Page 45 of Soliv Four
Angie yanked her arm from his grasp. “We killed three men out there today for your viewers' amusement, and that fucking sucks. I was shanghaied and brought here under the guise of an alien bride program. First, I was subjected to a hunt by four males and won by Tomak. And now that we are bonded, we were forced to be hunted by six males or be separated. And I have never committed a crime! Fuck you all!”
With that, Angie stalked away, heading toward the infirmary. Coraz and his mate fell into step behind her. The medical androids were just putting Tomak into the rejuvenation tank, naked when she arrived. She wasn’t sure if he was sedated or just losing consciousness; he seemed to be in a stupor.
Angie went to his side at the tank and took his hand. He squeezed hers lightly to let her know he was aware she was there. They strapped a mask over his face for him to breathe then started filling the tank with nanite laden healing gel.
“Please step back from the tank,” said the android at his head.
She gave Tomak’s hand a gentle squeeze and stepped back, blinking at tears in her eyes. “Will he be all right?”
“He will be repaired and continue to live. The estimated time required is two rotations.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
The last thing Angie wanted was to leave Tomak alone in that sterile room. They hadn’t been separated in the five and a half moon spans since their first mating. That was more like eight and a half months Earth time.
Coraz and Ri’atee were waiting outside the treatment room when Angie emerged. Without saying a word, Ri’atee hugged her. “Do you want some company?”
“I need sleep, but I don’t know if I can,” Angie replied. “I think I should go back to the flat and try. Whoever thought up that fucking hunt should be executed.”
“Yes.” Ri’atee agreed. “We heard them threaten to separate you from Tomak if you didn’t fight the hunters. This is utterly barbaric!”
“What’s even worse are the people who pay to watch us suffer,” Angie said. “We killed people so we could stay together. What’s to stop them from making us do it again?”
“Let’s head back to the barracks,” Coraz suggested.
Once they were outside, walking toward the barracks apartment building, he started to talk in low tones. “Emon thinks he’s close to cutting a crystal that will get us off this miserable world. The boss is holding out for the rest of us to get our mates.”
“They shouldn’t have to kill or be killed for it,” Angie hissed.
“Lazko is the only one in the couples hunt.”
“Yeah, and he will have to kill five men to get her,” Angie spouted angrily.
“Maybe not,” Coraz said. “I heard all but two dropped out of that hunt after they saw yours and Tomak’s kills.”
They walked in silence for a short time. “Why can’t they just simulate their bloody hunts?” Angie asked.
“Warden McKaro won’t even consider it. The contract with the producers calls for live-action. No simulations. We’re all expendable,” he said. “They give us females to bond with, then use that bond to control us by threatening to take them away.”
“At least our ordeal will give us a rotation span off,” said Angie.
“That will be enough time for our men to complete their hunts. Lazko better not get himself killed tomorrow. We are all counting on him to help us pull it off.”
Coraz and Ri’atee left Angie at Tomak’s flat, waiting until she was safely inside to go. “Call any of us if you need anything.”
Angie nodded and stepped into the apartment alone. She stood in front of the door, staring into space for a long time after it closed behind her. The place felt utterly empty without Tomak. She couldn’t get the picture of him lying helpless in that restoration tank out of her mind.
The pain from his injuries must have been excruciating from the list of his injuries in the readouts. His internal bleeding alone could have killed him in another span, had they not gotten medical intervention.
As she realized that no one had taken her hunting knife back, she wished she could use it on Warden McKaro. She doubted they had been forced into the hunt for ratings. She believed it was all contrived for his sadistic amusement… and the bonus he would get for the ratings.
Angie fervently hoped they could give him what he deserved before they escaped, and she prayed they would find their way off this miserable planet, and soon.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Angie was sleeping as Tomak entered their quarters. He paused to inhale her wonderful scent then moved silently toward the bed so he wouldn’t wake her. She lay on her side, naked with the sheet pulled only to her waist, clutching his pillow in her arms. Just watching her sleep, knowing she was nude under the thin sheet, had him fully aroused.
After admiring her body for half a mini span, he quickly stripped off his prison garb and started to slide into bed behind her.
