ISD2 Victorious Star

Praise for the writing of Morgan Hawke

Interstellar Service and Discipline: Victorious Star

Interstellar service has never been so exciting -- or so dangerous. -- Daria Karpova, author of Loose Diamonds (Loose Id)

Victorious Star is not your usual Space Opera. Morgan Hawke brings scorching BDSM bisexuality to full bloom in this very special ménage a trois played out against an epic sprawl of space battles and Interstellar conflict. -- Barbara Karmazin, author of On the Edge of Time (Loose Id)

Morgan Hawke never met a boundary she didn’t want to push. In Victorious Star she proves it, with one of the most remarkable erotic romances I’ve ever read. Morgan creates a complex, fascinating science fiction universe, then adds three strong-willed and sensual characters locked in a delicious battle for supremacy. If you’re anything like me, it will fascinate you, it will shock you, and it will turn you on. You definitely won’t be bored. -- Angela Knight, writing as Victoria Michaels, author of Stranded (Loose Id)

A searing tale of service, space, and sexual politics! Whether it’s SF you crave or the very best smut, Victorious Star delivers. Completely satisfying. -- Sage Grayson, author of Computer Crimes: Hentai Dreams (Changeling Press)

INTERSTELLAR SERVICE AND DISCIPLINE: VICTORIOUS STAR Morgan Hawke

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

***** This book is rated:

Contains substantial explicit sexual content and graphic language. Contains sexual situations that some readers find objectionable (multiple sexual partners, ménage, bondage, domination/submission, BDSM, anal sex).

Interstellar Service and Discipline: Victorious Star Morgan Hawke This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-29 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com

Copyright © September 2004 by Morgan Hawke All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 1-59632-041-9 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Erin Mullarkey Cover Artist: Angela Knight

www.loose-id.com .

Outside the rim of Imperial Space First Lieutenant Victoria Stark grimaced at the image on her holographic display. “So, this is where the captain has seen fit to abandon me.” The small orbital way-station looked like a floating heap of crumbling junk that had somehow fallen together, but had yet to drift back apart. Trash and debris from wrecked ships trailed its orbiting wake. The moon it circled didn’t look much better. The surface was pocked with craters and crashed ships. She snorted. “I’ve seen worse.” She had, but not by much. She shut down the holographic transmission and stroked the instrument panel. “I’m going to miss you, lady,” she said with sincere regret. The lights in her cabin dimmed just a few degrees. A slight smile curved Victoria’s lips. The Adamant would miss her too. Her ships always loved her. And she always loved them. A knock came at the door. Victoria sighed. This was it; this was good-bye. “Come,” she called out. The door opened and a white-uniformed yeoman snapped a sharp salute. “We’re ready for you, Senior Nav-Pilot Stark.” He stared at her austere black coat. “Nav-Pilot?” “Former senior nav-pilot. They relieved me of duty, remember?” Victoria smiled grimly. “I get to wear civilian togs.” She pulled on her supple black gloves. There was no way in hell she was going to walk onto that station in a burning white, screaming target of a uniform, especially on the wrong side of the Imperial border. She wasn’t suicidal. “I’ll be ready in a moment.” With sharp, efficient movements, Victoria buckled the sword-belt over her floor-length black coat. She was not about to walk onto a civilian station without a weapon. The unadorned black scabbard would draw little attention. Swords were not uncommon apparel, as energy weapons were strictly regulated. Swords might cut flesh, but they couldn’t punch holes though plating to release precious atmosphere.

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Although many civilians carried swords, Victoria’s saber, like the white breeches and matching frocked officer’s coat tucked safely in her personal cases, was a symbol of her officer’s status. The uniform and weapon were holdovers from a more romantic time when ships sailed the seas rather than the stars. Of course there had been updates. Instead of the archaic tempered steel of the original officer’s saber, the live steel of Victoria’s mimetic blade practically hummed with nanites. The sword would return to shape from a forty-five degree bend, would never lose its edge, and could withstand extremes in temperature, such as the absolute cold of space, without shattering. It would hold the perfect shape of its making for as long as it existed. Live-steel was said to be born, not made. The yeoman’s jaw tightened. “Are they going to court-martial you?” Victoria shook her head. “No, just reassign me to another battleship.” She smiled. “Trust me, they do not want me on the stand. My report would be quite embarrassing.” She strode out into the hall. She knew exactly where she was going. No one knew this ship better than she. The yeoman followed at her heels. “Pardon my frankness, Nav-Pilot, but they gave you a shitty deal. You saved the damned ship.” Victoria’s hands clenched at her sides. “Somehow, I strongly suspect that the executive officer didn’t want the ship saved.” The yeoman scowled. “Why don’t I find that surprising?” “Perhaps because you are an astute young man?” Victoria raised an eyebrow at the crewman. “As it is, if Admiral Moraine had not appeared when he did to drive off those marauders, we would have all been lost.” The crewman frowned. “You would have found a way to keep us in one piece, even without Admiral Moraine’s fleet.” Victoria shook her head. She said reluctantly, “I doubt that. The mercenary commander was very, very good.” The yeoman snorted. “Which one? There were two marauder bands.” Victoria snorted. “The second. If the first hadn’t started squabbling with the second, we’d all be in chains.” The yeoman looked up. “Then it’s true? The second commander asked for our surrender?” Victoria nodded. “Not that I was about to.” The yeoman chuckled. “I bet you surprised the hell out of him when you opened fire on his flanking ship.” Victoria smiled grimly. “If Moraine hadn’t spooked him, and he had moved just a little faster, he would have taken us anyway. He was that good, and I was running out of options fast.” The yeoman snorted. “He didn’t have the Victorious Star at the helm.”

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She winced. Would she never escape that damned title? “No, he didn’t.” She lengthened her strides. Her long skirts flared in her wake. It was more than time to get off this ship.

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Chapter 1 “Why the captain stopped at this junk-heap of a space station is beyond me.” Victoria tipped the glass to her mouth and took a swallow of the harsh local beer. “He must have wanted to get rid of me pretty badly.” Her gaze drifted to the far side of the broad curved spaceport lounge. The lights were almost too dim to see the next table over. She snorted. Or

the rust holding this station together. She tipped her head back and stared at the distant ceiling. It churned with archaic fans barely disturbing the haze from imported tobacco smoke and other less sociable indulgences.

Good thing my civilian flight-suit and long-coat are black. My Imperial whites wouldn’t last a day under these conditions. And Fate only knew how long it was going to take Central Command to send a ship all the way out here to collect her. A week? A month? Once she left this junk heap and got back to base the waiting would really began. She had a reputation for being a top-notch nav-pilot; in fact, she was one of the best. However, her reputation as the Victorious Star came more from being just a little too skilled at defending her honor from her own commanders, rather than from saving ships. She scowled and her hand slid unconsciously to the officer’s saber at her side. Fuck tradition, I’m not

sleeping with a superior who doesn’t deserve the title. If they want it, they’ll have to take it. So far, not one of her former superior officers had succeeded in using the more traditional method of forcing dominance by bending her over a desk. She thunked her empty glass down on the scarred table. “Just once, I’d like to serve a captain worthy of his rank.” She dropped her feet onto the deck and wandered over toward the bar.

***** Victoria collected another glass of watery beer from the bartender and headed back toward her small table. From the corner of her eye she glimpsed a man wearing a shoddy

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dark uniform angling straight for her. At the last second, he turned just enough that his shoulder deliberately aimed straight for hers. Victoria rolled her eyes and neatly dodged the intended impact. She smiled at her beer.

Didn’t even spill a drop. She heard the man splutter, turn and stride after her.

Damn fool. She carefully dodged through the crowd and set her glass down as the man caught up. She turned sharply to face the annoying idiot. “Can I help you?” Her pursuer stood a full head taller and wore a poorly kept black uniform that hung off his bony frame. His skin color was off. Apparently his interior tech needed a tune-up; it was souring his biological system. He was also pissed as hell about something. Victoria relaxed into a comfortable and unassuming battle-stance. She could smell the fight coming. Might as well prepare for it. Then she noticed his nav-pilot insignia. His ship’s symbol looked suspiciously like that of one of the mercenary ships she had faced only days ago. Shit. Two other, bigger men in the same uniform, though in considerably better condition, came and flanked the nav-pilot. She eyed their rank. Petty officers. Their small movements told her point-blank that all their augmentation was in their arms and shoulders. Probably engineers. If they swung at her, she’d have to make damn sure their punches didn’t connect. She almost smiled. Too bad for them, most of my augmentation is in my legs. She was pretty sure she had the advantage of speed on all three of them. Their sloppy and aggressive stance told her that they weren’t particularly skilled either. The mercenary nav-pilot curled his lip. “You Nav-Pilot Stark from the Adamant?” Where the hell had they heard that? Well, it was too late now. She gave them a tight smile. “Former senior nav-pilot. I’ve been relieved of duty.” The two engineers exchanged glances. “What for?” one of them asked. She smiled. “For kicking mercenary butt.” All three men glowered. Victoria had no idea which man threw the first punch, and didn’t particularly care. Two hard kicks to the knees later, and the two big guys were on the ground moaning. The navpilot danced out of reach and pulled out his sword. The civilian bar crowd cleared a wide circle in a big hurry. Victoria scowled. Piss! Blades meant one of them was going to get seriously hurt, and she knew for a fact that it wouldn’t be her. Damn it. Paying for this idiot’s funeral would cut into her vacation pay. She set her hand on her pommel but left the blade sheathed. “Look, I don’t know who the hell you are, but pulling a blade on me is a mistake.” “I’m Nav-Pilot Richards of the Hellsbreath, and you are gonna die, bitch!” He lunged.

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Victoria let him skim past her, and gave him a barehanded shove to help him along. “What the hell did I do to you?” Richards tripped and landed in an untidy heap at the edge of the circle, swearing viciously. She frowned. Wait a minute, wasn’t the Hellsbreath the command ship for the attacking mercenaries? This could mean serious trouble. If the mercenaries were still pissed, they could easily catch the Adamant. The ship had no hope of escape without a senior nav-pilot to fly her. Richards picked himself up off the deck. “I heard you had command of the Adamant when the Revenge went nova.” Victoria nodded. “Yep, that was me.” So the idiot did have his facts straight. Good, blame

me, not the ship. “You murdering bitch!” Richards flew at her, swinging his blade wildly. Victoria turned, drew her sword, and batted his blade away from her. The skirts of her long coat flared like a cape. “It’s my duty to defend my ship, you moron.” She caught his ankle with her foot as he passed. He tumbled spectacularly to the deck.

By the Fates, what an amateur. Victoria sighed. He didn’t stand a chance. She hadn’t even broken a sweat. “Give it up. You can’t beat me.” Richards rose to his feet. “I’m going to kill you.” Someone shouted, “Richards!” The man hesitated at the sound of his name, but flew at her anyway. She had a split second to see the gun in his other hand. “You idiot.” She lunged and took him through the throat before he could raise the pistol. There goes my vacation pay. What a

waste. Then she saw the six inches of steel sticking out of his chest. Richards choked on the steel through his windpipe, clutched at the steel through his heart, then slumped to the deck. The pistol fell with a loud clatter. Victoria pulled her sword from his body and stepped back before his blood could spot her coat. A brutally handsome man with the coldest gray eyes she had ever seen stood there staring at her. He shook back his hair. The tumbling blue-black waves revealed the silver braid on the shoulders of his floor-sweeping pitch-black cape. Underneath his cape was a captain’s coat with the insignia for the Hellsbreath on his breast.

The moron’s captain. Victoria winced. Great, this is just great! He picked up the pistol and shoved it into his belt. His gaze shifted to her left.

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Two men in a similar black uniform stepped up, grabbed Richards by the arms, and dragged him off. She frowned after them. They looked like the same two engineers she had just thrown to the deck. The cold-eyed captain calmly withdrew a handkerchief from his coat cuff. “My apologies. That was uncalled for.” He began to clean his blade. Victoria turned sharply to the side and pulled out her own handkerchief to clean her blade. “My apologies as well, sir.” She had the hardest time looking at his beautiful and bitterly cold face. “I kept the strike clean. If you get him to the med-techs fast enough, you should be able to recover him.” “I’m afraid not.” He sheathed his weapon. “His implants have been souring for a while.” Victoria sheathed her weapon. “Suicide then?” She cautiously raised her hands to check her hair. The stuff unraveled to her waist if she wasn’t careful. Her silver clip was still in place and it seemed to be holding, even after the fight. It should. I had it braided tightly

enough to last through a nuclear attack. “Suicide seems likely.” He nodded in formal greeting. “I’m Captain Aubrey Ravnos, of the Hellsbreath, and you are?” “Captain Ravnos.” She presented a short respectful bow. “First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, formerly senior nav-pilot of the Adamant, at your service.” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “You’re a long way from home, nav-pilot.” She nodded. “I’m here to await a shuttle to take me back to base for reassignment.” He frowned. “Reassignment?” Victoria let out a breath. Might as well get this over with, before he hears it from someone else. “During the last engagement, I took command.” “Ah, yes, the Adamant, I remember. I did wonder why she went from basic maneuvers to sudden counter-strike.” He raised a brow. “That was you?” She nodded. “Yes, sir. It was very close.” “Very close. We nearly had you.” Amusement flashed in his gaze. “I must admit I was impressed. Considering your ship’s position, it was the only option you had besides surrender.” Victoria felt her cheeks warm. The same captain that took out fifteen of the Imperium’s dreadnoughts was impressed? With her? No one had ever praised her for her skills in battle, only complained bitterly that she took their victory from them. The wave of gratitude took her completely by surprise. Fate and damnation, she’d kill to serve a captain that appreciated her skills. “As I said, it was very close.” A midnight brow shot up. “Let me get this straight; you’re being reassigned even though you saved the ship?”

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Victoria nodded and gave him a bitter smile. “It seems that the Adamant’s second in command did not appreciate it.” The little shit had bitched and moaned non-stop until her spineless coward of a captain agreed to relieve her from duty, just to shut him up. “The Adamant’s second in command?” He frowned. “What happened to the ship’s captain?” Victoria bit back her grin. “Fainted.” She sincerely hoped her voice would carry enough to spread that little tidbit far and wide. As revenge went, it was rather small and petty, but hey, revenge was always petty. “The captain fainted?” A smile almost curved his lips. “You’re joking.” Victoria shook her head. “No, sir, fainted dead away. The commander yelled ‘abandon ship’ and carted them both to the escape pods. As soon as they cleared the bridge, I took over the helm and got the ship out of your interesting little trap.” “And they relieved you of duty.” Ravnos snorted. “Actions like that make me wonder how the Imperium got to be an Imperium to begin with.” Victoria often wondered the same thing, but as an officer of said Imperium it would be in poor taste, not to mention downright dangerous, to say it out loud. Ravnos sighed. “Again, I apologize for the unprovoked attack from my crewman.” Victoria didn’t know what to do; now, the enemy captain was apologizing -- to her. Ravnos gave her an assessing look. “But it seems that I am now in need of a senior navpilot.” “That man was a senior nav-pilot?” She shook her head. “I find that hard to believe.” Ravnos raised a black brow and speared her with icy amusement. “There was some doubt as to his credentials.” Victoria snorted. “I bet fully half the ship’s guidance functions were offline.” Ravnos raised his chin. “You Imperials almost lost every ship to us anyway.” Victoria couldn’t tell if he was angry or amused. She decided on amusement and indulged in a tight smile. “Not one of us would have survived if you’d had a proper nav-pilot, Captain. Pardon me, but your tactics were brilliant. The only reason we made it was because our reaction time was better.” He nodded. “Thank you, and you’re right. I’ve rarely seen a ship respond as fast as the

Adamant.” Victoria felt her cheeks heat under his praise. If this keeps up, I’m going to have a bad

case of hero worship. His gaze sharpened. “Since you are between assignments and I am in need of a nav-pilot, why don’t you serve on board my ship?” Victoria stared at him in astonishment. He wanted her, an Imperial officer, to serve on his mercenary ship? Was he out of his mind? He couldn’t be serious.

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His gaze remained steady, and something chilled in its depths. Victoria found his simple stillness unnerving. Shit. He was serious. She bit back a less than judicious comment. “I’d be honored to serve you, Captain,” she said softly. “But I really don’t think that would be a good idea. My superiors might not take it well if I, ah…” She flinched. How the hell do I say this without insulting him? “Work for someone who just got finished blowing the hell out of fifteen warships?” Bitter humor shimmered in his gaze. “You do have a point.” Victoria examined the toe of her boot, profoundly disappointed that she’d had to turn him down. “Shame, too; you’re a damn fine captain.” He raised a dark mocking brow. “Think so?” “If you were Imperial, I’d be begging to serve under you.” She peeked up at him. The shadows deepened the sharp lines of his face. Bloody Fate, he’s fine. She blushed and looked away. On second thought, maybe it was better this way. He was far too striking for her to serve effectively. She’d be too busy fantasizing about what he’d look like naked. “I see. Then perhaps if we do this another way?” He glanced to her right. “What?” Victoria looked up, sensing sudden danger. She felt a fist slam into her side, then the electric burn in her cybernetic system. They’d used a stunner on her. She dropped to her knees in surprise. They can’t mean to just take me? Darkness smothered her thoughts. She never felt the deck.

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Chapter 2 Victoria snapped awake, slumped in a chair. A vicious bolt of pain stabbed through her temples. She shut her eyes and groaned. Her delicate navigational implants did not appreciate the power-surges caused by stunners. She leaned forward in a futile attempt to relieve the agony in her skull, but jerked to a halt. Her wrists were fastened to the arms of the chair. She winced past the pain in her skull and eased back into the chair to sit upright. The weight of her sword-belt was missing from her hip. She felt disturbingly naked without it. She looked up. Ah, shit, please tell me this is a bad dream. Less than six feet in front of her, Captain Ravnos sat comfortably in a red velvet chair with one booted leg extended over a cushioned hassock. His cape and long coat were gone, showing the sleeveless brocaded waistcoat and the black lace cravat knotted around his highcollared silk shirt. He’d propped his elbows on the arms of his chair and folded his fingers together across his lap in an attitude of amused patience, though he lacked even the hint of a smile. From the look of things, she sat in the middle of his public appointment chamber. Expensive rugs covered the deck and a real wood table sat by his chair. His desk wasn’t in front of her, so it had to be behind her, but she was in far too much agony to turn her head that far to see. However, she could see through the broad window to her left. They were still docked in the spaceport. Let’s not panic yet. Maybe this isn’t what it looks like. “Are you in pain?” Ravnos inquired politely. “Yes, sir,” she replied respectfully and slowly twisted her wrists, testing the cuffs’ strength. A quick glance showed that they were designed with heavy-weapon cyborgs in mind. Regardless of her physical augmentations, she was not going to be able to break them.

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

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She saw him flick a finger and sensed movement to her immediate right. A crewman with a hypodermic in his hand bent at her side. “Whoa, hey!” She tried to jolt away, nearly dislocating her shoulder. The cuffs held her fast to the chair. Ravnos snorted. “Relax, it’s for the headache.” The crewman pulled her coat’s lapels wide, then unfastened the buckles on the collar of her flight-suit. She eyed the needle with extreme doubt. “Isn’t an injection a little archaic?” “We are somewhat backwards out here past the Imperial rim,” Ravnos said dryly. The crewman pressed a finger to her pulse and stabbed her bare throat. Victoria hissed. She hated needles. The crewman stepped away, and out of sight. Victoria winced. That needle had stung. She looked around for her sword, but didn’t see it. “Where’s my sword?” “You won’t be needing it.” Ravnos dropped his foot on the rug and leaned forward. “Your new uniform is in your quarters. You will begin your duties as senior nav-pilot as soon as you have dressed.”

Bloody Fate, and damnation… Victoria winced. This was exactly what it looked like -- a kidnapping. Bitter betrayal burned in her stomach. And I really liked him too. She glared at him with all the fury in her throbbing temples. “With all due respect, sir, you’ve kidnapped me. I do not owe you duty.” “The original term for taking on unsuspecting crewmen is ‘pressed’.” Ravnos’s expression chilled to bitter winter. “And you will serve to the best of your abilities, or you will be disciplined.” Victoria bared her teeth in a feral grin. “Then you’d better space me now!” “Great Mother,” a voice drawled with amusement. “What have you brought home this time, Captain?” Victoria looked sharply to her right. A tall, slender man wearing an ankle-length captain’s coat with an awful lot of silver braid lounged in the doorway. His skin was moon-pale; his frost-white hair was pulled back into a long straight tail exposing gracefully pointed ears. His blue eyes, the color of the heart of a flame, roved over her breasts straining against the buckles of her black coat, then focused on her exposed throat. A lethal smile graced his full lips. “Whatever it is, I approve.” Victoria couldn’t stop staring. What the hell is a skeldhi doing on this ship? They hate

humans! Ravnos tilted his head toward her. “First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, this is my executive officer, Commander Seht.”

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Victoria looked from the very human captain to the decidedly not human, perhaps even anti-human, second in command. “Number One,” Ravnos continued, “this is our new senior navigation pilot.” “Senior navigation pilot?” The skeldhi commander stalked in with poisonous grace and circled Victoria. He looked over at Ravnos. “What did you do with our last nav-pilot?” Ravnos’s ice gray eyes focused on Victoria. “Our current nav-pilot shoved a sword through his throat.” Victoria ground her teeth. “My sword wasn’t the only blade shoved through him. I distinctly remember yours sticking out of his chest, Captain.” The skeldhi raised a silver brow. “Spirited. I like that.” Victoria stared at the circling skeldhi, stunned. This close up he was breathtaking. His blue gaze seemed deep enough to drown in and his mouth looked…kissable. She looked away and shook her head. What am I thinking? Seht smiled. “I see, by the cuffs, that you haven’t changed your method of procuring officers.” One of his hands brushed across her shoulder. Victoria stiffened. “What?” The skeldhi stopped at her elbow. “Oh, he grabbed me the same way.” His smile deepened. “It’s a habit of his.” A long nail traced a path along her jaw. Shivers followed his tracing fingertips. She took a sharp breath and jerked away. His touch was doing odd things to her already disturbed insides. “I can’t serve him. I’m an Imperial Officer.” The skeldhi snorted. “Not for long.” He turned and strode gracefully toward Ravnos. Ravnos tilted his head toward her. “We’re negotiating her terms of service now.” Victoria jerked at her cuffs. Negotiating, my ass. At least her head didn’t hurt so much. Whatever was in that needle worked fast. Ravnos focused on his executive officer. “Did you need something?” The skeldhi abruptly straightened and his expression lost its humor. “No, captain. I’m off duty at the moment. I thought I’d drop by to see your new acquisition.” Victoria focused on the commander in astonishment. Was that fear? As a skeldhi he was biologically far stronger and faster than the average human. Moreover, his body language spoke volumes about years of hand-to-hand fight training in addition to subtle physical augmentation. Technically, he should be able to twist even a heavy-weapons marine into a scrap. What did he have to be afraid of? “I see.” Ravnos nodded. “Very well then, you’re welcome to remain.” “Thank you, sir.” The skeldhi let out a soft breath. Ravnos turned back to Victoria. “I need you to fly this ship for a three-day mission. At the end of that time, if your orders have come through, I’ll return you to the station. If your

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orders have not come through, you will remain until they do. You will, of course, be paid for your services.” Victoria shook her head. “If I serve on your ship for even one flight, I will be courtmartialed as soon as I get back.” Ravnos snorted. “This is not the Imperium. We do not keep those kinds of records. Trust me, no one will know you served on this ship.” Victoria gritted her teeth. Just what she needed, blackmail material. “You will.” Seht winced and took a subtle step back. Ravnos lunged to his feet with his sword naked in his fist so fast that even with her enhanced eyesight she hadn’t seen him draw it. “Do you doubt my honor?” His eyes blazed with frigid unholy violence. He looked like a dark avenging angel about to strike.

Oh, that’s why the skeldhi was impressed. Victoria swallowed and dropped her gaze. She couldn’t look at his far too beautiful, far too frightening face. “No, sir, I do not.” If she’d said anything else, she had absolutely no doubt that he would have killed her right where she sat. Ravnos nodded. “Good.” The violence in his expression retreated as though it had never been there. He sheathed the sword and sat. “I already have your messages flagged at the station. As soon as your orders arrive, you will be returned.” Victoria stiffened her spine. “And if they arrive tomorrow?” His expression chilled. “Three days, Nav-Pilot Stark.” Victoria chewed on her bottom lip and shifted uncomfortably. Sometime during that last exchange, her crotch had gotten annoyingly moist. What the hell had brought that reaction on? She sighed in disgust. “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” Ravnos raised his brow and amusement flashed fleetingly though his expression. “No, you do not.” Moving with elegant grace, he rose from his chair and came to stand beside her, looming over the chair where she was bound. His boots didn’t make a sound. He drew the sword from his waist scabbard. Victoria barely stopped herself from flinching back. “I want your sworn word as an officer that you will serve me to the best of your abilities until you are returned.”

He wants my oath? Victoria clenched her fists impotently. Damn him! Of all things, she had not expected a direct challenge to her honor. He was a mercenary. No one expected him to keep his promises. As an Imperial officer, if she swore fealty, she would be honor-bound to keep it. “Nav-Pilot Stark?” His soft voice traced an icy finger down her spine. The naked blade tapped the side of his boot. There was nothing she could do. She could swear and try not to betray the Imperium, or she could die. “I will serve.”

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“Excellent.” He knelt at her side and released her wrists then stepped away. “Kneel and swear.” Victoria rubbed her wrists and stood with as much grace as she could muster. She dropped to one knee at his feet and placed one hand flat on the deck. The black skirts of her coat flared around her. She bowed her head. “Chin up.” Victoria looked up and the edged tip of his sword touched her bare throat. She took a shallow breath and stared at Ravnos in unconcealed alarm. Her treacherous crotch grew wetter. An unholy smile curled his lips, and his eyes gleamed with heat. “Swear.” “I, Victoria Stark, solemnly swear on my honor to serve.” She took a tiny breath, and her voice tightened to an embarrassing squeak. “I don’t know your full name, sir.” “Captain Aubrey Laslo Ravnos of the ship Hellsbreath,” he said softly. “From the beginning, please.” Victoria decided against nodding. Warmth trickled down her neck. She was pretty sure that it was blood. However, her real concern was that the moisture in her crotch seemed to be soaking through her suit. What the hell is going on with my body? She took a deeper breath and her voice steadied. “I, Victoria Stark, solemnly swear on my honor to serve Captain Aubrey Laslo Ravnos of the ship Hellsbreath with all due honor, loyalty, and respect.” “And obedience.” Victoria’s temper flared and her teeth clenched. That was not part of the oath. He raised his brow, daring her to omit his addition. The blade on her throat shifted. Victoria actually felt the burn of the blade’s keen edge. She stubbornly kept her eyes on Ravnos’s face, but that was definitely blood dripping down inside her suit. “And obedience,” she ground out. “Until death or the captain shall relieve me of my duties. By the grace of Heaven and the glory…” She hesitated. She damn well couldn’t say by the glory of the Imperium. “And the glory of the Hellsbreath,” she improvised. “May I serve with distinction.” “Very good.” He removed the blade from her throat and stepped away. Victoria stayed down on her knee. According to protocol, she had to remain in that position until her new captain gave her leave to rise. She didn’t even try to stop the blood that was dribbling down her breast. He tugged a handkerchief from his coat sleeve and wiped the tip of the blade. The white fabric came away stained with red. “As I mentioned earlier, your uniform has been set out in your quarters by your assigned petty officer. You will report to the bridge as soon as you are appropriately dressed.”

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“Yes, sir.” Victoria flinched. The bridge! She did not want to antagonize a man with a naked blade in his hand, but the last thing she wanted was her full name announced on the bridge in front of over a dozen different people. “Pardon my frankness, sir, but we cannot use my name.” Ravnos glanced at her briefly. “What’s wrong with your name?” “I am a well-known code-certified specialist. If even a whisper gets out that I served under you, I will end up in prison.” “She has a valid point, Captain,” mused Seht. “Victoria Stark. I’ve heard that name somewhere before.” Victoria looked over to where the skeldhi leaned against the back of Ravnos’s chair. She had completely forgotten about his presence. She noted his interested expression and strongly suspected that her new executive officer was going to be a problem. “I see.” Ravnos sheathed his weapon then reached for a small bottle and a cloth set on the table by his chair. He poured some of the contents of the bottle onto the cloth. “You may rise.” Victoria rose to her feet and assumed a full attention stance, chin up, heels together, hands at her side. Ravnos approached her with the damp cloth in hand. His fingers brushed her throat as he tugged her suit’s collar further open. “A name,” he whispered. He unfastened the suit buckles, nearly to her heart. “I’ll keep the Victoria, but the Stark?” He daubed the wet cloth on her naked throat. Whatever was on the cloth smelled strongly of antiseptic, and burned like a son-of-abitch. Victoria clenched her fists but held perfectly still. “Victoria Stark, ah, yes.” The Commander sighed dramatically then turned to gaze at Victoria with open amusement. “Captain, do you realize who you’ve grabbed?” Ravnos tugged at her collar, examining her throat. “The nav-pilot of the Adamant.” “Oh no, you’ve done much better than that.” Seht strode with predatory poise to Ravnos’s side. “This is the famous Victorious Star, notorious for sacrificing her captains for their ships.” Victoria clenched her jaw. Where the hell had he heard that? Technically, she had lost the occasional captain while saving the ship, but still… “She’s never lost a ship she’s flown.” Seht’s voice dropped to a sensual whisper. “And never serviced a captain she’s had.” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “Never?” The skeldhi focused on Victoria and his eyes narrowed to a hungry blue gleam. “Our new nav-pilot is in possession of an unsullied, never been fucked, virgin ass.”

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“Really?” Ravnos turned to study Victoria with a calculating expression. “How interesting.” His cold eyes flared with sudden heat. Victoria shot the commander a glare that promised bitter revenge. The skeldhi smiled broadly, showing the over-long points of his incisors. “Oh, we are going to have so much fun disciplining this one.” Ravnos’s mouth curved into a blood-curdling smile. “We’ll call her Chaste, Victoria Chaste.” “Chaste?” Seht nodded. “I like it. Very pretty, pristine and sweet.” Victoria’s mouth fell open. “Chaste?” Of all the insulting epithets… Ravnos’s expression turned frigid. “Are you questioning me?” She flinched as though struck. “No, sir.” “Good. You are dismissed, Senior Nav-Pilot Chaste. A yeoman is waiting outside the door to take you to your quarters.” Victoria turned smartly on her heel and marched toward the door. A glance to her right showed that she had been right. His desk had been behind her the whole time. It was huge, ornate, and archaic. She had a sudden and disturbing image of being pressed facedown on that broad shining surface. Victoria jerked her eyes back to the exit, and nearly pulled the handle from the door in her haste to get out of that office.

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Chapter 3 Victoria stopped just short of slamming the door. Instead she pressed it closed, like a respectful crewman, and stared at it, nearly overwhelmed by a strong desire to kick it for good measure. Bleeding Fate! Those two pricks! “Senior Nav-Pilot?” Victoria nearly jumped out of her skin. Jerking her chin up a fraction, she pulled herself smartly together and turned sharply to her left. A grizzled older man in a very plain black uniform stood in the hall not two feet away. He watched her with a cool, dead-calm gaze. She scanned the petty officer chevrons on his sleeve. “Yes?” “I’m Crewman Munin, your yeoman. I’m here to show you to your quarters.” Victoria nodded. “Thank you, Crewman Munin. Lead the way.” He nodded and took off down the narrow hall at a smart clip. Victoria followed, back straight and jaw set. She spared only a fleeting glance at Ravnos’s door. This was not over yet. Victoria’s quarters were spare but sparkling clean. Even the decorative brass appointments gleamed. A tightly made narrow bunk was tucked against the left inner wall, and a closet with drawers for her belongings spread across the opposite wall. The outside wall had a tiny private desk set with an interlink info unit. A doorway leading to a very small but private bath facility shared the wall opposite the bed on her far right. Luxury indeed. She’d had to share the bath facility with another nav-pilot on the Adamant. “Your personal belongings are already in the closets, Nav-Pilot,” Munin rasped dryly.

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Victoria started. Her personal belongings? She strode for the closet and opened the door. Hanging inside were her few civilian clothes, but not one Imperial uniform. Her dress boots were tucked next to her two cases. How the hell had they gotten hold of her personal cases? She frowned. How the hell had they gotten her off of that space station and onto this tub in the first place? The fleet should have… She scowled. That’s right, those fools stopped at the first space station they found. They didn’t even bother to get us into Imperial space. The closest Imperial station was at least two whole jumps away. Even if they had tried to stop Ravnos from walking off with her, the Adamant was outnumbered -- one Imperial ship to Fate knows how many mercenaries docked there, including the ship that nearly blew them to begin with: the Hellsbreath. That was, if they noticed that someone had walked off with her. She closed her eyes. Then again, they might have seen everything, and not cared. They had intended to leave her there anyway. She slammed the closet door closed. Victoria took a breath for calm. One thing at a time. “Crewman Munin, where are my uniforms?” “Pardon me, ma’am, but the captain said to put your…” He coughed. “Your other uniforms in safe storage.” Victoria nodded. She didn’t need the cleaning crew to see her Imperial togs anyway. “Where are my new uniforms?” “I have one set ready, ma’am. It’s on the bunk and freshly pressed. The rest will be delivered later. I’ll have them put away for you by the time you return to quarters.” Victoria turned toward the bed. A velvet waistcoat in stark black trimmed with silver braid lay by a long-sleeved shirt made of very fine midnight silk. The shirt and the matching cravat were both trimmed with black lace. Lace? She didn’t have the rank to wear lace. She let out a soft sigh. This is a mercenary unit, not an Imperial unit. If the captain wants me to wear lace, I wear lace. At least the uniform is a practical color. Fate only knew what else was different. Better find out. “Yeoman, I’m going to need a copy of the regulations for my personal upload as soon as possible.” “Yes, ma’am.” She frowned. Some of her new uniform was missing. “Do I have a coat? And where are the trews?” Munin shifted just a hair. “There’s a skirt under the vest, ma’am. The coat is not ready yet.” Victoria stiffened. A skirt? She moved the waistcoat aside and picked up a very small amount of black velvet. A pair of sheer stockings and some kind of satin contraption to hold them up was folded beneath the skirt. Then she saw the rest of her underwear.

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More lace and more satin. This did not look promising at all. Victoria took a very deep breath and pulled off her long coat. “Are you telling me that all of this is regulation?” She tossed the coat on the bed. Munin cleared his throat and stared at her skin-tight flight-suit. “The captain was very specific, ma’am.” Victoria sat down on her desk chair and unbuckled her boots. Did her new captain think he could prove his dominance by having her dress like a female? She smiled grimly. A costume change would not change anything. Once she integrated with the ship’s systems, life would be very different indeed. She stood up and started jerking at her suit buckles. The yeoman headed for the door. She speared him with a venomous glare. “Crewman, I did not give you permission to leave this cabin!” He spluttered. “But you’re undressing!” “Then you will keep your back turned like a gentleman until I tell you otherwise. I am going to need assistance to get into this… getup. Stay right where you are.” Munin did a hasty about-face and stared hard at the wall. “Yes, ma’am.” She skimmed out of her bodysuit. “Towels?” She practically ripped her hair out getting it loose from her braids. The deep red waves fell to her waist in a thick cloak. “In the facility.” “Thank you.” Stark naked, she strode toward the facility to take a shower.

***** The cycle-shower had been hot enough to cool her temper, the soap pleasant if not luxurious, and the towels had been large and soothingly plentiful. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. Victoria faced her new uniform with grim determination. The underwear would irritate her. She could tell as soon as she picked it up. The stockings were a total nightmare. Thank Fate one of her subordinates from the Adamant had showed her how to use the belt-thing that held them up. Grumbling at the sub-hearing level, she dragged on the silk shirt and buttoned in haste. Then came the skirt. It wouldn’t go over her butt. She checked the size. “Yeoman, this skirt is two sizes too small.” Munin stiffened, but remained steadfastly staring at the wall. “I’m sorry, ma’am.” “Go and get me another from housekeeping.” The yeoman’s hands clenched at his sides. “I can’t, ma’am.”

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Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “Is there a problem?” “I’m under orders from the captain to tell you,” he swallowed audibly, “that you are to wear what is provided, or do without.” Victoria knew a set-up when she saw one. That son of a bitch! She nearly ripped the skirt in half. She eyed the yeoman. He looked about the same height. “Very well then. What size trousers do you wear?” “Ma’am?”

***** Victoria smiled grimly as she walked onto the bridge. Crewman Munin’s trousers fit surprisingly well, and he was an excellent hand at tying cravats. The bridge was enormous and long rather than broad. The command chair sat high in the back, with the piloting pit and her chair one level down directly before it. The lower deck level was crammed with crewmen headset-linked to their stations. She eyed the headsets with distaste. The last nav-pilot had been poor quality indeed. Every one of those crewmen should have been using an interactive holographic display. Clearly far more than merely half of the ship’s functions were offline. How the hell had he flown her at all? “Senior Nav-Pilot Chaste reporting for duty, sir,” she called out. Ravnos stood slowly, eyed her trousers and exchanged a significant look with his clearly amused Commander. “Take your place, Nav-Pilot Chaste.” Victoria mounted the stairs to the pit. “Greetings, pilots.” The four young pilots, two on the left and two on the right with a narrow walkway between them, each interlinked into their swivel chairs, turned to look at her. “Greetings, Nav-Pilot Chaste,” they chorused. “Welcome to the Hellsbreath,” one offered. Victoria smiled. “I look forward to flying with you.” She stepped onto the walkway, then sat back into the heavily augmented chair. She felt the grab at the back of her skull that marked the ship’s direct entry into her mind. Data streamed in with a tentative inquiry. In that instant, Victoria knew that the ship was not happy. She opened her functions and offered her codes by way of introduction. The ship digested her information and presented about a third of the systems’ accesses. Victoria frowned. The ship was reluctant to fully connect. Gently, she invited a closer link. She was not the other nav-pilot, and she would await the ship’s further investigation of her functions.

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The ship remained disinclined to connect any deeper. Victoria expressed patience. The ship was a very sensitive and sophisticated entity that deserved extreme respect from her pilots. To demand would be rude. It was up to the ship to take advantage of her functions, not the other way around. The ship tentatively investigated the respectful interconnections and accesses offered. Lights went on in dark berths and seals opened to formerly locked areas. Engineering gained access to previously blind functions. Victoria relaxed into the ship’s embrace, allowing deeper investigation and interneural linkage. Accesses opened and systems came online with a satisfied hum. Victoria sank deep into the comforting virtual reality of the Fortitude. The Fortitude? Confusion skittered across Victoria’s data system. The ship understood with a trace of electronic embarrassment that it was operating under a different name, the Hellsbreath, and updated its databases. Victoria offered a deeper access to her personal data by way of apology. The ship was pleased to find the nav-pilot so accessible and forthcoming. Information confidently streamed into Victoria’s piloting array. Victoria sighed. Much better… She could perform her proper functions as the cerebellum for the ship’s entire computerized system. Every jot and dot of information the ship possessed, from external sensors to power levels in engineering and the weapons array down to the temperature setting in every berth, streamed through her piloting array. In addition, every order from the ship’s captain, from course changes to weapon firing, would go through her to be translated to the rest of the ship. She processed the information and channeled it to the pilots who were her nerve center. The four pilots’ accesses suddenly streamed with data. Excited and pleased sub-vocal chatter erupted among them as they disseminated previously inaccessible information to crewmen throughout the rest of the ship. More functions came online. More data streamed. Once upon a time, when ships sailed oceans of water rather than stars, her rank would have been Master Chief Petty Officer, with her position known as Chief of the Boat. Interneural space flight combined the traditional posts of pilot, navigator, and master chief petty officer into one position: navigational-pilot. She scowled. I might have had fewer problems with senior officers if my position had

remained non-commissioned. The pilot chatter abruptly stopped and they looked up at their senior nav-pilot in concerned alarm.

