Page 78 of Fallen from the Stars

Vasil gyrated his hips slowly, creating just enough friction against her inner walls and her clit to rekindle the fire in her belly.

Theo pressed her lips together. “Mmm.”

“Is everything all right, Theo?” Kane asked from the unseen speakers in the room. “I know you were…engaged, earlier, but you seem to be in distress.”

She gasped, eyes rounding as she lifted her head. “Fine, Kane.”

Vasil increased the pace of his thrusts, fingertips and tentacles caressing her from head to toe, lighting up her entire body.

“Are you sure?” Kane asked. “Because it seemed like you were—”

“Tentacular penetration!” Her words ended in a cry as Vasil’s movements catapulted her toward another climax.

“Oh. I see. I suppose—”

“Kane!” Vasil growled.

“Right. Goodbye.”

Vasil cupped the back of Theo’s head and pulled her face close to his. “Your cries are for my ears only, Theodora.” He captured her mouth in a deep, soul-searing kiss.

Chapter 15

Theo scowled as she skimmed through the hundreds —thousands— of files Kane had uncovered. There were holographic videos, audio logs, and more documents than she could read in her lifetime, all detailing the operations of this facility, which had once been calledPontus Alpha. All she was really interested in were the files revealing what the IDC had done to the kraken — and what the kraken had ultimately done to the soldiers and scientists who’d mistreated them.

She understood the kraken’s hatred of the IDC. Hell,shewas pissed off, and she’d barely scratched the surface of the available information. Theo had been subject to cruelty and degradation in her youth, but her experiences were nothing compared to what the kraken had endured.

“I should be lucky it was Vasil who found me,” Theo muttered as she watched the holo being displayed at the central control console — a kraken being punished for refusing to work. Hatred and murderous rage blazed in the kraken’s eyes as the IDC crewmen approached with long prods and electrocuted him. She couldn’t help but think of Vasil in that place as the kraken’s muscles convulsed and his tentacles curled on themselves.

“All right, Kane. I’ve seen more than enough.” She flicked her wrist, dismissing the holographic recording.

She recalled her pride when she’d been accepted into the IDC; the first time she put on that uniform, she’d been so proud of herself, so amazed at how well it fit. Having a place to belong and put her skills to good use had delighted her.

But she couldn’t help her shame now, even though she’d had no part in what happened here all those centuries before. Theo hadn’t been so naïve as to believe the IDC had never committed any wrong-doings, butthis? Who knew what else they had done — what they weredoing— elsewhere in the universe?

“At the very least, it corroborates the story he told you,” Kane said through the console.

“I didn’t need proof. I already trusted his word.”

“I know that, but he skimped on the severity of what his ancestors endured. The violations documented here would’ve destroyed the IDC as it existed back then, had this gone public. Tureon Industries, too. They had a large part in all this.”

Theo rubbed the bridge of her nose, briefly squeezing her eyes shut. “And even if I wanted to reveal the IDC for what they’ve done, I couldn’t without revealingthem.”

“Correct. And we’ve no way of knowing what the response would be. Even now, there’s a small chance the IDC would simply exterminate the species.”

A chill, icier than any she’d ever felt, ran down her spine. “All the more reason not to say a word. Not like I could, anyway.”

“It wouldn’t accomplish anything,” Kane said. “Everyone involved is long dead. Who would they hold accountable for three-hundred-and-sixty-year-old crimes?”

“And they’d likely just make medisappearto keep the whole thing quiet.”

“They’d most certainly remove me either way. And I don’t want to be put in another body, not when I’ve just grown comfortable in yours. For the record, I know how dirty that sounds, but I stand by the statement.”

Theo chuckled. “You’re not going anywhere.”

She was browsing the Facility’s plans and blueprints when the control room door slid open. Vasil entered with Dracchus close behind; the larger kraken had to turn to the side and duck to fit through the doorway.

“Oh good,” Theo said, facing the console to select one of the diagrams Kane had shown her earlier, “you’re here.”

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