Page 33 of Bred By Zyros
None of this has gone at all like it’s supposed—
The Thryss suddenly kick up even louder. I’m just pulling my face from my hands when I hear the same odd little coughing sound they make as they fire a tooth dart. “Zyros, I just need a—”
My eyes settle on the dark colored male from before, my heart going from a miserable pang to a violent sprint in the matter of a few beats. The male hisses something in his language. Thanks toZyros having a translator, my implant has picked up far too little to have a wide understanding.
I shake my head, lifting my palms. “I can’t understand you, my—”
Another male, my god, two, three,fourother males slip from the dense jungle. A bright green one speaks, cutting me off as I ready myself to run. “They do not have the bumps in their ear. They cannot understand you, female.”
His eyes zero in on my changed body, his chest puffing before he hisses out an ungodly resonant call to the others. They chime in, equally offended by what they see.
Kidnapped, stolen, help echo around my brain with no understanding, rhyme, or reason.
The sound of my name, bellowed in an enraged, tormented roar, makes a chill run over my skin, all our heads turning in tandem to Zyros’ voice. The Thryss hop away, bolting toward the sound. Only one little guy stays behind with nowhere near enough firepower to make a difference.
The other three share a look before heading off behind them. Panic hits me harder then. Knowing what they’re doing, a sudden understanding slaps the world into focus. The dark purple male raises his hands like mine as he slips closer, motioning me to come. A scream builds in my throat, so I shape it as I bolt for the clearing. Zyros’ name barely leaves my lips, but it’s enough. It’s a warning. It’ll have to be good enough. A feral hiss sounds behind me, and I brace myself as something hard and heavy smashes into me from behind, stealing the air from my lungs as the sound of fighting from the clearing fills my ears. I knew I wasn’t going to make it. I’m a human, out of my evolutionary league. And it shows quickly. My head meets the ground hard, and the world goes black.
eighteen
Melody
Sounds and words drift in and out, a pretty resonant humming. Or hissing.Something,but it carries a tune, and the voices join before breaking apart again in a familiar cadence. My head throbs in agony as I try to lift my head, warm water lapping at my clammy skin. I test my arms and legs, but they're heavy as something…several hands grip my limbs, keeping them still. The singing continues as a large rough palm tracks between my breasts, over my nipples, and down my stomach.
My eyes slam open, a scream bubbling in my throat as I’m pinned by several Vrirciks, aged ones, their vibrant colors faded and hair graying. My implant dings signaling the beginning of a recording as I thrash, making another unholy pain erupt from my back. “Let go! Let go of me!” I scream at them, making them rear back their heads, turning toward something behind me. I’m naked, my core and…the rest of me only covered by a sheen of paint.
“Stop!” I sob.
Suddenly, the bright red and gold female from the clearing enters my line of sight, and bile swirls in my gut. Her harsh features furrow in annoyance and confusion before she hisses something to the older females holding me down. Their hands leave me at once, a sickening, panicked gasp leaving my throat as I scramble up, the pain in my head and back nearly enough to make the puke bobbing in my throat surface. I’m exposed, bare, and another cry leaves me as I huddle, backtracking away from them. “I’m-I’m part of the Intergalactic Alliance. If you hurt me—”
The red female seems to take offense to that, hissing in my face. “We would never harm you. It was a simple blessing, creature.”
“You tried to kill me!” I croak.
My eyes dart, panicked around the…rocky building. The only handmade structure I’ve seen here so far. It’s carved stone, dark rock embedded with crystals, and at the heart of it, lush hot springs and plant life. What gets my attention next is the females…so many of them, lounging, watching me…no, not me,herwith apprehensive eyes. The leader, the red and gold female, shifts her stunning waist-length hair to the side, avoiding their stares. “It was before I was aware you were with child.”
“What? I’m not—”
“Zaelshar scented it on you as your mate carried you through the woods. He was a good male and told us immediately that you were bearing and being held captive.”
I stare dumbfounded, my eyes following hers to the dark colored male,Zaelshar,looming at the entrance, taking in the room and then me. My lip wobbles as I try to cover myself. I’m pregnant. It’s only been a week...
“I would’ve taken you from that foul beast of a male sooner had I thought he’d actually venom-touch you.”
“I’m his mate,” I breathe out, my head throbbing and thoughts hazy, keeping myself covered as I reach around, gently prodding at my back. Pain erupts there even at the lightest touch, making a sob build in my throat. “Where is he? Is he alright?”
Zaelshar speaks at that, something about dishonoring and trapping a female.
“I would have him killed for you, tiny creature, but we need him for breeding. He is a blessed male, as you can see.” The red female gestures toward my stomach with the two sets of arms that aren’t braced on her hips. “That he bound you to him is shameful, but unsurprising he has always been a problem.” She offers like it's nothing.
My heart is whooshing in my ears as I try to keep up. “Is Zyros okay?!” I snap.
She doesn’t react, only gazes down at me like one would an angry leaf. “I would suppose well enough for his cock to extrude as it's needed.” There’s no malice in her words; she says it as a matter of fact, as one would when giving directions, but something’s bubbling in my gut. Something sick.
“You said you need him for breeding, he doesn’t want that.”
She laughs. Actuallylaughs. “He is amaleand a blessed male at that. It is his purpose.”
Saliva pools in my mouth, and I think I’m going to be sick. A scream tries to leave my throat as I force myself to my knees, wobbling as I get to my feet. She makes like she’s going to help before I jerk away, ignoring the lacing pain that comes with the movement.
