Page 67 of Taming Chaos

He followed his nose, scenting fresh meat. Of course Relahek would have fresh meat onboard. He probably got the stuff delivered via waypoint drop, freshly killed and transported from the nearest land-planet.

Torin’s mouth watered as the aroma grew stronger. The last time he’d eaten was back on Silence, and that had just been a stack of ordinary old protein mix. Right now, he could just devour a side of fresh meat.

Unlike some of the other warriors, Torin actually enjoyed his food.

“What is this place, Torin?” The narrow corridor opened into a box-like chamber filled with small preservation units.

“Food stores.” He sniffed the air and walked across the room to a unit marked ‘wet’ in crude Veronian script. With a gentle tap of his palm, the thing slid open, revealing a large, perfectly intact leg of meat.

Torin didn’t know what animal it was from, but it smelled so good he began to salivate. “Mmm. Would you like me to cut you a piece, Seph?”

“Ugh…” Her soft sound of distress made him turn.

The color drained from her face.

“What is it, Seph?”

“I think I’m going to be sick. Sorry. I just…” She put a hand over her mouth.

“This does not appeal to you?” Shit. He’d forgotten humans preferred to cook their food. Despite all his research; despite all the questions he’d asked his mated brothers, nothing could have prepared him for the very real and important task of protecting, providing, and caring for a human mate.

Temperature, sleep, food, clothing, pleasure… When it came to human needs, there was just so much to learn!

Seph waved him away, trying to act nonchalant. “Don’t mind me. You go ahead and eat. I’m not all that hungry.”

“I don’t believe you. I heard your stomach rumble earlier.”

“That was before. Don’t worry about me. I’m used to going for long periods without eating. You’re the one who’s been fighting and getting injured on my behalf, and believe me, I will feel a whole lot better when you’ve fixed this instant weight-loss condition of yours. I don’t understand it at all, but if you need protein, then you need protein. Please knock yourself out.”

He blinked. “You want me to punch myself?”

“Eat,” she urged, pushing him toward the preservation unit.

A soft sound made him freeze. “Wait.” He held up a hand.

Scuffscuffscuff.

How had he missed that?

Torin spun and yanked open a storage unit. A furry tail shot up into the air. “What are you doing?” He hauled the Veronian out of the unit by her tail.

The alien shrieked. Full of fear, she dropped to her knees, bowing her head. “P-please Master, don’t hurt me.”

Torin felt a stab of sympathy for the slave, who had only ever known a life of subservience and fear. Sometimes, it was too easy to fall into the familiar old imperial patterns; to take Veronian submissiveness for granted.

But the Universe was different now, and Seph’s reaction to his Kordolian ways reminded him that old habits could change.

That was one of the things he loved about humans. Some were innately kind. Torin could never be like them. Perhaps he could walk in their light-filled world and pretend, but he was a Kordolian through and through, and he would never lose his fangs.

If he was Seph’s taint, then she was his light. He would draw on every shred of his darkness to protect her, always.

“Chichin,” he said, using the Veronian word that meant free one. “Relahek is my enemy. You are no slave to me.” He spread his hands wide, his palms facing outward to show he was no threat. “Get up. Parrus is in the third outchamber. He is fine. After you are done here, you may go and join him.”

“Parrus?” Her stripes glowed pink, and the cadence of her tail-waving changed. “He is unharmed?”

“Indeed.”

The Veronian’s pink glow intensified.

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