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The ship noticed the junior pilots’ uncomfortable silence and expressed that the senior pilot should restore harmonious intercommunication between the pilots. “It’s all right to talk among yourselves, pilots,” Victoria said with warmth. “Private speech will not affect the ship’s functions.” One of the young pilots bit her lip. “But the last pilot didn’t like it.” “I am not the last nav-pilot.” Victoria felt the smile curve her lips from a great distance. “Pilot communications are necessary for proper flight functions.” Her smile broadened. “Even silly chit-chat is essential for continued morale.” One of the pilots turned to another. “I like her.” All four pilots went to work with a will and enthusiasm that transformed them into the perfect systems nerve center they were supposed to be. The ship investigated, assessed, recalibrated, and corrected long-standing malfunctions. Hacked systems rerouted back to their proper courses, and more data streamed. Victoria’s thoughts stretched and expanded throughout the ship. Navigational grids appeared within her mind, charting the levels of gravitational fields around the nearby planets and measuring distances between stars. “Stand by for holographic display. Please remove all headsets,” Victoria announced over the intercom system throughout the entire ship. Everywhere on the ship, headsets were yanked from terminals and holographic displays appeared. The crewmen reached for their displays and began recalibrations. More systems came online. Victoria’s array streamed data on all channels. A soft sigh escaped her lips. She opened her eyes and vaguely noticed the glow from her holographic halo, marking her full integration with the ship. “All systems fully functional, Captain.” Her voice echoed through the loudspeaker system. “We proceed at your command.” The commander whispered to his captain. “Now that is a nav-pilot.” Victoria smiled. They had no idea that a nav-pilot of her skill level was so deeply integrated with the ship that even the tiniest whisper in the farthest corner of the ship was hers to hear. How would they know? They were mercenaries, after all. The captain gave her his orders and Victoria set the requested course coordinates. “Take us away,” Ravnos said in his cool voice. The ship disengaged smoothly from the dock, turned, and dove into the rippling tides of space. At the appropriate point, Victoria engaged the fusion reactors in preparation for quantum-space manifestation. She double-checked her coordinates and frowned. The series of planned jumps were awfully small for the distance Ravnos wanted to cover. “Captain?” “Yes, Nav-Pilot?”

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“We are set for a course six jump. We have capability for a course eight. Do you wish to adjust coordinates?” Ravnos leaned forward in his chair. “Course eight?” Seht frowned. “Has this ship ever done a course eight?” “Not under my command.” He turned to face the pilot’s pit. “Are you sure the ship has the power to make an eight?” “We are capable of course ten in an emergency, but it would be inadvisable as power would be routed from necessary systems. A course eight is well within acceptable range.” He nodded. “Very well, then, adjust for course eight.” “We’re going to be early,” Seht said softly. “Very early.” Ravnos’s expression frosted. “Good.” Victoria reviewed her calculations at the speed of thought and the ship reset systems for the longer jump. “Adjustment complete. Ready on your mark, Captain.” “Begin.” Victoria opened herself to quantum consciousness. “Activating Phalrium hull grid and opening quantum teleological space-time manifold at factor eight.” She could feel, through the ship’s sensors, the fabric of reality shifting into a spiral of crushed star-space, a shimmering field that enclosed the ship. “Jumpspace gateway open and stable, Captain.” Ravnos stood. “Advance drive, speed four. Proceed into jumpspace.” “Proceeding into jump.” Victoria took a deep breath and the ship stabbed through quantum-folded space as a needle thrusts through tight folds of cloth. She smiled, secure in the symphony of information and eternity.

***** The Hellsbreath stepped back into real-time at advance speed four. Two hours had passed within the ship, but the light from the stars they had left behind would take millennia to catch up with them. Victoria relayed the ship’s sensor data concerning the star system they approached without bothering to examine it herself. She didn’t particularly care where she was, only that the ship was where it was supposed to be, and not in danger. On the captain’s orders, she brought the ship into a calm orbit in sync with the dark side of a moon circling a class-four humanoid world. “Nav-Pilot Chaste?” “Yes, Captain?” “As soon as all systems are stable, disengage and report to my appointment chamber.” He stepped from the command post and disappeared into the lift with Seht at his side.

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Victoria frowned. Disengage and report? She had access to far more information while interlinked. She shook her head. It didn’t matter, really, since the ship could access her or vice-versa just about anywhere on the ship. She couldn’t actually fly without a direct link, but she could grab hold of any number of minor functions. She smiled. Such as lighting and temperature control in any given cabin or corridor. Victoria did a final systems diagnostics in preparation for disengagement. The Hellsbreath expressed pleasure with the pilot’s accessible and respectful functions. The ship looked forward to continued intercommunications.

You’re a grand lady, and I am pleased that you find me compatible, Victoria returned politely. She smiled as she disengaged direct link.

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Chapter 4 Victoria felt pretty damn good when she left the bridge and got into the lift. The dreadnought was obviously decommissioned. She was just a touch on the archaic side in some of her systems, but the rest of her functions seemed to be closer to state-of-the-art. The engineering crew was top-notch and responded very quickly to the ship’s needs. The pilots were a well-matched team. There had been no crossed messages or data lost in transfer. All in all, the Hellsbreath flew like a dream. She stepped out of the lift and reviewed her internal map of the ship to make sure she was headed the right way. A side effect of being integrated was that the ship’s schematics were imprinted into her mind. She was now incapable of getting lost. Victoria stopped in front of Captain Ravnos’s door. She felt a sudden shiver of apprehension and tried to shake it off. She should have nothing to be worried about. The flight was fine; in fact, from what she had overheard he’d been pleased. So why was she suddenly so nervous? She wiped her damp palms on her trousers and flinched. The damn trousers. That had to be it. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and knocked. “Come.” Victoria strode through the door, chin up, shoulders back, and with fine military precision. Please don’t be sitting at the desk. She glanced to her right. The chair she had first seen him in was empty. She turned to her left and found him sitting behind his massive desk busily typing something while reading his holographic projection monitor. Once again Ravnos sat without his coat, but this time his waistcoat and cravat were missing too. His shirt collar had been unbuttoned. Seht, also coatless, stood by his shoulder, grinning like a demon about to snack.

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Victoria straightened her spine and walked over to stand before the desk to await his notice. The holographic display evaporated. Ravnos turned in his chair, kicking one booted foot out to lounge with a cool expression. “So, Nav-Pilot, what do you think of the Hellsbreath?” Victoria relaxed, but remained at attention. “She’s a grand ship, very responsive.” He tapped his fingertips together. “You had no difficulty flying her?” “She was a little shy at first. I think your last nav-pilot may have been a bit harsh with her.” “You are a code-certified navigation pilot. Unusual,” Ravnos mused. “What exactly are you code-certified for?” “Initial integration of a ship’s interneural system,” she answered without hesitation. He raised a brow. “So, basically, you teach a ship how to fly with a pilot?” Victoria gave him a short nod. “When a ship is made they can be flown mechanically, but to achieve quantum consciousness, and jump, the ship needs interaction with a living mind. I create the initial impression for the ship’s consciousness which allows for interneural piloting.” Seht frowned. “You put in the ship’s sentience?” Victoria shook her head. “No, the ship already has a sentience. I create the pathways for interaction between the ship and a living pilot. I give it some of its first memories.” Ravnos’s eyes gained a dark gleam. “Out of curiosity, can you reprogram a ship that refuses to acknowledge a pilot? One that has been, say, sabotaged?” Victoria felt a rush of violent anger. “Each ship is a unique being in its own right. To sabotage one to that extent is criminal!” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “Oh, I agree, but could you reprogram a ship that has been hacked into and get it to respond to you?” Victoria bit back her temper. “In most cases re-impression is not necessary. Most ships know when someone is hacking them, and will lock that person out. If the threat is great enough, the ship may lock out everyone until someone can go in and talk it into opening back up.” Ravnos frowned. “Answer the question. Can you reprogram a ship’s sentience?” She stared at the deck. “Yes, I have the capability. Officially, I’m certified to initiate a new ship for flight, or recover a ship that has retreated into lock-down. Occasionally a ship will retreat too far for me to reach, or be too severely damaged to respond. If that is the case, I can go in and reset. That means wiping the original impression or personality and impressing a new one.” She looked up. “It’s not something I like to do, because in effect you are killing the ship.”

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Seht’s mouth fell open. “What you are saying is that you can fly any ship that you are linked to, whether it wants you to or not?” Victoria nodded once. “I have rarely needed to reprogram a ship. Most ships will talk to me. They like me.” She gave them a tight smile. “It’s their captains that I have problems with.” Seht raised a brow at Ravnos. “Which explains our nav-pilot’s tendency to sacrifice the captain for the ship. She likes the ship more.” Victoria snorted. “Well, of course.” Both the captain and the commander turned sharply to stare at Victoria. She swallowed. What did I say? “That reminds me.” Ravnos leaned forward in his chair. “You have disobeyed a directive and are here to be disciplined.” Victoria stiffened in shock. “What?” “Senior Navigation Pilot Chaste, you are out of uniform,” Seht said with great relish. Victoria set her jaw. It was the damned trousers. Well, she was not going down without a fight. Ravnos radiated amusement but his mouth remained a thin line. “I distinctly remember providing you with a skirt, not trews.” Victoria raised her chin just a fraction. “The directive I received was to wear what was provided.” Ravnos nodded. “Correct.” Victoria raised her brow. “I was provided with a yeoman, and the yeoman provided me with his trousers, because the skirt was two sizes too small. Therefore, I am wearing what was provided.” Seht choked then cleared his throat. “She has a valid argument.” Ravnos’s ice gray eyes flared with heat. “True, but unfortunately for Nav-Pilot Chaste, I am not in the mood to argue semantics.” He stood up with smooth grace. “Remove the trousers, Nav-Pilot. At once.” Victoria knew a losing battle when she saw one. She jerked at the belt of her trousers and unfastened the waistband. But damn it, I had to try! “Those boots will have to come off first,” Seht said dryly. Victoria froze, then looked at Ravnos. He nodded. “You may remove your boots, Nav-Pilot.” Victoria removed her boots with as much grace as standing on one leg would allow. Thank the Fates for my physical augmentation. She dropped the pants and stepped out of them. Her shirt fell to mid-thigh so she didn’t feel all that exposed. “Remove your shirt, Nav-Pilot.”

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Victoria’s head shot up. “Sir?” Ravnos raised his brows. “I want to see just how far out of uniform you actually are.” Victoria seriously considered refusing. Then she saw the blade at his side and remembered the speed of his sword-draw. She reached up to unknot her cravat and calmly contemplated what kind of havoc she could play in his personal quarters. She could easily get the ship to drop the temperature. Maybe a little frost on his bed-sheets would do him some good. She dropped her silk shirt on top of the trousers and stood stiffly at attention wearing the lacy and irritating bra, the skimpy panties, and the belt thing that held up her stockings. “Well now, that is nice.” The skeldhi’s expression clearly showed his sincere appreciation. Victoria felt her cheeks heat with profound embarrassment while a tiny trickle of pleasure curled through her. It’s nice to know I’m appreciated, but damn it, this is

unprofessional in the extreme. Ravnos turned to Seht. “Take down her hair. I want to see what color it is.” The skeldhi grinned and strode towards Victoria. “With pleasure.” Victoria gasped in shock. My hair? Rubbing his hands together in undisguised satisfaction, Seht circled around to stand behind her. “Hold still, Nav-Pilot.” Victoria felt his fingers grasp the silver clasp that held her mass of hair, and panicked right then and there. “Captain, this is not regulation.” “And this is not the Imperial fleet.” Ravnos had the hint of a smile curling at the edges of his mouth. “Remain as you are.” The clasp slid free and Seht’s long fingers burrowed into her hair, digging out the pins that held her mass of braids. Her hair slithered free and spread across his hands to fall in a rich cloak to her waist. “By the mother,” he said softly. “I believe it’s red!” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “Red?” “It’s brown,” Victoria ground out. “Dark brown.” “This is not even close to brown.” He leaned close to her ear. His blue eyes gleamed and his lip curled to show a long incisor. “Believe me, I know red when I see it, and this is a deep, dark blood red.” Victoria closed her eyes. By Fate, could this get any worse? “Hmm.” Ravnos tilted his head. “Seht, take off her panties. I want to see what that virgin ass looks like on my desk.” “Good idea!” He reached for the lace at her hips.

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Victoria’s control snapped. Oh no, you fucking don’t! Death was preferable to being assfucked. She dropped hard to a deep crouch and lashed out along the deck, aiming for the skeldhi’s legs. When he jumped over her sweeping leg she lunged up and followed with flying fists and slashing feet. Seht ducked and danced smoothly out of her way, grinning. “That did it.” Ravnos snorted. “Took her long enough.” She caught Seht with a hard kick to the chest, using every drop of power in her augmented legs, knocking him up into the air and back almost to the far side of the cabin. Seht turned gracefully in mid-air and landed smoothly in a feral crouch. He bared his long teeth in a grin. “Damn, she’s good.” Victoria spat a vicious oath. She had strained the piss out of the leg muscles around her augmentations in that kick. What the hell is he made out of? Seht came to his feet and jerked off his waistcoat. “So you want to play?” “Shit.” She bolted for the door. Ravnos lunged to his feet. “Don’t let her out!” Seht lunged for her. He slammed the door shut just as she got it open. “Going somewhere?” Victoria ducked his grabbing hands and whirled out of the way. There was nowhere to run. The cabin was too damn small and Seht stood against the only exit. She focused on the door. Seht tilted his head and smiled. “If you want out, you’ll have to get past me.” “Fine.” Furious beyond caring, Victoria dropped into a crouch and lunged with every drop of power in her legs. At the last second, she twisted and turned, flying at him with both feet. He rolled away. Her feet slammed into the door. The metal crunched but held. She dropped to the deck in another fighting crouch. Seht closed on her with shocking speed. She lashed out with a flurry of lightning-fast punches. He ducked and dodged grinning. “Fast, but not fast enough. Try again?” He closed the distance with a rushing lunge. Victoria sidestepped and whirled out of reach. He swore and lunged again. She knocked him back with a vicious kick. “Was that fast enough?” Ravnos tackled her from behind, wrapping her in his arms and lifting her off the deck. “I got her.”

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Held off the ground, Victoria couldn’t get her feet under her for any kind of kicking leverage. She punched, kicked and gouged, but he was a solid mass of powerful steel under warm flesh. She could not break free. They hauled her screaming, kicking, and fighting across the appointment chamber.

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Chapter 5 Ravnos wrestled Victoria’s bucking form to the front of his desk. “I wondered what it would take to make her lose control.” He took a fistful of her hair, forcing her head and chest down on the smooth desktop while trying to catch both of her wrists. Seht struggled with her legs. “That’s our girl, nerves of fucking steel. That is, till you threaten her sweet ass. She must have a virgin hole.” He gasped as one of her knees caught him in the kidneys. “Get off me, you bastards!” She turned her head and bit. She missed Ravnos’s arm by a fraction. Her teeth clicked together hard. “Great Mother, what a temper.” Seht openly grinned. “Good thing your desk is a lot more solid than it looks.” “I had it custom-made.” Ravnos dodged a fist. “Restraints?” “They’re on the deck behind your chair. Can you hold her while I get them?” “I’ll manage.” Victoria felt her legs released and aimed a kick at her smug captain. He dodged. “That’s it, on the deck with you.” He lifted, then dropped her. Victoria landed on her belly in front of his desk with Ravnos’s crushing weight riding her down. She gasped as the air was driven out of her lungs. By the time she caught her breath, Ravnos had her in a wrestler’s stranglehold, using his full weight and the full power of his augmentations to keep her there. “I am going to make you regret this,” she snarled. “That is going to take some work.” His eyes were hot and his smile showed far too many teeth. “You’ve got my prick rock hard, and I fully intend to use it on that sweet ass of yours.” He looked up. “Get her feet first. She likes to kick.”

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“So I noticed,” Seht said dryly. Victoria felt her ankle grabbed, then a cuff locked around it. They were really going to do this! Her eyes burned with sudden tears. I am not going to cry! “I think our nav-pilot is losing her composure,” Ravnos said against her ear. “It’s about damned time. I think my ribs are bruised.” “Serves you right,” Victoria snapped. She felt her other ankle grabbed and cuffed. “Just so you know, I am really looking forward to fucking your ass,” the skeldhi hissed. “What?” Victoria stiffened. Both of them? Ravnos snorted. “Why do you think he’s here?” Seht smirked. “And have I got a surprise for you.” He jerked her wrists to her back and cuffed them. Victoria squeezed her eyes shut to concentrate on holding onto her anger. I’m going to hurt them for this. As long as she was angry, she wouldn’t be afraid. Ravnos’s brows shot up. “You think she doesn’t know about your…?” “She wasn’t staring.” “Good point.” Victoria felt something tingle in her cybernetics, then the cuffs shivered. She wriggled her fingers and twisted her feet experimentally, but her wrists and ankles remained firmly in place. Son of a bitch! They were force-cuffs tuned into her augmentation. She could move any way she wanted, but her body utterly refused to move the cuffs themselves. “She’s active,” Seht’s voice was amused. “Good.” Ravnos stared down at her. “You’ve had your fun, now it’s our turn.” He rolled off of Victoria. “Let’s get her straight and in position.” They grabbed the cuffs and straightened her limbs, then rolled her over. The deck plates were cold on her back. She stared up at them in panic, fighting to move her legs or her arms, but the cuffs held as though bolted to the places they had placed them. Her whole body shook with her attempts. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t stop them. The skeldhi frowned and brushed the hair from her forehead. “Don’t fight it, you’ll only hurt yourself. These are strong enough to hold even me.” He untangled her long mane with gentle strokes of his fingers. Victoria closed her eyes and struggled to hold her tears at bay. She knew he was probably taunting her, but Seht’s gentle touch was unraveling her anger faster than she could put it together. What the hell was going on? “I think I may have just found her hot button.” The skeldhi smiled at Ravnos. “It seems affection is the key.” “Really?” Ravnos grabbed her under the arms and levered her onto her feet. “Stand up, Nav-Pilot.”

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Victoria found that she could indeed stand, and had a lovely view of the desktop only two steps away. She jerked and nearly tipped backward. Strong arms wrapped around her, catching her before she could fall. “I have you,” Ravnos whispered. “Stay upright.” Victoria stared at the desk and broke out in a fine sweat, trembling. Seht swept a hand down her damp spine. “She’s frightened.” Ravnos snorted. “About time.” His fingers tugged on the clasp to her bra. “I’ve been dying to get my hands on these tits.” Victoria clenched her jaw in sudden temper and the trembling stopped. That prick! Ravnos chuckled behind her. “She’s not scared now.” He pushed the lace from her shoulders then grabbed her elbow and turned her to face him. He feasted his gaze on her breasts and his brows rose. “That is quite a set you’ve got there. And I have just the thing for them.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out three tiny gold rings. “Know what these are?” Victoria shook her head. The skeldhi chuckled from behind her. “Captain, you are a sadistic bastard.” Ravnos frowned briefly. “This comes as a surprise?” “Not really.” “Good, get those panties off of her.” “Are we leaving the stockings and garter belt on?” “Absolutely.” Ravnos reached out to cup her breasts. Victoria hissed. His hands were surprisingly warm. He squeezed, bringing a sudden hot tingle as the blood rushed to her nipples. She felt the panties being tugged down her legs. Seht cupped her butt and dug his fingers into her cheeks. “Now that is an ass.” Victoria was convinced she couldn’t blush any hotter. Ravnos looked down. “Lovely as it is, all that hair on your pussy has to go.” Victoria’s mouth fell open. “What?” Seht leaned over to the side, grinning. “May I do the honors?” “If you like.” Ravnos nodded toward the far end of the chamber. “My shaving kit is in the facility.” The skeldhi looked up at Victoria and his eyes were electric blue with unconcealed heat. He squeezed her ass cheek and got to his feet. “I’ll be right back.” Victoria watched him stride off then glared at her captain. “Why the hell are you doing this to me?” “I’m something of a traditionalist.” His fingers caught at her nipples and tugged them to sudden hardness. “I want my crew to prefer me to my ship.” Victoria glared. “And raping them makes that happen?”

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Ravnos snorted and knelt on one knee. “If this was just a rape, I’d already be up your ass.” He leaned forward. “By the time we’re done, you’ll be screaming for it.” “What? You’re out of your mind!” His breath was warm on her sensitive skin. Then his mouth was hot and wet against the plump fullness of her breast. A soft gasp escaped her. He captured a nipple. His tongue swirled, then rasped the delicate flesh. She sucked in a sharp breath as erotic delight blazed straight down to her clit. The son of a bitch was getting her excited. Ravnos released her nipple with a wet pop and smiled. “Out of my mind? Really?” He tugged on her nipple with firm fingers until it rose to a bright hot nub. He pushed a gold ring over it, making sure to snug it against the areola. “That’ll keep that nipple happy.” Victoria felt an electric warmth shiver through her nipple. Was that the ring? She bit back on an escaping moan. He held up another tiny ring. “And now for the other.” He leaned over, took the other nipple into his mouth and sucked. The delicious sensation of his mouth on her nipple delivered a hard kick to her libido, and her core pulsed with sudden moist hunger. He leaned back and eyed her as he shoved the other ring over her nipple. Pulsing warmth burned in both nipples, and her clit responded with interest. She couldn’t hold back the resulting groan or the shiver. He reached out and tugged lightly on both her ringed nipples. “Responsive little thing, aren’t you?” “With all due respect.” Victoria panted against the growing sexual hunger battling her temper for dominance. “Eat shit and die, sir.” “I’d say that little comment deserves a spanking, Captain.” Victoria started. The skeldhi stood at Ravnos’s elbow. When the hell had he returned? Ravnos frowned at her crotch. “Let’s get her clean first.” He grabbed Victoria by the elbows and turned her until her back was pressed against the desk, then he lifted her by the arms. “Sit.” Victoria sat on the desktop. Damn force-cuffs. It was physically impossible to disobey a direct order or move from any position they put her wrists or ankles in. Ravnos pressed a hand to her shoulder. “Lie back and spread.” She eased back and her hair spilled across the desk. The smooth surface was cool against the warmth of her spine. A shiver raced through her. “What are you going to do?” Her voice was embarrassingly high. Seht bent and closely examined her vulnerable pussy. “First we’re going to shave you clean.”

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Ravnos stretched casually alongside of her and propped his chin on one hand. “Then I’m going to ring your little clit.” He smiled with heat. “And then we are going to fuck that attitude clean out of your sweet ass.” Seht’s warm hands pressed her thighs further open. “Hold very still.” His long fingers moved lightly across her plump outer lips. “Damn, she’s really wet. I think she’s actually dripping.” “I figured as much.” Ravnos stared at Victoria with undisguised amusement. “Her excitement has been scenting the whole chamber since she walked in here.” Victoria swallowed hard. By Fate, this is embarrassing! She shut her eyes against the sexual tension caused by Seht’s gentle touch on her soon-to-be-hairless mound, and the sadistic rings on her nipples. An electric buzz tingled in the region of her sensitive and exposed feminine flesh. A chilling but gentle tug on her mound, then a cool breeze marked the loss of her curls. “I still say we should spank her first.” Ravnos nodded. “We can do that.” Victoria turned to Ravnos in alarm. “You can’t spank me!” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “We can’t?” Victoria scowled. “I’m not a child!” Seht stood. “Trust me, this is not a spanking one gives to a child.” He turned to Ravnos. “All clean and pink.” He winked at Victoria. “My favorite color.” He stepped back. Ravnos got up from the desk and held up the third ring. “You are really going to like this one.” He took Seht’s place and peered at her crotch. “That clit needs to be just a bit further out.” His mouth and tongue took her. The stab of brutal pleasure was too intense to resist. Victoria gasped and arched her spine, but the cuffs would not allow her to move anywhere. The sound of wet lapping was loud. His tongue danced on her to the tune of lightning flashes of merciless delight. Small helpless sounds escaped her mouth. Seht took Ravnos’s place at her side. “I just love feminine whimpers. Don’t you?” An assenting mumble answered him. Victoria shot Seht a look of loathing. She would make him pay. She would make them both pay for this humiliation. “What a look. Play nice, Victoria,” Seht drawled. He reached out and cupped her breast. “We intend to play nice with you.” His long nails trapped a swollen nipple and lightly pinched. Victoria released a gasping cry. She felt Ravnos’s fingers grasp her clit and orgasm coiled tight and hard in her belly. She stiffened and her breath stopped. He released her clit and she slid back from the brink. Her breath exploded out of her. She was instantly furious, but she

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couldn’t tell if it was from humiliation or unappeased sexual frustration. She strongly suspected the latter, but they would rot in hell before they heard her beg. “That’s it, all three rings.” Ravnos stood and wiped his mouth with one hand. “Good flavor, too.” Seht sat up with speed. “Now?” “Sure. I need a break.” Ravnos shook his head and stepped away. “I almost lost it when she nearly came on my hand. She’s got one hell of a repressed appetite.” Victoria made a violent sound of protest. “I am not repressed!” Seht pinched her nipple and watched her resulting shiver. “You have never been spanked or ass-fucked. I would say that’s pretty damned repressed.” “Bastard!” Seht rolled his eyes and grinned. “Oh, you have no idea.”

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Chapter 6 After a bit of judicious wrestling, Victoria lay sprawled ass-up and head-down across Seht’s lap in Ravnos’s desk chair. Why don’t they kill me and just end it? “Now then, you have been a very naughty girl.” Seht leaned down to peer at her with an unholy grin. “And as I am responsible for discipline on this ship, your ass is mine.” “You’re responsible for what?” She saw his hand rise and flinched. “Discipline.” The loud crack of hard hand on soft flesh startled her. She hissed and writhed under the burn on her left cheek. “It’s true, I let Seht handle discipline.” Ravnos sat on his desk, comfortably swinging one foot while staring at her butt. “He seems to enjoy it.” “Should you choose to disobey an order…” Seht’s hand came down hard on her other cheek. “You get to spend quality time…” He smacked the first cheek again. “With me.” Victoria set her jaw to keep back the undignified sounds trying to pass through her lips. She tried to hold still, but her ass had a mind of its own, and it jumped and writhed all by itself. “Feel free to scream,” Seht said cheerfully. “Not that it will do you any good.” Victoria bared her teeth at him. “I’m going to kick your ass for this!”

Crack! An undignified squeal was surprised out of her. She followed it with a hiss. Her right ass cheek blazed with fire. “You were saying?” He didn’t give her time to answer. He landed three more sharp cracks on each cheek.

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Victoria gasped and bit down on her lip. She would damn well not scream, but bloody Fate, her ass hurt! She just knew that she would have bruises tomorrow. Ravnos watched Victoria’s wriggling butt with interest. “You know, this was a good idea.” Victoria writhed under another short volley of sharp burning smacks. Tiny whimpers escaped from her throat. He stopped, and she panted in exhaustion. “I have the occasional good idea.” Seht’s hands moved across her warming butt with possessive delight. “Considering that she’s a fear junkie, this ought to really soften her up.” Victoria turned to look at him. “I’m a what?” Seht raised a silver brow. “You get excited when you’re frightened.” “I do not!” Where the hell had he gotten that idea? “Oh, come on!” He smacked her ass to punctuate his remark. “When the captain put his sword to your throat, you soaked right through the crotch of your flight suit. I could smell you from where I stood.” He pinched the red welt he’d just made. Victoria couldn’t hold back her groan. Seht chuckled. “In fact, right now you’re soaking though my breeches.” Victoria wanted to scream, but the bastard was right, she was creaming so much that her thighs were wet with it. “Are you kidding? She stank the whole chamber up with hungry cunt as soon as I pulled that sword from its scabbard.” He looked at Seht. “I seriously thought about taking her right there.” “Why didn’t you?” He sank two fingers into her wet cunt and wiggled. “Ah, smooth as melted butter.” Victoria bucked and gasped, feeling her body tighten around his fingers with appetite. His fingers pressed and rubbed deep within. She fought to squelch a whimper. Ravnos shrugged. “I wanted her hooked on the ship first.” Seht pulled his fingers out. “Was that before or after you knew who she was?” He thrust them back in. Victoria’s ringed clit throbbed with the carnal pleasure he stirred. She released a soft needy sound, and her hips rocked with uncontrollable eagerness. “Oh, I knew who she was. I was, however, surprised that you’d heard of her.” Seht raised a silver brow. “She’s been on the skeldhi collection list for quite a while now.” Victoria struggled to look at them. “Collection list? What collection list?” “Funny, she’s on mine too.” A vicious smile curled Ravnos’s lip. “As soon as I found out that the Victorious Star controlled the Adamant, there was no way I was going to let her escape.”

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Victoria felt the shock roll over her. “What?” “I tracked the Adamant for three days. I couldn’t believe that they’d stop at the first orbital station they found.” “I told those morons to let me stay in the chair.” She shot Ravnos a look of pure venom. “If I had been flying, I would have known you were there.” “I can believe it. I saw how far our scanners ranged with you in our chair. What I still can’t understand is why they let you go.” “I think letting her go had a lot to do with this virgin ass.” Seht pressed a slick finger to the puckered rose of her anus. Victoria stilled. He was not… He leaned over to her ear. “Push out, against me.” Victoria helplessly obeyed, and his finger slid right in. Merciless Fate! She was ass-up across her commander’s lap with his finger shoved up her butt. “How close is she?” “Hmm.” Seht thrust his finger deeper into her butt. She shut her eyes and moaned in abject mortification. She felt another trickle of moisture slide from her traitorous cunt. He flicked her ringed clit. Erotic lightning struck with exquisite fire. She choked and shuddered on the threshold of sudden and violent climax. The moment passed, and she panted with shame mixed with bitter regret. “I think she’s ready, Captain.” “Good. Let’s get her up on the desk.” Seht pulled his finger out. “Face up or face down?” “For her first reaming? Definitely face down.” They lifted Victoria and pressed her face down in the center of Captain Ravnos’s broad desk. Her hair spilled across it to the far edge. They pulled her hands above her head and set her feet firmly on the deck.

I don’t believe this! This is so degrading. And she had never been so excited in her life. “Do you have the lube?” She heard the jingling of a belt being unfastened. “I kept it warm in my pocket.” He paused. “You’re wearing a ring?” “Don’t want to lose it as soon as I get in there.” There was a distinct squirting sound. “God, that feels good on my dick. I haven’t been this hard since I first had you facedown on my desk. Come to think of it, I remember having to wear a ring for you too.” “That was unkind.” Seht’s voice was dangerously soft.

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Ravnos snorted. “You didn’t seem to mind at the time.” “Being dominated? Oh, I minded.” “Are you sure? Took me a week to get all of your cum off my desk.” “Once I have command of my own ship again, we’ll see who’s cum covers whose desk.” “I caught you last time, I’ll catch you again.” “As I said, we’ll see.” Victoria felt something pressing against her anus. “Push against it,” Ravnos said quietly. She didn’t think, she simply pushed and felt herself open. Warm gel squirted into her, quickly followed by a thick finger. She cringed. “God, she’s tight.” He chuckled. “This probably going to hurt.” “Considering the size of you, and this is probably her first time? She’ll feel it for the next week.” Seht’s soft chuckle had a sinister sound to it. His finger left her body and something thicker began to press ruthlessly. Victoria shivered hard and felt excited moisture sliding down her splayed thighs. Bloody Fate! Ravnos leaned over her. “Open wide, little girl, I’m coming in.” Victoria swallowed and tried to comply. His thick cock spread the ring of her anus impossibly wide, and burned. She closed her eyes tight and gasped. “Damn you, that hurts!” “Of course it does.” He grunted and pressed harder. “It’s supposed to.” Her flesh stretched wider to accommodate him. She gasped, feeling a chill sweat form on her spine. She tried desperately to thrash as the invasion continued, but the force-cuffs held her immobile and thoroughly helpless for his taking. Ravnos groaned over her. “Almost there.” Victoria felt his thighs press against her buttocks and he stopped. Ravnos leaned over her. “How does it feel, Nav-Pilot, to finally get an ass-full of dick on your captain’s desk?” Dark satisfaction purred in his voice. Victoria did not want to think or feel anything at all. Her butt felt overfull and she was desperate to relieve the agony, but the bastard had to keep reminding her that she was there to be dominated. “Just get it the fuck over with.” “I don’t know why you’re being so resistant.” Seht said from right in front of her. Victoria’s eyes snapped open. Seht leaned over the desk only a foot from her face with his chin propped on his hand. His gaze was hot and hungry. “We both know exactly how excited you are.” Victoria clenched her jaw. “Damn the both of you.”

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Ravnos chuckled and it rumbled deep in his chest. “Sounds like it’s time to learn some respect for your commanding officers.” He wound her hair around his fist until he had it tight to the back of her skull. “Okay, let her go.” Seht raised a tiny remote, and smiled. A subtle shimmer rippled through her augmentation, and she was free. Victoria jerked her hands back, arched, and got her elbows under her, bringing her chest off the desk. “Oh no, you don’t.” Ravnos shoved her back down. “You’re getting a thorough assreaming.” He pulled partway out. Victoria took a startled breath. His withdrawal was actually somewhat painless. In fact it was nearly pleasurable. He shoved back in agonizingly hard to prove his point. Victoria released a gasping moan and writhed. Going in hurt like hell. “The less you fight it, the better off you’ll be.” Seht grinned. “Of course, I hope you fight it every inch of the way.” “And you call me a sadistic bastard?” Ravnos snorted. “I prefer my subordinates eager for it.” He pulled out with exquisite slowness. Victoria bit back a moan as the disconcerting and perverted stimulation increased. She suddenly felt finger-pressure on her greedy clit. Carnal hunger blazed ferociously through her. She bucked in reaction, and a gasping cry escaped her lips. “She definitely liked that.” Seht licked his lips. “And that’s what I want.” Ravnos thrust back in. Victoria’s mouth opened and her body twisted under him, confused between the frenzied rapture from his fingers on her clit and the savage fullness in her ass. He pulled back and the lascivious delight returned, only this time his fingers moved on her ringed clit. Raw naked lust roared through her with fierce appetite. She gasped and thrust back against him with rash urgency to get back to that inciting pleasure. Ravnos held her still against the desk. “You hold still, I’m doing the driving.” He proceeded to illustrate with ruthless thrusts followed by slow arousing withdrawals. Victoria stopped thinking about anything but the excruciating carnal pressure building in her belly. Each merciless possession still ached, but the sharp thrusting pain sharpened the drugging pleasure, creating an exquisite torment almost too much to bear. Her eager gasps and moans filled the chamber. “Now we’re making progress,” Ravnos growled in a voice hoarse with lust. “I hate it when you say that,” Seht said softly. Victoria’s climax rose in a tidal wave that threatened to crash with brutal and explosive force.

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Ravnos abruptly stopped, buried to the balls. He bent over her sweating, writhing body. “Going somewhere?” Victoria panted in confusion as she fought to put two thoughts together. She was right there, teetering on the edge of a momentous meltdown, and he had stopped. “What?” “You’ll cum when I tell you that you can cum,” he growled in her ear. Victoria groaned and rolled her hips in frustrated need. “I said no.” He tightened his fist in her hair, and grabbed her hip, forcibly holding her still. “I’m waiting for my response, crewman.” Victoria whimpered, trapped between her body’s rapacious hunger and her captain’s order. The raging passion in her body twisted sharply into severe and stark despair. “Yes, sir,” she said in miserable defeat. “What was that?” Victoria shuddered. “Yes, sir,” she said louder. “That’s better.” He released her hair and hip, then lay down on top of her, holding her still by cradling her body with his arms. Victoria could not stop trembling. His breath was warm against her ear, and the silky dampness of his dress-shirt passed the heat of his firm body against her sweating back. His cock was a hot iron bar shoved up her ass, but his warm body gave the impression of comfort and protection. She closed her eyes. Confusion ran riot in the region of her heart.

This doesn’t make sense! She knew this was a deliberate act of domination and hated him for doing it, but at the same time, another part of her seemed to be pleased that he had thought her worthy of domination. As though part of her wanted to be dominated. He brushed his fingers across the hair sticking to her forehead. “Who do you serve?” His gentle voice caressed yet knifed straight through her. Victoria felt something trying to break free in her chest, as though a door in her soul had cracked open. Tears formed. She shut her eyes to keep them back. “You, sir.” “That’s right, very good.” He swept a gentle hand down her side. “And who do you owe obedience to?” Her voice cracked as sobs threatened to break free. “You, sir.” “And if I tell you to pull up your skirt or get down on your knees, you will obey?” “Yes, sir.” Victoria didn’t even think to hesitate. “And if I tell you to cum?” Victoria tucked her chin down as far as it would go in an attempt to hide, but he was everywhere. Tears spilled on the desk. “I will, sir.” “Very good.” He rose from her body and pulled away. “Turn over on your back.” Victoria felt his cock slide from her aching butt with immense relief combined with a confusing sense of loss. She rolled over on her back and came up on her elbows.

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Ravnos was in complete sweaty disarray but a vicious smile of triumph wreathed his lips. “Shall we finish what we’ve begun?” Victoria was too terrified of the cruel delight in his expression not to answer. “Yes, sir.” He stepped between her splayed thighs. “Lie back and put your hands behind your neck.” Victoria obeyed without question then felt his hands cup her ass and lift. He fitted himself back into her sore ass and she groaned. He had stretched her wide enough to make his reentry far easier, but she was still quite sore, and he was still very hard. He came down over her, framing her as he rested on his elbows. “Keep your eyes open and on me,” he said with pitiless determination. Then he thrust. Shoved forward by the impact, her breasts and the rings on her nipples rocked. His thrust also put direct pressure on her ringed clit. Ferocious pleasure burned from all three rings. She gasped and arched under him. There was no escaping the exultant hunger burning in his eyes. His thrusts increased in speed and strength, forcing her to lock her ankles behind him as he fucked her ass without mercy. The brutal pounding drove Victoria hard and fast to the edge of a climax she dared not reach for. This time, her moans and thrashing were in protest against her body’s demand for release. He slowed his thrusts, and his eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re resisting. Good.” He leaned down and his tongue lapped at an engorged nipple. Victoria hissed and arched under the burn of terrible and cruel delight. He raised a brow and his lip curled. “Very good, very obedient.” He leaned up from the desk and jerked off his shirt, throwing it across the chamber. Captain Ravnos’s skin was pale gold and as beautifully sculpted as a fine-honed weapon. And just as deadly. He came back down over her with a bloodcurdling smile. “This time, no mercy.” His mouth took her nipple, sucking with torturous greed as he fucked her. Victoria couldn’t stop her gasping whimpers. Eyes narrowed in icy concentration, he pinched and rolled her other nipple while grinding his hard cock deep in her ass. Victoria bit back a scream, fighting the fire that threatened to burst in her core. He increased his thrusts, riding her hard and fast with punishing force while continuing his agonizing suckling. Ravening climax roared, pushing Victoria to the excruciating edge. She threw back her head and screamed in denial.

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Ravnos raised his head from her breast, his face contorted with feral urgency. He closed his eyes briefly and groaned, then grabbed her hips and thrust deep, holding her there. “Now. Cum now.” Victoria’s back arched as the breath closed in her throat. She exploded in a fireball of convulsing climax and shrieked. He made a gasping cry and thrust, then thrust again. His cock throbbed deep in her ass as he filled it with jet after jet of hot spunk. Barely conscious, Victoria panted while shuddering with aftershocks. Ravnos straightened and pulled out with a groan. “Blood and Chaos.” “You know, you give me the chills every time you break someone that way,” Seht said with bitter amusement. Ravnos scooped a limp Victoria into his arms and dropped, exhausted, into his chair with her draped across his lap. “Fond memories?” Seht’s blue eyes narrowed but his smile remained. “Not exactly.” Ravnos wiped the sweat from his brow with his abandoned cravat and trapped his executive officer with his icy gaze. “Really?”

