Page 44 of Star Mates

“Don’t you dare touch my child!” she yelled at him.

“I wouldn’t dream of touching a human child. They’re disgusting worms in my opinion. It will grow up to be a hard-working slave.”

He stepped back just as the Merloni began to type something into the scanner. A second later, fire lanced into her chest, right above her heart and she screamed. It seemed to go on and on, white hot agony that rolled over her until she thought she would pass out. The cage holding her made it impossible for to escape whatever it was that they did to her.

Finally, whatever lance had been applied to her skin was taken away and left her sweating, shaking and virtually incomprehensible. The cage was unlocked, and she almost fell into a heap onto the floor when it opened. Her Kexian tormentors caught her, and she looked down at her chest, seeing a symbol had been branded into her skin. Two bars held together by a base. It looked like a half-finished Roman numeral. She was too exhausted to scream again but tears poured down her cheeks.

Palazio stepped forward and she looked from her chest into his dark, sadistically handsome face. “When your status changes you will receive the last bar.”

“My status?” she managed to ask through a thick voice.

“Your slavery status.”

She stared at him for a moment and then she hocked up what little spit she had and directed it into his face. “I will kill you if you touch me,” she vowed. “I will kill you if you harm my baby.”

He sneered as he wiped the spittle off his cheek. “Right now, with a breeder station, you’re none of my business. But in nine months’ time you will be mine, and very much my property. So, until I can legally discipline you, I’ll have to bid you good-bye, Emmarie Tice. But I will be waiting.”

As he left her behind, she wondered how he knew her name.

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