Page 112 of Owned By Two

“May we see Lizzy?” I asked.

“She’s in the next room,” the female said. “She will be given to you the moment the contract has been signed.”

The female stopped reading for a moment as her eyes caught on a change in the wording of the contract.

Then she paused and looked up at me. “You do not wish to be a part of the Hive?”

“Not right now,” I said.

The female shrugged. “You will eventually.”

Then she turned back to the document.

Finally, it scanned the last page and replaced the clip.

“Everything appears to be in order,” the female said.

I let out an inward sigh that I ensured did not show on my face.

Lizzy’s lawyers, it seemed, had done a good job.

A pen was handed to the female and the Overseer signed the document.

Then a side door opened and Lizzy walked in.

My heart leapt into my throat and I unconsciously held out a hand to keep Blor back and felt his weight press against the palm.

I had been right and he had attempted to rush toward her out of instinct.

The Hive was focused on Lizzy as she entered and her eyes locked on first me, and then Blor.

Her expression lit up with excitement and I prayed to the Creator and any other god listening that he would grant her the wisdom not to react in any way that might arouse the Overseer’s suspicions.

She dropped her eyes to the female member, who motioned to the contract on the table before us.

She didn’t bother reading it — as it was legalese, it wasn’t the easiest thing to understand anyway — and signed it without a second thought.

No doubt she would happily give up everything her father had passed on to her just so long as she could get out of there in one piece.

The focus of the Overseer faded from the female’s eyes and she looked at Lizzy and motioned toward us. “You are free to go.”

But not yet free to act.

We had to keep on pretending we hardly knew each other until we got out of there.

Only then could we be ourselves.

The return trip to our ship felt a whole lot longer than the one leaving it.

Every moment might be our last and it made time draw out like a blade.

We finally reached our ship and ascended the ramp.

I turned to the female Hive member but could see the Overseer wasn’t there to wish us farewell.

It was just as well.

After this was over, I was never going to speak with the Hive ever again.

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