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Chapter 7 The intercom on the desk beeped. “Seht, could you get that? I’m somewhat occupied at the moment,” Ravnos said in a low voice. Seht paused in the act of untying his cravat and shot the intercom a bitter look. “This had damn well better be important.” He moved to the far side of the desk, picked up the earcom, and hit the desk button. “Commander Seht here.” Startled out of her stupor, Victoria stared up at Ravnos. She lay across his legs in the chair. She got her hands under her to get up and winced. Bloody Fate, her butt hurt! But worse than that was that some dark, secret part of her soul seemed satisfied beyond description. “Stay.” Ravnos set his arm around her and pressed her back against his chest. “You’ll live. I promise.” “Do I have to?” Ravnos chucked. “Yes, you have to live. I have work for you, and poor Seht hasn’t had a chance to play with you yet.” Victoria bit her lip. That’s right, he’s going to… She swallowed. Fuck me too. Reflexively, she wrapped her arms around herself and looked over at Seht. Traitorous anticipation curled deep and low. I can’t be looking forward to this! Fate, what is wrong with

me? Seht closed his eyes and grimaced. “I’ll be right there.” He set down the earcom and started to viciously retie his cravat. “As soon as I settle down to a little fun, life, as usual, gets in the way.” He gave Victoria a glance full of regret. “I’m afraid I have to postpone our engagement.” Ravnos frowned. “What is it?”

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“It seems that we weren’t the only ones early. Three ships are coming out of jumpspace.” He strode across the chamber and collected his abandoned waistcoat and long-coat. Ravnos scowled. “Have they seen us?” Seht shook his head. “Not according to our sensors.”

The ship. Victoria struggled to get up. “I need to get back to the nav-chair.” “You will stay right where you are,” Ravnos’s hands tightened around her. “Seht is fully capable of handling this.” Victoria froze. She couldn’t even make herself insist. Everything in her simply refused to argue with his direct order. A sudden tremor shook her. Had it worked? Had he actually succeeded in dominating her? Seht smiled. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll be back for you.” Victoria’s fingers tightened on her arms. “Please, don’t hurry on my account,” she said through clenched teeth. Seht lip curled in a cool smile. “Our nav-pilot is recovering quickly.” “Indeed.” Ravnos raised a black brow. “I may have to find some way to occupy that sarcastic tongue of hers.” She bit her lip and turned away sharply. Fate and damnation! Me and my big mouth! Seht looked toward Ravnos. “Shall I return here or--?” “My quarters.” Ravnos focused on Victoria’s profile. “I’ll have her ready for you when you get back.” “Excellent.” Seht chuckled as he walked out the door. Victoria closed her eyes. Great, just great… “All right then.” Ravnos leaned forward and helped Victoria to her feet. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” Victoria didn’t even try to hold back her groan as she got to her feet. Everything hurt. He took her shoulders to steady her. “Can you walk?” “I’ll manage.” Victoria clutched her arms across her breasts. “Good. Stay there.” Shirtless, he walked around the desk and collected his coat and vest from a coat rack stationed in a corner. Victoria found herself staring at the broad muscles in his back. He still wore his pants and his boots. She turned away and focused on the ache in her backside and the moisture of his cum sliding down her thighs. He hadn’t even gotten all the way undressed to -- to take her. And yet, her other, darker nature whispered, she had never cum so hard in her entire life. “Here, put this on.” His coat landed on her shoulders and draped to the deck.

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“Can’t have you walking around naked.” His lip curled in almost a smile. “At least not in the halls.” He dragged his rumpled shirt on, then haphazardly tucked it into his pants. Victoria slid her arms into the sleeves and watched nervously as he bent to button up the front. She swallowed. The rings on her nipples were tingling again.

***** Ravnos pushed Victoria out into the hall ahead of him. “Quickly, now.” On stocking feet, Victoria obeyed the pressure of the captain’s bare palm on her shoulder down to the lift. She hadn’t even tried to collect her clothes or boots. The hall remained thankfully empty of crew. The lift doors opened to a short hall that ended with two broad double doors leading to the captain’s suite. He pressed his other palm to the lock. Victoria didn’t have a chance to hesitate. His hand stayed firmly on her shoulder as he practically shoved her past the doors and into his personal quarters. Whatever she had been expecting, it certainly wasn’t this. The salon of the captain’s suite was like nothing she had ever seen. Can stark be opulent? Light and shadows, midnight glass, tarnished chrome, black silk and huge circular smoked mirrors. The deck was carpeted in deep wine. On the far right stood an archaic round table of polished mahogany with two chairs. A matching third sat against the wall behind it. She was directed through the room and past another set of double doors into his bedchamber. More smoked mirrors with floor-sweeping draperies covered the walls. A monstrous bed covered in a black silk spread commanded nearly the entire back wall under a huge window overlooking deep space. Victoria frowned. There was not a trace of anything personal in it anywhere. No books, no mementos, no pictures. It looked more like a showroom than someone’s sleeping quarters. Ravnos guided her toward the far side of the monstrous bed. His hand closed on her shoulder. “Stop.” Victoria stopped by the bed’s far corner and saw a door just past it. Ravnos dropped onto the foot of the bed and pulled off his shirt. His boots came off next. He reached for her and undid the buttons of the coat then tugged it from her shoulders. “Turn around.” Victoria turned around and saw a pair of life-sized, beautifully carved statues of polished black stone against the far wall, one male, one female, both nudes. Neither looked entirely human and both appeared to be writhing in pain, or ecstasy. Or both. She felt his fingers on the back of her garter belt. “I believe we can dispense with this.” He chuckled. “For now.”

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The lacy satin slid from her hips and the battered stockings slid with it. Victoria was forced to bend over right in front of his face to take the stockings off. “Very nice.” Victoria felt her cheeks warm. He was staring at her butt. She could feel the thick wetness of his cum sliding from her abused anus. She turned back around to find him standing. He was a head and a half taller than she was, and magnificently naked. His skin was an even, warm gold and his fairly slender frame was solid with sinewy muscle. He reminded her of a Terran mountain lion, a beautiful, feral killing machine. And he was big. His cock was only semi-hard, but it looked too big to get her hand around. And he had that

up my ass? His cool gray eyes warmed and the corner of his mouth tilted up. “Like what you see?” Victoria hastily averted her eyes. She did, but she would not ever admit it, especially not to his face. His palm closed on her bare shoulder. “Let’s get you into the shower.” The door directly past the bed led to the bathing facility. Victoria looked around in fascination. More glass and chrome with wine-colored towels fastened into a rack. The shower unit was large enough to house four people comfortably. Chrome bars were set horizontally around the walls at about waist height. Victoria grimaced. She’d hate to be the enlisted crewman that got stuck cleaning this place up. Ravnos started the water recycler, then directed her under the spray. Victoria sighed. The temperature was exactly right. “Stay right there. Don’t move.” Victoria pushed her wet hair from her face to look back at him. “But how do I wash?” “You don’t. I’m bathing you.” Ravnos reached for a cloth and the soap bottle. Victoria stared in shock. “What?” That did not make any sense at all. If he was out to dominate her, why would he suddenly do something so -- so nurturing? “Just hold still and relax.” He stroked the soapy cloth down her back and further down her flanks. The water was hot enough to soothe, and his touch was firm but gentle. He wasn’t teasing; he really was washing her. “So you are the Victorious Star, savior of ships.” Ravnos scrubbed her arms, then each individual finger. Victoria frowned, watching him wash around the force-cuff still on her wrist. Was he inviting actual conversation? She cleared her throat. “That title is not exactly a compliment.”

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“Are you kidding?” Amusement colored his voice. “You’ve never lost a ship you’ve flown. That’s one hell of a recommendation to any captain.” His hand held her shoulder firmly as he scrubbed her shoulders and back. Victoria stared at the fogged glass door and felt that bursting sensation in her heart. She was astonished to find herself suddenly close to tears. What the hell was wrong with her? She never cried! She sucked in a harsh breath and gathered her temper. “Which is why I’m selected, and also why I’m reassigned.” He moved her long hair over one shoulder to scrub her neck. “I’m betting that you had to fight those captains to save their ships.” “Nearly every time.” Victoria sighed under his hands, caught between the sheer animal pleasure of fingers digging into her sore muscles, and the fact that it was Ravnos’s fingers doing it. “What happened?” So he wanted to know about her stupid captains? All right. “I would give them my data and course recommendations, but they’d argue every time.” She winced as memories assaulted her. Her ships battered needlessly by enemy fire that could have been avoided. Her pointless fury at her captains and their refusal to listen to her expert advice. Her ships nearly destroyed through their negligence. She would not, could not let the ship die because of the captain’s idiocy. “Fate and damnation, why wouldn’t they listen?” “Sounds to me like their egos got in the way.” “What?” “They were captains, so it was beneath them to accept that anyone actually knew more about their ship than they did.” Victoria scowled. “But that’s stupid! I can’t lie about the data, not while I’m jacked in. They have to know I’m telling the truth!” She closed her eyes. “What’s the point of having a nav-pilot in the chair if you’re going to ignore what they tell you?” He knelt in front of her and scrubbed her chest and belly, almost impersonally. “Yes, it’s very stupid, and unfortunately all too common. My guess is that you’ve yet to have a captain that understood exactly what his nav-pilot was for.” Victoria shivered under his hands. You certainly found a use for me. “So how did you save the ships without actually causing a mutiny?” “I didn’t need to mutiny. The captains and their commanding officers usually abandoned together, leaving me the highest-ranking officer still on board.” She shook her head. “I just waited until they left and took over.” He knelt down and concentrated on washing around the cuff on her ankles. “And the crew didn’t leave with them?”

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Victoria was forced to set a hand on his shoulder for balance. “Oh, most did, but I usually had a few allies in engineering and other vital functions, so I could pretty much maneuver and maintain operations enough to get into jumpspace.” He frowned. “They had to know that if you refused to leave, you planned on saving the ship?” “I don’t think they had the brains to figure that one out,” she said grimly. “They were too busy cramming themselves and their possessions into an escape shuttle.” “And then you come sailing into port with the ship they abandoned, still in one piece, proving them wrong.” “And they promptly relieved me of duty.” She could taste the bitterness in her mouth. “They can’t very well court-martial you, they’d get themselves into too much trouble for abandoning ship when the situation was still salvageable.” Victoria smiled grimly. “The Imperium lost more than one idiot that tried to courtmartial me.” Ravnos snorted. “I would have loved to see their faces when they found themselves sitting on the bench instead of you.” Victoria nodded and sighed. “I’m guessing that this is how you acquired the reputation as someone willing to sacrifice the captain for the ship?” Victoria set her jaw. It was a little more complicated than that, but she wasn’t about to go into detail. “A ship is more worthy of saving.” He shoved the soapy cloth up into her crotch. Her ringed clit blazed with sudden and violent urgency. She threw back her head and hissed. His application of the cloth gentled and the use of slippery soap increased, but he remained thorough in his cleaning. “Still sensitive?” Victoria shuddered as he concentrated on her backside. “Looks that way.” She was too busy dealing with her outraged sex-drive and her sore butt to worry about anything else. A gleam appeared in Ravnos eye. “There are only three options for a nav-pilot who consistently knows more than her captains, you know.” “I know of two.” Victoria balled her fists and struggled to get her heart rate back under control. “Reassignment or decommissioning.” His cool gray gaze caught hers. “The third is a captaincy.” He got up and walked behind her. She gave the wall a sour smile. “I doubt they’ll ever hand me a ship.” His hands moved through her wet hair. “Tilt your head back and close your eyes. I’m going to wash your hair.”

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Victoria did as he requested. “Even if someone did think to offer me a ship, I’d probably turn it down.” Her knees nearly buckled with the incredible sensation of strong fingers massaging her scalp. “Don’t you want to be your own captain?” His voice was very close to her ear. “Not really.” She had to hold back a groan. Fate and heaven, he was good at this. “Why not?” “I prefer being in the pilot’s chair. If I had to give up flying, I would miss it.” “Which is the main reason why a captain who used to be a nav-pilot is rare. Most captains get their rank through political maneuvering. They want the position so they can stand over others. A nav-pilot turned captain is a polar opposite in personality. They usually end up in a position to keep one of those idiots out of the chair.” He set a hand on her shoulders. “I’ve never had a captain who was originally a nav-pilot.” Warm spray from one of the detachable nozzles caressed her scalp, sluicing the soap from her hair. “Probably the root of your problem. If you served under one, you’d notice the difference right away.” “A captain who actually serves his ship?” Victoria snorted. “They’d have me as a navpilot for life.” “Really?” He squeezed the water from her long mane. “You can open your eyes now.” Victoria wiped her hands across her damp face and opened her eyes. He knelt in front of her. “Spread your legs wider.” Victoria complied without thought. He flashed a tight smile and his palms closed on her thighs. “Feel free to use my shoulders for support.” She looked down at the top of his head in alarm. “What are you going to do?” “Reward you for your honesty.” He leaned forward. Victoria jolted in surprise. He is not really going to…? His lips brushed her still aching clit, then his wet tongue. Her body tightened ferociously under a wave of honey-thick lust that expelled the breath from her. She felt her cunt grow wet with cream for him. “Mmm.” He drove his tongue deeper to lap at her with long slow strokes. Passion swelled rich and voluptuous, inundating her with a wave of rolling molten heat. She came up on her toes, arched her back and grabbed onto his shoulders for dear life. This was utterly different than before. The edgy sharpness whetted by pain was entirely missing. A hand came up and she felt him cup her breast to caress, then slowly squeeze.

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The solid wave of intense pleasure hammered her and nearly brought her to tears. The intensity seemed completely out of proportion to the gentleness of the touch. Everything from his touch, though the caress was light, to the pleasure she gained from it, seemed deeper and more profound. Passion surged as though it poured from somewhere else, a deeper, hidden part of her. His thumb slowly brushed back and forth across her nipple. Heat lightning stabbed downward, adding urgency to the stunning waves. Her hips bucked against his mouth and soft needy sounds escaped her lips. Climax built to a single crushing wave that crested before she was ready for it. Instinctively she jerked her head back and tried to pull away from his mouth. He gripped her thigh, holding her fast to his mouth. “Cum.” Orgasm caught her in its crushing velvet grip then surged over her in devastating waves. She cried out and collapsed over him. He lay her on the floor of the shower, and his tongue did not stop until he had drunk his fill of her trembling passion. He lifted his head. “Very good.” Suddenly overwhelmed, she burst into an inexplicable storm of tearing, gulping sobs. He pulled her into his arms and waited for her tears to end. Victoria had no idea what had happened. One second she was having one hell of an orgasm and then suddenly she sobbing her eyes out on Ravnos’s shoulder as though the world had ended. She pulled back and rubbed her hands on her cheeks. “I’m sorry.” He pushed long wet strands of her hair from her cheek. “For what?” She shivered hard. “I don’t know. I…” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t understand what just happened.” He helped her to her feet. “When was the last time someone thanked you?” Victoria was brought up short. “I don’t know.” He tilted his head. “There’s your answer.” “Huh?” She looked at him in total confusion. “Never mind, you’ll figure out.” He leaned over to shut off the water. “Probably by morning, if I know Seht.” Victoria flinched. Bloody damning Fate! I forgot all about him!

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Chapter 8 Face down on the gleaming surface of the round table in the salon, Victoria felt her face heat violently. “Do you really have to do this?” She hadn’t hesitated when he ordered her to bend over the edge, but as she lay there, her sense of personal propriety had returned, accompanied by a highly offended sense of protocol. “Seht is not exactly a small man, and he tends to be, shall we say, enthusiastic?” Ravnos parted her butt cheeks and squirted lube directly into her sore anus. “We don’t want to cause an injury if we can avoid it.” He slid his thick finger into her to push the viscous lubricant deeper. Victoria winced. “I meant was it really necessary to do any of it?” His finger hesitated in her butt. A tiny shiver glided up her spine. “Yes.” More lube was applied. “You need to understand on a visceral level whose orders you follow.” “But both of you?” “Of course. Seht is second in command. You are to follow his orders as well.” Victoria bit back a groan. If that finger went any deeper it was going to be in her stomach! “Bloody Fate! How am I supposed to sit in a chair?” “I’ll get you a cushion.” Ravnos chuckled. “You’ll get used to it after a while.”

After a while? Victoria felt her heart slam in her chest. She gritted her teeth. If this mercenary bastard wants to fuck his crew that’s all well and fine, but this nav-pilot is not playing that game. She was an Imperial officer, not a pleasure girl to be used when it suited them. She narrowed her eyes in concentration. I’m nobody’s fuck-toy! And she was not

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without resources. She had already decided to go ahead and let Seht do what mayhem he planned, but after that this game was over. The intercom on the wall buzzed. Completely comfortable in his nudity, Ravnos strode for the lighted box by the facility door. He set the receiver on his ear. “Ravnos here.” He frowned. “Damn and hellfire.” He sighed. “We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He turned to Victoria. “We have to go to the bridge. I need you in that chair.”

***** Ravnos had not exaggerated about being on the bridge in twenty minutes; they were dressed and ready in fifteen. Victoria was not entirely comfortable with the shortness of her uniform skirt, as she followed Ravnos from his quarters to the lift. This skirt actually covered her ass, but it certainly did not cover much else. When she sat down, she would have to cross her legs and keep them crossed to keep the pilots from seeing that she did not wear any form of panties whatsoever. The waistcoat hid the fact that she didn’t wear a brassiere, but the sway of her breasts made her ringed nipples rub a little too erotically against the silk of her blouse.

At least I finally have an officer’s coat. He had pulled the black coat from his closet, dropped it on her shoulders, then retied her cravat for her. She had buttoned it closed as far down as she had buttons, but far too much bare thigh still showed when she walked. I

suppose I should be grateful that I don’t have to wear that belt thingie and those stockings again. He had given her a pair of socks to wear under her boots. As a final insult, the captain had refused to allow her to put her hair back up. It swung in a long, loose, slightly damp mass down her back, bound only by a black ribbon tied in an extravagant bow. She eyed her captain. She was definitely not comfortable about Ravnos having a complete change of uniform available for her, including her spare boots, in his personal quarters. Ravnos had removed the force-cuffs around her ankles -- they wouldn’t fit under the boots -- but her wrists were still ringed with electronically active titanium. He had taken pains to let her know that he kept the remote control in his breast pocket. The lift doors opened. Ravnos headed for the command station. “What have you got, Number One?” Seht looked up from the command chair. “Three ships approaching our moon at advance speed three. We have positive identification on the two battle cruisers. They’re both Mordred Company ships, but the third appears to be a small Imperial fleet gig flying under silence. They’re not broadcasting identification.”

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Victoria frowned. He had to be mistaken. What would an Imperial gig be doing in the company of mercenary ships? She assumed her chair, flipped her long hair over her shoulder, and interlinked with the ship. She checked the ship’s complete array of sensors at the speed of thought. Ravnos connected to her on a private frequency. “Nav-Pilot, what do you have?” “Confirmed. Two Ifrit class battle cruisers, medium level armor, heavy weapons, energy and explosive capabilities, registered to the Mordred Privateers, mercenary fleet. The third ship is an Imperial ten-man launch. From the looks of the small fighters swarming around all three ships, the mercenaries are flying personal escort.” “What status is the launch? Is it a prisoner?” “Highly unlikely, Captain. Launches, even ones as large as this one, are not jumpcapable, so it had to have been brought here. However, it’s too large for either mercenary ship to carry or tow. My guess is that there is at least one Angel class dreadnought just out of sensor range, possibly more.” “Can you identify what ship it belongs to?” “Proceeding.” She concentrated, sifting through the data available. Light from the sweeping fighters momentarily brushed one flank of the launch. That one moment was enough for her to catch a view of the transport’s name and designation. She checked her personal files on the Imperial fleet. “The launch is registered to the Imperial Angel class dreadnought, the Righteous, Captain.” “Shit,” Seht hissed. “The Righteous? Are you absolutely sure?” “Yes, Captain, I refreshed my fleet files only two weeks ago, sir. This particular launch is registered as being a captain’s gig, the personal craft for…” She rechecked her data. “Admiral Roth Moraine.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. She knew that name from somewhere. “Great, just what we need…” Seht groaned softly. “Satan’s Wrath himself in our personal theater.” Victoria blinked. That’s right! Admiral Roth “Satan’s Wrath” Moraine of the Righteous, also known as the Emperor’s Sword, in charge of the Imperium’s largest fleet and hero of the Imperium. What the hell was an Imperial Admiral doing here, this far from the Imperium? “They’re almost on top of us.” Ravnos looked at Seht. “Do they know we’re here?” Seht shook his head. “There has been no sign that we’ve been detected, but it’s only a matter of time before our orbit brings us into their sensor range, and once they find us…” Victoria frowned. The ship was in danger? She studied the speed of the approaching craft. They were running out of time. If she was going to do something it had better be quick. “I am assuming that you do not want to reveal our existence, Captain?”

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“You assume correctly.” Victoria did not like revealing the extent of her skills, but she was not about to lose a ship if she could do something about it. “I can apply sensor counter-measures to hide the Hellsbreath, sir.” Seht stood. “Hide the Hellsbreath?” “It’s more of a camouflage. I can make it appear as though we’re a very deep shadow in a smallish crater on the surface of the moon.” Ravnos stood. “How?” Victoria swallowed. “By using the quantum reality grid to scramble our sensory emissions. Basically, I realign a low level of jump space around us to make it look like we’re not here. The Hellsbreath will look, feel, and sound just like the crater with which we are in a very precise and matching orbit. As long as we do not move from this spot, we will remain effectively invisible.” “This relies on the jump-grid?” Seht’s fingers flashed across his display, as he checked his readings. “Can we afford the output?” Ravnos scanned his holographic readout. “How much energy will we burn to maintain these countermeasures, Nav-Pilot?” “The energy needed to maintain camouflage can be run off rerouted reactor emissions. Rather than burn off the excess, I can realign our emissions back into the grid to fuel the slight shift in reality.” Ravnos frowned. “Is there a drawback?” Victoria swallowed. “The ship’s quantum reality acts as a disruption field. Any ship leaving the field has to be jump capable to keep their engine from being knocked off-line.” Ravnos tilted his head. “So, a departing ship appears to have stepped out of jump-space?” Victoria nodded slightly. “Yes, because in essence, it has. We will be surrounded by a thin veil of jump space quantum reality.” “If they find us, we are sitting targets.” Seht bared his long teeth. “We can’t deploy fighters, they’re not jump capable.” “We will be far from helpless.” Victoria snorted. “The illusion will kill the engine of any ship not actively using its jump grid when it enters the field.” “I see. We’ll become a submarine.” He dropped his chin. “How long will it take engineering to reroute power and active this camouflage?” Victoria accessed the engineering functions. “A matter of seconds, sir. I can activate it from here.” “I did not realize you had access to engineering functions,” Ravnos said in direct and private communication.

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Victoria flinched. She hated revealing the extent of her control over a ship, especially to a captain. “It takes time for any nav-pilot to understand how much she can access from her chair. I am a very experienced nav-pilot, sir.” “So I see.” He nodded. “Deploy your sensor countermeasures, Nav-Pilot.” Victoria released a breath she hadn’t known she held. “Deploying, sir.” At the speed of thought she rerouted power to the jump grid. The quantum reality around the ship warbled. In a matter of moments, the Hellsbreath became little more than an echo from the moon’s crater. Seht frowned. “A submarine?” Ravnos nodded. “An archaic Terran ship that moved underwater. It was invisible to any ship that sailed on the surface.” Victoria released her breath. “We are sensor-camouflaged, sir.” “Good.” He lifted his chin. “We will discuss the extent of your experience later, NavPilot.” Victoria bit her lip. “Yes, sir.” “I’m thrilled we’re invisible.” Seht scowled at his sensor readouts. “But what the hell does that bloodthirsty Imperial maniac want out here?” Ravnos peered at his holographic display. “Likely the same thing we do.” “Does this terminate our mission?” That caught Victoria’s attention. Ravnos had mentioned a mission earlier. Although she was not included in their private frequency, the ship had no problem overhearing them. The visuals were a little sketchy, so she couldn’t read their expressions, but she could make out their positions pretty well. Ravnos shook his head. “No. That is not an option. We recover or we destroy.” He looked over at Seht. “We’ll have to discuss this with our nav-pilot to see if she can take my place.” Victoria’s heart nearly stopped. Take his place doing what? Seht jerked upright. “Are you insane?” Ravnos stared at his executive officer. Seht turned sharply away and locked his hands behind his back. “Seht, look at me.” “I’m fine.” “Seht, that was not a suggestion.” Seht took a deep breath and turned to face his captain. He raised his chin and stared Ravnos in the eye.

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“I thought so.” Ravnos nodded and Seht turned away. “I have put this off too long.” His hands moved over the controls. “Nav-Pilot, can the ship maintain your sensor countermeasures without supervision?” “I retain a residual connection to the ship, sir. If the situation changes, the ship will relay the information to my location anywhere within the ship.” Victoria smiled grimly. And

that’s all the warning you get. The tables are about to turn, Captain. “Good.” The captain’s voice came over the main intercom system. He announced that shift change was to continue under normal schedule while under cautionary alert. Crew were expected to be ready to assume full alert at a moment’s notice, so everyone was to remain as close to their posts as sleeping arrangements would allow. At the mention of sleep, Victoria suddenly yawned. She checked her internal chronometer and discovered that she was already an hour past her normal sleeping cycle. She had noticed that this ship had a two-hour difference from the schedule on her last, but she hadn’t quite taken the senior officers’ carnal interests into account. Bloody Fate, it’s not

as if I planned on being kidnapped. Victoria barely withheld her groan as she matched her internal time to the ship’s current time. According to her posted schedule she was technically already off-duty. Which meant that she had somehow missed dinner too. Resigned to passing on dinner in favor of eating a big breakfast so she could sleep, she scanned her duty roster for the following ship cycle and reset her internal alarms. She hoped to escape back to her quarters for a much-needed rest as soon as Ravnos and Seht left the bridge. “Nav-Pilot?” Victoria turned, and started. Both Ravnos and Seht were watching her from only a few feet away. “Yes, sir?” “Would you disengage and join us please?” Ravnos expression was politely amused. Victoria’s eyes widened. Join them? What was he up to now? She began the procedure to disengage. “Certainly, sir.” Victoria struggled out of her chair using the long skirts of her officer’s coat to keep from flashing her bare and hairless mons to the entire crew. Ravnos offered his hand as she descended the stairs, then led the way to the lift. Seht fell into step next to Victoria. His hands were clenched together behind him and his shoulders seemed slightly hunched. He resolutely looked the other way. Victoria frowned. What was wrong with the commander?

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Chapter 9 Victoria stepped out of the forward lift and followed Ravnos down the hall. At the command lift her worry deepened. They were definitely headed back to the captain’s quarters. She bit her lip as the lift doors closed behind them. What the hell was he planning now? Ravnos turned to the keypad and the lift suddenly stopped between decks. He turned back and focused on his executive officer. “Seht, do it now.” Seht’s head came up in a froth of long white hair. “What? Here?” Ravnos nodded. “The yeomen have dinner set. I don’t want you shocking them, should you snap.” Seht flashed long incisors. “I’m not that far gone!” “And I need your brain back online to make plans,” Ravnos continued smoothly. “We both know you can’t think when you’re in this condition.” He held out his hand. “I’ll hold the coats.” Seht backed up a step and eyed Victoria. He spat out a vicious oath that Victoria’s internal translator refused to register, and jerked out of his coat. He dug at the buttons of his waistcoat. Ravnos looked at Victoria. “Take off your coat, and remove your waistcoat.” Victoria unbuttoned her coat. I really hope this isn’t what it looks like. She shrugged out of it and handed it to her captain. Her fingers fumbled on the buttons of her long waistcoat. Seht pulled off his cravat, baring his pale throat. He handed everything to the captain, then turned to Victoria. His expression bordered on pain, but his eyes were nearly white-hot with leashed passion. Lust was almost a scent in the air.

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Oh, shit -- it is what it looks like. Victoria could not stop her instinctive reaction. She took two quick steps back and pressed against the lift wall. Seht moved in a blur of speed, his palms flattened against the steel behind her, trapping her against the wall without actually touching her. Heat rolled off his body, and he seemed to tremble. His mouth brushed her ear. “This is not quite what I had planned,” he whispered. “Then let’s not do this.” Victoria shifted to slide away only to find him pressing fulllength against her. His hands slid down the wall to frame her hips. “Do you want to argue with him?” Seht tilted his head a fraction toward their Captain. She looked over at Ravnos. He watched them with cool eyes and a slight smile. She bit her lip. “No, not really.” “Neither do I.” Seht’s nod was barely discernable. “Our captain is a little too clever when it comes to retribution.” His hands closed on her skirt, pulling it up her thighs then over her butt. She sucked in a breath and discovered that lust did indeed have a scent, and it rolled off of Seht, rich, thick, and heady. And exciting. “Please don’t fight,” he breathed. His lips brushed her throat. “I am closer to the edge than I want him to know. If you fight, I may not be able to control my … appetites.” Victoria could taste her pulse in her mouth, but unbelievably, she could also feel moisture between her thighs. Some part of her was more than happy to be exactly where she was. Some secret corner of her soul wanted him to fuck her. She released her breath. “What do you want me to do?” Seht released a soft sigh. “Put your arms around my neck and I’ll lift you.” His hands cupped her naked buttocks. “Then put your legs around my waist and hold on.” Victoria lifted her arms and encircled his neck under his long white mane. His thick hair was soft as silk on her fingers. She was lifted and pressed back against the wall as though she weighed nothing. Seht was incredibly strong. There was a lot of steel and titanium augmentation in her body; she weighed as much, if not more than a full-grown male nearly twice her size. She wrapped her thighs around him and locked her ankles. He groaned and flashed her a grin. “Nice tight grip, just the way I like it.” He nuzzled her breasts through the silk of her shirt. “Mmm, no brassiere.” He glanced over at Ravnos. “You were thinking of me.” His lips traced a hard nipple. Fire streaked from her nipple to her core and Victoria’s breath caught. “Seht, we do not have the time to play.” Ravnos’s voice was calm, but firm. Seht curled his lip, baring a long fang, then released something that sounded very much like a jungle predator’s rumbling liquid growl. Ravnos raised a brow.

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Seht turned sharply away and focused on Victoria. “Fine. Quickly then.” She could feel his whole body vibrating as she held him between her thighs. His hands left her butt and she heard the jingle of a belt being released. His hands returned and he shifted her lower on his hips. Ravnos moved closer to the two of them. “She’s fully greased already.” He gave Victoria a look she couldn’t begin to describe, but she suspected that it was anticipation. “And I didn’t tell her.” Seht stilled, staring at Victoria with eyes that had dilated wide to black pits ringed with blue flame . “Indeed?” He licked his lips again then took a step back, away from the wall. “Can you take her shoulders? I need to get her at the right angle.” Ravnos pressed against the wall behind her. “With pleasure.” Victoria looked from one to the other. “Gentlemen?” Seht took a deep breath and his nostrils flared. “Let go and lean back, Victoria. Let Ravnos support you.” Victoria did not like the sound of this one little bit. “Victoria,” Ravnos said quietly, but firmly. “Do as he says.” She leaned back, letting her hands slide from Seht’s shoulders. Her thighs were more than strong enough to support her own weight. Her shoulders hit the coats Ravnos still held, and her head fell back onto his shoulder. She looked over at him. “Put your arms around my neck,” Ravnos’s expression was heated. He was definitely looking forward to this. Victoria swallowed and did so. Ravnos looked over at Seht. “She’s all yours.” Seht nodded. “Relax your legs.” He let her slide lower around his hips. Something thick, hard, and hot brushed the folds guarding the opening to her body. The hardness nudged a bit deeper. Victoria sighed in profound relief. It looked like her backside was going to be left alone after all. His breathing quickened. “Goddess, you’re wet.” He licked his lips. “I seem to stay that way around you two.” She immediately blushed. She had not meant to say that out loud. Seht gave her a slight smile in return. “That’s nice to know.” She felt Seht’s cock-head inch into her body then felt Seht’s palms pulling her buttcheeks apart. Suddenly there was pressure against her anus. Something warm and broad nudged for entry. She hissed and shifted away from the invading pressure, but Seht held her firmly in place. What the hell is he trying to get into my ass? It wasn’t a finger; she could feel where both his hands were on her butt.

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Ravnos lifted a hand and undid the buttons on her shirt. He licked his thumb then slid his hand inside to cup her breast. “Have you figured it out yet?” He rolled her ringed nipple. Victoria writhed as the pulsing fire in her nipple echoed in her clit. “Figured what out yet?” She slid further down Seht’s hips and his cock pressed deeper into her slick wet cunt. Her lubed ass gave way under the pressure and something hot and thick began to make room for itself within. Seht groaned. “Push out against me.” Victoria whimpered and complied. Her anus opened and more of the thick hardness passed the tight ring of her ass. It felt exactly like a living cock -- but she could feel his cock driving into her wet cunt. She fought to hold back her gasps as Seht’s cock stretched her cunt even wider and whatever it was dug its way up her ass. Merciless Fate, he’s big! She released a soft moan and arched. “Great Mother, she’s tight!” “I told you she was.” Ravnos brushed his lips against her ear. “Victoria, have you ever had the pleasure of a double penetration?” Victoria stilled. “What?” Ravnos gave Victoria a chilling smile. “Skeldhis are equipped with a pair of cocks.” His fingers tugged on her nipple. Distracted by the electrifying pulse in her tormented nipple, the exquisite cock working into her core, and the ruthless invasion of her ass, she barely heard him. Then what he said finally registered. Two cocks? She froze out of sheer surprise. Seht rolled his hips and shoved. Both cocks slid deep. Victoria gasped loudly and bucked hard. Blistering heat, rigid fullness… Her core pulsed with powerful throbs of carnal eagerness. The feel of him lodged in her wet cunt was so good after being ignored all this time that the fullness up her ass didn’t seem to be quite as painful or as shocking. Seht groaned, and changed the angle of his hips. The cocks slid partway back from her slick channels. He panted, then slid back in with exquisite slowness. Victoria moaned from the feel of him stretching and sliding in her cunt combined with the darkly delicious friction in her ass. She rolled her hips looking for more. Ravnos caught her shoulders with his arm. “Harder, Seht.” Seht drove in hard, striking her enflamed clit. Victoria was driven back against Ravnos. The rings on her nipples blazed with erotic heat under the sharp rocking of her unrestrained breasts. A frisson of sharp-edged pleasure spiraled to her core and caught fire. She released a small scream and bucked against him in counterpoint. She couldn’t believe how good it felt. When he pulled back, she locked her thighs around him and twisted to get him deeper.

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Ravnos frowned. “Stop holding back, Seht, and fuck her.” Seht tossed his head back and the bow fell from his hair, releasing his long silver mane. He flashed an electric blue look of leashed fury at Ravnos. “I don’t want her to hate me, you bastard.” “Hate you? I bet she’s soaking you to the balls.” Victoria panted. “It’s okay, I’m okay.” Fate and her ass, be-damned! She did not want him to stop fucking her. “She wants it, Seht.” Ravnos jerked her shirt open, baring her breasts and the hardened points of her nipples. “Let her have it.” Seht’s mouth opened, revealing his long teeth. He released a deep chest-vibrating growl and lunged forward with punishing force. One hand hit the wall over her shoulder as he thrust hard. Then again, and again, pressing her against Ravnos and both back against the wall with his strong hammering blows. Victoria raised her hips in ferocious counter-thrust. She howled and writhed, unable to think beyond the ravening fire in her cunt and in her ass. Tension coiled and pressure built to the explosion point. Seht’s mouth captured a bared nipple, sucking on her breast with bruising force. She could feel his long teeth pressing against her skin, and she didn’t care. His tongue was driving her insane. She gasped and bucked with mindless lust. Seht’s hips twisted with his thrusts as he sought to drive deeper. Victoria felt something else pressing against her clit, pressing to squeeze into both her cunt and her ass. She moaned and tilted her hips to rub against it. “Seht, don’t tie, we don’t have the time,” Ravnos said sharply. Seht growled and continued his urgent and twisting thrusts. Victoria’s breath came in gasps. She was almost there. She could feel the violent edge of a crushing orgasm beating in her belly, growing with her frantic heartbeats, increasing with every breath. “Damn it, Seht!” Ravnos grabbed a handful of Seht’s hair. “I said don’t!” Seht’s head came up sharply, eyes wide with ravening passion. His mouth opened, showing his long teeth, but his thrusts increased. Ravnos bared his own teeth in a snarl. “Both of you, cum now!” Seht choked and astonishment raced across his face. He closed his eyes and grimaced. “Ah, fuck!” He thrust hard into Victoria and held there. Victoria howled as climax crashed over her. She vaguely felt the cocks pulsing within her, pumping cum into her cunt and into her bowels. “I said don’t, I meant don’t.” Ravnos released Seht’s hair.

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“Shit.” Seht pressed his face into Victoria’s neck, panting. “I really hate when he does that,” he whispered.

***** Both Victoria and Seht had problems standing. Ravnos handed them their clothes, then turned his back, facing the door with his arms crossed. He was not pleased. Seht set himself to rights with angry speed and dragged on his long coat, obviously well aware that he was in trouble. Victoria could not get her fingers to work properly on her shirt buttons. Hell, she still couldn’t get her knees to work properly. Seht knelt and pushed her fumbling fingers away. He fastened her shirt and then her waistcoat buttons with deft precision. He frowned at her as he retied her askew cravat. Victoria opened her mouth to ask him what had happened. Seht abruptly pulled her forward by the lapels and covered her mouth with his. His tongue flicked within to brush lightly against hers in a quick yet thorough kiss. Just as swiftly, he released her. She stared at him in surprise. What the hell was that all about? He pressed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze, then stood. His expression was a confusing mix of regret and determination. They both turned to find Ravnos watching them with a calculating expression. He hit the button and the lift started once again.

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Chapter 10 In the captain’s salon, the round table on the far right was covered in white cloth. Cutcrystal glasses with a matching wine carafe gleamed under the floating lights. Covered tureens steaming tantalizing aromas sat in the table’s center. All three chairs were pulled close and three places were set for a formal dinner. Two yeomen, both grizzled older men in enlisted uniforms, were posted against the wall waiting to serve. Ravnos turned and nodded at Victoria. “I thought we would welcome our newest senior officer with a private dinner.” He glanced at Seht. “Of course.” Seht nodded, avoiding his gaze. Victoria clicked her heels and delivered a short formal bow. “Thank you, sir. It looks wonderful.” Her gaze drifted to the door of the facility. She felt hollow with hunger, but she desperately wanted to clean herself before she sat down. She could feel cum sliding down her thighs. “May I be excused for a moment?” Ravnos raised a brow. Seht snorted and grabbed Victoria by the shoulders. “We’ll be right back.” He propelled her across the salon toward the bedchamber doors. Victoria looked back over her shoulder to see Ravnos shaking his head. Seht shoved the facility door open, pushing Victoria in ahead of him. “Do yourself a favor, never ever give our captain an excuse to say ‘no.’ He has a strong sense of the perverse. He’ll refuse just to watch you squirm.” Victoria snorted. “Don’t you mean perverted?” He chuckled and roughly turned her to face him. “That too.” He started unbuttoning her coat. She brushed at his hands. “I can do that myself.”

