Page 31 of Anna's Bounty
I don’t know what she wants me to tell her. That ever since I left Annah with thatVesen,my heart has been trying to leap from my chest? With every step away from her, my head screams for me to run back? Because I can’t. I won’t! Annah deserves better than anything I can offer her. She’s better off without me.
“Rovos, tell me what is wrong. Now.” Igid slaps me upside the head with her free hand when I don’t immediately answer her.
“I told you. It’s nothing,” I growl. “I just want to get back to the ship and away from here.”
Igid folds her arm across her chest and shakes her head. “I’ve always considered you to be one of the bravest males I’ve had the honor of knowing. So I can’t believe what a sniveling coward you are being!”
I open my mouth to argue with her, only to snap my teeth shut with a click.
“You’re an idiot; you know that, don’t you?” Igid narrows her eyes at me. “It serves you right to watch her leave you behind and to find something better.”
A low growl rumbles from my throat.
“Except I’ve been trying to tell you that the Volethos back there isn’t the male I remember.” Igid’s expression turns worried. “He’s a far more desperate male than I remember. I fear I was mistaken to call him.”
My already pounding heart kicks into hyper drive, and the screaming in my head turns to shrieking. “Then why in thefuckdid you let me leave her with him?” I shout at her.
“Because I thought you saw through Volethos, the same way I did. I was certain you were going to take Anna and leave.” Igid lifts her arms in a shrug. “But then you—left without her. I thought, maybe you didn’t feel the way I thought you did. I’ve been trying to stop you, but you weren’t listening.”
I tip my head back and let loose a feral roar that echoes through the station, causing anyone within earshot to stop and stare. Everyone, that is, except for Igid. She steps back and grins.
14
Anna
After wrenching my cloak open, Volethos’ yellow eyes slide over my body in a way that makes me feel naked even though I’m clothed.
Anger bubbles up inside me for not paying closer attention to the not-right feeling I’ve been getting. For not making Rovos see reason.
You tried to!the voice inside my head chides.But no one would listen to you.
Rovos couldn’t even bother to stick around long enough to make sure my ass didn’t need saving, and now look at the mess I’m in.
Before I have a chance to escape him, Volethos grabs my arms and backs me up until I’m pressed against the wall. “Maybe I’ll have a taste before handing you over to Madame Athea,” he tells me, sweeping his tongue over his bottom lip.
“You said you were taking me to Pamia.” Bile surges up my throat, and saliva floods my mouth.
“Did I?” Leaning into me, he drags a claw down my neck to the collar of my suit. His head cocks to the side as his eyes roam over my body. “The madam has been obsessed with finding another human for her pleasure station, since her last one escaped. They say humans were once ripe for breeding. What do you think my chances are of getting a kit off you my first try?”
I twist my head away from him, squeezing my eyes tightly shut when he rubs against me. My stomach heaves at the feel of his erection pressing into my hip.
The swish of the door opening makes my eyes fly open. My hopes soar with the thought of Rovos changing his mind and coming back for me.
“Rovos! Help me!” I scream.
But it’s not Rovos. Instead, two unfamiliar aliens walk in. They are several inches shorter than Volethos, but still taller than me and stocky. They have sickly green skin and bulbous bald heads. Beady black eyes lock on us, and one jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “Ship’s ready, Vole.”
Volethos drags his gaze back to me and sighs, “Shame.” Stepping back, he pulls me with him before shoving me toward the aliens. “Maybe there will be time on the way to Lux.”
The aliens each grab one of my arms, keeping me between them.
“Now hurry. We don’t need her bringing the authorities down on us. The station might turn a blind eye to some extent.” Volethos gives me a narrowed look. “But enough of a commotion won’t go ignored.”
With me pinned between them, the green aliens drag me out of the room and back into the seedy bar where, once again, all eyes lock on me. With my face uncovered, they look at me with far more than curiosity, and I notice more than one lust-filled gaze trained on me.
“Help! Help me!” I thrash and fight and scream at the top of my lungs. “They are kidnapping me! Rovos! Igid, HELP ME!”
I expect one of them to hit me, or at least tell me to shut up. Instead they only pick up their pace.
