Page 7 of His Clever Captive

The sponge wriggles again, emitting a chirp. I gasp. “Is it alive?”

“Yes. Just don’t touch it too much or it will bite.”

I freeze.

“Joke,” she deadpans.

I chuckle awkwardly. “Uh…are you staying?” My cheeks flare.

She blinks her slitted pupils. “You’re a mammal. I’m a Palthorin. We have no intersecting attraction parameters.”

Interesting. That doesn’t seem to matter on Earth in all those sci-fi and monster romances I’ve read. And it’s surely not the case with humans and Kraetians…like Vex.

I drop the blanket and Berrix seems unimpressed. “I’ll go.”

Okay then. I press the controls for the water and step into the shower, as Berrix leaves. The spray is invigorating, the hot water soothing my fears. I sigh in bliss.

I put some soap on the sponge and it suds itself, then begins crawling all over my body. Cleaning everything. And I mean…everything. I could see this thing being very popular for…self-care.

Once my skin is tingling and fresh, my hair washed twice, I step out. I feel more human than I have in days. By the time I’m toweled off, I’m almost comfortable.

Almost.

Berrix comes back into the room and hands me a stack of folded garments. “Pick something that doesn’t make you look like a refugee.”

I stare at the offerings, bewildered. Shimmering fabrics, unfamiliar textures, and garments that seem to defy gravity. I've never seen anything like them. Berrix notices my confusion, but doesn’t say anything.

I grab a tight-fitting camisole-like top to help with support for my breasts, which seems to be a similar fabric to what Berrix is wearing to contain hers.

“What’s this made of?” I ask.

“Nano-weave. It’s durable, comfortable, and regulates body temperature.”

Perfect. Then I choose a flowing ivory tunic edged in gold, a pair of billowy trousers and a sheer scarf in a delicate lilac.

Berrix tilts her head. “You wish to resemble a Merovish sand-sifter?”

Whatever that is.“Does it really matter?”

“Probably not.” She shrugs, and I get dressed, finger-combing my damp hair.

Berrix moves me to stand in front of a strange-looking vent, and suddenly heated air blasts my hair. I’m styling it as best I can as Vex’s voice booms from some sort of intercom. “Get your Earth-going backside up here, Lacey! Your court awaits!”

On the bridge, Af'soq adjusts the controls while Vex busies himself at the console. The holoscreen flickers to life, revealing a formal-looking room with plush gold and crimson decor. Gwen and Iris appear, their eyes instantly welling up as they throw themselves into each other's arms when they see me.

I choke back a sob. “Guys! Oh my god, I’ve missed you so much!”

Gwen looks beautiful—swathed in emerald silks, jewelry around her neck, on her wrist, and in her tousled brown curls. Iris sits beside her, her bronzed skin glowing, golden hair braided with luminescent threads. They’re both absolutely radiant.

“Lace!” Iris shrieks, lunging forward until her palms smush the screen. “Holy shit, you’re alive!”

Gwen’s trembling. “We thought?—”

“I was auctioned to a horrible creature,” I manage. “But then rescued by pirates.Thesepirates?—”

Vex slides into view, smirk in place. “Charmingpirates, if we’re being precise.”

Looming behind them are two massive men—well, Kraetians, to be exact—that look very similar to Vex. The one behind Gwen, is copper-skinned with electric blue eyes and all broad-shouldered, his scowl an upside down twin to Vex’s grin. The one behind Iris is nearly as big, but with silver skin and neon green eyes.

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