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He ignored her and continued unbuttoning. “I’m going to wash you. I might as well do it all.” Victoria grabbed his wrists. “I can wash myself, thank you!” He raised a silver brow. “Do you really want to fight over this? Dinner -- and our not particularly patient Captain -- is waiting.” “Fine.” Victoria let out a breath and released his wrists. “Is this how you treat all the senior officers?” “Oh hell no!” Seht barked out a laugh. “Everyone else is treated with strict professionalism. His preferred technique is ordinary bribery or blackmail.” He tugged the coat from her arms and tossed it over the counter, then swiftly unbuttoned his own. “Hold onto the counter and spread your legs.” He tossed his coat on top of hers, then pulled a cloth from the steamer. Victoria bit her lip and marched over to the long counter. “How the hell did I get picked for all this?” Seht faced her with the cloth in his hand. “That was entirely your own fault.” “My fault?” Seht knelt and tugged her skirt up to her waist. “Our captain may have a sadistic streak wide enough to jump a ship through, but he utterly refuses to go where he’s not invited.” He applied the cloth with firm slow strokes. Victoria groaned. Seht’s cloth was hot, but it felt wonderful on her muscles. “I do not remember issuing any kind of invitation!” “Oh please!” He rolled his eyes. “I could smell the lust as soon as I stepped through his door. Your mouth may have been saying one thing, but your soaking wet pussy clearly begged for it. He merely took you up on your offer.” He pressed intimately up into her inflamed flesh. Victoria’s ringed clit throbbed with a vengeance. A gasp exploded out of her. “Bloody Fate! Can we get these things off of me?” Seht gave her a grim look. “If you are wise, you will never, ever ask that question again.” “But these things are driving me insane!” Seht snorted. “They’re supposed to.” He lightened his touch, but remained thorough in his cleaning.

More domination shit. She felt the cloth explore her violated backside and gasped again, then groaned in sheer painful embarrassment. “So what made him decide to fuck me up the ass?” She felt her cheeks heat violently. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that out loud. “You responded to his dominance display. How could he resist?” He jerked her skirt down. “You’ll do until you take a shower.” He turned and tossed the soiled cloth in the laundry shoot then pulled a clean cloth from the steamer.

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Victoria tucked in her shirt. “What dominance display?” “When the captain put that sword to your throat, you nearly came in your pants.” He unfastened his trousers. “So?” Victoria sharply averted her gaze. “What did that have to do with my ass?” “Besides the fact that it’s traditional?” He tossed the soiled cloth into the laundry shoot. “You wanted to get fucked up the ass.” He walked around to face her while tucking in his shirt. Victoria balled her fists. “Bullshit!” “Really? When I mentioned your possibly virgin ass, you perfumed the whole cabin with hungry pussy.” He turned to face the mirror, lifted his chin and set his cravat to rights. “I’d say that was a pretty damned positive reaction.” “It hurt like bloody fucking hell.” Seht shrugged into his waistcoat. “Of course it did. It usually does.” He turned a hot blue eye on her. “However, that did not stop you from screaming out your climax as he reamed you.” A smile curved his lips. “And you didn’t seem to mind me there at all.”

Bastard. She nearly strangled herself tying her cravat. “So how did you get tossed into this?” Seht paused in the act of buttoning his waistcoat and abruptly blushed. “He saw your reaction to me, and mine to you. I must admit that I was surprised when he suggested it.” He made a sour face. “He likes to keep me frustrated.” “What reaction?” He came to her in two strides and caught a fistful of her hair at the back of her neck. “What reaction?” He leaned forward tilting her head back with deliberate slowness, and watched her with hooded eyes. “This one.” She stilled in surprise and watched his approach with growing alarm but didn’t even try to pull away. His rich scent rolled over her and she felt an alarming shiver. Dark, unidentified, fearful longings moved in the hidden corner of her soul. His lips brushed hers. The kiss was light and gentle, a caress. A soft sound escaped her throat, part fear but mostly hunger. He pressed against her lips a bit harder and moaned in encouragement. She opened her mouth for him. His tongue surged in to stroke against hers. He tasted of recent lust. He tasted of her. She leaned into his kiss and returned the caress. He released her and licked his lips. Victoria blinked and rocked back on her heels, slightly dazed and shaken. He tilted his head and a brow rose. She snapped alert and crossed her arms. “What?” She clenched her hands to stop their trembling.

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“No comment?” Victoria looked away. “What do you want? A critique?” “You are drawn to me the same way you’re drawn to Ravnos. Admit it.” Victoria lifted a shoulder with a nonchalance she didn’t feel. She was shaking in her boots from the confusion beating in her heart, but there was no way in hell she would admit it. “You’re both handsome men. Of course I’m drawn to you.” Seht grinned. “You are in for it now.” “What?” He walked over to the counter, tossed her coat to her then slid his arms into his own. “That little display of denial is going to cost you.” “What are you talking about?” Victoria shrugged into her coat. He caught her by the shoulders and turned her around, shoving her toward the exit. “We’ve dallied long enough.” “Commander?” “Not now.” He opened the door and pressed her out into the main chamber. “It’s dinnertime.” Ravnos stood at the far end of side table with his hands folded behind his back. He turned to face them. “Enjoy yourselves?” Victoria felt her cheeks warm. “Oh absolutely.” Seht pushed Victoria toward the chair between them, by the wall. “She didn’t even fight when I, ah…” He looked sharply at the attendant yeomen. “Showed her the facility.” “I see.” He pulled out his chair. “Shall we begin?” Victoria started violently. Those were close to the same words he’d used earlier, when she was lying on his desk. “Nav-Pilot, you may be seated,” Ravnos said with quiet amusement. Victoria looked over at the head of the table and saw that Ravnos was seated. So was Seht. She felt her cheeks warm as she pulled her chair out. A practiced flip moved the split skirts of her coat out of the way and she sat. A yeoman poured golden wine into her crystal glass. Ravnos raised his glass. “A toast.” Seht raised his glass. Victoria followed suit. Ravnos’s chilling smile suddenly appeared. “To a victorious start.” Victoria nearly dropped her glass. She kept hold of it through sheer will alone and delivered a cool look to her captain.

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“And a glorious climax,” Seht added with a malicious grin.

Is that how they want to play? Victoria smiled grimly. “May our business be concluded swiftly.” Seht’s brows shot up. “Score,” he smiled. “Score indeed.” Ravnos pinned Victoria with a cool stare. “For now.” He lowered his glass to his lips and sipped. The yeomen stepped forward and served.

***** “Are we keeping you awake?” Victoria started and jerked upright in her chair. Was I asleep? She blinked at her captain. “My apologies.” She bit her lip to keep a yawn from escaping and looked around. The dishes were gone and so were the yeomen. She didn’t even remember eating. She frowned. Actually she did, but for the life of her she could not recall a single thing on her plate. Seht lounged back in his chair. “I think we’ve kept our nav-pilot past her bedtime, Captain.” Ravnos raised a brow. “I think you may be right.” Victoria checked her internal chrono. Bloody Fate! She was four hours past her normal sleep schedule! No wonder she was face down on the table. She jerked out of her chair. “May I be excused, I have…” “No.” Victoria nearly swallowed her tongue. No? Seht rolled his eyes and gave her a look that clearly said I told you so. Ravnos leaned back in his chair. “Sit down before you fall down.” Victoria sat and set her hands on the table to keep from tipping over. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this tired. Seht snorted. “She’s only going to fall asleep at the table again.” “I see.” Ravnos sighed and waved. “Put her to bed. We’ll discuss it in the morning.” Seht rose from his chair. “With pleasure.”

Thank Fate. Victoria pushed herself up onto her feet again and suddenly dreaded the long walk to her quarters. She bit back another yawn. “Good night.” Ravnos’s brows shot up. Victoria headed for the doors. Seht took her elbow. “This way.” “Huh?”

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He swung her around and shoved her through the bedchamber doors. Victoria looked back in confusion. She didn’t remember an exit from here. Seht tugged her to face him. “Hold still.” He had her coat and waistcoat buttons undone before she knew what had happened. She frowned at her open coat. “Commander?” “Yes, Nav-Pilot?” He took her shoulders and turned her around to face the broad expanse of Ravnos’s bed. Victoria reeled for a moment, disoriented. Her coat and waistcoat slid from her shoulders. “Hey!” She felt her shoulders grabbed and she was turned back around to face him. “Lift your chin.” She lifted her chin to look at him and felt her cravat slide from her throat. “What are you doing?” He smiled and gave her a push back. “Hey!” Victoria teetered a few steps backwards and her heels hit something solid. She suddenly sat -- on the foot of Ravnos’s huge bed. “What?” He tossed her coat and waistcoat on the bed beside her and knelt. “Foot.” She automatically lifted her foot. He tugged her boot off, dropped it on the deck, then reached for her other boot. She lifted her other foot and frowned. How the hell was she supposed to walk down the hall without her boots? He tugged at the buttons at her throat. Victoria felt her shirt buttons released to her belly, baring her breasts, and finally realized what was happening. She grabbed his wrists. “Stop!” “Don’t you want to go to sleep?” he asked in amusement. She looked at him in alarm. “I can’t sleep here!” “Victoria, release me.” His voice was calm but firm. “But--” “Is there a problem?” Ravnos called from the salon. Seht raised a brow at Victoria. “Is there?” His voice was barely a whisper. Victoria released his wrists. “No, sir,” she called out. “Good.” Something that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle came from the salon. Seht pulled her up onto her feet and stripped her naked in two breaths. She crossed her arms over her breasts. “Bloody Fate, don’t you ever give it a rest?” she grumbled. “Relax, you are going to sleep.” Seht walked her around to the far side of the bed.

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“Sleep, sure.” The bed was too damned inviting, and she was just too damned tired to argue anymore. “Yes, sleep.” He pulled back the covers and helped Victoria climb onto the massive bed. Her knees sank into the soft mattress and a small groan escaped her. Fate, she hadn’t slept in a bed this soft since she left the academy! She tugged her long hair out from behind her then fell back onto the pillows with another yawn. Her eyelids proved too heavy to hold up any longer. “Good night,” she mumbled, and rolled over to snuggle into the pillows. “Pleasant dreams.” Seht pulled the blankets up over her. “For now.”

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Chapter 11 Victoria’s clit blazed with violent throbbing urgency. She writhed and gasped awake on her side tangled in blankets. She dug under the covers grabbing for her throbbing crotch and felt a warm masculine thigh resting between her legs up against her clit. “Calm down.” Ravnos’s voice was soft and sleepy in her ear. The thigh slid lower, out of contact with her clit. “What happened?” Seht called out from the other side of Ravnos. “I moved my knee and it hit her clit.” She groaned. Blood and damnation, I’m in bed with both of them. She needed to get out of that bed before one or both of them got any early morning ideas. Under the night-dimmed lights, she could just make out the edge of the broad bed and scooted for it. Ravnos’s strong arm captured her waist, pulling her back until her spine rested against his warm side. “Where are you going?” “The facility.” She turned over to look at him. “It’s urgent.” His sculpted jaw was dark with early morning beard and a sleepy smile played on his lips. “Really?” Victoria nibbled on her lip. Fate and damnation, he’s fine. She gave herself a mental shake. He’s also a sadistic bastard with a thing for ass fucking. It was more than time to get out of this bed! “Really, I have to go.” He chuckled and released her. “Go then.” Victoria lunged out of the bed and raced for the facility. It really was urgent.

*****

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Victoria sat on the commode with a sense of blissful peace. Privacy never felt so good. It was the first moment she’d had to herself since the desk incident. She grimaced. They had been dressing her and even washing her ever since. You’d think they were caring for a child. She looked down and eyed the tiny gold ring on her clit. She couldn’t imagine how it had stayed on this long. Well, it’s coming off now! She’d tell them she’d lost it down the commode. She reached for it. Her fingers brushed the fine ring around her clit. The titanium cuffs on her wrists tingled and her fingers abruptly stopped cooperating. She couldn’t get her fingers to close around it to take the ring off. She tried for the rings on her nipples. Her fingers still refused to cooperate. Son of a fucking bitch! Victoria got off the commode ready to punch something and settled for washing her hands and face in scalding water. I am going to hurt those two. The facility door opened. Victoria picked up a towel to dry her face. “I’m not done yet.” “I see that,” Ravnos said with amusement. “Did you try to remove the rings?” Victoria stilled. Bastard. She patted her face with the towel. Oh, what the hell. “Yes.” “Were you successful?” She folded the towel, set it on the counter, and turned to face him so he could see for himself. “No.” Ravnos leaned comfortably against the doorframe gloriously nude, and urgently erect. “Coming back to bed?” Victoria crossed her arms over her breasts. “Do I have to?” He raised a brow. “Are you always this disagreeable in the morning?” Victoria felt her lip curl up in a half-smile. “I’m better after coffee.” “I’ll see that you get some with breakfast.” He tilted his head toward the main chamber. “Come back to bed.” Victoria knew an order when she heard one. She dropped her head and headed for the door. He moved out of the doorway to let her pass. Seht had kicked back the blankets and lay sprawled out, utterly and spectacularly nude. For the first time Victoria could see him from head to toe, and everything in between. She stopped in her tracks. Bloody merciless damnation! Seht’s long silver mane spread across the pillows and over the side of the bed. His lean sculpted body was moon-pale under the dimmed lights. His eyes were closed and he licked his lips as he stroked himself, a fist around each of his impressive erections. Victoria shivered. Her heart beat in her mouth, and her breath tried to stop in her chest. Big, he’s too big. And there are two of them. Of course she knew he had two cocks -- he’d already fucked her with them -- but she hadn’t actually seen them in the flesh.

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Seht opened his eyes and grinned while stroking. “Coming back to bed?” Ravnos closed his hands on her shoulders. “Yes.” He propelled her two steps closer. “She is.” Victoria dug in her heels, unable to take her eyes off of Seht. “I need to go now,” she said breathlessly. “Yes, you need to go,” Ravnos chuckled. He pressed her forward. “To bed.” Seht sat up and tossed his hair over his shoulder. “Now you’re shy?” His erections rose from his lap, pale and threatening columns, the top clearly broader and a full inch longer than the bottom. Ravnos snorted. “I don’t see why. We’ve both had her.” White heat blazed into her cheeks and in her blood. Victoria felt her temper finally snap. “That’s enough! I have had enough!” She turned and glared at one and then the other. Fury shook her entire body. “I am not a fucking pleasure girl, damn you! I’m an officer!” Seht’s brows rose. “Well now. Looks like her temper’s back.” Ravnos snorted. “That’s easy enough to fix.” “Not this time.” Victoria bared her teeth in a feral smile. “I am done playing your dominance games!” At the speed of thought, she accessed the ship’s communications. Light haloed her head as her augmentation activated and accessed the ship’s atmosphere and thermostat systems. An icy breeze rushed from the ventilation. The temperature dropped dramatically. Seht abruptly stood. “You what?” His breath steamed with his words. He rubbed his arms and looked over at Ravnos. “What the hell just happened?” “The breeze you are feeling is from air I rerouted past the outer hull.” Victoria smiled as coldly as the air blowing through the chamber. Her breath was clearly visible in the chill air. Tied in to the ship’s system, so much of her thoughts were interlinked with the ship that the chill was at a distance. She knew it was cold, but barely felt it. Seht frowned at Ravnos. “Can she do that?” Victoria raised her chin. “Let’s put it this way, with a touch more moisture through ventilation I can make it snow in here.” Ravnos raised his brow. “She’s remotely accessed some of the ship’s functions,” he said thoughtfully and nodded at Victoria. “Not many nav-pilots can.” Seht yanked the blankets free and wrapped himself in them. “Great. You would grab one of the talented ones.” He glared at Victoria. “Change it back, now!” Victoria glared right back. “If either of you domineering bastards ever want heat in any compartment or chamber you occupy again, or one drop of hot water in your showers, you will leave me the fuck alone.” Seht’s eyes blazed with fury. “You dare to make threats?” He bared his long teeth.

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“I’ll handle this, Seht.” Ravnos focused on Victoria. A frigid smile curved his lips. “Now we know why her ass was virginal.” Victoria stared at Ravnos’s unnerving smile and felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. Something wasn’t right. Ravnos should have been grabbing for blankets, like Seht. Instead, he stood comfortably, as though the chamber was not the same temperature as the inside of a deep freezer. Ravnos’s eyes narrowed. “How much do you have access to?” Victoria held his gaze, but his unreasonable calm was unraveling her nerve. “I can’t fly the ship from here, but I can access lighting, power supply, communications, and atmospheric life support anywhere in the ship.” “Life support?” Seht sucked in a breath “Holy Mother.” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “Atmospherics? Can you create a vacuum in a corridor or a specific group of chambers?” Victoria nodded. “Any walk-way or compartment in any ship I’ve linked to.” Ravnos dropped his chin and his gaze sharpened. “Limitations on accessing those controls?” Out of sheer military habit Victoria answered before she thought. “I have to be on the ship.” Ravnos leaned back on his heels. “Now that is interesting.” “I’m glad you’re having fun here, Captain,” Seht ground out. “But I’m freezing my fucking ass off! Can you do something about this?” Ravnos glanced over at Seht. “Oh, of course.” He turned to Victoria and barked out a code. Victoria felt every system in her augmentation array in direct communication with the ship sit up and take notice. Oh shit! Her link with the ship abruptly closed and a different link opened. Communication reversed, and code came pouring in. She scrambled to block the source of the incoming code but it was not coming from the main sentience. The code came directly from a part of the ship’s sentience she had not even known was there, through an access she didn’t know she had. In half a thought, the invading program seized control of her piloting array, and through it, every piece of mechanics in her body. No! No! No! Victoria’s head jerked back, and she froze where she stood. “Code acknowledged,” came out of her mouth. Ravnos nodded. “Return temperature controls to standard settings.” “Proceeding,” Victoria’s mouth replied. Heat poured from the ventilation ducts.

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Frozen as still as a statue, her flesh crawled and her heart slammed in her chest. What

the hell kind of program was that? This never happened before. What the hell kind of captain is he? Ravnos circled her. “Now that I have your complete attention, Nav-Pilot.” He stopped directly in front of her and smiled with vicious amusement. “We need to address that temper of yours.” Victoria couldn’t move; she could barely breathe. She just knew that whatever came next was going to be humiliating and painful. In joyful recognition, a dark corner of her soul awoke and uncoiled, bringing with it a hard, wet, voracious throbbing in her core. Cream formed and slid down her thighs. Seht threw the blankets back on the bed and stood, his mouth set in a grim line. “She needs severe and immediate punishment.” Victoria discovered that she had enough motor control to swallow hard, and to shiver. Ravnos held up his hand. “Stand down. This is not entirely her fault, Seht.” He barked out a code. Victoria felt the invading program abruptly stop, releasing her piloting array. Her knees suddenly gave out and she pitched forward. Ravnos caught her around the waist. “I’ve got you.” He lifted her up into his arms. “I trust you know not to try that again on my ship?” Victoria nodded and shivered in his arms while her augmentation settled back under her control. What the hell did he mean by it wasn’t entirely her fault? Ravnos sat down on the edge of the bed with Victoria cradled across his lap. “You’ll be back to normal in a few minutes.” Seht narrowed his eyes at Ravnos. “I will not abide threats.” “She was acting under provocation.” Ravnos gave him a cool stare. He nodded at Victoria. “You and I both know she’s not used to being treated like this.” Seht rocked back on his heels. “You were deliberately provoking her?” Victoria stilled. What? Ravnos nodded. “I needed to see the full extent of her skills.” He raised a brow at Seht. “It took a week of constant pressure before I finally discovered all of yours. Remember?” Seht turned away and folded his arms across his chest. “The duel in the hangar bay.” Ravnos nodded at Victoria. “I was trying to get her to snap yesterday when we put her over my desk.” He shrugged. “I didn’t count on her control.” Seht turned around sharply. “You were trying to break her in only one day?” Seht scowled. “Even I’m not that cruel.” Ravnos narrowed his gaze at his executive officer. “Time isn’t a luxury we can afford. The auction is in three days.”

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Victoria sucked in a breath. He did all of this to me -- on purpose? She felt her temperature rise hot and fast. He was trying to make me lose control? She balled her hand in a fist. That manipulating son of a bitch! She turned in his lap and launched her fist at him with all the augmented power she could muster, striking Ravnos hard on the jaw. His head snapped back, and he rocked from the impact. “Ow! Shit!” He shook his head with a look of surprise and raised a brow at Victoria. “That was one hell of a punch, lady.” He rubbed his jaw. “You deserved that, you bastard.” Victoria glared at him. Seht suddenly grinned. “She’s right. You did deserve that.” Ravnos frowned at Seht then dropped his head. Pink stained his cheeks. “Okay, I deserved that.” He rubbed his jaw a bit more and delivered a bloodcurdling smile. “But I wouldn’t try it again.”

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Chapter 12 Victoria sat across Ravnos’s knees on his huge bed and shook with anger. “You could have asked me!” Ravnos raised a cynical brow. “And you would have flat out told me that you could control most of the minor functions of the ship?” “I would have told you that I was capable of…” Victoria turned away. “Some.” “Some.” Ravnos took her chin and turned her to face him. “There was only one way to find out how much control you had. I had to make you use it.” “Fine. You have what you want.” Victoria glared at him. “Does that mean you’ll leave me alone now?” Ravnos’s expression flared with sudden feral heat. “I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you?” Victoria gasped with shock. “What?” Ravnos took her mouth in an aggressive and possessive kiss. He turned her in his arms and pressed her back onto the bed, her hair spilling back over the blankets. Hot, wet, and hungry, his tongue pursued hers. Anger gave way to a desperate and alarmingly violent need until she parried his tongue with her own. Victoria rocked with the sensation of her own eagerness. Some part of her had been waiting for his kiss since the moment they met. His hand slid between her thighs then traveled upwards, bending her knee and pressing her open. His fingers delved and discovered her slick and willing flesh. Two fingers burrowed into her heat and his thumb brushed her sensitive bud. She arched eagerly and moaned, blinded by a hungry desperation. Ravnos released her mouth.

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Victoria opened her eyes and discovered Seht lying alongside them. His head dipped and his mouth pressed against hers. She opened for his kiss and felt his hand on her breast, gently kneading, his thumb brushing her nipple with exquisite care. “You want us, Victoria,” Ravnos whispered. “You want us both.” Seht released her mouth, then leaned down to stroke her nipple with his tongue. Victoria’s body clenched with fierce appetite, wanting nothing more than to submit. Her body craved their touch with a brutal hunger that brooked no denial. “Yes!” exploded from her lips. “Fate, yes. I want you both.” Seht lifted his head and looked over at Ravnos. Ravnos nodded. “Take her.” Seht grabbed Victoria around the hips and rolled onto his back, bringing her over on top of him. “Seht, lift her.” Ravnos moved to the foot of the bed. Seht lifted her higher on his chest to take her nipple with his lips, sucking with eager strength. Victoria gasped with the fire that burned straight to her core. She felt Ravnos moving behind them then felt his hands on her butt, parting her cheeks. She jerked and Seht pulled her down onto him, holding her tight while devouring her breasts. She felt the sting of teeth on her delicate skin while Ravnos’s fingers, coated in thick gel, pressed deep into her anus. Ravnos’s finger slid free of her anus. “Now.” Seht’s lips released her breast. “Mount me and ride.” Victoria rose up on her knees. One hand splayed on his broad chest. She trembled as she took the first of his cocks and pressed it to the open mouth of her cunt. He nudged into her wet flesh and groaned. “Both of me. Take both.” Victoria bit her lip and hesitated. His eyes opened. They were wide pits of black ringed with thin lines of blue flame. “Please.” She leaned forward and took his second shaft into her hand. It felt broad and hot as she pressed him to her anus. She groaned and opened herself for him, pressing back with slow deliberation. Seht’s mouth opened and he arched under her. “Goddess, yes.” Victoria moaned as she slowly took him into her body, sinking down until she swallowed him to the balls. Heat, fullness, dark vibrant pleasure… Seht panted and opened his eyes. His hands rose and he cupped her breasts. He licked his lips. “Now, fuck me.” She rocked forward and up. The shafts slid outward. Decadent delight. She sat back and they slid within. Pleasure laced with the bright edge of pain. She rose and fell.

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Seht groaned and moved under her. His knees came up. Victoria felt breath on her shoulders. Ravnos was sitting on his knees behind her. She turned and his mouth caught hers in a brief but fierce kiss. Ravnos clasped his hands around Seht’s knees and lifted, positioning Seht’s feet up on his shoulders. His arms came around Victoria with impressive strength, trapping Seht’s legs between his body and Victoria’s. Seht jerked in surprise and his feet flexed on Ravnos’s shoulders. “What?” He lifted his head, eyes wide. Ravnos smiled briefly. “You didn’t think I was leaving you out?” He pressed against Victoria’s back and pushed while clasping Victoria against him and holding Seht’s legs immobile. Seht gasped and arched, lifting Victoria. His fingers clenched in the bed sheets. He groaned then panted. “You could have warned me.” Ravnos echoed his gasp, and continued to push. “Where’s the fun in that?” She felt Ravnos’s belly press against her buttocks and suddenly realized that he was buried in Seht’s body, as Seht was buried in hers. The intimacy of their carnal act shocked and inflamed her. The scent of both aroused males intent on pleasure intoxicated her. The potent thought of Seht, practically helpless under them, being taken as she was taken, added frightening heat to her dark pleasure. Ravnos groaned and his hands slid down to cup Victoria’s breasts. “There, now I have you both.” He tugged on her engorged nipples. Victoria writhed with fierce ravenous hunger. Ravnos pulled her back with him, grinding Victoria deeper onto Seht’s cocks while sliding from Seht’s body. She gasped. Ravnos thrust, shoving her forward with him and pushing her partway off of Seht’s cocks. A helpless moan of disturbing delight escaped her. A rumbling growl vibrated in Seht’s chest. He grabbed her buttocks and lifted then pushed her back, grinding her back down onto him, forcing Ravnos to retreat. Ravnos groaned. “Oh, no, you don’t.” He rose up slightly on his knees, lifting Seht and Victoria with him. “I’m driving.” He thrust, driving Victoria before him. Seht arched under them and panted. “Spawn of Chaos, you bastard.” Ravnos pulled her back with him and thrust again, then again with measured and steady strength, driving Victoria forth then pulling her back. Seht moaned in conquered pleasure, his cries threading with hers while bucking under them, in answering rhythm.

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Victoria couldn’t think much further beyond the arms that held her and the moving fullness in her cunt and in her ass. That Ravnos had found a way to fuck them both stabbed a violent spike of savage and feral gratification straight through to her core and washed all other thoughts from her mind. Seht’s mouth opened, showing long teeth. He groaned. “Too much.” He sucked in a breath. “Can’t hold off.” “Good.” Ravnos’s breath quickened and he increased his thrusts in speed and strength, grunting with effort. Victoria felt the sudden and violent rise of heat and tension that marked approaching climax. Seht arched tautly under her and his pupils abruptly changed from round to feline slits. A rumbling liquid growl vibrated through him. A shiver raced through Victoria. She felt the fullness in her cunt and her ass swell with alarming speed. She moaned and twisted as the tightness stretched her until movement became uncomfortable. Ravnos stilled and tightened his hold around Victoria. “Are you knotted?” Seht shuddered. “Yes.” He slid his hands up around Victoria’s waist and his mouth opened. His long fangs gleamed wetly and his slitted eyes flicked to Ravnos. “Will you let me give her--?” Ravnos nodded. “Bite gently.” Victoria jolted. Bite? Ravnos pushed her down onto Seht and Seht crushed her to him, holding her immobile against the hard wall of his body. His hand clenched in her hair and pulled her head to one side. Seht’s breath was hot on her shoulder. She released a small frightened sound. “Don’t be afraid,” Seht whispered. “This will only hurt for a moment.” Victoria felt his lips on her shoulder and then the scrape of his long teeth. He bit. The twin stabs burned. She gasped then stilled as warmth and startling pleasure blossomed. Euphoria shimmered across her, then abruptly intensified with savage speed. Ravnos began thrusting with violent speed and ruthless power. Seht bucked under her in counterpoint to Ravnos’s thrusts and moaned with his mouth locked on her shoulder. The pleasure was so intense she cried out. From a distance she felt Ravnos increase his thrusts, then gasp and still. He thrust and then once more. He groaned. “Cum!” Seht growled in her ear and she felt his shuddering release within her.

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Orgasm burst over her in a maelstrom of intensity. She had time to gasp before another wave of intense pleasure took her, and then another, and another. She screamed.

***** Victoria opened her eyes. I must have passed out. Seht was a warm and comfortable weight on top of her. His head was on the other pillow, but his chest lay across hers, pressing her back into the pillows with his arm framing her head. Victoria frowned, puzzling over how comfortable she felt having him lying on top of her. It felt natural. It felt right. She shifted under him and discovered that he was still lodged within her. He seemed to be pulsing inside her. He groaned and turned to look at her with eyes dilated wide but still slitted like a feline’s. “Don’t move just yet. We’re still tied.” “What?” It took effort to think. “What did you do to me?” Seht grinned and licked his lips. “I fucked you.” Ravnos leaned up from the other side of Seht. “He’s knotted to you. The base of each dick swells. It’s to hold you in position while he pumps a load of cum into you. I stopped him from tying or knotting before because it takes about twenty minutes for him to finish and the swelling to go back down.” He flashed a slight smile. “You’re going to make one hell of a mess when he finally releases you.” Seht groaned. “You and your precious bed-sheets.” “Terrific.” Victoria knew that some races tied during sex, but she hadn’t realized that skeldhis did. She shook her head and frowned at Seht. “I meant why did you bite me?” Seht drew her closer and nuzzled her neck. “I have a chemical in my saliva that increases sensation, pain or pleasure. It’s used to stun someone long enough to kill -- or to fuck.” Ravnos rolled onto his back. “He’s pretty damned potent too.” Seht grinned at Ravnos. “You would know.” “Seht, don’t.” Seht’s grin broadened. “Are you quite sure you don’t want me to tell Victoria how we originally met?” Ravnos’s voice deepened to a bass rumble. “I’m warning you right now: that is not a safe subject to discuss.” Seht snorted. “Very well.” He groaned and rolled on top of Victoria. “Grip me with your legs so I can carry you.” Victoria locked her legs around his waist and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ravnos turned over. “Where are you going?”

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Seht sat back with Victoria in his arms. “To save your precious sheets.” He moved to the side of the bed. “Wait, you’ll need robes.” Ravnos slid off the bed and opened his closet. “By the time you get out of there, breakfast will be on the table.” Victoria peeked over Seht’s shoulder. “And coffee?” Ravnos handed Seht a pair of long, black velvet robes and nodded. “Definitely coffee.”

***** Seht left the robes on the long counter by the washbasin and stepped into the shower with Victoria still locked around his waist. He turned on the water and held them both under the delicious heat. “All right, you can let go.” Victoria released him and felt his cocks slide from her body. She stood on her uncertain knees. A torrent of wetness spilled down her legs. “Blood and chaos, Seht, how much did you pump into me?” Seht covered her mouth in a swift kiss. “Enough to impregnate a woman of my race.” Victoria stood under the spray as the warm liquid continued to spill from her. “How much do they need?” “We’re not a particularly fertile race, so when we do fuck, we need to ensure impregnation.” Seht reached for a cloth and the soap. “They come into season once every two years, for about sixty days.” Victoria looked up in shock. “Sixty days?” Seht grimaced. “Yes, but only once every two years.” He raised a brow at Victoria. “We usually keep human concubines since they like regular sex. Our females have a habit of killing anyone who gets too close when they’re out of season.” “I thought skeldhis hated humans?” Victoria covered her mouth with her hands. She had not meant to say that quite so baldly. Seht’s eyes narrowed. “Oh no, we adore humans. They’re as much fun to kill as they are to fuck.” Victoria winced. “I deserved that. I was rude. I’m sorry.” Seht shook his head. “Apology accepted, and I’m sorry as well. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.” He sighed. “It’s a sensitive issue, especially since I serve under one.” He started soaping Victoria’s shoulders. “What, no complaints over my washing you?” Victoria tilted her head. “Would it do any good?” Seht smiled. “Not really.” Victoria spread her arms so he could wash her. “Then let’s get this done, I’m hungry.”

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Seht laughed and scrubbed with a will. “Does this mean you’re also resigned to occupying our bed?” Victoria took a deep breath to hold her temper. “Do I have a choice?” Seht scrubbed her backside. “Is it really that bad?” Victoria let out her breath. “No, it’s just that I’m not used to being…” “Fucked?” “I’m an officer.” Victoria bit her lip. “It’s just not done.” Seht snorted. “Oh, it’s done all right, and regularly. You just happen to be more capable of defending yourself than most. My guess is that the bulk of your problems stem from the fact that your previous captains hated that they couldn’t touch your luscious body. They could see it, but they couldn’t lay a finger on it without dire retribution.” Victoria shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.” “I assure you, it makes perfect sense if you’re male.” He moved around to face her and slathered her breasts with soap. “Males are simple creatures. If we can’t fuck it, we want to kill it.” Victoria stared up at Seht in open astonishment. “It can’t be that simple.” Seht caught her chin. “I assure you, it is exactly that simple.” He pressed a swift kiss to her mouth. “Lucky for you, Ravnos is letting me fuck you. He knows that even if he had forbidden it, I would have found a way to do so, and the results would not have been quite so pleasant.” Victoria frowned. “You wouldn’t…” “Oh, I would indeed.” Seht gave her a feral smile. “We are a hunting race. The pursuit is just as much fun as the catch. I would have cornered you sooner or later, and by then, the pent-up frustration would have made our eventual coupling a bit more, shall we say, forceful?” Victoria scowled. “Are you trying to frighten me?” “I’m trying to let you know that as soon as you boarded this ship, your ass and your cunt were ours.” He gave her a heated look. “And they will remain ours. For as long as you remain with us, you will not be leaving our bed, Victoria.” Victoria shook with sudden fury. “What? Am I a just fuck-toy?” Seht knelt in front of her. “You are more than just a fuck-toy. If we were looking for someone to fuck, Ravnos would have brought a fully trained pleasure girl on board.” He brushed the hair from her brow. “You are here for a reason, but you are also quite lovely, so you also occupy our bed.” Victoria pulled her chin from his hand. “I just want to do my job and go home.” “Are you sure?” Seht recaptured her face. “Are you sure that’s all you want?”

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Victoria stared at Seht’s sculpted face and hesitated. “Of course,” she finally said, with all the conviction she could muster. But she wasn’t sure, not any more. Yes, they played domination games but they had also gone out of their way to make her feel pleasure, no matter how rough they had been. They weren’t just fucking her. They were treating her like someone they cared about, and that was more frightening than simply being fucked. Sooner or later she would leave them. And then what? Seht grinned. “Your hesitation gave you away.” Victoria groaned. “Can we get this shower over with? I want breakfast!” Seht snorted and started scrubbing again. “That denial is going to get you in trouble.” Victoria sighed. “Seht, it doesn’t matter what I want. Wanting or not wanting something won’t change the fact that eventually I have to leave. I have to go back.” “Do you?” Victoria closed her eyes. “Yes. I’m an officer of the Imperium. Duty comes first.” “And if you were offered a choice?” Victoria felt hot tears form. “For me there is no choice. I have to go back, even if it means a court-martial. It is a matter of honor.” “Honor.” Seht sighed. “I understand.”

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Chapter 13 Seht let Victoria out of the facility after a thorough scrubbing, and then braided her long mane into a single complicated plait that took only moments to accomplish. Ravnos was waiting by the facility door, dressed in a long velvet robe that matched theirs. “I’ll take a quick shower, then join you for breakfast.” Seht raised a brow. “You could have showered with us.” Ravnos flashed a brief smile. “If I had, we’d be in there another hour.” Victoria gathered the dragging hem of her robe and headed for the salon. They could flirt all they wanted. She needed coffee. Ravnos nodded toward the salon. “Go eat before she cleans off the table for you. I’ll be right back.” In the salon, the table was set with plain dishes, and she could smell the coffee. She sniffed with appreciation. Victoria sat down in the chair by the wall, then reached for the thermal flask. The coffee was rich, black, and smelled Terran. She added sweet cream and a small amount of sweetener that she suspected was real sugar. She sipped. Pure delight. For

mercenaries, they certainly live well. Seht raised a sarcastic brow as he filled his plate from the steaming tureens. “Did you want to add food to your breakfast?” Victoria took another swallow then smiled. “I’m good for now.” Ravnos came back to the salon with surprising speed, then piled his plate high. Victoria finished her coffee, poured another cup then reached for the food.

*****

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The yeomen bowed and carried the breakfast dishes away. Ravnos leaned back in his chair and cradled his coffee mug. He gave Victoria a cool, assessing look. Victoria returned the look with suspicion. “What?” “I think it’s time to explain why you are here.” Ravnos lifted his mug and sipped. Victoria clenched her mug. As more than a fuck-toy or in addition to being a fuck-toy? She took a slow breath to regain her composure. “I was under the impression that I was to pilot the ship for three days.” Ravnos leaned back in his chair. “That’s why I collected you. However, since our arrival, the situation has changed.” Victoria nearly crushed the mug in her hand. Instead, she set it down very carefully. I will not scream, I will not scream, I will not scream. She took a breath. “Does this mean you’re keeping me more than the three days?” “Perhaps. Don’t worry, you’ll still be returned.” His lip curled just a hair. “Eventually.”

I knew it! I just knew it! There goes my whole damned career. Victoria shut her eyes. “I’m listening.” “On the other side of this planet is the Mordred space station.” Victoria lifted her head. “The roving space station? I thought that was a myth?” Seht scowled. “I assure you, it’s very real.” Ravnos’s gaze flicked to Seht then back to Victoria. “It’s privately owned by a retired mercenary colonel. His personal unit is still active, though commanded by his eldest son. A small branch of the unit acts as security for the station. The station acts as a brokering company for those who can’t go through legitimate dealers.” Seht snorted. “Pirates, thieves, drug-dealers, gun-runners.” Victoria sneered. “Criminals.” Seht nodded. “Those too.” Ravnos poured more coffee into his mug. “We’re here for a ship they have up for auction. The Arcane.” Victoria automatically accessed her Imperial files. “That’s an Archangel-class dreadnought.” She frowned as she scanned her interior data. “Are you sure it’s the Arcane? That ship is listed as destroyed.” Ravnos picked up his mug. “Can you tell me who listed it as destroyed?” Victoria shook her head. “I don’t have access to that kind of information.” Seht leaned forward. “Can you tell us if the Righteous was at the battle where it was destroyed?” “Admiral Moraine’s flagship? One moment, please.” Victoria skimmed through her data. “It’s not in those files, but it may be in my news files.” She sifted through her news listings

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looking for the battle, and found it. “Yes, yes it was. The Righteous was the only ship to return from that battle.” She looked over at Seht. “Why?” Seht tapped a finger on the table. “It’s rumored that Admiral Moraine is the man selling that ship to the highest bidder.” “What?” Victoria choked then glared. “You’re telling me that the hero of the Imperium is selling an Imperial dreadnought to mercenaries -- to criminals?” “It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had a captured ship up for auction, Imperial or otherwise.” Ravnos snorted. “He’s made quite a name for himself.” Seht curled his lip, showing a long canine. “Ever hear of the Moribund Company?” “Of course.” The Moribund Company specialized in hijacking and capturing ships, from pleasure craft to recovered warships. The Imperium was rabid to take them out. Then she saw the implication, and her mouth fell open. “Admiral Moraine is the Moribund Company?” She shook her head. “That’s not possible!” Seht refilled his coffee mug. “He’s here, isn’t he?” Victoria flinched. “Yes, but…” Ravnos shook his head. “Admiral Moraine and the Moribund Company are the Imperium’s problem. Let them deal with him. Our mission is to collect the Arcane’s sentience before the ship goes to auction.” Victoria stared at Ravnos. “You want the ship’s sentience?” He nodded. “The entire memory, complete and undamaged, if possible.” “What for?” “Oh, the usual. Money.” Seht snorted. “We are mercenaries, after all.” Victoria shook her head. “I mean, who’s paying you to get it?” Seht nodded at Ravnos. Ravnos lifted his mug. “Your Imperium.” Victoria choked. “The Imperium?” “Yep.” Ravnos nodded and drank, emptying his mug. Seht nodded. “Apparently they are willing to hire even mercenaries to get it.” Victoria shook her head. “How are you planning to get the ship’s entire collective memory and sentience?” Seht shrugged. “We tap into the ship, we pull the mind out, and then we leave. Simple.” Victoria glared at Seht. “It’s not that simple. You don’t just tap into a ship and download the mind.” She looked over at Ravnos. “A ship sentience is enormous. You’ll need a highly skilled tech with the augmentation capable of containing the entire core memory.” Seht frowned. “Just how big is a ship sentience?”

