Page 53 of Kidnapped By the Beast
The officers looked at each other, then at Lexi. Their expressions hardened.
“Right,” one said flatly. “Let’s go to the Magistrate.”
“Wait—what?” Lexi yelped as they each grabbed one of her arms. “No! Take him! He’s the one who grabbed me! He?—”
“She was advertising herself,” the man repeated, rubbing his head. “Then she assaulted me when I tried to buy.”
“That’s not true!” Lexi shouted, struggling as the officers dragged her bodily from the stall. “I didn’t know what the color meant! I’m not a prostitute! I’m not even from here! How was I supposed to know that wearing green means you’re a hooker?”
But nobody was listening. The officers hauled her through the market, and people shopping simply watched with detached curiosity.
Lexi’s heart pounded painfully against her ribs.
Oh God. This is really happening. They think I’m a hooker—and now I’m getting arrested for it!
Panic swelled hot and sharp inside her. She fought to keep from getting dragged away, but the grip on her arms was unbreakable. The Terian officers were strong.
And as a stone building with the words, The Halls of Justice loomed ahead of them, Lexi realized with cold certainty that she was in more trouble than she had ever imagined.
27
BRANDT
Brandt shifted on the wooden bench, suppressing a sigh as the crowd around him roared.
Two Terian athletes vaulted into the air, their hands moving in dizzying coordination as they flung bright balls through the glowing interlocking hoops. The crowd surged to its feet, cheering and chanting in their lilting language.
Brandt remained seated, arms folded across his chest as he watched impassively. He’d never been much interested in sports of any kind. And this alien sport bored him like all the rest—he’d only stayed to watch in order not to be rude to their host. Clearly Dr. TOo-loo was very into the ‘Hoop Dance’ as they called it here.
His mind kept wandering—back to Alexandra.
He could still see her face as they’d passed the jewelry stall earlier, the way her green eyes had fixed on that green and silver pendant. She’d looked at it with such longing, but then she’d immediately dismissed it, saying “never mind” as though she wasn’t allowed to want something lovely.
The longing on her lovely face had stirred something in him…something Brandt hadn’t felt in years.
I want to give it to her, he realized. I want to see her eyes light up—I want to make her happy and let her know I’m thinking of her. And I want her to wear it and think of me when she does.
The thought pulled at him so strongly that he stood abruptly, ignoring Dr. T’Oo-loo’s surprised glance.
“I’ll return shortly,” he said. “I need to go check on Alexandra.
The Terian doctor raised a brow but didn’t question him.
“Very well then, I’ll come find you after the match.”
Brandt nodded and made his way back through the crowded market, his large frame cutting a path easily. He could already imagine fastening the delicate silver chain around Alexandra’s neck…the glowing green stone settling against her soft skin, right in the delicate hollow of her throat. He’d call her little Lexi and watch her flush in pleasure—she seemed to like that second name or “nickname” as the humans said.
It’s not your place to buy her presents, a scolding little voice in the back of his head informed him. Alexandra isn’t your bride—she’s your test subject!
But she felt like more than that to Brandt now—a lot more. And the urge to buy her the necklace wouldn’t let him go. He pushed the guilt aside and found the jewelry stand.
“That one,” he said to the clerk, pointing. “And wrap it as a gift, please.”
He had just finished paying and was slipping the little box with the necklace into his pocket, when a lavender blur rushed toward him.
“Dr. Brandt!”
T’linga skidded to a stop, her four eyes wide with panic. “Oh, thank goodness I found you—Lexi is gone!”
