Page 39 of Retribution
“More clothing for you, human,” he said, opening one box. He drew out the gorgeous purple dress she’d admired earlier.
“Thank you, General. It’s beautiful.”
He set the dress aside and dug into the boxes, apparently looking for something specific. One of the exceedingly sheer nightdresses, she realized, as he produced a translucent, light pink garment. He held it up in front of her, then placed it in her hands.
“Put it on,” he said, stepping back and crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against a dresser, apparently settling in to enjoy the show.
Face flushing, she stripped off her blue dress and leggings, tossing them into the clothing refresher. It still boggled her mind that he had two clothing refreshers in his quarters—one in the bathroom and one in this closet. Such appliances were not cheap. Back on Earth, she’d always used old-fashioned washers and dryers. Those located in the basement of her apartment building had creaked and groaned and shuddered violently with each load.
The cool air in the closet caused goosebumps to rush over her arms, and she quickly donned the sheer nightdress, hoping to get under the warmth of the covers soon. Zamek regarded her with a heated gaze and drew her close, wrapping his arms around her.
“I like this one,” he said, his voice deep and rough. “I think I’ll have one in every color made for you.”
Slaves aren’t supposed to have nice things.
She almost said it, but fatigue held her back. She was too tired to argue with him anymore tonight.
“Come,” he said, leading her out of the closet. “It’s time for bed.”
* * *
Layla grimacedat the soreness between her thighs as she turned over in bed. General Zamek had used her roughly last night, forcing her to bend over the bed while he pounded into her. Her face heated as she recalled what had come after that—he’d ordered her to remain in place as he went to the bathroom, and he’d returned a moment later with a warm wet cloth, which he used to clean her up before tucking her into bed next to him.
Her eyes still closed, she stretched and felt around in the bed, searching for Zamek, only to find his side empty and the sheets cool. He must’ve gotten up a while ago. Finally, she opened her eyes and sat up against the pillows. She gasped at the sight in the viewscreen.
A lush valley with rolling green hills stretched to a snow-capped mountain range. White billowing clouds floated in the brilliant blue sky, and just beyond the tallest mountain peak, the ghosts of twin moons hovered, looming large and watching over the land. A small city lay in the midst of it all, the houses colorful with unique architecture. Homes and farms and vineyards dotted the mountainside, though most of the mountain homes were constructed of stone.
Recognition waved through Layla.
This was planet Kall. To be more specific, it was Sumlin District. She recognized several of the buildings in the town, as well as the layout of the streets, which spread out in a winding pattern from the town square.
She crawled out of bed, ignoring the soreness between her thighs, and walked up to the viewscreen.
How could they have already arrived on planet Kall?
She eyed the controls of the viewscreen. Some viewscreens could show picturesque scenes. President Carson had had a picture wall in the Oval Office, which usually displayed an image of his favorite beach spot in Turks and Caicos, so she was sort of familiar with the pricey technology.
She studied the controls and it appeared as though this were a live view. Disbelief curled inside her, as well as a healthy dose of fear. She’d thought she would have at least two weeks before they reached planet Kall to mentally prepare herself for the life that awaited her. Two weeks to get more answers out of General Zamek.
Her stomach flipped and she touched her right upper arm. Zamek had said she would receive a slave tracker upon their arrival in Sumlin District. She knew it would be painful, but it wasn’t the pain that scared her. It was the realization that she was here now, on fucking planet Kall, and there was no going back.
Officially a slave, unofficially a mistress.
That would be her life now.
Zamek had decided for her. He wasn’t giving her a choice.
Oh, Betsy, where are you?
She peered at the mountainside homes, wondering which one belonged to her dear friend’s husband. Well, she supposed the house belonged to Commander Edek’s older brother, Draken, but they all lived under the same roof—Betsy and Commander Edek, and Draken and his wife Lissa.
Would she get the chance to see her friend again? Would Zamek permit it?
Her heart sank at the prospect of being locked in his house, or restricted to his property, without the freedom to visit her best friend who happened to live in the same district.
On the day we arrive in Sumlin District, I will be required to take you to the slave office and have a tracker placed in your arm. Then I will take you to my home on the mountainside and keep you all to myself.
General Zamek’s words came back to her now, an ominous echo in her head.
