Page 37 of Hooded

The lights in the room dim, flicker, come back on, and dim again. Narlix strides over to the door and opens it, where there is the usual guard outside.

“There’s a problem with the power in here. I need to use the other lab to complete my examination,” she says, beckoning me without looking over.

Confused, I get off the slab and join her at the door. The guard grunts and stands aside as I trail Narlix down a short, separate passage opposite, turning right into another room. I risk a glance over my shoulder and see the guard hasn’t moved from his spot.

“He’s been told to stand outside my lab, and he won’t deviate from his orders. Not if he wants his head to remain attached to his body,” Narlix says. “Suits our purposes.”

She hustles me into the room, where the lights blink on and reveal an almost identical lab to last time.

“Sit.” She gestures to a chair, again slab-like, but at least it makes me feel less like a specimen.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“The main lab is monitored. I was able to create some power fluctuations to make it look like there is a problem, but not enough to attract attention,” she says.

“Why?”

“Because you are with young, and I don’t want Lord Halfen to know.”

My heart seems to come to a sudden, screeching halt. My brain is unable to catch up with what she’s saying. Time stands still as heat and cold flow through me.

“I’m…” I swallow, trying to get my voice to work. “I’m pregnant?”

“You’ve been mating with the Gryn?”

Heat stays in my cheeks. “Yes.”

“It seems you are compatible.” She cocks her head to one side. “I don’t know enough about your species, or his, to tell you much more, and I don’t want to risk doing any further tests. I can stop most of the information being uploaded to the mainframe, but not all of it.”

“Lord Halfen…” I whisper hoarsely.

“If he finds the Gryn has done what he was supposed to do, he will sell you.”

The heat is replaced by an icy chill up my spine which makes me shiver.

“Sell me?”

“A pregnant female is always worth more,” Narlix says, avoiding my gaze. “One with a warrior hybrid in her belly will command a high price.”

I feel like the world is contracting to a fine point.

“Hey.” Narlix hands me a small container of water. “What Lord Halfen doesn’t know means he can’t act on it.”

“I’m pregnant…” I repeat.

What is Klynn going to say? What is he going to do? What are we going to do?

“I can buy you some time, enough so when we pass through the Xafan nebula and the ship’s systems are disrupted, you can get away.”

I blink at her. The words make sense but no sense as emotions run riot within me.

“Why?” I take a sip of the water to clear my throat. “Why would you help us?”

Narlix stares at me.

“Why would you help us when you’ve allowed all the others to face their fate?” I harden my heart.

Whatever is happening here, there has to be a good reason—nothing is for nothing in this galaxy.

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