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Victoria sat back in her chair. “It’s not about size, it’s about strength of personality. According to my records, the Arcane has been through hundreds of battles and has decades of tactical experience. It would take almost an hour to recite all the decorated captains who flew it.” Ravnos tilted his head. “So the Arcane is pretty bright?” “The Arcane is dangerous. It’s entirely possible that it has a complete intelligence and a very well-developed sense of self, capable of actual independent thought. Your ship is quite experienced, but even she doesn’t think in complete sentences.” Victoria sighed. “The ship has to absolutely trust the tech collecting it, or it will lock itself down cold. Or worse.” She shot a narrow look at Ravnos. “Override the tech attempting to house it. A ship that old is fully capable of imprinting itself on an unprepared tech’s mind, to the point of near-complete erasure, literally enslaving the tech. You will still have your ship, but you will have lost your tech. There are so many ways it could go wrong, just from the ship’s end.” “Things have already gone wrong.” Seht scowled. “Moraine showing up for one.” Victoria shook her head. “You had better have one hell of an experienced cipher tech. Or a…” She frowned suspiciously. “A highly specialized nav-pilot.” “Oh, we do have an experienced cipher tech, or rather we did.” Seht gave Ravnos a sour look. “But now that Moraine’s here, we can’t use him.” Victoria looked over at Ravnos. “You? You’re a cipher-tech?” Ravnos tapped his head with a finger. “I was a core programmer before they tapped me for nav-pilot.” “Nav-pilot?” Victoria’s mouth fell open. “You were Imperial?” Ravnos turned and scowled at the wall. Seht snorted. “Oh, he was Imperial all right, and good, too.” He leaned forward. “So good in fact that when a certain mercenary ship tried to take his ship, he tapped their ship and took it over.” Victoria’s brows shot up. “He tapped the other ship?” “Surprised the hell out of them too.” Seht grinned. “Unfortunately, the mercenary ship wasn’t alone. Through sheer numbers, they eventually overwhelmed Ravnos’s ship.” He raised a brow at Ravnos. “The mercenary captain was so impressed by the take-over, they collared him and kept him.” He nodded. “He made them one hell of a profit for years by hacking into and stealing other ships.” Ravnos scowled. “That was a long time ago.” Seht leaned back in his chair. “So, we have the experienced tech, but with Moraine in the neighborhood, we can’t get him or the Hellsbreath anywhere near the ship. They’ll blow us on sight.” Victoria stared at Ravnos. “Moraine knows you?”

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Ravnos shrugged. “Moraine and I have crossed paths once or twice.” Seht curled his lip. “Does the phrase ‘bitter enemies’ bring anything to mind?” He filled his coffee mug. Ravnos nodded at Victoria. “However, because of your clever camouflaging of the Hellsbreath, he doesn’t know I’m here, so we may still be able to pull this off.” Seht glanced at Victoria. “It’s too dangerous. I say we use the other option.” He drained his mug in one swallow. Victoria frowned. “What other option?” Ravnos tapped the tabletop. “The Imperium wants the Arcane’s entire sentience. If we can’t collect all of it, they told us to go ahead and blow it.” Victoria jerked back so hard her chair scooted back an inch. “Blow it?” Seht tilted his head at Ravnos. “Apparently there is something in the memory the Imperium doesn’t want anyone to have.” “That’s my guess.” Ravnos shrugged. “If the ship can’t be saved, it’s to be destroyed. Those are our orders.” Victoria lunged out of her chair. “You can’t blow it! A ship like the Arcane has decades of personality and memories! To destroy a ship like that would be committing murder!” Ravnos speared her with an icy glare. “Sit down.” Victoria sat. “You can’t blow that ship.” She balled her hand into a fist on the tabletop. “Really?” Ravnos glanced briefly at Seht. “So, Victorious Star, are you willing to rescue the Arcane?” “Me?” Victoria reeled in her chair. “I’m not a fully trained cipher tech!” Ravnos shrugged. “You’re close enough. You have the necessary skills and augmentation. You’ve told us yourself that ships like you, so talking this one into leaving with you shouldn’t be that difficult.” Victoria stared at her captain. “I’ve never done an assimilation before.” Ravnos leaned forward. “Are you willing to try?” “I have nav-pilot, not programming augmentation. I can only attempt an assimilation from the nav-pilot’s chair. You’d have to get me on board that ship.” Ravnos nodded. “We can arrange that.” Seht bared his long teeth. “You are utterly out of your mind! How are you going to get her onboard that ship?” Ravnos sat back and smiled at Seht. “You’ll think of something. You usually do.” Seht lowered his brows. “You’re quite sure I can come up with something?” “Of course.” Ravnos nodded at Victoria. “I may be manipulative, but he’s sneaky.”

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“Sneaky!” Seht scowled and his cheeks tinted with a hint of pink. “What a positively rude thing to say.” Ravnos leaned back in his chair and raised a midnight brow. “Really?” Seht nodded and folded his arms. “I prefer to be called devious.”

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Chapter 14 In swift order, breakfast was concluded. Yeomen brought in clean uniforms and they dressed. Seht left for the bridge and the ship-day officially began. Victoria followed Ravnos to his appointment chamber, silently cursing the damned stockings and the minuscule skirt she had to wear. At least her hair was properly restrained, though Seht had taken great delight at tying a huge bow at the tail end of her braid. Ravnos held the door to his chamber open for her, allowing her to step past him. “Take off your coat.” He unbuttoned his own. Victoria unbuttoned her long coat and couldn’t help but feel exposed. Once again he had refused to let her wear a brassiere. She slid the coat from her shoulders and her ringed nipples rubbed against the silk of her shirt within the confines of her brocaded waistcoat with alarming intimacy. Ravnos handed her his coat. “Go hang these on the coat rack by my desk.” Victoria went to do as he asked. Ravnos brought the velvet chair from the other side of the chamber to his desk. “Sit here.” He angled the chair so that it faced his chair. Victoria sat gingerly in the chair. It was soft, but her entire nether region was still more than over-sensitized. To add insult to injury, the skirt was so damned short it rode up practically to her crotch, and neither male had let her put on panties. She eyed her location from her seat and noted that the angle of the velvet chair to Ravnos’s chair allowed for a clear and frank view straight up her skirt. She crossed her legs primly and immediately regretted it. The position made her ringed clit throb. She set her jaw, determined to ignore the pulsing in her crotch. She was not in the mood to accommodate Ravnos’s need for a cheap thrill.

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Ravnos dropped into his desk chair and activated his data-com. The holographic display bloomed in the air above it. “You’ll need all our current information on the Mordred station.” He uncoiled the interneural data-link and held the multi-pinned plug out to her. “I’ll direct-feed all the data to you.” Victoria moved her hair to the side and plugged the data-link into the jack set in the base of her skull. Her holographic halo bloomed dimly around her head. Determined to ignore Ravnos’s stare, she closed her eyes, accessed and integrated. The ship greeted her with a comforting flow of information. Victoria sighed and released herself into the ship’s welcoming bath of pure information. She presented her query and the ship replied with the complete schematics of the Mordred station. For a mercenary-owned operation, Mordred station was immense. Despite being a traveling space station, the Mordred contained a complete class-four gravity-enabled biosphere encasing a small city ten miles across with residency levels just about that deep. The center three levels were registered as being purely machine access only. Three docking rings encircled the biosphere at twenty-degree angles from each other. Altogether, the rings were capable of holding up to five hundred medium to small craft. The very top and the very bottom of the station could each direct-dock one capital-sized ship, though a ship that large would dwarf the station badly. One entire ring was dedicated to the mercenary troop that owned the station. The ring contained docking for the entire home fleet complete with ship repair and manufacturing operations. The ring also housed permanent quarters for their troops with a training facility and a state-of-the-art augmentation hospital. Victoria frowned in concentration. The Mordred was closer to a heavily armed capitol dreadnought than a mere space station. Destroyer cannons bristled from all three rings, representing enough stationary firepower to defend itself from a medium-sized Imperial attack fleet. Once you added the fighter squadrons docked there, the anti-missile laser array, and the laser deflection field, you were looking at one hell of an impossible target. The Hellsbreath wouldn’t stand a chance against it. They would have to resort to stealth to get anywhere near it. “Have you accessed the Mordred’s data?” From far away, Victoria heard Ravnos’s question. “I have.” “Can you get me a list of who is currently docked to the station?” Victoria focused on Ravnos’s request. “I’ll need to tap the station to get into the individual ships.” This was going to take some tricky maneuvering. The Hellsbreath was on the far side of the moon, and the station was on the far side of the planet. She was going to need some way to relay the data.

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“I have an SP series Katherine stealth communications relay drone.” Ravnos turned to his holographic monitor. “You can use that to jump-relay data from the station to the

Hellsbreath.” Victoria raised her brow. “You have a Katherine drone?” Now that’s interesting. The Katherine drone was supposed to be exclusive to agents of the Imperial intelligence agency. Ravnos shrugged. “Amazing what can be found on the black market.” He typed at his keyboard, accessing data. “I also have a few carrier codes to make our tap look like a routine maintenance inquiry, so we don’t set off any alarms.”

Carrier codes too? Oh that’s right, he’s a programmer. Victoria decided quite firmly that she really did not want to know any more of his secrets than she had to. She sent her request to launch the drone to Seht on the bridge. He didn’t question her odd request, merely relayed the command to engineering. The drone rocket launched from the Hellsbreath in under five minutes and it slid from the quantum reality field without incident. Victoria smiled. The Katherine drone flew with old-fashioned rocket fuel; no engine to knock offline. Less than two minutes later it became a tiny dot silhouetted against the vast surface of the other side of the moon. Victoria applied Ravnos’s codes and slid into the communication network for the Mordred station. “Intercepting communications. One moment, please.” Everything she intercepted was encrypted, of course. Victoria smiled. Not that big a difficulty. Interestingly enough, the Hellsbreath possessed a vast store of decryption codes. “Proceeding with download.” She sifted the intercepted communications through the codes and began sending a list of ships and personnel to Captain Ravnos’s desk display. Victoria’s brows rose. The names and designations of the crew for the Imperial ship were pretty damned obscure for Admiral Moraine’s personal shuttle - except one, his nav-pilot. Kazi Sakata was the most war-decorated nav-pilot in the Imperium. It was said that to cross her in battle was nothing less than suicidal because she would win at any cost. She had won two of her battles by spearing her ship right through the enemy command ship. They called her the Kamikaze, the Divine Wind. Victoria shivered. Although they had never met, she had a strong suspicion that Kazi “Kamikaze” Sakata might prove to be a problem, should they run across each other on the station. Combining her creative talents with the ship’s mathematical expertise, she was able to decrypt several more ships and add them to the list. Unfortunately she could get nothing more than a planet designation on fourteen of the ships currently docked, and four of those were skeldhi.

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“That’s all I was able to get, sir.” Victoria resifted through her information then opened her eyes. “There was no trace of any communications from or about the Arcane. Are you sure it’s there?” “It’s there,” Ravnos turned to look at her. “You just gave me a complete list of every ship docked, with registries on 227 ships and planet designations on the rest. Are you always this thorough?” Victoria’s brows shot up. “It’s my function to be efficient.” “Your function.” Ravnos snorted and humor made a brief appearance, though his lips did not even hint at a smile. “You’ve been spending too much time with machines and not enough time with people.” Victoria raised a sarcastic brow. “Machines make sense, people don’t.” She closed her eyes and slid back into the data flow. Time was not a consideration as Victoria processed and relayed data for the entire ship while investigating and downloading the data she needed. She multi-tasked without thought or effort, barely registering Ravnos’s other queries and Seht’s requests from the bridge for ship-wide status reports. Communications buzzed throughout the ship, some encrypted, some not, but nothing to cause alarm. Everything moved through her array along the proper channels with the proper access codes. “Victoria,” Ravnos’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “Yes?” Victoria’s awareness surfaced from deep within the flow of data and shifted back into her own body. She opened her eyes. Ravnos was lounged back in his chair with his legs spread wide, displaying an impressive erection straining at the seam of his trousers. “Hungry?” “What?” Victoria tore her gaze from his blatant display and suddenly realized that she was slouched in the velvet chair with her own legs splayed wide. Painfully mortified, she jerked upright to cross her legs. Fate only knew how long she’d been providing him with a no doubt entertaining view. Perverted bastard. He eyed her efforts to recover herself and his lip curled briefly in obvious amusement. “The yeomen will be bringing the mid-day meal in half an hour.” Victoria frowned. “You brought me out half an hour early?” “Go ahead and disengage the link.” Ravnos tilted his head toward the door. “Seht is on his way down. He says he has a plan to get you on board the Arcane.” “Oh.” Victoria uncoupled the interneural link from her skull-jack and held the plug out to Ravnos. A knock came at the door. “Come,” Ravnos called out. He coiled the link and set it on his desk.

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Seht walked in carrying a box wrapped in black cloth. His shoulders were slightly hunched within his long coat and his mouth was set in a grim line. He was clearly uncomfortable about something. Ravnos rose from his chair and sat on the edge of his desk. He motioned for Seht to take his chair. Seht shook his head in refusal. “I’ll stand.” He looked over at Victoria. “How many skeldhi ships are docked at the station?” Ravnos crossed his arms. “Four.” “Four.” Seht closed his eyes. “Damn.” “I couldn’t break their communications encryption to get their names or the crew list,” Victoria added. Seht dropped his chin. “It doesn’t matter. I can guess who they are.” Ravnos tilted his head. “You said have a plan?” Seht sighed. “I do, but you won’t like it.” Ravnos’s mouth thinned. “Go on.” “As Deshryt Seht of Skehldor, no one will think twice if I attend the auction; I’ll be just another skeldhi noble. In fact, the skeldhi party will likely be expecting me.” Seht flashed a brief, tight smile. “Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t miss an auction like this one.” “Good idea.” Ravnos nodded. “Your personal barque is jump capable, so you can pass through the ship’s camouflage.” “Yes, however.” Seht visibly swallowed. “You know as well as I that there is only one way that a human can be in the company of a skeldhi prince.” Victoria started. Seht is a prince? What the hell is a skeldhi prince doing on a ship

commanded by a human? Seht put the box on the desk and pulled away the cloth. The box was about a foot by eight inches long and only a few inches tall, sleek, black, and unornamented in any way. Ravnos slid off the desk and his eyes narrowed to frigid slits. “What exactly is that?” Victoria’s senses went on alert. Something was very wrong here. Seht placed his hands on the desk to either side of the box and held Ravnos’s icy stare. “It is exactly what you think it is.” Ravnos’s voice deepened with restrained fury. “That is a shen?” “Yes, it contains a shen.” Seht nodded at the box. “In fact, this is a complete procedure kit.” Ravnos spoke with venom. “And what do you intend to do with -- that?” Seht frowned at the box. “If Victoria is to get past the guards and into the skeldhi enclave, she will have to go through the procedure and wear the shen. There is no other way.”

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Victoria frowned. Procedure? And what the hell is a shen? Ravnos shook his head firmly. “That is unacceptable.” Seht released a breath. “Good. Let’s blow the ship and leave.” “No!” Victoria came out of the chair. “You can’t blow the Arcane!” Ravnos glared at her. “Do you even know what Seht is suggesting?” Victoria balled her fists. “He’s suggesting that I accompany him as one of his staff.” Ravnos leveled a cold stare at Seht. “He is suggesting that you accompany him as his slave!” Victoria swallowed. “What?” Seht shot a narrow look at Ravnos. “We call them rehkyt.” Ravnos focused on Victoria. “A shen is the obedience collar a rehkyt, a slave, wears.” He turned his glare on Seht. “I’ll let you explain the procedure.” “Very well.” Seht looked at Victoria with a bleak but determined gaze. “The procedure imprints my DNA code onto yours. It’s how my people identify a rekhyt’s owner.” Victoria bit her lip. “Can we do this without the procedure?” “No.” Seht shook his head. “If they discover that you are unmarked, you will be taken and likely claimed.” Victoria frowned. “If it’s only a DNA imprint, how will they know?” “All they have to do is look at you.” Ravnos paced angrily before his desk. “Are you going to tell her the rest? Or do you want me to?” Seht looked at the far wall. “The initial course of the procedure causes a breakdown in the human genetic structure. This allows my DNA to influence it, which triggers a physical transformation.” Victoria’s voice came out in a tight whisper. “What kind of transformation?” Seht looked down at the box framed by his hands. “It changes your skin color, eye color, and sometimes other things as well.” Victoria tucked her icy hands under her arms. “You’re going to turn me into a skeldhi?” “No.” Seht smiled briefly. “The combined DNA structures make you something not quite either.” Ravnos’s lip curled in a snarl. “The procedure makes you visibly and genetically a slave.” Seht’s mouth tightened. “It’s designed to improve the human strain, to make them stronger, healthier.” “Able to withstand brutal punishment.” Ravnos gave Seht a black scowl. Seht shot Ravnos a narrow glance. “And perform sexually for hours.”

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Ravnos turned away and swept his hands through his hair. “Victoria, this procedure is permanent. If you do this, you’ll carry his DNA code, the mark of his ownership, for the rest of your life.” Victoria jerked back. “Does it affect my piloting augmentation?” Seht shook his head and smiled wryly. “Not at all. The specific transformations are dependent on your current genetic structure. It doesn’t change the original genetic code, it adds to what is already present.” Victoria wiped damp palms on her waistcoat. “As long as I can still pilot a ship, how bad can it be?” Ravnos turned with blinding speed and towered over her chair. “You do not want to do this, Victoria. The procedure is legally binding. If you are seen and recognized by one of the mahfdhyt, their enforcers, you will be legally collected as an escaped slave. Nav-pilot or not, the Imperium won’t even try to stop them.” Seht nodded at Victoria. “He’s right. If a mahfdhyt recognizes you as an isfeht, an outlaw or runaway rehkyt they will collect you. They are not just enforcers, they’re highly trained legal executioners; you cannot fight them and win.” “Legal executioners? You mean assassins?” Victoria grabbed for the chair behind her and sat. “And there’s no other way to get me on that ship?” Seht shook his head. “Ravnos was supposed to go, as captain of the Hellsbreath, while you remained here, but with Moraine on the station, it’s not possible.” He looked over at his pacing captain. “Shall I have the warheads armed for detonation?” Ravnos nodded. “We may as well start up the main engines. We’ll need to get to that ship at top speed if we want to blow it before that station blows us.” Victoria came back out of the chair. “No! We can’t blow the Arcane! I’ll do it.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll do the procedure.” Ravnos shook his head. “No.” Victoria set her jaw. “If there is any way I can save the Arcane, I want to try.” Ravnos slammed his hands down on the desk. “You do and your career will only last as long as it takes for a mahfdhyt enforcer to take you in!” Victoria raised her chin. “Seht can send me right back.” “No, I can’t.” Seht shook his head. “Once you’ve been collected, the Imperium marks you as deceased. You cannot return.” He looked over at Victoria. “Not that I’ll mind keeping you.” Ravnos scowled at Seht. “That was not even remotely funny.” Seht turned away. “The only other option is to leave the procedure unfinished.” He turned to look at Ravnos. “If I don’t finalize the process, her genetic code will reassert itself, to some degree.”

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Victoria sat up. “I’ll go back to being human again?” Seht shook his head. “You’ll appear to be human; you will never be completely human again. A blood test will still show my genetic trace.” Ravnos flashed a dark look at Victoria then glared at Seht. “There’s also a chance you won’t recover enough to pass for human.” Seht leaned on the desk and closed his eyes. “It depends on the strength of your genetic code.” Ravnos shook his head. “I don’t want to take that chance.” Victoria took a step toward the desk. “But I do.” Ravnos glared at her. “Absolutely not!” Victoria glared right back. “What’s the point of forcing me to expose my skills with your dominance games, if you’re not going to let me use them?” Ravnos paced angrily before her chair. “The plan was for me to go to the auction with Seht while you remained on the Hellsbreath to retrieve us if something went wrong.” Seht looked over at Ravnos. “Then Moraine showed up.” “Then Moraine showed up.” Ravnos stopped at looked at Victoria. “You were the best option to carry out the original plan out. I…” He looked at the deck. “I didn’t realize that Seht would have to go as himself.” Seht rolled his eyes. “No, you let me sweat that out,” he grumbled. “You asked if I was willing to save the Arcane, Captain.” Victoria raised her chin. “If this is the only way to do it, then I’ll do it.” “You are willing to jeopardize your entire career for a ship?” Ravnos’s lip curled. “Are you out of your mind?” Victoria bared her teeth. “I am just a nav-pilot. The Arcane is a war hero. It deserves to be saved.” Seht snorted. “Yes, she is out of her mind.”

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Chapter 15 Victoria turned her back on Ravnos and looked at Seht. “What do I have to do?” Seht frowned at her then looked over at Ravnos. “If we’re going to do this, we have to begin immediately.” Ravnos folded his arms tightly around himself. “Victoria, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?” Victoria stared at Seht, refusing to look at Ravnos. “How many times do I have to agree before you will believe me?” Ravnos leaned both hands tiredly on his desktop. “Do what you need to do, Seht.” Seht turned to the box and opened it. “Take off your waistcoat and cravat, Victoria.” Victoria undid the buttons on her waistcoat while watching Seht with interest. Seht pulled out an antique-looking syringe. He filled a cartridge with iridescent liquid and set it into the syringe with the ease of long practice. Then he attached a needle over six inches long. Victoria pulled her cravat from her throat and stared at the needle in horror. “What are you going to do with that?” Seht checked his syringe carefully. “This is the nanite solution that will allow my DNA to influence yours.” He turned to look at her. “Unbutton your shirt. I need to inject it directly into your heart.” Victoria froze. “My heart?” Seht nodded. “It’s normally injected into the arm and the entire process takes a week. We have two days.” He turned to Ravnos. “Do you want to hold her? This won’t be pleasant.”

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Ravnos’s mouth was set in a tight line, but he nodded. He strode around the desk and sat down in the velvet chair. Victoria’s shaking fingers fumbled badly on her shirt buttons. He’s going to stab that

huge needle into my heart? What the hell have I gotten myself into? Ravnos pushed her hands away and undid her buttons with swift skill. “Sit.” He tugged her across his lap, lifting her legs until her knees were bent over the arm. “Put your hands on the back of your neck, and keep them there.” He reached into his breast pocket for something. Victoria lifted her hands to the back of her neck then felt a shimmer in her augmentations. She wiggled her fingers and realized that her wrist cuffs had been activated. “Hey!” Ravnos sighed. “It’s for your own good. If he misses, he could kill you.” Seht walked over to her side and knelt. “I won’t miss,” he said grimly. Ravnos pressed her back, supporting her head and neck on one arm. “Hold very still.” He pulled her shirt apart, baring her breasts then looked up at Seht. “Do it.” Seht placed two fingers at the base of her sternum and set the tip of the needle between his fingers, tilting the syringe so that the needle would stab upward and under her breastbone. “Hold her.” Ravnos wrapped an arm around her hips. Victoria stared up at Seht. They’re right. I am out of my mind. He looked briefly into her eyes and his expression was deadly serious. He punched in and up. Victoria didn’t feel it at first, and then her heart gave a stuttering and painful jump. She gasped. Something burned inside her heart and then froze it solid. Cold fire burst from her heart and raced outward, burning her lungs. Ravnos’s arm closed on her hips with crushing strength. Frost erupted in the center of her head and the inside of her mouth. She tasted the bright copper of blood. She felt Seht’s hand on her forehead, pressing her down. All at once, the burning cold was gone. She felt herself drop and panted. She blinked at them. “Is it over?” “No, that was just the beginning.” Seht smiled grimly. “You have two more to go.” Victoria grimaced. “Great.” She felt her wrists released and dropped her hands gratefully. Ravnos pushed her upright. “What now?” Victoria looked around and squinted. Everything seemed a little bright and sparkly on the edges. Seht stood up. “We need to get her to down to the hold where my barque is. You’ll need your sword.”

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Seht closed the box then knelt to button Victoria’s blouse. “You’ll like this part. You get to chase us around with a blade.” Victoria frowned. She couldn’t have heard that right. “A blade?” Seht nodded. “Of course we’ll be armed too.” He pushed her toward the captain’s door. Ravnos met them with his sword sheathed at his side. “Are you sure you want to do it this way? She’s not anywhere near an amateur with a sword.” Victoria focused on the compliment and felt a warm rush in her veins. “I figured she wasn’t.” Seht opened the door. “I have a practice blade ready for her.” Victoria gasped “A practice blade?”

***** Victoria stepped off the lift between them into the enormous and soaring hangar bay. They strode past lines of small fighters. Her boot heels echoed crisply on the metal plates of the deck and every step jarred the bruise over her heart. “This is a duel, but you’re giving me a dulled practice blade?” Ravnos’s mouth was set in a grim line. “You’re the one who has to bleed, not us.” “What do you mean, I bleed?” Seht led them toward the far end of the bay, toward a solitary ship unlike any of the fighters docked. “When you bleed under duress, it forces the nanites I injected into your body to heal you, accelerating the entire process. A duel will accomplish this very well.” Victoria suddenly had the urge to bite one of them. “How long do we do this?” Seht gave her a long look. “Until you drop.” “What?” Ravnos scowled at Seht. “That’s why it’s going to take both of us to do it.” They stopped at the side of a small, solid black craft designed for both space and atmospheric flight in long, sleek and aggressive lines. A small stepladder was shoved against the featureless side. There was no sign of a door or porthole windows anywhere on it. Seht climbed the stepladder and set his palm against the mirror-smooth hull. An oval appeared around his palm, then irised outward to become a door. He stepped into the dark hole. Victoria’s brows rose. The barque was a mimetic craft. Ravnos turned to Victoria. “Next time I tell you that you don’t want to do something -listen to me!” Victoria felt her temper bubbling at the edges and glared at him. “You are not blowing the Arcane.”

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Ravnos glared right back. “I’d punish the hell out of your ass for defying me like this, but what Seht has in mind is going to brutal enough.” Victoria flinched back from his anger. “I’m not changing my mind.” Ravnos caught her chin and stared into her eyes. “Can you see all right?” “Huh?” Victoria frowned at the sudden topic change. “I can see just fine, it’s just a little sparkly.” Ravnos released a breath. “Your eyes have already started to change.” Victoria stilled. “Oh.” Seht came back out of the barque carrying a sheathed blade, the dull length of a practice sword, a knife as long as his entire forearm and something coiled around his hand. His long silver mane was tightly braided into a single long tail and he had removed his coat, waistcoat, and shirt. His pale chest and muscular arms glistened. Victoria stared in surprise. He’s wearing oil? Seht came down the stairs and handed Ravnos the parrying knife and then handed Victoria the dull gray practice sword. Victoria took the somewhat heavy blade with a sour grimace. “Terrific. You get live steel, I get this.” Ravnos flipped the parrying knife with expert skill. “Remember, you’re the one who bleeds in this exercise, not us.” Seht unsheathed his blade, tossing the scabbard on the deck. “Because we are using live steel, we’re going to restrict our cuts to nicks and slices only, no thrusts. Also, no knee or joint attacks so as not to hamstring you, and no head attacks.” Seht raised a brow. “You, on the other hand are perfectly free to attack as you choose, though I would ask that you avoid head attacks of any kind.” Victoria nodded. “No head attacks. All right.” Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. He glanced at Ravnos. “I’ll start so you can get out of that coat.” He snapped his wrist and the coil unwrapped with sinister speed. It was a short, four-foot whip. Victoria automatically backed away, eyeing both weapons. “You’re using a whip?” “Yes.” Seht smiled briefly. “It’s traditional.” His wrist flicked in the tiniest motion and the whip snaked out with a loud crack. Ravnos scowled as he tugged his coat off. “It’s a slave whip. Get used to it. You’ll likely be seeing a lot of it on the Mordred.” Victoria held her blade up in an overhand defense. “Great.” She moved back into a reverse lunge and her skirt rode up to her crotch. She winced. This was not going to do at all. She jabbed a finger into the skirt’s side seam and ripped it open to the waist, then ripped open the other seam. Seht raised a silver brow. “Comfortable?”

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Victoria dropped back into her defensive crouch. “I need to be able to move properly.” “I see.” He lunged at her, blade first, with breathtaking speed. Victoria whirled, parrying his blade then closing in tight. He had height, reach, and weight on her. Her only defense was to stay in close and keep his blade busy. The whip cracked and a line of fire erupted across her back. She hissed, shocked, and leaped away. “Son of a bitch!” Seht smiled grimly. “Keep your distance. The whip is designed for close work.” “How the hell am I supposed to combat that?” She could feel a breeze along her spine. The whip had cut right through her silk shirt. “You’re not.” Ravnos walked into her line of sight, shirtless and glorious. He pulled his sword from its sheath and dropped the sword belt on the deck. “You’re supposed to lose.” Victoria sneered. “Fuck that!” Seht grinned. “That’s our girl.” They both lunged into attack. Fine metal rang against plain blunted steel. Victoria was hard pressed to keep their blades from her skin. She had fought two and sometimes three opponents in competition bouts during her academy days, but the last few years had all been station-side duels with drunk and woefully under-skilled idiots, like Richards. On top of this, Seht’s style was exotic with sudden leaps and spins, something she wasn’t used to, and Ravnos’s style seemed to be a mix of the traditional style she used, plus the exotic jumps. She smiled grimly. It was also the first time in years she could safely unleash the full extent of her skills. No innocent bystanders. They might very well slice her to pieces, but she’d make them work hard for it. They circled and closed with incredible speed. Victoria’s mouth tightened in grim concentration as she worked to keep both opponents at bay. Tiny nicks opened on her forearms as she learned their reach. Long but shallow cuts opened across her back as she remembered how to track two targets. She barely felt the keen slices, but then their blades were incredibly sharp and the endorphin rush of combat usually kept pain at bay. However, once she stopped, she knew for a fact that she would feel every single cut. The whip cracked out and Seht shouted. “Faster!” Victoria was forced to leap, using the full range of her leg augmentations to keep out of range, yet still they stayed on top of her. Shallow harrying cuts opened along her thighs, slicing her stockings to bloody rags. Ravnos darted in and she spun away, right into Seht’s path. A sudden throbbing in her head and jaw made it difficult to concentrate. She could also feel her body trying to stiffen,

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but it wasn’t exhaustion, it was something interfering with her joints. She didn’t move out of Seht’s range fast enough and his whip carved a broad bloody welt across her belly. She felt that all right, and near doubled over in pain. “Move that ass!” Seht snarled. The whip snaked out at her again. She twisted under it and leapt out of range, putting her back into Ravnos’s path. She parried his blade but only barely. She felt her mouth fill with liquid. She had to spit or drown. She leapt clear of them both and spat a mouthful of blood on the deck plates. Something hard and white sat in the crimson puddle. Shock froze her where she stood. Is that a tooth? The whip burned a line across her back. She turned in time to catch Seht’s descending blade and lunged back out of his range, and into Ravnos’s attack. Blood ran down her chin as she took a long sword cut on her thigh while parrying the dagger aiming for her breast. She felt her mouth fill with blood again and spat. Another tooth hit the deck. Son of a bitch! She was losing her teeth. Fear jolted her into adding kicks to her fighting. Suddenly there was room to maneuver. Damn, should have started using kicks before. The whip caught her around the thigh. “Asshole!” She lunged at Seht, determined to take that whip if she could. It flashed out at her. She saw the path of descent as though in slow motion. She reached out and wrapped it around her hand. She yanked, but couldn’t pull it free. Seht grinned. “Nice try.” He had it caught around his wrist. She pulled, jerking him into foot range and landed a hard kick to his stomach. Seht gasped but didn’t release the whip. “Shit!” Ravnos came at her from behind. “Mind your ass!” “Oh no, you don’t!” She used the whip to jerk Seht into his path. Ravnos moved out of Seht’s way. “Let it go.” He opened a cut on her forearm. She hissed and released the whip. “Son of a bitch!” Seht bared long teeth and re-coiled his whip. “That was naughty.” They both closed on her, blades flying in glittering arcs. Her mouth filled with more blood, but she didn’t have time to spit. She spun out of sword range and choked. An open-handed slap caught her on the side of her head. The blood exploded from her mouth. Two more teeth were gone. Ravnos shot a narrow look at Seht. “She’s losing teeth.” “I see it.” The whip cracked out. “Keep moving, Victoria!” Victoria ducked under the whip and jabbed her sword out to catch Seht’s falling blade. Her knees tried to lock in place. She gasped and got her feet back under control. Someone grabbed the back of her shirt. She back-kicked and heard Ravnos woof in surprise. Her shirt ripped free.

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Seht grabbed her ripped and sliced skirt, tearing it from her. Naked, but for her boots and her shredded stockings, Victoria lashed out in a furious attack fueled by her embarrassment. Both men jumped out of range. Seht glanced over at Ravnos. “If we ever put her in a pit, we’ll have to make sure she’s naked.” He bared long teeth at Victoria. “She’s a lot meaner without clothes on.” Ravnos snorted. “I noticed.” Victoria lunged at one then the other, spitting blood and swearing viciously. Abruptly her vision went off; something was in her eyes. She wiped her hand across her face and it came away bloody. Her eyes were bleeding. She didn’t have time to wonder. Both men came at her fast. Victoria could barely see them. She closed her eyes. It had been far too long since her classes in blind fighting, but she really didn’t have a choice. Her augmentation processed the sounds of their movements and she was able to parry both swords, but missed the dagger. A line of fire opened across her breast. She heard the whip and stopped it with her dull blade. Suddenly they stopped. Both men were breathing hard, so it was easy to tell where they were. “Victoria, can you see?” It was Seht. She turned to face his direction. “No.” She heard Ravnos behind her and brought up the blade. “I’m not down yet.” “Very well then,” Seht said with amusement. “We’ll stop when you yield.” They closed on her. Victoria fought on but her body refused to cooperate, her joints kept trying to lock into place, and she ached to her bones. Their cuts landed with far more frequency, and they were getting physically closer; she could smell their sweat. They pulled away. “Seht, she’s a mess, we need to stop.” “Victoria, do you yield?” Seht called out. “No!” She brought up the blade, targeting on their voices. “I’m not down yet.” “Shit…” Ravnos’s voice sounded harsh, almost breathless. “Finish it before one of us tires too much and we have an accident.” “Agreed.” She heard someone approach in front, then swerve to the side. He was too close. She couldn’t bring her sword around fast enough to catch him. An arm caught her around the waist. Her sword was suddenly ripped from her hand. She heard the clatter as it landed on the deck.

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Seht’s scent washed over her, strong and thick with sweat, and arousal. “You gave us a good fight, but it’s over. Yield.” “No, damn you!” Victoria twisted in his hold, trying to dig with her elbow or stomp with her heel. His arm went around her throat and tightened, choking her. She grabbed for his arm, and felt his knee slam into the back of her leg. Her knees suddenly gave out and she dropped. Held tight against him, she felt Seht go down with her. She landed with her knees bent and splayed wide over his bent knees, somehow sitting on his lap. She gasped for breath past the arm around her throat. He locked an arm around her hips and jerked his knees wider, spreading her open. His firm erections pressed against her back. “You’re down. Yield.” “No, I won’t!” She twisted, sucked for air, and fought to get back up, but she couldn’t get her feet under her. “Then we’ll do it the hard way.” He released her throat, clenched his hand in the braids of her hair, released her hips, and pushed. She tipped forward, landing on her hands. She felt him moving his hand between them. His arm circled her hips, pulling her back and snug against him. She felt the hot flesh of his cocks pressing unrestrained against her naked backside. “Yield,” he snarled in her ear. “Or I will jam my primary cock up your ass and fuck you right here on the deck.” Victoria tried to move but he had her too tightly. “Son of a bitch!” Seht’s arm tightened in her hair, jerking her head back. “If that’s the way you want it.” His cock pressed against the entrance to her butt. Merciless Fate, she did not want that thing up her ass; it was almost too big for her pussy. She panicked. “I yield!” “Good.” He used her hair to tug her back up onto her knees then pulled her to her feet and turned her around to face him. He leaned over and locked his arm around her waist. He straightened and climbed to his feet, lifting her over his shoulder. Her head fell down over his back and she coughed wetly, too tired to protest. “Is it finished?” Ravnos asked quietly. “This is,” Seht replied.

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Chapter 16 Victoria felt Seht carry her upstairs, and heard Ravnos climbing the stairs behind them. We must be boarding Seht’s barque. Seht’s grip shifted and she slid from his shoulder. He caught her before she could fall, then laid her out on what felt like a thinly cushioned sparring mat. She started to tremble from the throbbing pain in her bones and in the million and one stinging cuts all over her. Ravnos’s rich salty scent swirled around her. “She’s a bloody mess.” Seht snorted. “That was the idea. Looks like we missed everything vital…” Ravnos released a breath. “Thank Fate.” Victoria wiped at the moisture in her eyes. “Damn you, you cheated.” Ravnos sighed. “It was time to stop. We didn’t want an accident. The idea was to nick your skin, not puncture an organ or cripple you.” Victoria pressed her hands over her blind eyes. “I wasn’t ready to stop.” “But we were.” Seht straddled her then sat down, trapping her legs. “Hold her so I can do the second course.” Ravnos caught her wrists. “Hold still.” She took two breaths then felt Seht’s fingers on the bruise already on her sternum. A physical punch slammed into her heart. She gasped. Heat swelled and burned, spreading like molten lava through her blood with every heartbeat. Her body felt like it was swelling under her skin. Her brain caught fire. She moaned. Seht’s breathing was harsh. “Get the rings off of her. She can’t take them in this condition.”

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Victoria felt fingers on her nipples. A painful bolt of erotic heat punched her in the gut. She gasped and arched. Fingers pinched her clit. Liquid fire, swelling heat and ravenous lust… She shouted and twisted to get away. Hands captured her head. “Hold still, Victoria,” Seht’s fingers lifted her chin. “Open your eyes.” Victoria opened her eyes and blinked at the smears of too-bright color. “You’ll be able to see again in an hour or so.” He slid a hand to her jaw. “Open your mouth.” Victoria opened and felt his fingers slide in to probe at her teeth. She winced. The pounding throbs had stopped but her teeth were still tender. “She’s developed a pair of uppers and lowers. They’re not large, but they are definitely pointed.” Seht sighed. “That is unfortunate.” He released her jaw. “Victoria, I’m afraid that even if the rest of you goes back to human, you’re going to retain a rather handsome set of fangs. I suggest you restrict your smiles.”

Fangs? Victoria stilled. I have fangs? Ravnos’s hands tightened on her wrists. “Bloody fucking Fate, Seht.” Seht’s weight left her legs but she could feel his booted feet still framing her. “She’s very aggressive. It was a possibility.” Victoria felt Seht lift his foot and heard a thud. His foot came back down, only this time his leg was bare. He lifted his other foot, another thud, and that foot was bare too. She heard cloth shifting. He was getting undressed. Victoria sucked in a breath. If he was getting undressed, then he was going to fuck her. Her entire body throbbed with impatient hunger. She suddenly realized that she wanted nothing more than a cock jammed up her cunt, even if it meant that one was going to get jammed up her ass too. “Do you want to be part of this?” Seht asked in a whisper. Ravnos released a breath. “Will it interfere with the process?” “Not physically.” Seht sighed. “Do you remember how this works?” Ravnos hissed. “Yes.” “Can you follow my lead?” Ravnos’s silence was thick with indecipherable meaning. Seht sighed. “Her responses have to be instinctive, you know this. If you participate, it won’t change your directives, I’ll just be adding mine.” Victoria had a hard time following their conversation through the violent lust that tore at her, but it didn’t sound promising. “All right.” Seht knelt down. “Help me turn her over.” Victoria jerked alert. Turn me over?

