculous. I wasn’t being abandoned, and I had as meaningful responsibilities as any of them. Despite it all, the feeling persisted.
I stepped back to give Kalvoxrencol and Seth privacy and headed to my shuttle, personal not racing, and slipped into the void of space.
Chapter 3
