Page 3 of Golden Darkness

She took a mouthful and slowly let it trickle down her throat as she held her breath. To her surprise, he stroked her throat with his thumb, and the fluid went in in a rush. She swallowed.

He kissed her temple, and she realized that the probes were gone.

“You are being really careful for someone with teeth like yours.”

He sighed and held the cup to her lips again. “Hmrain instincts are peculiar. The hunger is incredible, but the urge to maintain our companions is stronger.”

She focused and swallowed again. “Not that I don’t appreciate the care, but I am not companion class. Not even close.”

He smiled slightly. “Really?”

“Yeah. I know what companion class looks like. My friend Iris was companion class. Hopefully, she’s safe in cold sleep halfway around the universe.”

He tilted the cup again. “So, what does companion class entail?”

She swallowed again. “A body that’s easy to please, a mind frequency that feeds something in you. And... uh... nice table manners?”

He chuckled and got her to take another sip. “And what makes you not companion class? Your pain rippled through the ship and woke me. I can feed off your pain, but it is a harder energy. Pleasure is softer and more filling.”

She blinked and absently took another sip. “I am not delicate, dainty, or pleasing to the eye. That is what the station said was necessary. Well, in addition to the other energy output stuff.”

“You are delicate and petite to me. You are too thin and grey to be pleasing to the eye, but that can be fixed with care and attention. I am sorry for what they did to you to alter your brain and the frequencies it uses.”

“I am sorry for it as well.” She snorted. “We were on a transport container, and they broke into it, sniffing for me for lack of a better descriptor.”

He tilted his head and kept his calm ministrations.

Her belly felt full, and she turned her head. “I’m full.”

He nodded. “You have gotten one cylinder in. That’s good. Now, rest.” He tucked her head toward his chest.

She wanted to argue, but her body was sleepy, so she nodded off. He wasn’t going to try to take anything from her in that state. She fell asleep dreaming of Hansel and Gretel in the witch’s house.

* * * *

Kethen looked at the limp bundle of skin and bones in his arms. He finally had a proper mate, but she was going to take a lot of repairs.

He stroked her dark brown hair and her forehead with scorch marks and burns. Her arms had signs of the same.

He remembered her screams waking him from his sleep. The pain touched the lobe of his brain that consumed emotional output from compatible living things. The pain continued day after day, but it changed from a bright spear to an open wave that made his wings flex, and his mind woke hungry. She screamed, and he roared in hunger.

The moment they pushed her into his cell, his fantasies of ripping her apart and draining her blood faded. Her limp and cold body had warned him his little treasure might not be long for this world. Hunger changed to desperation, and he memorized her scent first so that he wouldn’t do anything foolish if there was any action. Caring for her was something that satisfied him. He could see the strength in her but also the fatigue. She needed someone to take care of her, and as her Hmrain, he would make sure that no one came near her again. He snuffled her scent and the change in it with a full belly. Her scent was an excellent indicator of her. There was a core of scent that was rich and sweet, but the sharp tang of pain wrapped around her. His little pet was in agony and managed to nap in his arms.

For two years, he had let them keep him in the bowels of his ship, but now, he had something precious to protect, and that was something that was going to change the situation on the ship. He just needed to get her well enough that he could feed. Pleasure or blood. Either one would do.

* * * *

There was a fascinating pattern under her cheek, and she turned her head to press her lips to his skin. The mark that she thought was a tattoo was a scar. She woke up and found she was gliding her tongue through the channel. She hadn’t thought she had any saliva left, but she could feel it.

“So, sensuality is another criteria that are looked for in Hmrain consorts or companions.” A hand stroked the back of her head.

She slipped her tongue back into her mouth. “Uh, sorry. I don’t generally lick people in my sleep.”

“I do not mind.”

She glanced down in the dimness. “Did you... hold me this way the whole time?”

“Of course. It is the easiest way to link with you if we are not having sex. When you are not eating or using the necessary, you will be in my arms until you are strong enough to move around on your own.”

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