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They rolled her over onto her stomach and levered her upright astride Seht’s lap with his arms around her. She was in the same position as before out in the dock, with her knees bent and spread straddling his. But this time, lust hammered in her core. This time, she didn’t care how she was going to be fucked, as long as fucking happened. Seht shifted under her and she felt his cocks pressed under her, against her hot and hungry pussy. His lips brushed her ear. “Now then, I ask you a question. The right answer gives you pleasure. If you give me the wrong answer, I make you hurt. Understood?” Victoria frowned. What the hell was he up to now? “Do you understand?” He pinched a nipple. The pleasure was so intense it was, in fact, painful. Victoria gasped. Oh, that’s what he meant by hurt. “Yes, okay!” “The correct answer is ‘yes, ‘Syr.’”

‘Syr? He pinched her nipple again, harder. Victoria bit back a shout and groaned. Damn it, that hurts! “What is the correct answer?” His fingers hovered over her aching nipple. Victoria shivered in sudden fright. “Yes, ‘Syr!” “Excellent.” His hand gently squeezed her breast. Warm curls of delight rolled straight down to her crotch. She moaned. “To whom did you yield?” Victoria stilled. “Captain Ravnos.” “And?” His finger brushed her nipple in warning. “You, ‘Syr.” “Very good.” His palm brushed her nipple. Victoria’s core throbbed in delighted but insistent appetite. She exhaled sharply. “Whom do you serve?” Victoria answered automatically. “The Imperium.” “Wrong answer.” Both nipples were savagely pinched. Victoria shouted that time. Ravnos cleared his throat. “Who do you serve right now?” Victoria barely heard him through the angry throb in her nipples. “You, sir.” “And?” The fingers brushed close to her nipples. “You, ‘Syr.” “That’s right.” His hands cupped her breasts and gently squeezed.

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She leaned back against him and moaned. His touch somehow soothed the angry ache in her nipples, while making the one in her core even more rabid to be filled. She shifted on the cocks pressing temptingly against her starving pussy. “Who do you want to serve?” Victoria stilled. She absolutely did not want to get pinched again. “Captain Ravnos and you, ‘Syr.” “Very good.” One hand slid down her belly to cup her wet heat. “And how do you want to serve us?” Victoria racked her muddled brain. “With honor?” Seht stilled. Victoria felt her heart beat in her mouth. If he pinched her frantic clit, the agony would make her scream. Seht released a breath. “All right. And?”

And? Victoria bit her lip. What else was there? Ravnos sighed. “When you made your oath, what did I have you add?” Victoria stilled and recalled her oath at sword point. “Obedience.” “Yes.” Seht sighed in her ear. “Again, how do you want to serve us?” Victoria’s heart beat painfully in her chest. She could feel felt a gap yawning under her proverbial feet. There was something dreadfully permanent about this question. “Victoria,” Seht said harshly. “Answer the question.” His fingers framed her clit with clear intent. She felt tears spill down her cheeks. “With obedience.” She felt a vise close around her heart, and a small sob escaped her lips. “Very good.” Seht released her crotch. “Get on your hands and knees. Show us your willingness to serve.” Victoria leaned forward and set her hands on the mat, coming up on her knees. She didn’t want to think about what she was doing, only that the questions, and the pinching, had stopped. Ravnos’s scent was salty and thick with male sweat. “Open your mouth, Victoria.” She opened her mouth and Ravnos filled it with his cock. She stroked the head with her tongue. He tasted of salt and male arousal. He tasted of cum. Suddenly she wanted to taste more. She sucked him deeper into her mouth. He groaned and curled his hand in her hair. “Gently, your new teeth are pointed.” He slid partway from her mouth then he pressed deeper. She gagged. He pulled back a bit and his breathing deepened. “When I thrust, try to swallow at the same time; you’ll take more of me.” He pushed forward into her mouth.

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She struggled to swallow. She discovered that he slid far deeper into her throat and she didn’t gag. However, breathing became an immediate problem. Her throat tightened and she whimpered. He pulled back and groaned. “Much better.” She sucked for air. Ravnos curled his fingers tightly in her hair, holding her still. He slowly thrust again. She swallowed, taking more of him. He slid back, then thrust forward again, fucking her mouth with slow deep thrusts and quick retreats that allowed her to catch a small breath. Abruptly he pulled from her mouth completely, and released her hair. Victoria felt Seht’s hands on her butt, parting the cheeks, and stilled. In her current position, her anus was above her pussy. Bloody Fate! He’s going to fuck my ass with that

monster cock of his! Seht’s fingers pressed against her anus. “Open for me.” She pressed outward, opening for him, and shivered. He delved into her butt with two fingers slathered in lube. All too soon, he pulled his fingers away. Something hotter, harder, and much larger pressed for entry. He leaned over her. “Show me your obedience, Victoria.” His breathing was harsh and hot against her back. “Press back and take my cock into your ass.” Victoria pressed back and felt her sphincter spread, and then stretch wider. She gasped for breath but continued to press back, increment by increment. It felt like a hot steel bar was being jammed up her butt. Seht groaned. “Mother, you’re tight!” Victoria panted. I’m tight? He’s too fucking big! Abruptly his second cock, just as rigid as the one up her butt, brushed enticingly against the lips to her pussy. Her core gave a tight, wet and voracious clench. Her entire body focused on that second cock with unholy greed. She wanted it, regardless of the cruel prong up her ass; she wanted that cock in her cunt, and she wanted it now. Victoria panted with determination and dropped to her elbows to get the right angle. She shoved back harder, feeling her ass fill mercilessly as the second cock nosed past the wet and slick inner lips to press inward. Seht caught her around the hips. “Almost there.” He grunted and pulled her to him ruthlessly hard, double-impaling her. Victoria groaned. He was in…in all the way. Somehow she had gotten that entire thing into her ass. Seht’s mouth brushed her shoulder. “I have one hell of a load to dump into your sweet ass, and then your body is mine.” Satisfaction rang in his words. Victoria couldn’t stop the instinctive shudder that vibrated through her.

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“Seht.” Ravnos’s voice deepened with warning. A growl erupted from Seht’s chest. “Aubrey, don’t. She has two doses in her, and she’s already begun imprint. It’s too late to change your mind now.” “I’m talking about the conditioning. How far do you intend to take this?” “She must respond without question, or she doesn’t make it past the enclave guards.” “Oh, she’ll respond.” Ravnos’s voice softened to almost a whisper. “She’s a natural submissive. Her entire mental outlook is service, to the Imperium, to her ships. What if she can’t break the mindset you’re conditioning into her?” “So?” “So, she has to go back as a functioning individual. If you condition her too deeply it could build an emotional dependency. She might not be able to go back -- to leave us.” “Would that be so bad?” Ravnos sighed. “Not for us, but we’ll be betraying her trust.” Victoria groaned in frustration. Why do they always want to stop and talk? She twisted her hips, grinding impatiently on the cocks lodged within her. “Both of your egos are too big for your bodies. I’ll be fine. Can we fuck now?” Seht barked out a short laugh. “That’s our Victoria, nerves of fucking steel.” He pulled partway out of her and slammed back in. Victoria barely had time to register the sinister pleasure of his retreat before the hot pain of his thrust choked a gasp from her. Seht leaned over her. “Who is serving whom here?” Victoria groaned and dropped her head on the mat. “I’m serving you, ‘Syr.” The title slipped out of her mouth before she knew she was going to say it. A chill raced across her flesh. Maybe there was something to what Ravnos was saying after all. Seht dug his hands into her braided hair, and pulled her head back up. “Do not forget who is master here.” Victoria hissed and bared her teeth. “Yes, ‘Syr.” A growl rumbled in her chest. She sucked in a breath, shocked. “Bloody Fate! Was that me?” “Yes, it was you. Mind your temper.” Seht snorted. “Are you satisfied, Aubrey?” Ravnos chuckled. “You’re right, she’ll be fine.” “This is the part you are not going to like, Victoria.” Seht pulled back with slow deliberation. Victoria gasped. His withdrawal brought a curl of fiendish delight in both her ass and her cunt. What was he talking about? What was not to like? Seht leaned over her back. “That growl tells me you need an ass-load of cum as fast as I can pump it into you.”

Fast? Victoria shuddered and hoped to Fate he didn’t mean what she thought he meant.

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Seht straightened up and leaned back. “As soon as I tie, get yours down her throat.” “I’m ready.” Seht dropped on top of her, locking an arm around her waist. “This is not the way I wanted to do this, pet, but you’re too close to the edge. We’re out of time.” Victoria cringed. Oh shit. He slid a hand under her to brush his fingers across her swollen clit. Boiling heat and savage pleasure. Victoria howled from raw intensity. His arm held her firmly and mercilessly in place while he drove forward into her with brutal force. He pulled back with hideous speed to viciously hammer back in again, and again… His fingers worked on her clit as he fucked her with inhuman speed. Her body shook under the impact of his hips slamming into her ass. Confused by the opposing sensations of severe arousal rippling from her clit and delighted cunt, and the equally severe torment of the pole hammering into her ass, gasps and cries of anguished pleasure fell from her lips. The cream from her excitement slid down her thighs. Through the pounding sensual overload Victoria felt the swelling at the base of his cocks sliding on her wetness and pushing to get into her ass and cunt. Bloody fucking Fate, he was too big already! There was no way her ass could withstand any more. Fear made her entire body tighten. Suddenly his cock felt twice as large and twice as agonizing in her ass. She gasped and twisted violently, trying to throw him off. “Too much! It hurts!” Seht growled in her ear and held her in place. “Take it, Victoria.” “No, I can’t! It hurts! Bloody Fate, it hurts!” She tried to come up and shove him back, but his arm was too tight and he was too heavy. He pulled her arm out from under her, jerked it behind her, and shoved, pinning her chest to the deck. “Yes, you can. You can and you will.” Victoria struggled but couldn’t escape. She moaned in despair. Seht held her firmly in place and leaned over her. “Easy, pet, just relax and take it. Only a little more and we’ll be done. Relax and let it go, it will be over very soon.” Victoria nodded and a whimper escaped. She released a breath and stopped resisting, letting her body go passive under him. The pain in her butt retreated. “That’s it,” Seht’s voice was gentle, yet determined. “Let it go. I’ll finish quickly.” He released her arm and drew back. Victoria closed her sightless eyes and waited. She felt his fingers touch her clit. Heat, delight, and crushing ecstasy coiled tight in her belly. She gasped.

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He thrust and twisted, forcing her battered ass to stretch further and accept the swelling at the base of his cock. She exhaled, moaning, focusing on his fingers moving on her clit and the heat building in her belly, deliberately pushing the punishing torment in her butt away. He pushed his knots into her with a heartfelt groan. She choked then panted. The vicious tightness in her ass was breathtaking. She felt him shift within her and the swelling in her cunt somehow put pressure against her clit. The urgent rise of torrential orgasm took her by surprise. It stopped, right on the edge. She shivered hard and let a small sound of frustration escape. Seht pulled her back up onto her hands. “Open your mouth,” he husked. “Ravnos, take her, quickly.” Victoria opened and Ravnos’s cock filled her mouth with heat and hard flesh. Ravnos took her head. “Hold still and relax.” He slid deep into her mouth. She remembered to swallow and was rewarded by a throaty groan from Ravnos. She tasted liquid musk. He pulled out of her mouth then thrust back in, then again and again. He suddenly thrust as deep as he could go. “I’m right there.” Victoria’s nose pressed against his belly and her throat tightened as her air cut off. She whimpered in alarm. His cock flexed in her throat. His breath exploded from his chest. Ravnos groaned deep and hard, bucking against her mouth. Victoria’s throat filled with thick spunk. Somehow, she swallowed it. Ravnos pulled away groaning. Victoria gasped for air while his cum dribbled from her lips. She raised a hand to wipe at it and heard Ravnos pick something up from the deck. Cloth rustled. Was he getting dressed? Seht moaned and shifted in her ass. “My turn.” “Blood and Chaos, Seht!” Ravnos shouted. “What are you doing?” Victoria stilled. What the hell just happened? She blinked but couldn’t see a damn thing. “Blood and semen.” Seht groaned. “It takes blood and semen, you know that.” “Damn you, don’t bleed to death on me!” “I’ll be fine.” Seht chuckled tiredly. “I’ve done this once or twice before, you know.” Ravnos groaned. “I know, I know.” She squinted, trying to force her eyes to see. “What happened?” Seht snorted. “Later. Lie down.” Victoria dropped to her elbows, then gingerly down on her stomach. Her ass was very tight.

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Seht pressed down on her until she lay flat on the mat with her legs wide, with him lodged between them. He leaned up. “This is the last of it.” She felt a long line of fire open across her back and hissed. Wetness ran down her sides. It felt like a cut. Seht pressed full-length down on her, clasped his arms tightly around her waist and chest, then rolled them both onto their sides, spooning her into his body. He sighed. “We’re going to need food when we come out of this.” “I remember.” Ravnos’s voice sounded resigned. “I’ll check on you in an hour.”

An hour? Victoria heard retreating footsteps. Ravnos had left. She shuddered. Now what?

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Chapter 17 Seht’s lips brushed her throat and his legs insinuated themselves between hers. “Ravnos doesn’t remember this part.” His chuckle had an evil edge to it. Victoria felt a fine trembling erupt all over her. “What are you going to do?” Her voice came out a frightened whisper. His arms tightened around her with crushing force. “Who do you serve?” Victoria stilled. These questions again? She blinked against sudden tears. “You, ‘Syr, and Ravnos.” “Yes, oh yes.” A purr rumbled in his throat. “And you are my pet, are you not?” Victoria’s voice came out tight and high. “Yes, ‘Syr.” “Turn your head and offer me your throat, pet.” Victoria swallowed. Merciless Fate, he’s going to bite me! She turned her head anyway, and lifted her chin, offering her throat. “Such a good pet,” he whispered. His lips closed on her throat and long teeth scraped lightly on her vulnerable skin. He lifted his knee, forcing her leg up and spreading her open. One hand slid down her stomach to delve for her clit. Liquid fire, wanton heat, ferocious arousal… Her belly clenched with imminent and exquisite rapture. She gasped out a soft moan. The delayed climax had not gone away, but merely waited. His hips rotated, grinding his heavy cocks deep into her passages. The cruel tightness in her ass brought a sharp and vicious edge to the pleasure skittering up her spine. She arched into him, moaning in passionate torment. Seht released her throat. “Who do you serve?”

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Victoria sucked in a trembling breath, desperate for the release that was only a moment away. “You, ‘Syr, and Ravnos.” “That’s right. To whom do you belong?” His fingers were becoming painful on her overexcited clit. She writhed against him. “You, ‘Syr, and Ravnos.” “Say it.” A liquid growl erupted from his chest. “You belong to us.” Victoria gasped. “I belong to you and Ravnos.” “Who are your masters?” A hard shudder shook her from head to toe. “You, ‘Syr, and Ravnos.” “I’m about to cum in your ass and in your cunt, pet. Would you like that?” “Yes, yes, ‘Syr.” Victoria moaned. Fate yes, she wanted him to cum so she could cum. “Are you going to cum with me?” Alarm jangled along her senses. She knew a trick question when she heard one. She took a breath to think, but the coiling tension in her body was making it hard to string one thought to the next. The correct answer struck her like lightning. “May I?” “Very clever, pet, very clever indeed.” The purr was back in his voice. “Yes, you may.” Victoria released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “Thank you, ‘Syr.” “And a thank-you? Well done.” Seht chuckled. “Ravnos was right, you are a natural submissive. You’ll make a perfect slave.” Victoria stilled, shocked. They were right, bloody Fate, they were right… Seht’s lips brushed her throat. “We’ll take such good care of you.” He grunted and thrust hard. Victoria’s body suddenly tightened with ravenous and urgent force. Thought fled before desperate need. She cried out and writhed. He thrust again, and then again. Her gasping cries punctuated his deliciously cruel thrusts. She shuddered in his arms, lost in the roiling and perilous wave of pleasure that steadily wound tighter with treacherous intent and amassed toward a crushing fall. “Almost there,” he whispered in a voice husky with desperate passion. He thrust again and groaned. Victoria arched, baring her throat, unable to stand any more of the torturous pleasure. “Please,” she moaned. “Please…” “Yes…” Teeth closed tightly on her throat. He bit down and thrust, holding her tight. Victoria felt his long teeth stab into her throat as his cocks pulsed within her. He had finally cum. Climax rose with howling strength. The breath stopped in her throat. Wanton

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fire, brutal delight and gorgeous agony crashed over her. She cried out and shuddered in violent release. She panted, shivering in his arms. One hell of an orgasm… “Mmm… That was nice.” He licked the wounds on her throat. His hands closed on her breasts and squeezed. She gasped. His bite was intensifying the pleasure still raging through her. His rumbling purr vibrated through her. “Again,” he whispered. Victoria frowned. Again? Suddenly another wave of burning delight washed through her, then escalated with murderous speed toward another climax. Her breath stilled in her throat. She shivered with tension and climax took her with horrific strength. She shouted in release. The wave left her panting. Victoria could barely think past the trembling that shook her. “Oh, yes…” His fingers tugged on her nipples. “Again.” Victoria shook her head. She didn’t want to do it again. She felt the tide rise anyway, and escalate toward vicious orgasm. She shrieked, bucking in his embrace from the screaming pleasure that took her. “Again…”

***** She awoke to warm water falling on her. She opened her eyes and squinted up at Ravnos and Seht. They were holding her up, wedged between them in a really small glassed-in shower stall. Ravnos shoved water from his cheeks and peered at her. “Awake?” She nodded then groaned. Her whole body ached. But damn, it was nice to be able to see again. Ravnos gave her a small smile. “Think you can stand on your own?” She nodded again and raised a hand to wipe water from her face. The force cuffs were missing from her wrists. Well, that’s a nice change. Seht shot Ravnos a narrowed glance. “We can stay here…” “No, set her down.” Ravnos held Seht’s gaze. “She’ll be fine, remember?” Seht was clearly not happy, but he nodded. She slid through their arms to stand on her feet. They pushed her to step forward. She teetered on unsteady knees and reached out behind her to grab onto one of their arms. Her hand found nothing. She was forced to grab for the wall instead. She turned, blinking through the water. They weren’t in the shower stall.

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“Seht?” Ravnos’s voice was calm. She released a breath. They were just outside the frosted glass. “What are you --?” Seht sounded surprised. “Hold still.” “Aubrey, don’t --!” She heard the sound of two bodies grappling, then a heavy thump as something hit the far wall. “I said, hold still.” There was a click. Seht released a breathy moan. “Why are you --?” “Quiet.” Ravnos’s voice was firm. “When we get to my quarters.” There was a second click. She moved toward the sliding door and fumbled it open. The facility was small and very spare. It was clearly designed for zero gravity use as well as normal use. A water-collector drying stall big enough for one body was on her immediate left with a water-trap sink set in a tiny counter on her right. Cabinets were set into the wall. They had their backs to her as Ravnos lifted a black velvet dressing gown onto Seht’s shoulders. Both of them looked damp. Apparently they had skipped using the water collector. Seht reached to pull his long hair from inside his robe and let the damp mass fall down his back. A glint of metal caught her eye. Seht was wearing force cuffs on his wrists. Ravnos pulled on a brocaded dressing gown and spotted her standing there. “There are some night clothes and a robe on the counter. I have dinner waiting up in my quarters. Finish bathing; we’ll meet you there.” Seht dropped his head and wrapped his arms around himself, gripping his elbows tightly. She blinked. They were leaving her? Ravnos shot Seht a narrow look. “Tell her how to close the barque.” Seht tucked his chin and glared at Ravnos. “When you are outside, press your palm on the left side and say abut. It means close.” Ravnos turned to Victoria. “Got that?” She nodded and grabbed the doorway with white knuckles. They were leaving her. “Good, see you at dinner.” Ravnos set a firm hand on Seht’s shoulder and gently shoved him out of the tiny facility. She desperately wanted to go after them, but the command to finish bathing wouldn’t let her step from the shower. She stepped back in, determined to hurry.

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***** Victoria climbed out of the shower a little more in possession of herself. She still had no idea why she had panicked so badly when they left. In fact, she had been a lot closer to tears than she wanted to think about. After a few minutes, that unreasoning fear had turned into anger and resentment: how dare they leave her? She took a deep breath. Thank Fate she had gotten over that too. She stepped under the water collector to dry herself and activated the unit. She blinked under the sudden light and stared at her reflection in the mirrored wall. Holy Mother of All! Under the strong light she could finally see what both of them had meant about physical changes. Her skin was golden, not as in tanned skin, but more like metal. In fact, there was a slight gleam to it. She stroked her arm. Smooth, too, no body hair. Other than her brows and her mane, she was completely hairless. Her fingernails had lengthened and lightened to almost a frost white. She frowned at her reflection. Her eyes looked bigger, a lot bigger. She had to look to the side to see the whites around her irises. Her eyes were also the wrong color; they had gone from a pale brown to deep black. She angled her gaze and caught a glimpse of green reflected deep within. Okay… Her eye augmentations appeared to be all right. Her hair was still deep red, but with two broad white streaks starting at her temples. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and found the ear delicately pointed, like Seht’s. The cuts from the duel seemed to be completely healed over without a trace of scarring. Her old dueling scars were missing too. She turned around and lifted her hair. According to the mirror, her skin was completely flawless. Well, that was a nice change. They had mentioned fangs… She stepped closer to the mirror and opened her mouth. Her eyeteeth and lower canines were longer. They weren’t all that long, not nearly as long as Seht’s, but definitely longer than before and pointed. She nibbled carefully on her bottom lip. Her lips seemed to be tinted more of a red, and her nipples were definitely red. Pointed ears, pointed teeth, white streaks, big black eyes, and gold skin. Not too different… But definitely not human either. She turned her back on the mirror and stepped out dry although her hair was still a bit damp. She ran her fingers through her hair and went to see if they had left her a brush. Victoria stared at the black silk button-up tunic and matching trousers, confused. They were a full set of masculine sleeping clothes. Well, that’s certainly different. She slipped them on and discovered that they were quite a bit large. Must be Ravnos’s. A small smile curved her lip. Bet he’s never worn them either. She found a brush by the velvet dressing gown but there was nothing to tie her hair back with. She grimaced in annoyance. She hated leaving her hair loose. Victoria tied the cloth belt on the floor-length robe and stepped barefoot into a narrow shipway. She followed the narrow walkway, staring with interest at the gleaming smooth

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walls. Seht’s barque gave absolutely nothing away. She ran a palm against the wall. It felt slightly silky. She nodded to herself. Mimetic material. Once the ship was active, all kinds of things would form out of the walls from the atomic level memory imprinted into the metal itself. In the meantime, it kept all its secrets to itself. She reached the round exit door and had to pause for breath. She could not believe how tired she was. She reviewed her internal map and realized she still had one hell of a walk ahead of her. She grimaced and looked around. She was going to need something to lean on. She spotted the dull practice sword lying on the deck by the wall. Her brows shot up. That ought to do nicely.

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Chapter 18 Victoria stepped from the lift and stared in shock. For the first time since her arrival, the corridors were crammed with crewmen busily moving through all the crossways. Her heart hammered in her throat. The lift that would take her to the captain’s suite was at the end of a long hall on the next deck. The lift to that deck was at the far end of this hall. She had to walk through all these people just to get to the first lift.

Too many damned people… She nearly stepped back into the lift. The decision was removed by a small crowd of crewmen that jostled past her to get into her lift. The door closed behind her like the crack of doom. Leaning heavily on the practice sword, Victoria started down the shipway, head down and hugging the wall to avoid notice. After a few strides, Victoria realized that she was acting like a coward. Disgusted at her petty fear, she deliberately stepped away from the wall and lifted her chin. This was her ship, damn it, and there was nothing on it that could harm her. She focused on the communication lines that laced through the walls and felt the ship respond to her query with a rush of welcome. Oh yes, this was her ship… A grim smile lifted the corner of her mouth. Victoria made it to the far side and pressed the lift call with a small sigh of triumph. No one had noticed her. They walked blithely past her chatting to their fellow crewmembers.

Apparently I’m not different enough to question. The lift doors opened and she stepped in. She leaned against the back wall and panted for breath. Fate, she was tired… The doors slid to close only to stop for a hand. The doors opened back up and two crewmen stepped in. The doors closed firmly behind them.

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“Mind if we share your lift?” said the first. He was big, bald-headed and broad shouldered. His insignia indicated that he was a chief petty officer from engineering. He focused on her with interest. The second crewman was smaller, but just as muscular as the first with stringy blond hair caught back in a narrow braid. His insignia also said engineering, but he was only a petty officer second-class. His mouth was tight and grim as he stared at her. Victoria eyed both of them uneasily. She was pretty damn sure that they were the same two men that had attacked her with Nav-Pilot Richards. She had laid them both out on the deck before Richards had pulled out his sword with fatal consequences. She released a calming breath, desperately hoping that her physical changes were radical enough that they wouldn’t recognize her. The chief frowned mockingly at her. “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?” He folded his muscled arms across his broad chest. The smaller crewman’s mouth tightened.

Damn… Maybe I can bluff him? Victoria raised a sarcastic brow. “It’s possible. I’m Senior Nav-Pilot Chaste.” The chief’s brows rose. “Is that so? Are you sure you’re not Senior Nav-Pilot Stark?” Victoria raised her own brows. “There’s only one nav-pilot on this ship, and my name is Chaste.” The engineer glared. “Call yourself what you like, but I watched you kill Richards.” The smaller crewman glanced up at the chief. “Richards was a shit-sucking bastard.” The chief tilted his head. “So he was. But he was kind enough to bring us in on his deal. Which is still in effect.” He grinned slyly at Victoria. “It seems that one of your previous senior officers didn’t like you much.” Victoria frowned. “You don’t know any of my previous senior officers.” The engineer sighed. “Oh, but I’m afraid we do.” He nodded at the other crewman, who nodded back. Victoria felt a growl rumbling up and choked it back. “Really?” They could not be saying what she thought they were saying. The engineer nodded slowly. “The Adamant’s executive officer promised the three of us a nice chunk of credits for your ass on a slab.”

My what? That ass-wipe! Victoria clamped her jaw until it ached. Heat flared at the base of her skull. The smaller crewman shrugged then flashed a nasty grin. “Pity Richards won’t get his share.” “That is a pity.” The chief raised his brows. “Seeing as the Adamant’s commander put one hell of a price on your corpse, Stark.”

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What? She applied what small grip she had left on logic. They can’t be in communication with him; all communications go through my piloting array. I would have spotted a transmission to Imperial space… They had to be bluffing. “Pity you don’t have the right nav-pilot.” “The cosmetic job is pretty damn convincing, but your face is one of a kind, Stark. Nice try.” The chief’s smile tightened. “Might have convinced us, if we hadn’t spotted them dragging your ass on board.” Victoria felt the hair on her neck rise. “I see.” She suddenly wanted to make them bleed so badly she shook with the effort to hold back. “Why here? Why now?” The chief shrugged then grinned. “Oh, we knew where you were, but with the captain and that alien sniffing after you, we just didn’t have a chance to get near you, till today.” The smaller crewman snorted. “I bet sniffing ain’t all they’re doing.”

How dare they? Red rage blazed down her spine. “You’ve fought me before. What makes you think you’ll win this time?” The chief snorted. “I saw the way you limped down that hall. My guess is that all that surgery is new. I bet that if you try to fight us you’ll rip yourself apart, which will suit me just fine.” “You think so?” A tide of ferocious anticipation washed through her. She smiled. “I’m not exactly unarmed.” The chief bared his teeth in something that wasn’t a smile. “That’s only a blunt practice sword, Nav-Pilot.” Victoria gave him a brief nod. “Why, so it is.” The doors opened behind the two men. She brought her blunt sword up, gripping both ends crosswise like a fighting staff, and rushed forward on a surge of fierce exhilaration. She caught them both across the stomach and swept them before her. The men were shoved out into the hall and landed on their butts. Victoria leaped right over them, and nearly dropped to her knees from bone-weary exhaustion. The adrenaline rush had been short-lived. Grimly she trotted towards the far end of the hall with the sword over one shoulder. If she could make it to the far lift she could let the captain deal with them. Both men lunged to their feet and came for her, roaring with fury. Victoria measured her speed, their speed and the distance she had to cover. She wasn’t going to make it. She would have to fight… She felt her temper roar with a feral heat that seared through her brain. Strength flooded her limbs in a cool and delightful rush. Why the

hell was she running from them? This was her ship! If they want to bleed, then so be it! She turned at bay in the center of the hall. “Gentlemen?”

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Both men abruptly halted only a few yards away. The chief smiled. “Yes, Nav-Pilot?” They began stalking toward her. Victoria bared her long teeth and pointed her sword at them. “Tell me, are you afraid of the dark?” “What?” Victoria sent a pulse through the ship’s sentience. The entire hallway plunged into stygian blackness. Both men shouted. It took barely a moment for Victoria’s eye augmentation to realign to the total loss of light. Her mechanically enhanced vision showed them as green figures floundering in the hallway. Oh dear, I guess they can’t see in the dark. She felt a grin stretch broadly across her lips. And they thought they could kill her? Kill her? Her temper flared like a white star and a strange hunger burned in her. Kill them… She licked her lips and lunged for them with inhuman speed, laughing.

***** Light flooded the hall in a blinding wash. “Victoria!” She turned sharply, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the glare. Two men stepped from the lift, one tall and dark, the other slighter and pale as a moon. The dark one threw out a hand. “What the fuck happened?” The belligerent shout raised the hair on her neck. Wrapped deep in boiling fury she stepped away from the body at her feet and repositioned her bloodied blade. A warning growl rumbled from her chest. The pale one snorted. “It looks as though she was attacked. Very stupid of them.” “Victoria, put that damned sword down!” The dark one strode aggressively for her. She dropped into a deep crouch, baring her teeth with a body-shaking snarl. She raised the gore-soaked blade and tensed for a leap. “Don’t!” The pale one grabbed his arm, stopping him. “She’ll attack.” The dark one glanced sharply at his companion. “What the hell are you talking about?” “Look at her.” The pale one tilted his head. “She doesn’t recognize us. Apparently the attack triggered rahyt, the blood-rage.” The dark one curled his lip. “She’s not skeldhi…” “She’s close enough. rehkyt have been known to fall into rahyt when pushed too far.” He turned to look up at his companion. “Now you know what the shen is actually for.” The dark one frowned. “She’s not wearing the shen.”

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The pale one raised his hands, smiling grimly. Metal gleamed on his wrists. “Or the force cuffs either.” She lifted her head in confusion. Their stances had changed from aggressive to something non-threatening. There was no trace of the fear-scent either. The white-hot anger unclenched from her mind. They didn’t act or smell like quarry. The upraised sword trembled in her hand. “She’s shaking.” The pale one narrowed his eyes at her. “She may be coming down.” He took a slow step toward her. The dark one grabbed the pale one’s arm. “Seht…” The pale one raised his hand. “I know what I’m doing, trust me.” The dark one released him. “Be careful.” “I will.” The pale one took another slow, calm step, and then another. “Victoria…” She backed cautiously away. Something was familiar about him. Familiar and intimidating… Her knees quivered as she sought to maintain the crouch. “Victoria,” he whispered, and moved steadily toward her. She backed away until she felt the wall behind her. She panted and her body shook with crushing exhaustion. She was forced to use both hands to hold the sword upright. He stopped. “Victoria,” he said in a stronger voice. “Who do you serve?” The raging fire of her anger bled from her mind, leaving ash and uncertainty. Her mouth opened. “I…” He lunged at her, catching her by the shoulders, pinning her to the wall and forcing the weapon down. “Who do you serve?” His voice lashed at her like a whip. “I…” Victoria snapped awake, pressed against the wall. She looked up at Seht in confusion. “Seht?” The smell of blood and death was overpowering. She gagged and exhaustion crushed her. She sagged in his hold. The sword clattered to the deck. Ravnos came up behind him. His face was white. “Victoria?” “I serve you both,” she finally got out and the world closed to a small hole, very far away. The deck felt amazingly comfortable.

***** She opened her eyes to see Ravnos and Seht kneeling on either side, staring down at her. Both men were only half-dressed in trousers and boots with their coats thrown over their naked chests. Seht’s hair was unbound and flowed in a long silver cloak to his waist. She struggled to sit up. “What happened?” Ravnos gave her a shove upright. “I was hoping you could tell us.”

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She looked around. She was in a hallway painted with spatters of dripping scarlet. Then she spotted the two bodies. The chief lay crumpled against the wall, both legs broken from impact and his head at a very wrong angle. There was a ragged hole in his chest. He was most definitely dead, as was the smaller crewman. His legs had been shattered, and he had a gaping hole in his chest too. Memory slammed into her. She stared in shock. I did that? Suddenly, anger flared hot. They thought they could kill me! A growl rumbled. Seht grabbed the back of her hair and shook her. “Control that temper, and tell us what happened here!” Victoria felt a strong rush of shame. “Sorry…” She took a deep breath. “I was cornered in the lift. They said they were hired along with Richards to kill me, and I…I lost control.” Ravnos’s expression turned brutally icy. “Hired by who?” Victoria stared at him in shock. He believed her? Ravnos leaned closer. “Who hired them to kill you, Victoria?” She stared steadily at him, holding his icy gaze. “They said my former executive officer from the Adamant.” A growl rumbled, but this time it wasn’t hers. Ravnos snorted at Seht. “Who needs to watch their temper?” Seht bared his teeth. “If those men weren’t dead already, I’d kill them myself!” Ravnos’s eyes blazed cold fire. “How did your former commander know you were here?” Victoria shook her head. “I don’t think he does. No communications were relayed to the Imperium. I would know if they were.” She tapped her head, indicating her piloting tech. “They said they were hired before they left the station and that they saw you bring me onboard. They probably planned to kill me, then apply for the reward.” Seht frowned. “There’s a price on your head?” Victoria shook her head. “I think it was just a one-time deal, but I don’t know for sure.” Ravnos glanced at Seht. “If there is one, it’ll be posted.” Seht bared his long teeth. “If he’s dead, it won’t matter.” Ravnos nodded. “Good point. I’ll see what can be arranged.” Victoria looked up in surprise. “You’re going to kill him?” Seht gave her an unholy grin. “We’re mercenaries. It’s what we do.” Ravnos’s lip curled in almost a smile. “We can’t send you back if you’re a target.” Victoria wasn’t sure how she felt about the intended murder of her former executive officer. She wanted him dead, but she wasn’t sure she wanted Ravnos and Seht arranging for it. It seemed so casual… Something else occurred to her.

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She looked up at them. “How did you know? How did you get the lights back on?” Ravnos snorted. “I have the same augmentation you do, remember? The ship notified me that the lights had gone out in this hall. Since you’re the only one with that kind of access to those controls, I assumed something had happened to you.” “Oh…” They pulled her to her feet. Pain stabbed her in the stomach. Victoria gasped and nearly doubled over. Ravnos grabbed her. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, amazed at the amount of pain she was in. “I think it’s just hunger.” Seht took Victoria around the waist and glanced up at Ravnos. “She needs to eat and she’s overdue for the next course.” “Get her fed.” Ravnos tilted his head at the lift at the far end of the hall. “I need to get a crew in here to get this mess cleaned up.” She turned in Seht’s arms to face Ravnos. “I’m sorry.” She glanced toward the corpses. Seht sighed. “It’s only natural to defend yourself.” “I wasn’t defending myself.” Victoria dropped her chin in bitter shame. “I shut out the lights and I went for them. I could have just gotten on the lift in the dark, but I didn’t. I knew they were blind and I went after them deliberately. I wanted to kill them.” Seht snorted. “They attacked you. Of course you wanted to kill them.” She shook her head. “They weren’t attacking anymore, they were trying to run. I could smell their fear and it made it worse, like I wanted to kill them more.” She winced. “I don’t kill the unarmed or the defenseless…” Seht snorted. “You’re not human anymore. Part of what you are now hungers for the smell of fear and the kill.” Seht glanced at Ravnos. “I suggest you watch your temper very closely from now on.” Victoria nodded. “That’s what it felt like, a hunger. Wait a minute… You mean I’ll do this again?” Seht nodded. “Under the same circumstances, yes.” Victoria shuddered. “That’s insane.” Seht shook her. “No, it’s your nature, as a rehkyt.” Ravnos stared coldly. “Victoria, the penalty for attacking another crewmember is a walk out an airlock door. If you hadn’t killed them, I would have.” There was not one drop of regret or remorse in his expression. Trapped by his hard gaze, she shivered. She believed him utterly. But then, this was the captain that had coldly pulled his saber from the heart of his own nav-pilot. How had she forgotten? Ravnos turned away. “Seht, get her out of here.” Seht turned her toward the lift at the end of the hall. “This way.”

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Chapter 19 Victoria stumbled toward the lift, leaning heavily against Seht. She turned her mind away from the death behind her. Her violently bloodthirsty tendencies, and the fact that her captain was planning to arrange a murder for her benefit, were just too much to think about right now. She was too tired and too hungry… Her stomach felt as though it was trying to eat her from the inside. Seht leaned over and whispered. “I have a nice rare steak waiting for you.” Victoria’s mouth watered. “I think I could eat an entire bovine.” She pressed her hand to her stomach. “Fate, why does it hurt so much?” Seht snorted. “Very likely because you’ve just had your body reconstructed from the genetic level.” Victoria winced. “You’re just full of good news…” “Speaking of good news, there are a few things I need to tell you about your new diet.” “New diet?” Victoria frowned. “Do I have to eat weird stuff now?” Seht pushed the lift-call button. “Not really, though you can eat things that you originally couldn’t.” Visions of insects and poisonous reptiles flooded her imagination. Victoria groaned. “Terrific…” Seht guided her into the lift. “It’s more a restriction on what you can’t eat anymore.” Victoria eyed him suspiciously. “Like what?” The doors closed and Seht pulled her against his side. “You’re a predator now, so you have to pretty much eat meat.”

Oh, is that all? Victoria sighed in relief and leaned into him. “I can deal with that.” It was the desire to kill it herself that she was having problems dealing with.

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He nodded. “And avoid anything that’s green.” Victoria stilled. “Define ‘avoid’.” He stared at the door. “How does ‘it’s poisonous’ sound?” Victoria looked up at him. “If it’s green, it’s poisonous? You’re serious?” He nodded. “If it’s a leaf, you don’t put it in your mouth.” She nibbled her bottom lip carefully. “What about potatoes, they’re roots?” He shrugged. “I’d use extreme caution.” Victoria stared at the door. She’d never been overly fond of green vegetables to begin with, but no potatoes? That meant no mashed potatoes and no deep-fried potatoes. She groaned. Maybe this transformation wasn’t such a good idea after all…

***** Victoria smelled the meat as soon as the door opened to Ravnos’s suite. She nearly ran to the table. Seht grabbed her sleeve. “Not just yet.” He marched her right into the bedchamber.

