Page 7 of Golden Darkness

She looked up at him. “How many are there on the ship?”

“Twenty?”

“Can you swap them out for the remaining Terrans and put the Terrans on a world with a good economy and no bonds?”

He raised his brows. “You want to free your people?”

“No, but I don’t want them to have a crappy new start in a facility trying to work them to death. We were the most basic of labour bonds. There is no way we were headed somewhere happy and fluffy.”

“You? You were a base bond?” He was surprised. He would have sold entire worlds to have her. His type of Hmrain was a much harder fit than the modern ones. Being a prototype made things difficult.

“Yeah. I have basic labour skills and some minor vehicle abilities. I am nothing exceptional and was not even offered the chance to opt for education.”

He frowned. “My archives are at your disposal.”

“So, will you find a place to put the Terrans where they have a chance to live or find families?”

He grinned. “And put the Vel-ech in their place?”

“Yes.”

“What will you give me for it?”

His little pet stared at him wide-eyed and said, “What do you want?”

“You in my bed or arms for a minimum of six hours each ship day.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Sure. I mean, yes. I will do that.”

He looked down at her calm expression. She had no idea what he truly wanted from her. He would tell her once she was used to him.

He looked at the doctor. “Is medical clear?”

The doctor checked. “It’s clear. The hallways are clear.”

Kethen wrapped his wing around his pet to keep her warm. “Good, we will go. I will see if I can find clothing for you.”

She muttered inside his embrace, “You might want to put some pants on if you want to sprint around the ship.”

The captain snorted. “Miss, it happens a lot.”

She laughed inside the wrap of his wings. It was a bright sound, and the first time it had been that free. Kethen wished he had seen her face, but he felt the wave of emotion from her, and it wrapped around his heart.

The doctor nodded and led the way through the ship.

The Vel-ech were gone out of their path. He walked with the warmth of his pet against him. It reassured him in a way that nothing else could.

He had a mate. He tasted it. His fondest wish was to be buried inside her every minute of every day, but he was fairly sure that his prize would get a hold of another blaster.

The doctor asked him to wait while she cleaned an exam table. When it was ready and everything was calibrated for her, he was urged to set her down.

In the bright light of medical, she looked so frail. Her limbs were thin, her hands stick-like. Her belly was sunken, and her ribs distended. Her breasts had once been a handful, but now, they were slight mounds with only markers of where they had been in their glory. Her jaw was elegant, and the cheekbones hinted at a startling beauty. Thick midnight hair fell to her shoulders.

“Uh, Overlord, please, step back. Your energy output is altering the result... oh, thoseareherresults.”

---