Page 55 of Stealing Mercury
His jaw flexed, making the scar that cut across it stand out in white relief. “She’s not like you.”
“Of course not.”
“I mean, she’s not a fighter. She’s strong in her own way, but she has few defenses.”
“Really? I’m surprised your women aren’t enhanced the way you are.”
“Some are,” he admitted. “The powerful females fight and die in the games, but Hera was not made for the arena. Some of the females and even some males were created to be submissive and docile so that they could be safely used to entertain the patrons.”
Samantha remembered Lo had said something about pleasure suites. It had to be prostitution. Or was there a better word considering they had no choice and received nothing in exchange? Rape. Abuse. Yes, those were the right words. She didn’t know what to say to Carn, so she waited.
“In the past, only fighter females became mates and there were never many of them. The guards did not start bringing the submissive females to the kennels until a year ago. They wanted us to breed them. This is when we realized something must have gone wrong with the surrogates. They had not brought young Dogs to the kennels in too many years.”
“What happened when they brought the women to you for...” She couldn’t even say the word.
“We refused at first, but each time we refused they punished the females. I couldn’t bear to see her hurt anymore. Some males snapped the necks of the females to end their lives quickly, but I couldn’t.”
“Of course, you couldn’t. That’s crazy.” The thought made her queasy. Had Mercury or Lo done that?
“Don’t judge them harshly. Many of the females welcomed such a death.”
“I can’t imagine choosing death. There’s always hope.” Her hands tightened around the water container. It was something her father had taught her. Her gentle mother would have said joy could be found in any life.
“Easier to say when you don’t live your life in a cage.”
She blushed, ashamed. “I didn’t mean to judge anyone.”
“I know,” he said. “It’s your way, to be optimistic.”
Optimistic or always chasing after the future, like her father?
“I can see how that might change, if I’d been through everything you have.”
He shrugged. “It was the only life we knew.” He adjusted his injured leg and sighed at the relief of moving. “It’s a life that taught us to enjoy the moments we could and to seize every opportunity.”
Her mother would approve the sentiment. “And Hera made you happy.”
He dipped his head. “When she chose me, all my worries and doubts became nothing.”
“I’m glad.” Samantha took a long sip of water. “How long did you have together?”
“Only six months, before I was marked for death.”
“You mean the hunt?”
“No. Before that. We didn’t understand it at the time. We were forced to divide our pack and fight against each other. Mercury and Lo against Me, Jupiter, and Seneca. I was made to fight without armor.”
“Someone stacked the cards against you.”
“They wanted me to die that day and Hera will pay the price for my survival.”
“What do you mean?”
“On the ship, the whip-master told Mercury Hera will be given to the guards. They’ll make an example of her for others who don’t cooperate.” He hung his head and his shoulders slumped. “I fear she won’t survive it.”
“I’m so sorry.” She wanted to wrap her arms around him and hug him as her mother had always done for her, but she didn’t know how he’d react.
“We have to go back for her.” Fierce determination hardened his jaw line. “Before it’s too late.”