Not another delay? She very nearly bit him; she was so hungry. “What?” Seht threw his coat on the bed. Bare-chested and magnificent in only snug trousers and knee-high boots, he shoved her toward the facility. “Apparently you haven’t noticed that your clothes are soaked in blood.” Victoria moaned. “Can’t I wash after I eat?” “Absolutely not.” Seht sent her through the facility door. “Ravnos would have both our throats if I let you get blood on his precious cushions.” He tugged her to a halt by the washbasin. Her fingers fumbled on the wet knot. “Can we hurry?” He smiled fleetingly. “Yes, we can hurry.” He unknotted the belt on her robe then jerked it off. Victoria yanked the robe from her shoulders and dropped it. It made a heavy wet sound on the deck. The silk tunic stuck damply to her. “I didn’t realize I got so much on me…” “What did you do? Bathe in their blood?” He grabbed the hem of the sleep shirt and pulled it up over her head. Victoria flinched. She had wanted to. She stepped out of the loose trousers. Seht’s eyes opened wide. “Mother of mercy!” Victoria frowned. “What?” He frowned. “Turn all the way around.” “What is it?” Victoria turned around. What was with him?

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“Incredible.” He shook his head. “You were lovely before, but you make a stunning

rehkyt.” Victoria arched a brow. “Does that mean I’m convincing?” He grinned. “I’m going to be the envy of every skeldhi lord there.”

***** Seht scrubbed her mercilessly clean with a soapy cloth, then braided her mane into a long tail. He made her stand by the bed, stark naked, while he went to Ravnos’s closet. He came back and draped her in another velvet robe. Victoria wondered briefly just how many damned robes Ravnos kept in his closet. She was finally allowed into the salon. She nearly ran to the table. Seht speared a huge, very rare steak from the warming tureen, put it on a plate and set it before her with a flourish. He sat down and leaned back in his chair to watch her. It took every ounce of restraint she had to unfold her napkin and actually use the utensils. The meat tasted like pure heaven on her tongue. Then came the chewing. Her teeth wouldn’t let her. They were too long to chew side to side. She stopped in alarm. How the hell was she supposed to eat? Seht snorted in amusement. “Cut smaller pieces and swallow them whole.” Her cheeks flushed with heat. Swallow it whole? She struggled to chew what she had in her mouth then finally gave up and swallowed it. It lodged like a rock, then something in the very base of her throat seemed to close around it, crushing it smaller, and it passed into her stomach with ease. She sighed in relief. She took a cautious sip from her glass. Water. “I have to swallow food whole?” Seht nodded. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to digest it just fine.” Victoria busily cut a smaller piece. “Isn’t that a little…?” She stopped. The last thing she wanted to do is issue an insult. “Uncivilized?” Seht raised his brow. Victoria shoved the bite into her mouth rather than reply. It took her a moment to remember to just swallow it. Seht leaned back in his chair. “According to my culture, only food eats plant-life.” Victoria stared at him in shock. Seht laughed out loud. “No, we don’t eat humans!” He leaned forward with a hungry smile. “We keep them as pets.”

Pets… Victoria felt a shiver ripple up her spine. She turned back to her plate with a will. Seht’s smile broadened into a grin.

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***** Victoria was halfway through her third helping when Ravnos came through the door. “The bodies have been disposed of and the hall is being decontaminated.” He pulled off his coat and tossed it over the back of a chair, revealing his bare chest. Victoria felt her cheeks warm. I killed two men. She closed her eyes. She had killed before in self-defense, in the heat of battle. But this time… I enjoyed it. She had laughed. She had very nearly attacked Seht and Ravnos as well. She set down her fork. She just couldn’t stomach another bite. Seht nodded at her plate. “Done?” Victoria nodded without looking up. She desperately wanted to go to sleep and not think about anything. “Good.” Seht moved the napkin by his glass, revealing the ornate syringe. “This is the last course. After that, we’ll set the shen on you and then you can sleep.” Victoria looked up tiredly. “Can’t we wait to do the shen thing?” Ravnos stood by Seht’s chair, tall, dark and grim. His muscled chest gleamed under the scattered lights. “No.” Seht got up from the table and gestured that she get up as well. “Fine, whatever…” Victoria couldn’t believe how much effort it took to push out of the chair. “Fate, I’m tired…” Ravnos frowned grimly at Seht. “You can sleep as soon as we’re done.” She followed them into the bedchamber. Ravnos sat on the bed and tugged her across his lap. He stretched her out face up with her head pillowed on his hard thighs. “Put your hands behind your neck.” Victoria obeyed then looked over at Seht. “What does this one do?” Seht knelt at her side. “This one stops the transformation. The last one, the one we’re not giving you, would lock you in this form.” Ravnos pushed the robe aside, baring her breasts. His palm lingered on her golden skin. Something dark moved behind his gaze. He tugged at her belt and opened the robe, revealing her entire form. His eyes widened. “Mother of Mercy…” Seht snorted. “That’s what I said.” He looked up at Ravnos. “She’s lovely like this, is she not?” Ravnos frowned. “She wasn’t this golden when we left her in the shower. I definitely don’t remember her nipples being that red.” “My guess is that her fight in the hall triggered a stronger change.” Seht nodded at Victoria. “Very few rehkyt go into rahyt, the blood-rage, before the third course. Those that are trained for upuaht, bodyguards, are often pushed into one as part of their conditioning, but it’s not a normal occurrence otherwise. It’s how they make a prime.”

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“Blood-rage?” Victoria’s brows shot up. “Is that what happened to me?” Ravnos nodded. “It’s a type of berserk fury triggered by a life threat or extreme rage.” Victoria clenched her jaw. She’d definitely had a bad case of rage. “I see.” Ravnos sighed. “It was a natural reaction for what you are now.” Seht shot an accusatory glance at Ravnos. “If you had let us stay it would not…” “If I had let you stay…” Ravnos caught his gaze and held it. “Her sense of independence would never have reasserted itself.” Seht frowned at Ravnos. “But now she’s a prime, a very aggressive rehkyt.” “And capable of protecting herself.” Ravnos looked over at Victoria. “Speaking of protection…” He glanced over at his executive officer and a slight smile hovered on his lips. “I expect you to watch over Seht as well.” Victoria looked over at the pale skeldhi and felt a strong wash of emotion swell around her heart. “Count on it, sir.” Seht snorted and crossed his arms. “I don’t need a bodyguard.” Victoria grinned. “Too late, I have orders now.” Seht raised a brow. “That is quite an attitude, pet.” Ravnos snorted. “It matches yours.” Seht raised a brow at Ravnos. “I guess it’s to be expected, she has my genetic code.” He brushed his fingers down her body. Victoria shivered and arched under his touch. Seht flashed a brief smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever made a lovelier rehkyt…” Ravnos swallowed. “She can’t stay this way.” Seht set two fingers at the bottom of her sternum and raised the needle. “I know.” Victoria looked up at Ravnos rather than at the needle. She could see his erection straining at the seam of his trousers only inches from her lips. She could smell the perfume of his arousal. He wanted her this way. She felt a smile curl her lip. Not that he had wanted her any less the other way. “Hold her.” Seht placed the long needle between his fingers. Ravnos’s arm closed tightly around her legs and he pressed his palm on her forehead. She felt a punch in her heart and gasped. An odd brightness formed at the back of her eyes. No heat, no chill, just that brightness. The flavor of brass filled her mouth. She took two breaths, then felt a ripple up her spine. A fine trembling started throughout her body. Suddenly, her back bowed sharply. She released a startled cry. Victoria panted and blinked up at Ravnos. Sweat dotted his forehead. She puzzled over it. She must have lost a moment. There was a tingling throughout her whole body and her

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legs felt numb where his arm curled around them. Maybe she’d lost more than just a moment. “Are we done?” Seht leaned back on his heels and wiped at his brow. “This is.” Victoria looked over at him. “No more needles?” Seht snorted. “Not unless you ask for it.” Victoria pushed upright on Ravnos’s lap. “No, thank you!” Ravnos caught her around the waist, keeping her on his lap. “Stay here.” Seht caught Ravnos’s gaze then rose to his feet. “I’ll go get it.” Victoria watched him stride toward the table. “Get what?” Ravnos released a sigh. “Your collar.” Seht came back with the smooth black box. He looked over at Ravnos. “We should do this in the shower…” “No.” Ravnos speared Seht with an icy glare. “We are not doing that.” Seht winced away but held his gaze. “It’s part of the…” “I said, no.” Ravnos lowered his brows. “I have no intention of taking this that far.” Seht clenched his jaw. “Fine.” He sat down on the bed and opened the box. He carefully extracted a thin band of plain metal. Superfine electronic pins clustered at one end inside of the collar. “Put your head on my knee, Victoria.” Victoria stared at the collar and felt a fine trembling break out all over her. She drew a breath and leaned over, setting her palm on his thigh and her cheek on his knee. She clenched her hands into fists to stop the shaking. Her hair was pulled to one side. “Hold still.” Seht slid the cool metal around her throat. “I’m sorry, but this part is going to hurt.” “Great…” Victoria closed her eyes. He brought the ends together. With one hard jab, he pressed the pins into the base of her neck. Victoria snorted. Was that all? The sharp stab from the pins was not that impressive. Their sword cuts had been worse. A sudden sweat broke out on her body. Huh? A blinding power surge went through her piloting array. She gasped. The power surge traveled with hideous speed throughout her augmentations. Her entire body shuddered hard under the assault. From far away, she felt both men grab her to keep her from falling. Then a surge spread down her spine to places she knew for a fact no augmentation existed. Her fingers and toes twitched and her skin tried to crawl from her bones. She bit her lip to keep from screaming. A moan escaped instead. It stopped. Soaked in sweat Victoria panted with exhaustion. “Is it over?”

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“Put your hands behind your back.” Seht’s knee shifted under her cheek. Victoria put her hands behind her back and felt her wrists captured. I guess it’s not over. Seht wrapped her braid around his hand. He barked out something in a language she didn’t know. Lightning blazed through her. She screamed and fought to get away. Both men worked to keep her in place. “Seht, that’s enough!” Ravnos barked out. The lightning stopped. Victoria moaned and tears streamed from her eyes. “Son of a bitch… What the hell was that for?” Seht released her braid and stroked her back with a palm “That was the command setting for punishment. This is the other one.” Victoria stilled. “Another one?” Seht barked out another phrase. Heat and lust burst in her core then clenched tight with hideous strength. All thought fled but for the hunger in her cunt. She writhed, moaning in urgent need, across their laps. Abruptly the vicious hunger relaxed its grip. Victoria gasped and shifted restlessly. The urgency was over, but the need was not completely gone; it simmered in the background like a threat. “The telepathic commands are programmed,” Seht said tiredly. “Now we’re done.” “Thank Fate…” Her wrists were released and she struggled to sit up. Seht lifted her up onto her knees between them. “Hold still.” He daubed some antiseptic cream where the pins stabbed into her neck. “Those were the two extremes of the collar.” Victoria released a breath. Whatever he was putting on her neck immediately eased the burn. “The pain was bad, but that second whatever-it-was, was awful.” “It’s the total loss of control over your own body.” Ravnos swept a hand down her arm. Victoria nodded. “Pain doesn’t make you want things.” Seht released her. “That will heal up in an hour.” “It feels better already.” She frowned up at Seht. “Did you say telepathic?” Seht tugged her robe closed. “The shen is a receiver. It’s programmed to my projected thoughts.” Victoria frowned. “You can think at me and make me do things?” “Something like that,” Seht said dryly. A small shiver raced up her spine. “That’s creepy.” Ravnos lifted her braid and turned her head to peer at the collar plugged into her neck. “It means that as long as you wear it, you’ll be in communication. You’ll be able to hear his

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thoughts, like speech. It also means he can locate you no matter where you are, or how far you go.” He released her hair. Victoria tilted her head. “Can I use it to find you if we’re separated?” Seht smiled tiredly. “Only you would think of the shen that way.” Victoria frowned. “Huh?” Seht shook his head. “Yes, you can find me.” Ravnos snorted. “Rehkyt are normally more interested in their inability to escape.” Victoria shrugged. “You’re going to take it off when we’re done, so that doesn’t matter. Is there anything else I need to know about this thing?” Seht raised a brow. “A little overconfident, aren’t we?” Ravnos glanced briefly at Seht. “The shen also acts like the force cuffs. It will hold you in one position and a direct command will make you obey.” “How nice.” She released a jaw-cracking yawn. “Now can I sleep?” Ravnos nodded. “Put her to bed, Seht.” Seht rose from the bed. “With pleasure.” Ravnos raised a brow. “And let her sleep.” Seht snorted. “Of course.” Victoria shook her head. “I can crawl under the covers myself, you know.” Seht caught her around the waist and scooped her up into his arms. “And deny me the pleasure of carrying you? How unkind.” Victoria wrapped her arms around his neck and let her head drop onto his shoulder. “Goodness, we wouldn’t want to deny you a pleasure.” He carried her around to the far side of the bed. “I see that I’m going to have to spank some respect into that bottom.” Victoria yawned. “Can we do it when I wake up?” “Absolutely.” He knelt on the mattress, pulled back the covers then set her facedown among the pillows. He tugged the robe from her. Victoria blinked up at him. “Good night.” He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “Sleep well.” He pulled the blankets up over her. Victoria was asleep in seconds.

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Chapter 20 Victoria sleepily rolled onto her side. Her nose encountered a hard male chest even as her palm encountered a muscular stomach. She jerked awake with a small gasp. Her eyes snapped open. Ravnos was sharing her pillow. He smiled at her and captured her wrist. “Lower.” He pulled her hand down and pressed her palm to his rigid cock. Victoria reflexively closed her hand around his shaft. He was smooth, silken and hot in her palm. Interest uncoiled in her belly, unleashing damp heat in her core. He closed his eyes briefly and licked his lips. “Oh yeah, much better.” He slid his leg over hers and rocked his hips, sliding his cock in her palm. She sucked in a startled breath and trembled. He released her wrist, but she found it impossible to let him go. It was incredibly erotic and stimulating, staring into his passionheated eyes, watching the muscles in his throat working as he pleasured himself with her hand. He reached over to brush the tip of one nipple with his thumb. The scarlet tip tightened with delicious urgency. She raised her chin and a soft throaty sound escaped her lips. Ravnos licked his lips again. “Liked that, did you?” He cupped her breast and gently squeezed. Victoria felt the blood rush straight to her nipple and her core gave a hard wet throb. She was completely unable to hold back her gasping moan. “Now that’s what I like to hear when I awaken.” Seht’s voice was laced with sleepy humor. Victoria turned to look behind her.

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Seht leaned up on his elbow on his side, facing her. He reached out and yanked the blankets back, baring her golden hips and Ravnos’s cock thrusting into her palm. He grinned. “That looks entertaining. Mind if I join you?” He cupped her hip and shifted closer until his cocks pressed against the seam of her backside. He flexed his hips, rubbing against her, and sighed. Victoria hissed. She could feel the prick of his long nails on her hip and his rigidly hard flesh burning against her backside. She found it unbearably exciting and shifted restlessly against him. Her chest heaved with her deepening breaths. Ravnos lifted a midnight brow. “I see what you meant about not needing the rings.” Seht stroked his palm down her hip. “She’s genetically designed to need sex as much as food.” He brushed his lips against her bare shoulder. “I’d say it’s feeding time.” Victoria took a deep breath in an attempt to gain some control over the unbridled craving within her. “You didn’t tell me that part, about needing sex.” Seht raised a brow. “Didn’t I? How remiss of me.” “Feeding time, is it?” Ravnos leaned forward. He captured a nipple with his lips and ravaged it with his tongue. The tight, hungry clenching in her core was suddenly too difficult to think past. She gasped and threw back her head, pressing back against Seht and releasing sounds of desperate pleasure. Her hand tightened around Ravnos’s cock. Ravnos groaned and smiled with feral hunger. “That grip on me feels like quite an appetite.” He slid his leg off of hers. “Just how hungry are we?” Victoria lifted her knee, spreading herself open in blatant invitation. Seht slid his hand between her thighs and probed until he encountered the cream slithering from her hungry flesh, then brushed against her clit. Victoria’s breath exploded out of her. Fate, I almost came right there… Seht pulled his fingers from her and licked the moisture from them. He closed his eyes and moaned. “Delicious.” He chuckled. “I’d say she’s ripe for the taking.” Ravnos came up on his elbow. “Victoria, would you like to be fucked?” Victoria’s gaze focused on the hard column of flesh in her hand. She nodded and swallowed. “Yes, sir.” Ravnos licked his lips. “Say ‘please fuck me’.” “Please…? Please fuck me?” She stoked his cock with urgency. She was too far gone to think past the need in her core. “My pleasure.” Ravnos groaned and gently pulled her hand from his flesh. “Lay back.” Victoria fell back against the pillows with speed. She was trembling with voracious hunger and desperate to be filled.

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Seht licked his lips. “This is her first taking in this form. She won’t have much control. Shall I assist?” Ravnos flashed him a smile. “You just like holding her down.” Seht grinned. “You know me so well. However, she does have claws and fangs to consider.” Victoria narrowed her eyes at Seht. “I don’t need to be restrained.” A soft growl rumbled in her chest. Ravnos chuckled. “I see what you mean.” He nodded. “Do it.” Seht came up on his knees and caught her by the wrists. Victoria bared her teeth and tugged. “Hey!” Seht bared his own. “Are you challenging me?” Victoria averted her face. “No, ‘Syr.” Seht nodded. “Much better.” He pulled, turning her on the mattress until she stretched face-up across the bed between them. He knelt above her, holding her wrists in his tight grip, arms extended above her head. He stared down at her. “You have no idea how badly I want to spill my cum all over that golden skin of yours,” he whispered. Victoria shifted restlessly under his gaze. The thought of being spattered with his cum and marked by his scent brought a vicious pulsing ache of desire. Seht looked up and nodded at Ravnos. “All yours.” Ravnos’s eyes narrowed with heat. “Spread for me.” Victoria opened her legs and arched her back. She whimpered, driven to desperation by her body’s need. Ravnos sucked in a breath. “Her cunt is as red as her lips.” Seht licked his lips. “You should taste her.” “Not a bad idea.” Ravnos curled his arms around her thighs, lifted her knees, and dipped his head. Victoria felt the rush of warm breath then the heat of his mouth. Liquid heat, liquid fire… She gasped and writhed. “Mmm…” He sucked at her sensitive flesh, noisily lapping up her cream with fiendish pleasure. His wicked tongue flicked at her engorged clit. She moaned and her hips trembled in time with his tiny strokes, jolted by bursts of electric delight. Seht trapped both her wrists in one hand. He shoved his silver mane over one shoulder and leaned over her to capture a nipple in his mouth. Victoria moaned from the fire being stirred by their mouths. She eyed the pair of cocks that arched above her lips. Impulsively, she stretched out and stroked her tongue along the lower of the two.

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Seht rewarded her with a hungry moan. He leaned closer. She opened her mouth and took him within. He tasted of heat and masculine excitement. She closed her lips and suckled. Seht growled. Victoria felt the score of his teeth and arched up with a gasping cry, taking him deeper into her mouth. He cupped her other breast in his free hand and caught the nipple with his long nails. Climax rose in a blazing wave. She bucked, held firmly between them. She tried to pull back from the glittering edge, but it dug claws into her and coiled tighter with threatening violence. Seht pulled back. “Oh, no, you don’t.” He took a deep breath. “Fate, what a mouth on her…” Ravnos pulled away and licked his lips. “Going somewhere, Victoria?” Victoria gasped and trembled, in both frustration and relief. “I can’t… I can’t control it.” Seht lifted his head. “Right now, she can’t control much of anything.” “Really?” Ravnos’s eyes narrowed. He crawled up her body with hungry intent. “Just how little control do you have?” Victoria stared up into his eyes, shaking with urgency. She could feel the heat of his erection branding her inner thigh and his broad chest brushing her nipples. She took a deep breath and his scent filled her nose with intoxicating force. She moaned and leaned up to lick at the sweat on his throat. A purring vibration rumbled low in her throat. Seht snorted. “Does that answer your question?” Ravnos sighed. “Oh yeah…” He captured her mouth in a searing kiss. Victoria met his kiss with appetite. His tongue parried hers with skill, carefully avoiding her sharp teeth. She felt his cock press for entry and raised her hips eagerly. He took her. In one hard lunge, he burrowed into her body. She arched hard enough to raise him off the bed, and unleashed her delighted cry into his mouth. Possession… Ravnos lifted his head with a grin of triumph. Seht caught his gaze. “Hard and fast, Aubrey. As hard and fast as you can give it to her.” Ravnos frowned. “I don’t want to hurt her…” “You won’t.” Seht flashed a grim smile. “She’s rehkyt she’s designed for this.” Ravnos stared down at Victoria. “Hard and fast, is it?” “Yes!” She writhed under him. “Oh yes.” She barely stopped herself from begging. Fate and damnation, she was going out of her mind. “Please?” Ravnos braced his arms to either side. “I’m not wearing a ring, I can’t sustain…”

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“That’s not the issue right now.” Seht lifted his chin. “This is her first possession. Don’t hold back. She needs to know her master. She needs to know you want to be her master.” Ravnos stared at Seht. Victoria growled and raised her hips, undulating under him and tightening her inner muscles to squeeze the cock lodged in her. She was tired of waiting. If he wasn’t going to fuck her, she would fuck him, but damn it, fucking was going to happen! Ravnos gasped and grabbed her shoulders. “Who is fucking whom here?” Victoria bared her teeth. “Then fuck!” Seht smiled grimly. “I think you better reestablish dominance, or you’re going to find yourself on your back, Captain.” Ravnos pulled back and slammed in as hard as he could. “Is that what you want?” His voice growled. Victoria arched and wailed. She rocked her hips in encouragement. “Fate, yes!” He grabbed her hips to hold her. “Hold still.” He pulled back and slammed in with brutal force. “I’m doing the fucking.” “Yes!” She gasped with the impact. “Yes, sir!” He was going to master her; he was reinforcing his dominance over her. She was nearly in tears, she was so happy. Ravnos proceeded to drive into her with violent speed and brutal precision. Panting cries of delight exploded from her lips, punctuated by his grunts of effort. The sound of flesh striking wet flesh was loud and sharp. The bed rocked under the force of his thrusts. Victoria felt the white-hot rise of climax burn at the back of her skull, then skitter down her spine to coil in a tight, vicious knot in her belly. Her breath caught in her throat. Ravnos stopped. Sweat ran down his body and dripped on her skin. “Let her go.” Victoria grabbed Seht’s wrists to stop him. “No! Don’t!” She panted for breath. “Don’t let go.” “Victoria…” Ravnos’s voice deepened in threat. “You can’t let me go.” She struggled to string her thoughts together. “It’s not safe. I’m having this strange urge to rip your back open and bathe in the smell of your blood.” She shuddered violently. “If you let me go, I don’t think I can stop myself.” “What?” Ravnos stared up at Seht. “It’s your scent.” He smiled coldly. “She’s admitting dominance and asking to wear your scent. You wouldn’t do the other, which would have marked her last night. Cum on her instead.” Victoria felt desolation squeeze her heart, and sudden tears in her eyes. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, cum on me, piss on me, bleed on me… I don’t care, I need to…” She gasped for breath past the pressure around her heart. “Fate, this sounds so awful, but I need

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to smell you on me, I need to know…” Her voice tightened as the tears ran freely down her cheeks. “I need to know you want me.” Seht caught Ravnos’s gaze. “Cum on her, let her wear your scent.” Ravnos dropped his head. Seht growled. “If you don’t, she will find a way to take it, even if it means making you bleed.” “Bloody fucking Fate.” Ravnos’s head came up and his gaze was bleak. “I remember, from before. The insane craving…” Seht narrowed his eyes. “Don’t make her go through that. She’s not you, she’s never been a dominant, she’ll snap. Blood or sex, choose.” “Damn it, Seht…” Ravnos shook his head. “I didn’t want this to go that far.” “Please, please…” Victoria whimpered. “It’s too late.” Seht sighed. “You knew she was a natural submissive, you said so yourself.” Ravnos dropped his head. “I know, I know.” Seht’s brows dropped. “Then you also know that you already went that far when you took her on your desk.” “Bloody hellfire and damnation…” Ravnos pulled from her body and straddled her hips. He leaned down over her and caught her face in his palms. He brushed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Damn it, I’m sorry, Victoria.” He closed his eyes briefly. “I didn’t mean to do this to you.” She turned to kiss his palm. “It’s okay, really.” She gave him a trembling smile. “I trust you.” She looked up at Seht. “Pain in the ass that you are, I trust you too.” Seht blinked then gave her a half-hearted smile. “That was not particularly respectful, pet.” Victoria grinned briefly. “I know.” Her smile faded. “I want… I need you too.” Seht snorted. “There is no way in hell I’m not going to mark you.” He raised a brow at Ravnos. “Captain?” Ravnos climbed higher until he straddled her breasts. He sat up and stared at Seht. “Take me in your mouth, Victoria. Make me good and hard.” Victoria stretched out her tongue and took his cock eagerly into her mouth. Her lips closed and she tasted his excitement with a shiver of anticipation. She lashed her tongue around the flared edge of his cock-head with hungry enthusiasm. Her mouth full of cock, she looked up at his body. Ravnos took Seht’s face and kissed him with violent and possessive appetite. Their eyes closed and their throats worked as Seht kissed him back just as adamantly. He pressed deeper

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into her throat, then pulled back, then pressed deep again, fucking her mouth slowly and deliberately. She watched in fascination as they kissed. They were in love. How had she missed it? She thought back on every instance and realized that as tempestuous and antagonistic as they were to each other, they were very much in love. She closed her eyes and swirled her tongue around Ravnos’s cock, feeling the hard length as it thrust into her throat. Her heart gave a hard thump. Bloody fucking Fate… She was in love with both of them. And she had to leave. Ravnos gasped and pulled from her mouth. His cock slid free of her lips with a wet pop. He moved back to straddle her hips and grabbed for himself. Groaning, he leaned over her and pumped his cock aggressively. Victoria eyed the bulbous and swollen cock-head with hungry fascination and writhed in anticipation. He was going to cum on her. He was going to cum all over her, bathing her in his lust and marking her with his possession. Ravnos groaned. “Close your eyes, I’m going to cum on your tits.” Victoria did not want to close her eyes but did as ordered. Her throat emitted soft sounds of desperate hunger. Ravnos gasped. She felt the first hot spat on her breast and caught the rich feral scent of his cum. She moaned and arched as he sprayed her breasts and stomach with his thick masculine cream, wrapping her in the unique perfume of his lust. Ravnos dropped back and slid between her thighs, spearing into her cunt in one strong surge. Victoria opened her eyes in shock. He was still hard. He rammed in and fell over her. His chest brushed her cum-splattered nipples and his eyes were flint hard as he fucked her without mercy. “Cum, now.” Victoria’ throat closed. Her belly clenched then released with hideous strength. Climax slammed through her with incredible force. She screamed and bucked under him. Seht gasped. “Lean back, Aubrey, lean back…” Ravnos rose on his knees, still wedged in her pulsing cunt. Seht released Victoria’s wrists and straddled her shoulders with his knees. He leaned forward to take Ravnos’s mouth in a ferocious kiss and stroked furiously at both cocks. He moaned and his cum pumped onto Victoria’s breasts and stomach in two thick streams, mixing Ravnos’s scent with his. Spatters covered her belly and coated where her body was joined with Ravnos’s, marking them both.

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Victoria felt the tears of relief run down her cheeks as the last of her orgasm shuddered through her.

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Chapter 21 Kisses and laughter filled the shower as they bathed. Afterwards, Seht pulled the soiled sheets from the bed with a look of disgusted resignation while Ravnos dressed for the day. Both Seht and Victoria remained in their robes as the petty officers came into the salon with the breakfast trays. Seht raised his coffee mug and nodded at Victoria. “We leave for our mission as soon as the Raptor is ready for launch.” Victoria frowned. “How are you planning to sneak past their warning systems?” “Sneak?” Seht grinned broadly. “I have a personal invitation, thanks to my cousin, who is already docked, by the way. I contacted him from my barque while you were out yesterday. We’ll be staying with his household.” “Staying? As in overnight?” Victoria clasped her coffee mug in both hands. “When is the auction?” “Zero-hundred hours, station time, tomorrow night.” Ravnos sipped at his coffee then raised his eyes to Seht. “I expect the both of you to be on your way back here before the auction ends.” Victoria nearly choked on her coffee. “We’re going in a day early?” Seht nodded. “Our entrance time is during planet sunset today. That gives us a four-hour arrival window. There’s a small banquet for the guests tonight then we have all day tomorrow to accomplish our mission. If all goes according to plan, we may be able to leave before the auction begins.” Victoria frowned. “How the hell are we going to leave without causing suspicion? Once they find the Arcane’s sentience missing, they’re going to know it was us if we’re the only ones gone.”

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Seht grinned. “I happen to know the station master. He’ll cover our tracks. They’ll never know we left without a manual count.” Victoria raised a suspicious brow. “He’s that good a friend?” Seht smiled with heat. “I have that good a bribe.” Victoria nibbled carefully on her bottom lip. She’d already stabbed herself with her new teeth twice during breakfast. “‘Syr, I’ve never flown a ship like yours. It appears to be designed for both space and atmospheric flight. Does it have an inter-neural connection?” Ravnos cleared his throat. “It is and it does. You won’t have any difficulty once you assimilate the language.” Seht shot Ravnos an amused glance and nodded. “Once we’re onboard, I’ll introduce you and set the language downloads for you.” Victoria nodded. “Good. So what do I wear for the mission?” Seht winced. “Hellfire and damnation, I didn’t even think of that!” Ravnos shook his head. “I don’t have a damn thing that will fit her, not that will pass for

skeldhi.” Seht groaned. “Nor do I.” Victoria reached for the coffee. “Well, what do rehkyt normally wear?” Ravnos let a small chuckle escape. “Skin.” Victoria scowled. “Tell me you’re joking.” Seht leaned back and gave her a sly smile. “I’m afraid not.” Victoria worked to restrain her growl, but not her glare. “I am not flying a ship in the nude.” Both men burst into laughter. Seht wiped at his eyes. “Can you imagine the station guards’ faces when she disembarked?” Ravnos snorted and rubbed his temples. “All those mercenaries and here comes Victoria with a sword and a smile.” He raised his brows. “You’d have a riot on your hands before you even got out of the dock port.” “Gentlemen?” Victoria glared at one then the other. “I can feel a severe case of temper just waiting to happen.” Seht choked back his laughter and raised his hand. “Black, they wear black.” Ravnos nodded. “Preferably leather or latex.”

Oh… Victoria raised a brow. “Will a black flight-suit do? It’s treated leather and formfitting.” Both men stared at her. Seht’s brows shot up. “How form-fitting?”

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Victoria felt her cheeks heat. “Pretty damn…” Ravnos shrugged at Seht. Seht waved his hand. “Let’s see it, go put it on.”

***** Victoria finally got to see the inside of her own quarters for the first time since the day of her arrival. She stared at her still pristinely made bed and felt her face flush. Two nights in the captain’s bed, and today, then two more days for the actual mission… A three-day mission, my ass… She sighed. I don’t know why I’m bothering to count the days; I doubt my

new assignment is even there yet. Victoria opened her closet and pulled out the black leather flight suit. Sometime in the past day or so, it had been cleaned. The blood was gone from her collar. She dropped the robe, and stepped into the form-fitting suit. Standing in front of the full-length mirror inside her closet door, she fastened the silver clasps up the outside of her thighs and across the center. The tall collar completely hid the metal band around her throat. It was a bit more than snug, but it was specially treated to wear under a full atmospheric suit, so it was quite supple. Given time, her body heat would soon make the suit more pliable. She dragged her brush through her mane then laboriously braided it back into the long tail Seht seemed to prefer. It was still odd to see her skin so golden and her eyes so large and black. She shook her head. At least her hair was still the same color; well, except for the broad white streaks. She stomped into her civilian boots and buckled the sides up past her knees, then grabbed her matching gloves. Two more days… She closed the closet door with a sigh and shrugged into her long black coat.

***** Victoria walked into the captain’s suite as Seht was buckling into his own skin-tight flight-suit. She felt a hard kick in her libido and sucked in a breath. Merciful Fate! His suit didn’t leave a damn thing to the imagination. She could see every crease and bulge. Seht turned, caught sight of Victoria and frowned. “Take off the coat.” Victoria shrugged out of her coat and tossed it over her arm. “Great Mother…” Seht stared. “Where the hell did you get that suit?” Victoria shrugged. “I had it made.” Ravnos came from around a corner. His brows rose and a slight smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “I see you weren’t exaggerating about your suit being snug.” Victoria had to drag her eyes from Seht. “I was wearing it when you grabbed me.”

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“You had that on under the coat?” Ravnos shook his head. “Good thing I didn’t see it, or I would have taken you right there on the floor. It doesn’t hide a thing.” Victoria raised her brow. “That’s why I wear the coat.” Seht stalked closer. “You had this made?” Victoria nodded. “I saw one like it a long time ago. I sketched it out for the designer.” Seht raised a brow and glanced at Ravnos. “I’d dearly like to know where you saw something like this.” Victoria shrugged. “I was a kid at the time, maybe eight or nine. I was on my way to the academy. It was something I saw someone wearing at one of the spaceports. I have no idea which one.” Seht raised a sarcastic brow at Ravnos. “It’s very close to the uniform of a mahfdhyt enforcer.” Victoria winced. “Does that mean I have to take it off?” Seht shook his head. “No, but it does mean that they will expect you to be proficient with blades and hand-to-hand combat.” “Blades?” Victoria’s brows shot up. “As in swords?” “I don’t think that will be a problem,” Ravnos said dryly. Victoria turned to Ravnos. “Does this mean I get my sword back?” Seht snorted. “Rehkyt do not wear weapons.” Ravnos nearly smiled. “The upuaht, bodyguards, do.” Seht frowned at Ravnos. “They’ll know she’s not upuaht-trained.” He turned to point at Victoria. “No sword.” Victoria seriously considered pouting, decided it was beneath her dignity, and sighed instead. “You never let me have any fun.” Ravnos raised his brow. “Why not? She’s good.” “I know; that’s the problem.” Seht clenched his jaw. “I’m going to have enough difficulties when my cousin gets a good look at her. I don’t need the mahfeht enforcers trying to claim her too.” He turned away. “Victoria, follow me. You need to learn how to dress me in my armor.” Victoria followed him to the far side of the chamber. Armor?

***** Seht was not exaggerating about the armor. The curved pieces were laid out on the bed like a gigantic puzzle. There were a lot of pieces, all of them separate from each other, and all of them were iridescent black, but surprisingly light. She picked up a random piece, but had no clue how to even begin.

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A smile curved Seht’s lips as he held his arms out and told her which piece to put where.

Well, it’s certainly pretty…. and it’s so damned light! What the hell is it made out of-titanium alloy? It was also a royal pain in the ass. There seemed to be a million pieces to the damned thing. Shin-covering grieves went over his boots, back and front, and they interconnected with the articulated knee to the leg pieces over his outer thighs. And damnation save her, but both leg pieces fastened to a wide kidney belt. Victoria’s fingers started to seriously cramp as she held up each shimmering piece and fastened it. Damn skeldhi clasps… The connectors hooked and twisted, then hooked again, before they would stay attached. Need to be a fucking nuclear mechanic to get the damn things to lock into place properly. She refastened a strap under his arm and seriously thought about biting something pale and soft, if she could get to it. The molded ornate chest plate was a completely separate piece from the back plate, and then each shoulder piece had to be fitted and fastened just so… There were upper arm casings, elbow guards, arm bracers and articulated clawed gloves too. Victoria fastened the last clasp on his armored glove and sighed in relief. Finally… She stepped back to see the whole completed outfit. She sucked in a sharp breath and felt a small shiver. Seht’s armor was obviously designed to intimidate. Each piece gleamed in midnight rainbow hues. Fully assembled, he was covered in sharp points and overlapping edges that gleamed. He looked truly deadly.

On second thought… She bit back a smile. He looks like a barbarian hero from the cover of one my fantasy fictions. She had a bunch stashed back in her personal cases. And I thought the Imperial uniforms were archaic? Seht flexed a hand in his clawed glove then looked up and grinned. “Don’t forget the cape.” Victoria stared up at him in shock. “A cape? Over all this?” “I have it.” Ravnos came up behind them and held out a floor-sweeping, full-circle cape with a huge silver fur for a collar. Victoria backed away. Ravnos tossed it over Seht’s left shoulder and pulled the strap up under the arm then across his chest to his shoulder, leaving his right arm entirely free. He caught Seht’s gaze. “You could return…?” His voice was nearly a whisper. He reached to fasten the ornate clasp. Seht caught his hand, stopping him. “I made my decision.” His blue stare was hot and hard. “If you would not come, I would stay.” His gaze flickered to Victoria. “And I have your nav-pilot to return.” “There is that.” Ravnos’s mouth lifted slightly. He fastened the clasp with a practiced twist. Victoria turned away and closed her eyes. The depth of intimate history between them was too hard to watch. She felt a hand clasp her shoulder and turned.

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Ravnos tugged absently at one of her buckles. “Get in, get the Arcane, and get out. That’s your mission, nothing else. If Seht gives you an order, obey it without question, and avoid any Imperials you find.” Seht nodded. “Especially with Moraine loose on that station.” Ravnos’s gaze hardened to steel. “Avoid Moraine at all costs. He’s absolutely not to be trusted. Hopefully, you’ve been changed enough to pass casual inspection, but don’t count on not being recognized.” He gripped both of her shoulders tightly. “Don’t think for a moment that they won’t kill you if they discover what you are: an Imperial nav-pilot capable of stealing their ship’s sentience.” Victoria nodded. “Yes, sir.” She was far past doubting his word on Admiral Moraine. The fact that Moraine was here, far away from Imperial space and obviously not on Imperial business, was damning enough. Ravnos nodded. “One more thing…” He glanced from one to the other. “You both mean more to me than that damned ship. If you cannot get it -- leave it, and get back here.” Victoria narrowed her eyes. She had not gone through all this just to leave the Arcane behind. “I will get the Arcane.” Ravnos turned to Seht but his grip tightened on Victoria’s shoulders. “If she won’t leave the Arcane, use whatever means necessary to secure compliance.” Seht nodded and raised a brow. “Count on it.” Ravnos and Seht moved toward the door. It was time to leave. Victoria went back to get her coat. “No coat,” Seht called out. Victoria turned with the coat in her arms. “What?” Seht shook his head. “Leave it.” Victoria glared at him. “I’m practically naked without it.” Ravnos lifted his chin. “You’re supposed to be.” Victoria jerked as though slapped. “What?” Seht held out his gloved hand. “Come, pet. Where we’re going you won’t need it.” Ravnos escorted Victoria and Seht through hallways utterly devoid of crewmen. Victoria wondered at the empty hallways. She was acutely glad, seeing as the suit hugged her tighter than her own skin. Out of sheer curiosity, she queried the ship. Her suspicions were correct. All the passages leading to the halls they traveled were on lockdown, at least until they passed, by order of the captain. Ravnos was diverting foot-traffic away from their route. She then wondered if he had been doing it all along.

