Page 14 of Becoming Brandy

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The words swirledin Brandy’s head. He had claimed her as his own. No trying out all three to see if offspring was possible. She was Drake’s property until he said different.

But Drake hated her. He wanted to throw her in a jail cell with murderous aliens. Anger burned through her as the men regarded her.

“He can’t do that,” she insisted, standing up despite her fatigue.

“Oh, he can, sweetheart. And he has.” Tork studied her with disappointment before donning his usual smug expression. “As the eldest brother, he has rights we don’t. He gets first claim on human females in the attempt to produce an heir. We get the leftovers. Great, huh?”

“It’s the same on Han’s ship. But lucky for Rahan and Kahn, Han has a mate now.”

Wrek tilted his head in that thoughtful way he had. “But why are you not mated to one of them? It’s inconceivable.”

Tork smirked. “Playing it a bit desperate, aren’t we, bud?”

Wrek blushed.

Brandy attempted to answer his question just to take the heat off Wrek. “None of them wanted me. Well, Rahan had an interest until he found someone better.”

Wrek shook his head like he couldn’t believe it.

“Lucky for Drake, then. I’ll tell you a little secret, sweetheart. One you aren’t going to like very much. Drake has no intention of returning you to Han. Ever. Even if Han meets Drake’s demands, he’s told me he intends to keep you. So, your charms are not wasted. Congratulations,” Tork said dryly.

Her mind seemed to contract at Tork’s words. “No. No, he can’t.”

“There’s that word again. Can’t. Drake can. And he does. Welcome to our world.” Tork leaned his head back, his expression dark.

“We’ll stop him. Won’t we Tork?” Wrek turned to his brother for reassurance but didn’t get any.

Tork shook his head. “I like my hide, Wrek. You might not care for yours, but mine is nice. I’d like to keep it.”

Brandy leaned against the wall, hopelessness stealing over her. Drake was awful. She bowed her head.

Wrek stepped in front of her. “Look, we can figure this out. You’re smart and good at what you do.”

“Good at making men like me, you mean,” she blurted. “What good does that do me?”

“That’s just it,” Wrek said, running a hand through his hair. “We can get Drake to like you. And if he really likes you, maybe he can be persuaded to let you choose what you want to do.”

“Like if I want to leave or stay?”

Wrek nodded. Her eyes trailed over to Tork. “Do you think it could work?”

His shoulders moved up and down inside his jacket. “Who’s to say? It could work, or Drake could eject Wrek out of the airlock.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Brandy balked.

Tork shook his head.

Brandy turned to Wrek. “He’s kidding, right?”

Wrek wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“So, if you help me, Drake could kill you?”

Tork nodded. “Sure. Drake can do whatever he wants. Are you sensing the pattern now, sweetheart?”

“Then you can’t help me. You have to stay out of this.”

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