Page 40 of My Alien Sunshine

“Obviously. Just tell me where to go. I can’t wait to show this cunt her proper place.”

To the great disappointment of the crowd, the guard pulls out a small datapad. A few touches later, he holds it up to Lyriana’s device, transferring the directions and access codes that will lead us to the cell she just rented.

Once Lyriana confirms payment, she yanks on my chain again. “Come on, bitch. And I don’t want to hear a single word or I really will cut out that fucking tongue of yours.”

“Oh, I have to see this,” Tareq chuckles, he and Astra following us away from the marketplace. Hopefully, closer to Ellen.

Chapter 21

Faelin

The guards lead us down a row of tiny cells, each separated from the hallway by a shimmering force field. Most are empty, but I catch sight of a few figures curled up in the furthest corners, sobbing and trembling. I also see several bulky males and females who stand by the force fields, glaring at the guards as we pass by. They would be useful in a fight. If only I could get them out of their cells and disable our collars.

The guards stop in front of an empty cell, deactivating the force field. When I move to enter, they stop me.

“Just the child,” the lead guard says. His hands appear to be leisurely resting in his pockets but I know he’s holding the fucking collar remote.

“Come on. Let me stay with her for a couple more hours,” I try to reason with them. “We won’t make any trouble.”

My collar tingles as the tiniest voltage flows through it. A warning. “Just the child,” the guard repeats, his expression stone cold.

There are four of them. Under normal circumstances, I could take them out easily but the damned collar is making everything impossible. “Alright, alright,” I mutter as I set Ellen on the floor. “Hey, my beautiful, big girl,” I whisper into her ear, keeping my voice low, hoping that the guards won’t hear me. “I need you to go into this room and wait, alright? I promise that either me or your mama will come pick you up soon. I just need you to stay brave a little longer.”

The tears welling in her eyes break my heart. “I’m scared, Failin,” she whispers, eyeing the guards surrounding us. “I don’t want to wait. I want Mama now.”

“I know. I know, sweetheart.” I pull her into a hug and place a kiss on the top of her head. “Just a little longer. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

Ellen’s little body is trembling so much I’m amazed she’s still standing. I’m about to beg the guard again when she stiffens her little back then nods and enters the cell. Her wide, tear-filled eyes follow me as the guards roughly lead me away. They won’t even let me stay in the cell next to Ellen’s, even though it’s empty. They lead me one floor up and further down the corridor before finally stopping.

“Get in,” the guard barks.

Realizing they can’t use Ellen to threaten me anymore, I lunge at the nearest guard. It’s a desperate attack, doomed to fail, but if I could just kill or injure at least one of them, it would be worth it. Sadly, I must have telegraphed my intentions as my collar activates before my fists land on the first male’s face. Damn it! One second later and I could have rearranged the fucker’s face to make him look a lot better than he does now.

The guards laugh, watching me jerk and twitch on the floor. “You’re an idiot,” the lead guard says, poking me with the tip of his boot. “What did you expect would happen? We’re surrounded by wannabe heroes all the time. No one has ever succeeded. Ever. The sooner you understand that, the better for you. And forget about the child. You won’t see her again. Now, get in the fucking cell.”

Grunting, I slowly pull myself up on all fours. One of the bastards promptly plants a boot into my naked ass, sending me tumbling back down to the floor.

After several more kicks and one more collar activation, I manage to crawl past them into the cell, the force field humming as they turn it on. “Enjoy your last few hours of peace, idiot,” the lead guard smirks at me. “Once your new mistress takes you, you won’t get any.”

I ignore their taunts, focusing on stretching out my aching limbs. After so many shocks in a row, my muscles are cramped up, twitching randomly and hurting like hell. Pushing through the pain, I begin the basic warm-up exercises I use every workout session. There’s a fight coming and I need to be in top shape when it arrives.

I’m halfway through my third set of stretches when the sound of multiple footsteps echoes down the corridor toward me. Recognizing the person approaching, I grin. “What the fuck took you so long?”

“We were taking in the scenery, obviously. You look like shit. Why are you naked?” Tareq replies, cocking an eyebrow.

“So that my new owner can suck my cock, of course. Or eat it,” I add, shuddering in disgust. “I’d rather not find out, to be honest. Is Nala okay?”

“Faelin?!” My perfection runs over to me, her hands colliding with the invisible barrier. “Ohmygod, you’re okay!” Nala scans the cell, her expression quickly turning from relief into abject terror the instant she sees I’m alone. “Where’s Ellen? Please, tell me she isn’t—”

As Nala’s overwhelming grief and despair begins to take over, I quickly reassure her, “She’s fine. She’s in a different cell. One floor down, the corridor to the left. I will—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Nala sprints off, the chain attached to the collar she wears clanking as she runs. “Nala? Nala!” I call out but she doesn’t stop, disappearing from my field of sight. I slam my hands against the force field. “Fuck!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go with her,” Lyriana says, turning to follow Nala.

Astra casts a worried glance at Tareq. “Should I go too?”

“Absolutely not,” he proclaims, pulling her into his body. “You’re not leaving my sight. Lyri will make sure Nala is safe.”

The menacing growl that escapes my mouth has Tareq and Astra turning back to me. “Can’t you get me out of here already?” I bark, pushing against the force field again. I’m supposed to be the one protecting my perfection.

---