i

laboring all around the ruined capital. Some teams clean up rubble, while others erect more of the domes. Already

'm not looking for

shoulder and lifts he

ha

rs-admirers

es. There they are. All three have removed their tunics, working bare ch

"It looked like they were giving y

u could say that. They just want a femal

y they want you, in partic

non-commi

S

wh

think of them

vers. "Um...

some of the best warriors Master Seke has tr

y body's response to being cornered by them. Or-stars-the feel of Tarren's large hand on my ass

challenges me. "It's okay to look. You're

ing, and it takes all my concentration not to slow m

t? Maybe twenty-five females on the planet and they've determi

s don't make demands in this galaxy

you don't like those three, just show a little interes

an breeder. Getting claimed by not one, but multiple war

ut they're reasonable. This generation has been without females for years now and they're not used

want to mate at all

. "I don't know. Humans aren't slaves here, but we are

at I was

ormation to any being in the galaxy who scanned me, leaving isn't an option. Even if it was, I'd rather die now than go ba

them a long time to figure out there won't

know what they'l

n

ler the moment we finish our wor

behind me, but I have the advantage of a he

he washtube, not stopping to take off my clothes until

off a boot and hurls

e of urgency is real. We have to g

walked by and I wanted to beat each and every warrio

hare it. I heard Tarren growling beside me and Jax wore that cool,

n our hoverdisk-sleeping quarters-whate

males, so I'm sure as veck not going to force myself on her. I know Tarren and Jax wouldn't either.

be formed before King Zander makes his announcement. And the

tton to open the doors. "Your turn, beautiful." I grin at Jax as

" Tarren grumbles from his hoverdisk w

im and pull on a fresh uniform

our plan, Ma

never been in it, right? She's probably curious. It's far more luxuriou

oing to be that easy? She'll jus

and Jax will fill in

rt and emerges from the wash

erything," Jax observes drily, clearly

e get to share this ex

we're in this together, because I doubt I'd tempt a female on my own. I'm not as big as Tarren or as smart as Jax. I'm the one who makes bei

ges from th

time. Let's go fin

and grabs his uniform. "We should leav

but doesn't answer. Experience t

o stick his tongue in her ear right now." I pick my words ca

s corr

s and yanks

at what y

y enough goadin

ds the way, hands curled into fists at his sides. Jax and I stalk behi

three of us skid to a stop. There's a moment of awkward bows and formal greeti

ns. Tarren's

do we f

everal other humans. Number 11 or 12,

round of bows. "Thank you, Lily, es

us in turn. "You force that girl into anything she's not wil

ut he does nothing t

nd his fists tighten. "No being

ly not us

ws her dagger back in its scab

s as he lea

we exit the palatial pod and hike a

pod, sent out to exterminate all the beings on it, so it's designed like a prison. Even though

As we walk down the row of cells, we pass cluster after cluste

courting, I'm a little less proud

he cell with Riya and three other human females. She's backed in a corner

rs his way through, making room for Jax and I

sitate. She wants to be rescued. She stretches out her hand to grasp Tarren's, picking her way t

at the scene we leave. When we get down the corridor, and away from the

walk, y

," Tarren growls. "Not when there are oth

to her tone that's particular to humans. I haven't learned all the

us, didn't you?

started to curve up. "Lesser of two evils," she mutters. "Will you please put me down?"

od?" I offer, trying to make it sound like a

g, relaxing into T

e to? It's qui

I get t

le, still in gruff protector mode. I shudder to think what would've happened if we'd found another m

eep in to grab the other, figuring Ta

latial pod as we enter, explaining some of the history of our spec

de us, but I don't t

es me want to pull her into my

get her into our chamber so w

on all of our minds. Which means I nee