*****

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Seht’s barque gleamed under the floods as black and iridescent as his armor. Ravnos remained at the bottom of the steps as they boarded. “You are to come back in one piece.” He turned his stare on Seht. “Both of you. That’s an order.” Seht nodded. “Yes, sir.” The door spiraled closed. Seht led Victoria to a blank wall at the very front of the barque. He pressed his palm in the center. Without a word spoken, the entire ship hummed to life. Mimetic walls shivered, oozed, then formed into doorways, counters and cabinets. Terminals and controls appeared from behind thick glazing. A round doorway appeared under his palm. Seht smiled. “Welcome to the Raptor.” He ducked into the doorway, tugging his impossibly wide cape behind him. Victoria followed him into the cockpit. Two piloting couches sat side by side, with a huge viewing screen occupying the entire nose above the control panels. Seht gestured to the couch on her right. She took a seat, lounged back and buckled in. From the looks of the controls arrayed around her, the barque could be flown mechanically, but she would never willingly be a passenger on any ship that was flown cold. Seht buckled into the other chair and activated a holographic terminal. “I’m activating piloting and uploading the language program to you. Knowing the language will also come in handy when we are ensconced amongst my relatives.” Victoria felt the couch hum, then a sudden grab at the back of her head as the ship connected to her piloting array. However, the data that pressured her for attention was utterly incomprehensible. Language barrier, she guessed. She felt the shimmer of information and relaxed into the data, letting the new language slip into her memory and fill in the gaps as needed. Information bloomed and functions became accessible. Understandable queries began to come from Seht’s terminal. She relayed data as she acquired it. “Excellent, a quick integration,” Seht said with approval. Victoria discovered only a touch of ship-memory. Instead, she assimilated the barque’s functions. Rather than the pilot plugging onto the ship, as normally happened on the larger capitol dreadnoughts, the barque plugged into the pilot. Information shimmered through her array and interconnected with her nervous system until she could see through the barque’s optics as though they were her own eyes, and feel everything the ship perceived through its sensors. She sighed with delight as the Raptor literally became an extension of her body. “You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Seht said from far away. Victoria barely felt the smile on her face. “It feels wonderful.” “So I gathered.”

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All too soon, the engines came fully online. A tug towed the Raptor to the air-locked bay holding the small super-conductor that generated the anti-grav field. The blast-doors closed, air-locking them in. The warning klaxon went off and anti-grav increased, wafting the barque lightly from the deck plates. Victoria retracted the landing gear without bothering to think about it, and engaged the stabilizers, so as not to float aimlessly in the zero gravity. It seemed as though she floated, rather than the barque. She knew it was only data being processed through her nervous system and interpreted by her imagination but it felt so breathlessly real. The upper doors opened. She activated the Raptor’s quantum-reality jump-field to pass from the Hellsbreath’s disguised position. Energy radiated from the skin of the barque, enfolding the Raptor in a tingling cocoon. The klaxon went off again and anti-grav increased. Between one breath and the next, the Raptor lifted from the Hellsbreath. An ocean of stars, hard, cold and brilliant, filled her internal sight with the hard dark curve of the moon under the broad body of the shimmering Hellsbreath beneath them. She could feel the whisper of the Hellsbreath’s slightly altered reality as though she were pushing through the velvety folds of an invisible cloak. She looked in the direction of the moon’s horizon, and powered the advance drive to seven. Within moments the dark side of the moon was behind her. Free of the moon, she released the jump-field. To any casual observer, it would appear as though the barque had suddenly leapt into the star system. The Raptor coasted across the upper swells of gravity waves that slowly undulated outward from the moon, and headed for the night-dark planet expanding in her view. She pushed for speed, chasing the planet’s terminator line, where day met night and Mordred station floated, orbiting in the planet’s moment of sunset. Space is unimaginably vast. What seemed only a short distance would in fact take several hours. Inundated with the Raptor’s comfortingly precise data, Victoria allowed her body to drift into what amounted to a light sleep. She rested, while her mind remained perfectly alert and perfectly in tune within the steady stream of computations and the ocean of stars around her.

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Chapter 22 “You don’t seem to be having any difficulties.” Seht’s voice sounded far away. “Of course not.” Victoria smiled, incredibly relaxed. “I’m a pilot.” “Why, so you are.” Warmth, pressure… Victoria snapped back into connection with her physical body and opened her eyes to discover that Seht was sitting on her, straddling her thighs. He was damned heavy with all that armor on. She raised a brow. “I am trying to fly the ship.” She had not lost her connection to the sensors, but it was painfully distracting to have her attention divided. She shifted carefully under him. His suit was edged; a sudden wrong move would hurt -- a lot. Thank Fate his inner thigh plates were smooth, unlike his edged outer legs. He smiled and leaned forward with his armored forearms against the couch’s broad back to either side of her head. His cape enveloped her in the scent of warm silk, metal, fur and aroused male. His breath was warm in her ear. “Am I interfering with the ship’s functions?” “Ship’s functions at normal.” She winced. As long as she was linked to the ship’s sentience she was physically unable to state anything other than the absolute truth. “Must you sit on me?” “I wanted your complete attention.” He shifted closer, until he straddled her hips. “Okay, you have my attention.” Victoria could feel his crotch pressed intimately against hers. Suddenly he had her libido’s attention too. “Excellent. First order of business, you are forbidden to use spoken communication of any kind.”

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Victoria felt a shimmer in her augmentation. What? Her lips formed the words, but not a sound came out of her mouth. The collar! She grabbed for her throat. He gave me a direct

order and the collar is enforcing it! “You don’t know my language well enough to speak it, and there’s a distinct Imperial accent to your ship-standard. The instant you utter a word, you’ll give yourself away.” He smiled. “However, I have no wish to deny myself the delicious sound of your sighs and moans, so you may utter any sound that does not involve speech.”

Son of a bitch! Victoria would have banged her head against the back of the chair if she hadn’t been hard-wired into it. How the hell am I supposed to communicate if I can’t talk? Seht leaned down to catch her eyes. “You forget…” He grinned. The collar allows a telepathic link. As long as you think in nice clear sentences I can understand you perfectly. His lips did not move and yet his voice traveled clearly. Victoria blinked. You can hear me? Seht snorted. “There were times this morning where it was difficult to avoid hearing you.” He raised a brow. “Are you aware that you babble mentally when you are frustrated?”

This morning? Victoria cringed. She wasn’t even sure what she had commented on, other than… His armor… Bloody Fate! He raised his brow sharply. “Yes, my armor is a titanium alloy, that’s why it’s so pretty, and so damned light.” Victoria was convinced she was going to die from the heat flushing her cheeks. She didn’t even have her thoughts to herself. Damn it, that was so unfair! Seht nodded. “Yes, I know how unfair it all is. Don’t worry, you’ll get over it.” Victoria narrowed her eyes. A nice sharp object would make me feel a whole lot better

right now. Seht grinned. “I’m sure it would. However…” He carefully unfastened and removed one of his gloves. “I’m far more interested in your other comment.” Victoria stilled. What other comment? Her heart thumped in alarmed suspicion. Seht leaned back and used his bare hand to unfasten the buckles at her throat. “The one where you admitted that you had fallen in love with both of us.” Victoria grabbed his wrist. That was private! She couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Seht stared her in the eye. “Release me.” Victoria couldn’t turn her head enough to look away because of the ship-connection, so she closed her eyes. She let him go and dropped her hand to her side. That was private, damn

it! Seht unfastened the buckle at her heart, then the one beneath it. “Do you?” Victoria gritted her teeth and struggled to stem the bitter ache in her heart. Do I what? Seht peeled back her suit, revealing the curve of her breast. “Do you love us?”

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Victoria felt her throat close tightly. Yes, Fate be damned, yes… The other thought slipped free before she could catch it. But there is no room in your love for me. “That’s where you are wrong.” Seht leaned closer and brushed his lips against her throat. “Yes, Aubrey and I do love each other, but it is not a comfortable love. Neither of us would have chosen the other if circumstances had been otherwise. It was something that just happened.” He sighed. “It’s a long and complicated story.” Victoria was suddenly aware that she could feel a kind of echoing heartache coming from Seht. Apparently, she could feel him as well as hear him… And he was in pain. His bare finger traced the curve of her breast. “The long and the short of it is that we cannot live without each other, but we both feel the need for a woman in our lives. However, because of the way we are, we need a woman capable of loving us both.” He slid his hand into her suit to cup her breast. Someone both of us can love. Victoria groaned as her nipple tightened and ached under his palm. His words suddenly registered. He was offering her a place in their lives, a permanent place. Victoria inhaled sharply. I can’t! She shifted under him in alarm. I can’t love you! I have to go back! “You already admitted to loving us.” He caught her eye and his hand squeezed her breast. “The question is, do you want to stay with us?” Victoria felt her heart rip agonizingly in two. She loved them, she did, but she also owed duty and honor to the Imperium. I have to go back, I have to! Seht bared his teeth in a snarl. “I’m not questioning if you have to go back!” The claws of his gloved hand scored the back of her chair with unconscious strength. The metal screeched. “Do you want to stay with us?” Victoria shivered and tears streaked her cheeks. Yes… If I could, then yes. His mouth took hers in a savage kiss full of sharp teeth and violent urging. Unable to stop herself, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her hands burrowing into the fur, and kissed him back. Her breast throbbed under the clench of his fingers. He pulled back with a look of dark triumph. “I’d take you right now, but I’m afraid that your pleasure might cause a malfunction.” Abruptly he climbed off her couch. Victoria worked to get her heart rate back under control. Or a systems overload… “What a nice thing to say.”

What a big fat juicy ego. Victoria released a breath laced with both frustration at the simmering need he’d awakened in her, and relief that she wouldn’t be sticky from sweat and sex when they arrived. She was determined not to think about the issue they had just kissed over. Seht dropped back onto his couch and turned to grin at her. “Oh, come now, you know you like the smell of sex.”

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Not when I’m about to appear in public. Victoria lifted a hand to her lips. They felt as bruised as her exposed breast. She tugged at her suit. “Leave it open. You can close it when we get there.” He grinned. “You have such pretty nipples.” Victoria leveled a pointed stare at him. Seht’s brows lowered. Victoria sighed and left her suit open. “That’s a good pet.” Seht nodded. “Speaking of pets, there are a few things you will need to understand about what I am, and what will be expected of you on the station.” Victoria nodded. Different culture, different customs… “There are four lords, one of whom is myself. All three of the others will have a full complement of servants, staff and rehkyt.” Victoria felt like burrowing into her couch. Terrific; outclassed and outnumbered… Her brow furrowed. Servants and rehkyt? I thought rehkyt were servants? Seht snorted. “Rehkyt are pets. Very few are suited for service.” He looked away. “We are staying with my cousin, Lord Syrhus, who is also the husband of my exalted sister, the

Hedjhyt.” Victoria frowned. The Hedjhyt? That was a title… Her new assimilation of his language filled in the blanks. She’s the crown princess? Seht nodded. “Yes, she’s heir to the throne. The women rule on my world. When she achieves the crown, Lord Syrhus will be Atehf-mehnat, Queen’s consort, and commander of the armies.” Victoria puzzled over the information she had downloaded. Then you’re a deshryt, a

blood-prince? “Yes.” Seht nodded. “Not that it means much. She gets the nation of worlds, I get a nice ocean-side palace in a small country.” He turned to her. “However, if I have a daughter, she’ll be a candidate for heir. If my sister approves, she may crown my daughter as Hedjhyt, inheritor to the throne.” Victoria frowned. It still sounds like a crappy deal for you personally. Seht shrugged. Now you know why no one cares if I fly all over the known universe

doing whatever I like. Victoria strongly suspected that that last bit was supposed to be a private thought. Seht shook his head. “Enough about my family. You need to be prepared for Lord Syrhus’s household.” He caught her gaze. “Ravnos was not exaggerating. We are a slave culture, though we keep them more for entertainment than for any real work.” Victoria’s brow furrowed. Entertainment?

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“Sexual entertainment.” Seht’s smile was fleeting. “Our women prefer sex once every two years. It’s for sixty days straight, but two years is a long wait for a male capable of performing for a sixty-day period.” Victoria bit back a chuckle. I can’t even imagine the frustration. It did explain the warlike culture. “Indeed.” He smiled sourly. “We started collecting rehkyt to keep from wiping ourselves out.” Victoria’s brows shot up. And your women don’t mind? Seht snorted. “It was their idea.” Victoria took a deep breath to keep from laughing out loud. It made sense. Females of every culture used sex as a form of manipulation; why not culturally as a way to stem aggressive frustration? “I’m glad you approve,” he said dryly. “Back to sexual entertainment…” Victoria rolled her eyes. Your favorite subject… “Why, so it is.” Seht grinned. “You are going to see a lot of active punishment among the other rehkyt especially among Lord Syrhus’s household. They are conditioned to see it as a form of pleasure, so it appears worse than it really is. It’s best that you remain perfectly calm and avoid reacting to any of it.” Victoria nodded. I can do that. She smiled sourly. I’ve had to ignore a lot of things for the Imperium. Like that one time her last Commander had decided to conduct a meeting while a subordinate had knelt in front of him and… She cut that thought off sharply. Seht looked far too interested. Seht snorted. “I intend to present you as my pilot, so they won’t expect me to treat you like a mere concubine, but if I give you a command, even if it is sexual in nature, obey it without question. I cannot afford to be perceived as weak, and you cannot afford to be anything other than perfectly obedient.” Victoria flinched. She hoped like hell that he didn’t expect her to perform in public. The idea of having sex in front of others was painfully embarrassing. “And if I ask it of you?” His voice was soft and deadly. Victoria stared at him in shock. Public sex? Seht nodded. “Yes, fucking in front of an audience.” Victoria swallowed. Her heart thumped in fear. I don’t know if I can… She wiped her damp palms on the couch and tried to ignore the moisture gathering in her crotch. Seht lifted his head and sniffed. “Something tells me that you actually find the idea exciting.” Victoria closed her eyes. I find it embarrassing. “But you will obey.” It was not a question.

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Victoria swallowed hard. Yes, ‘Syr. “Very good.” Seht smiled. “You may find this mission more entertaining than you think.” Victoria nibbled on her bottom lip. Somehow that sounded like both a threat and a promise. “You may take it as such.” Seht grinned. “And you are going to pay dearly for that ego comment.” Victoria dove into the data to hide from his laughter. The Raptor’s long-distance sensors went on alert.

Four craft approaching at advance speed eight, Victoria sent. Mercenary class, small fighters armed with lasers and impact missiles. Seht yawned and stretched. “Ah yes, our welcoming committee. I’ll handle negotiations.” Victoria shot him a glare. I hope so, seeing as I don’t have a voice. He lowered his brows. “Enough, pet. We have work to do.” The fighters opened communications and Seht handed them his pass-codes and identification. Negotiations were swift, short and without fuss. The four fighters turned and formed an escort just as the Raptor caught up to the planet’s terminator line of day and night.

Mordred station rose on the horizon, an entire contained city wrapped in a glowing ball of clouded blue atmosphere encased in a transparent dome. The lovely blue ball was crosscircled with three dark rings bristling with deadly weapon spires and spaceships. The whole thing buzzed with scores of fighters, exotic spacecraft and massive lumbering freighters. At the very top of the blue globe, an enormous black shadow, utterly devoid of light, blotted out the stars and dwarfed the entire station. Victoria stared at the huge darkness. It was the dreadnought Arcane, hard-docked to the very top of the station. Fate and damnation, it’s really there… “Of course it’s there.” Seht snorted. “That’s why we’re here.” Victoria frowned. There’s no sound from it. Not one trace of communications or sensor

wave. It’s floating dead. Are you sure the sentience is still intact? Seht’s fingers flitted over his holographic display. “It’s intact.” Victoria glanced at him. But there should be some activity, from crew communications

at least… “There is no crew onboard.” Seht did not look up. “Rumor has it they were found dead.” Victoria’s mouth fell open. Where did you hear this?

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“Lord Syrhus was kind enough to tell me when he sent my invitation.” He smiled coldly. “Moribund is calling it an accident, but the suspicion is that the ship went insane.” Victoria scowled. Ships don’t go insane -- people do.

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Chapter 23 They approached the docking ring swiftly. Seht tapped his holographic display. “We’re cleared for dock here.” The coordinates translated through her piloting array as a visual image of a small door nestled between two massive skeldhi ships, as black and gleaming as Seht’s armor. She dropped speed to a sedate advance-one, and then cut to strictly pulse as she neared their assigned berth. With delicacy she turned the barque nose down, tail up and on its side so the airlock door would match their door. Metal rumbled as the ship connected to the ring and made secure linkage.

We are secured to the station. She ran a quick diagnostics. The station has us under coded lock. She glanced over at Seht. We’re not getting out of here without clearance. Seht nodded. “Don’t worry, we’ll be able to leave when it’s time.” Victoria caught activity on the exterior sensors. We have company waiting outside the door. She activated the view-screen. A fully armored skeldhi stood with his back to the airlock door. He was in conversation with two other skeldhi in ornate black suits. Just past them were four more suited skeldhi. All of them were heavily armed with pulse rifles and an array of bladed weapons. Victoria’s brows rose. Are we in trouble? Seht snorted. “No, that’s just Atehf Syrhus and his staff.” He rose from his couch. “Disengage but wait here.”

Disengage? Are you sure? Victoria was highly reluctant to lose the ship’s sensor connections. Seht stopped at the doorway. “How do you expect to rescue your precious Arcane from here?”

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Oh… She disengaged her link. The loss of sensor input felt as though she had gone deaf and blind, as well as lost fully half of her body’s functions. She leaned forward and clenched her trembling hands. In desperation she opened her piloting array to see if she could reach the Raptor. A hum eased through her. She sighed in relief. The Raptor wasn’t completely gone, just distant. “Come, pet,” Seht called out. “Time to greet my relative.” Victoria climbed out of the couch and ducked through the circular door while refastening her suit. Damn it, her nipples were hard. The leather rubbed against them in seditious distraction. Behind her, the door shrank and closed into a smooth wall. She felt a hum along her spine and watched as the mimetic material reformed around her. Displays, doorways and cabinets disappeared into smooth featureless walls. She turned and found Seht by the door, bristling with bladed weapons. His sword was sheathed and belted to his left hip and the whip coiled around his right wrist. He held out his hand. “Come.” Victoria approached with caution. He looked alarmingly dangerous fully armed. Seht grabbed the front of her suit and tugged at her buckles with delicacy, considering that his gloves were clawed. “Keep your chin up and shoulders back at all times, but do not look any of the skeldhis in the eye; they’ll take it as a direct challenge. Do not show your teeth for exactly the same reason, even in a smile. Keep your hands below your waist, unless ordered to do otherwise. Hands above the waist is a sign of aggression. If you are addressed, bow to acknowledge attention; it’s polite. You are the lowest in rank, so your bow must always be deeper.”

Yes, ‘Syr. Victoria nearly smiled. He was fussing. Be a good girl and play nice with the other children… “Your place is one step back and only on my left side.” Victoria nodded. So as not to interfere with his weapons’ draw. “Exactly.” He nodded. “And one more thing, stay off the furniture.” Victoria’s mouth popped open. You’re joking! Seht turned to the door. “Actually, I’m not. You are a pet. You are to kneel by my feet when I am seated.” Victoria glared. Do I eat off the floor too? He cupped her chin and stared her in the eye. “You will eat out of my hand if I tell you to.” His eyes narrowed. “And for the sake of my sanity, keep your opinions off your face.” Victoria schooled her expression to mild interest. Something she had practiced through her years in service to the Imperium. Yes, ‘Syr.

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“Good.” He released her chin and faced the door. “I’ll teach you the rest of the commands and rehkyt behaviors as soon as we are in our private quarters.” Victoria stepped to just behind his left shoulder. There’s more? She pulled her soft leather gloves from a zippered pocket and tugged them on. The airlock was going to be cold. Seht glanced over his shoulder with an anticipatory smile. “Oh yes. Much more.” He pressed his palm to the door and it opened. Frigid air whirled inside and Victoria’s breath steamed out. She followed Seht into the narrow airlock. Seht stared at the small window in the door ahead of him. “Seal the Raptor, pet.” Victoria didn’t bother to turn. She accessed the Raptor through her piloting array and the door closed behind them. Done. Seht struck the lighted panel on his right. A rumble vibrated all around as the airlock door rolled closed behind them. There was a hiss of entering atmosphere, then the door in front of them rolled open to the left. The fully-armored skeldhi filled the doorway. He was a head taller than Seht and broader in the shoulders. Frost-white hair draped loose to his hips in a multitude of tiny braids set with glittering black stones. A vicious scar scored the left side of his face from his cheekbone to his jaw and a bitter smile curved his pale lips. A thin band of bright blue metal circled his forehead. “Well met, Deshryt Seht.” He spoke in pure skeldhi. “Well met, Atehf Syrhus,” Seht replied and bowed slightly. Victoria noted Seht’s bow. Lord Syrhus must outrank him…

Of course, he’s the Atehf, prince-consort married to the queen’s heir. I’m just her younger brother. Seht cleared his throat. “Do I have leave to exit the airlock, Atehf?” “Be my guest, Deshryt.” Lord Syrhus backed away to the left with a snort. His brilliant and frigid emerald green gaze shifted to Victoria. “I’m glad to see that you’ve found a new pet. That last one caused you nothing but grief.” She ducked his direct stare by looking past him, only to meet the aqua stare of another skeldhi. His snow-bright hair was pulled back into a severe and tight braid. She dodged his gaze by staring at the frame of the airlock door. Not looking into anyone’s eyes was going to be harder than she thought. “I’m gratified by your approval, Atehf,” Seht said dryly. He stepped from the airlock and into the narrow access hall and Victoria followed at his heels. Lord Syrhus reached out and grabbed Victoria’s passing shoulder. Victoria stilled and held her breath. Seht? She slid her glance to him. What do I do?

Remain still, and remain calm. Do anything asked of you. Seht raised his brow at Lord Syrhus. “Is something wrong?” Lord Syrhus nodded at one of the other skeldhis. “Just checking.”

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Seht smiled as though amused. Victoria’s connection betrayed that he was not amused at all. Lord Syrhus was insulting him directly. skeldhi did not make physical contact with another’s rehkyt. The aqua-eyed skeldhi dressed in a body-hugging suit very similar to Victoria’s stepped up with a small, hand-held sensor. His calculating gaze drifted lightly over her. “Remove the gloves.” Victoria set her jaw and focused on a spot directly in front of her, that thankfully was no one’s face. She slowly slid the gloves off. The skeldhi lifted the sensor. “Present your left hand.” Seht kept his gaze on Lord Syrhus. Slowly and calmly raise your left fist to shoulder

level, elbow down. Victoria raised her fist as asked, leaving her gloves clenched in her right hand. Lord Syrhus flashed a brief smile. “This one knows the language at least.” Seht nodded. “She was a bit easier to educate.” “No doubt,” Lord Syrhus said dryly. The sensor made contact with the back of her hand. She caught a glimpse of his ear. There was a notch cut into the lower edge about halfway up. Seht caught her observation. He’s a mahfdhyt enforcer -- a legal executioner. Make no

sudden moves. Victoria took a soft breath. Great, just great… Once she rejoined the Imperium, this would be one of the men hunting her. “Augmented, piloting array and some bio-mechanics. Imprint established.” The skeldhi raised a brow then turned to look at Lord Syrhus. “She’s a prime.” “Are you quite satisfied, Atehf?” Seht tugged absently at his gloves. Lord Syrhus grinned suddenly. “How in hell did you make a prime?” Seht shrugged. “Good genetic material.” “You may put your gloves back on,” the skeldhi murmured to Victoria. Victoria calmly dropped her hand and busied herself with her gloves, taking care to keep her hands lowered and her eyes down. Lord Syrhus turned to stare at Victoria. “Are you going to send her for upuaht guard training?” “I’m considering it.” Seht raised a brow. “Is there a reason for this delay, Atehf?” Lord Syrhus’s smile disappeared. “Moribund is waiting with a full escort in one of the cross hallways. I think he still wants his property returned.” Seht smiled, showing his long teeth. “What a terrible shame; I don’t have him.” Lord Syrhus’s brows shot up. “He got away?”

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Seht turned slightly away and his cheeks flushed. Lord Syrhus laughed. “He did get away!” He shook his head. “Pity that. He would have made an excellent stud, for all that he was near impossible to control.” Seht snorted. “What did you expect, Atehf? Spawn of Chaos! His mind was nearly shattered from their abuse. You should have seen the condition his body was in when I found him.” Lord Syrhus nodded. “He was certainly a mess when I saw him.” Seht scowled. “Given time and training, I would have made a very fine deyjaht out of him.” “Doubtful.” Lord Syrhus shook his head. “He was far too dominant for service. You would have eventually been forced to destroy him.” He shook his head then waved toward the hall. “Shall we go show Moribund what you don’t have?” “By your leave, Atehf.” Seht bowed slightly. Lord Syrhus grinned and started down the hall with Seht on his right. They began a long and dry conversation about politics. Victoria fell into step behind Seht, grateful to be forgotten, only to find the aqua-eyed enforcer on her immediate left. She stared at Seht’s shoulder and worked to ignore him. The party moved at a quick, measured clip around corners and through cross hallways. Victoria knew that with herself and Seht, there were only nine, but the semi-darkness and steady thump of booted heels made the hallway seem positively packed with bodies. There was a soft whistle and the entire group halted. Victoria stopped with them out of sheer military habit. She looked up but couldn’t see a thing past Seht and Lord Syrhus. “Greetings, Prince Syrhus, Prince Seht,” someone said in impossibly deep Imperial shipstandard. “Greetings, Moribund. And to what do we owe this honor?” Lord Syrhus’s ship-standard was only slightly accented. Victoria peeked between Seht and Lord Syrhus to see the biggest damned human she’d ever seen in her life. He wore an ornate black sleeveless coat that swept the deck and a long black leather kilt over heavy boots. His brutally carved face was framed by smooth gold hair pulled back into a severe and simple tail that fell over his left shoulder. His darkly tanned bare chest and folded arms were enormously muscular. Victoria raised a brow. Probably augmented to hell and gone…

Oh, he is, Seht sent to her. Some call him handsome. Handsome? Victoria stared at the cold lines of his face and curled her lip. Not me. That is

a nasty, nasty man. Moribund smiled. “I heard that Prince Seht brought his pet with him.” Lord Syrhus nodded. “He did indeed.”

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Seht turned to look at Victoria. “Come,” he said in soft skeldhi. Victoria glanced at him. Do I have to? Seht narrowed his eyes.

Great, fine… Victoria swallowed and stepped between Seht and Lord Syrhus. Moribund’s ice blue eyes narrowed at Victoria. “This is your pet?” “Yes.” Seht placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. Chin up, shoulders back, stay calm,

and stare at the nasty man. Victoria assumed a full attention stance. Wait a minute, isn’t staring rude? Seht squeezed her shoulder. Absolutely.

I see… Victoria took a calming breath and stared. Moribund’s size was daunting. His arms were almost too big to fold over his own chest. His head nearly brushed the curved ceiling. He was so big there wasn’t room for anyone else in the narrow hall. He couldn’t possibly maneuver well in this tight a space. Hell, with all that bulk, he probably couldn’t maneuver well even in a space big enough to hold him. Why would someone this big stand in a hall almost too small to hold him?

Intimidation. Seht’s inner voice was nearly a growl. It’s his trademark. Victoria frowned. That’s stupid. In a hallway this small, if you take out his knees, he’s nothing but a stationary target that no shot could miss. Good observation. Seht sounded almost cheerful. Moribund’s brows lowered. “I do not remember your pet being female.” Seht lifted his chin. “I was forced to find a replacement for the one that escaped.” Moribund focused on Seht. “He escaped.” It wasn’t a question. Seht nodded. “I spent a number of years searching, but Fate proved unkind.” Moribund curled his lip. “I find that difficult to believe.” Lord Syrhus snorted. “I assure you, my cousin wasted quite a bit of his time searching for his obsession.” Seht slanted a cool glance at Lord Syrhus. Moribund nodded and delivered a chilly smile. “He did seem quite fixated on that runt.” A hard swell of emotion erupted from Seht. He wasn’t a runt. He was starved and beaten

nearly to death. Moribund turned his cold gaze on Victoria. “What’s your name, sweetheart?” He smiled. Victoria gave him a sweet smile that hid her teeth. Oh, what a pity, I don’t have a voice. Seht’s hand tightened on her shoulder. Get behind me. Victoria stepped back and slipped between Seht and Lord Syrhus. Lord Syrhus cleared his throat. “If you will excuse us, Moribund, we have business to prepare for.”

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Moribund focused on Lord Syrhus. “You’re here for the auction?” “Of course.” Lord Syrhus smiled coolly. “If we don’t end up with your dreadnought, at least we’ll know who does.” Victoria’s senses went on high alert. They had to be talking about the Arcane, the ship that Admiral Moraine had supposedly brought in. But then, the Moribund Company was supposed to be owned by Moraine… Her thoughts ground to a halt. This huge vicious man was Admiral Moraine, hero of the Imperium?

You only just figured this out? Seht’s thoughts were laced with bitter sarcasm. “If you succeed in acquiring my dreadnought…” Moribund smiled and glanced at Seht. “You’ll need a nav-pilot to fly it.” Lord Syrhus raised a brow. “Can we borrow yours?” Moribund’s smile broadened but his expression frosted. “I thought you already had.” Victoria ducked completely behind Seht’s back. He can’t mean me? Seht’s thoughts echoed with a deep sadness. He doesn’t. Moribund bowed. “A pleasant evening, Prince Syrhus, Prince Seht.” He rose and abruptly turned into a cross hallway and walked swiftly away. His entire staff, previously invisible behind his huge bulk, filed after him. Victoria watched them march by. Each staff member was dressed in plain, inconspicuous black, but the way they moved was unmistakably Imperial military. A face struck her as odd. It was oriental, female and coldly beautiful -- and utterly blank. Victoria felt a cold chill skitter down her spine. If this was Moraine’s staff, then she was looking at the famous Kazi “Kamikaze” Sakata, but her personality seemed to be missing.

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Chapter 24 Victoria followed at Seht’s heel, marching in step with the rest of the skeldhis, while puzzling over the mystery of Kazi Sakata’s blankness. The narrow hallway opened up into a broad and crowded passageway. Light bloomed everywhere. She glanced up and discovered that they had entered a glassed-in tunnel way. The sound of massive turbines caught her attention. The staff around her rearranged themselves into a protective circle around Seht and Lord Syrhus. Victoria was able to see that they were in some kind of railway station. They walked right past a parked tram bustling with passengers. The party moved to an unmarked door that had to be coded open and then continued into another narrow tunnel that led to a small station empty of people, where a short threecar tram, utterly empty of passengers, hummed, waiting by the walkway. Several guards hopped onto the tram with electronic scanners. They hopped back off and everyone piled on. Inside the tram was pure luxury with deep-piled rugs of emerald green and a pair of broad black velvet couches. Cushioned seats lined the walls. Victoria watched the riflebearing skeldhis take up positions at the car’s doors. Seht relaxed on one of the couches. He looked up at Victoria expectantly. Victoria remembered at the last second that she was supposed to kneel on the floor. She turned and knelt as gracefully as possible by his heel. Seht pressed her head against his knee. Good pet, you remembered. Victoria’s cheeks heated with humiliation. She nearly bit him. Lord Syrhus took a seat on the couch opposite Seht. “I’m guessing she’s still new?” Victoria stilled and schooled her expression to a dead neutral.

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Lord Syrhus nodded at Victoria. “She obviously has some obedience training, but she hesitates.” Seht sighed. “She’s used to serving as a pilot, Atehf. The part of a seysehn is very new to her.” Victoria felt her cheeks heat. Seysehn literally translated as flower, but the word was used to mean concubine, someone kept for sex. A sex-toy… The train car rumbled and jerked, betraying that they had been coupled onto an engine. Steady vibration and a slight rocking indicated that they were underway. Lord Syrhus grinned. “Don’t tell me you stole another Imperial?” Victoria worked to keep the mortified expression off her face. “This from you, Atehf? I take them one at a time. You convert whole ship-loads…” Lord Syrhus curled his lip. “Of mercenaries.” Seht snorted. “Truthfully speaking, I stole this one from a mercenary.” He grinned. “It was he that stole her right out from under her former Imperial Captain’s nose.” Lord Syrhus chuckled. “How the hell did he pull that one off?” Seht leaned back in the couch. “The Imperials were at a way-station on the wrong side of the border. They weren’t even paying attention when he simply walked off with her.” Victoria stared at the floor. Fate, I was so stupid… Lord Syrhus raised a doubtful brow. “She just wandered off with him? What did he do, seduce her?” Seht chuckled. “He engaged her in conversation, then used a stunner. He had her dominated into flying his ship within hours.” Victoria desperately wanted to crawl under the carpet. Now I sound stupid and weak-

willed. Seht touched a clawed hand to her shoulder. Trusting perhaps, but never weak-willed,

pet. I saw the blood from his sword at your throat, but you never made a sound. Lord Syrhus snorted. “Really, so how did you get her?” Seht shrugged. “He wasn’t paying attention, so I walked off with her. I had her collared and processed within two nights of her original capture.” He grinned. “She’s an excellent pilot, Atehf. Which is, of course, why I took her.” Lord Syrhus leaned forward. “She’s a prime; she must have made a kill?” Seht nodded. “Two.” Victoria flinched. A lot more than two… She couldn’t even count all her duels since the academy. Mostly space-dock idiots that simply wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. The fines had nearly destroyed her savings. She’d stopped going off-ship while on leave to avoid killing somebody stupid.

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He means since your change. Seht snorted. “It was a little unexpected. She was attacked and went into rahyt before her third course.” Lord Syrhus sighed. “You know that the mahfeht enforcers are going to want her?” Victoria’s gaze drifted over to the aqua-eyed enforcer seated by the door. He was watching her again. She snapped her gaze back to the floor. Seht released the softest of rumbling growls. “I did not make her to sell.” “So, another obsession.” Lord Syrhus leaned back and folded his arms. “You should at least send her for upuaht training. It’s a useful skill for a prince’s rehkyt.” Seht nodded. “As I said before, Atehf, I’m considering it.” The tram rumbled to a smooth halt. The door was opened and they filed out for another long march through more narrow passageways.

***** Victoria was thoroughly bored by the time the soft whistle called for another organized and precise halt. This time they walked through a heavy blast door into a broad and towering hallway. There was a wide and ornate doorway up at the far end.

When you go through the next door, you may be asked to stop. Present your fist as you did before and follow any instructions. Seht’s thoughts were threaded with uncertainty. Remember, react to nothing. Victoria stopped herself from nodding. Yes, ‘Syr. She followed Seht’s back through the broad doorway.

Skeldhis apparently had a taste for the massively dramatic, ornately baroque and oppressively dark. Black mirrors framed in floor-to-ceiling velvet drapes spread across the distant walls. Thick, dark red carpeting lay across the midnight marble flooring. Black glassfigured tables edged in chrome were scattered everywhere surrounded by exotic and gracefully curved chairs. Broad oddly-shaped divans and expansive couches covered in jeweltoned velvets sat poised in small groupings. Victoria was tapped on the shoulder. Shit… She stopped and peeled off her glove, while keeping an eye on Seht as he continued across the expanse. The rest of the staff filed past her. She glanced to her left and found an older gray-eyed and heavily scarred skeldhi holding a small sensor. Just past his shoulder, the aqua-eyed skeldhi stood quietly. Victoria presented her fist. The scanner touched her lightly. She turned away to watch Seht. He had stopped and turned back to see where she was. “Acknowledged. You may go.” Victoria released her breath and sketched a quick bow at the older skeldhi. She turned and strode toward Seht while struggling to get her glove back on. She passed a long divan

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and noticed someone lying on the carpet near it. Victoria took only a quick glance, but it was enough to make the hair on the back of her neck rise. Stretched out in repose like a feline was a voluptuously curved platinum blonde rehkyt female, sporting an amazingly complicated hairstyle. The fact that she was entirely nude wasn’t what made Victoria’s neck-hair rise. It was the slender gold chain looped around her graceful throat in addition to her shen, and the leash that was attached to one leg of the divan. Then she noticed other rehkyt both male and female, lounging on the floor by scattered chairs and couches, each wearing a gold chain leash. Skeldhis lounged on some of the couches and divans. More than a few stroked the heads of their leashed companions while in conversation with other skeldhis. Apparently the skeldhi definition for rehkyt or ‘pet’ was literal. Victoria focused on Seht, clamping down on her thoughts, and her expression. She lengthened her stride. A gentleman wearing a long, sleeveless black robe over a complicated bodysuit bowed and smiled as he joined Seht. His silver mane was pulled back into a snug braid. Twin swords were sheathed at his hips. Victoria slowed her stride and approached Seht’s left. Suddenly she could see the multitude of tiny blades threaded throughout the gentleman’s suit and the notch in the lower curve of his ear. Mahfdhyt, an enforcer-executioner… “I assure you, it was completely unplanned, Mahfeht’syr,” Seht said politely. Victoria’s breath caught in her throat. Mahfeht’syr meant lord master-enforcer. This was another skeldhi lord. Seht glanced at her. Kneel at my side exactly as you did for Ravnos, he projected. Keep

one hand on the floor and the other in plain view. Victoria dropped to one knee, pressing her palm to the floor with her other arm folded against her body. The master-enforcer tilted his head. “I’m assuming from her dress, that she has some skills already, Deshryt?”

They’re talking about me… Victoria had to remind herself to breathe. Seht shook his head sadly. “Dueling skills only, from previous training, Mahfeht’syr.” The master-enforcer’s brows rose. “Dueling, Deshryt? Then she’s going to need reconditioning to break the habit of competition…” Victoria puzzled over the skeldhi word for competition. The meaning seemed to be linked to both fair play and suicide, but not honor. The master-enforcer tilted his head. “I can do a full skill assessment here…?”

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“A proper assessment would be very time-consuming, Mahfeht’syr.” Seht shook his head. “I’m afraid I only brought the one. I’d like to have use of her during my stay.” The master-enforcer raised a brow. “Only the one, Deshryt?” Seht smiled. “I’m traveling light.” “I understand, Deshryt.” He nodded. “May I see her?” Victoria worked to keep the annoyance off her face. See me? I’m right damn here! Seht nodded. “Of course, Mahfeht’syr.” He tapped Victoria’s shoulder with a finger. Rise

calmly and keep your hands down. Keep your chin up, hold very still and do not look him in the eye. Do not react when he touches you. Victoria rose as smoothly as her tired legs would allow and stood, shoulders back with her hands open flat to her sides. She focused at a point past the master-enforcer’s left shoulder, took a deep breath and worked on projecting calm. This was nothing more than an inspection. The master-enforcer stepped close and his fingers skimmed down her arms. Victoria took slow, even breaths to control her instinctive shivers. She caught the scent of leather and warm metal. Her heart thumped in her chest. He didn’t smell right. “Augmented?” Seht nodded. “Piloting tech and some body modifications for speed and stamina,

Mahfeht’syr.” His hand rose toward her head. “How aggressive?” Seht smiled. “Quite.” The master-enforcer made light contact with the side of her jaw. Victoria had to fight to hold still and keep her breathing even. She didn’t like being touched under normal circumstances, but this was worse. It wasn’t that he was dangerous, though clearly he was very dangerous; she could smell just about every weapon on him and the oil he used to clean them. It was more that she could smell him as a male, and he smelled utterly wrong. It was unnerving. “New?” Seht nodded. “Very.” The master-enforcer nodded. His fingers brushed around the points of her ears. Victoria felt somehow violated. She took a deeper breath to stop her lower throat from making a sound she strongly suspected would come out as a growl. She did not want this man who smelled so very wrong touching her. She glanced over at Seht. Seht raised his brow, but said nothing. His silent thoughts implied that he was waiting for something. The master-enforcer caught her head between his palms.

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Victoria gasped in surprise, and fought the urge to jerk back. Her hands flexed into fists. She forced them back open. “Augmented eyes,” the master-enforcer noted quietly. “And not used to handling.” Seht shrugged. “Part of her piloting tech, and I confess to being quite selfish,

Mahfeht’syr.” She felt his fingers along her jaw, then his thumbs brushed her cheeks. Sudden sharp pressure popped her mouth open. She made completely reflexive noise that seemed to be a cross between a snarl and a whine. “Be still,” Seht said calmly. Victoria tried to relax her breathing, but she knew she was fighting a losing battle. His palms had a vise grip on her head while his thumbs dug painfully into her jaw, keeping her mouth open. The master-enforcer peered into her open mouth. “Full set. Small but nicely pointed.” He released her jaw. Victoria trembled with affront but held still. She had to close her eyes to keep from glaring at him. She blinked them back open but she knew the anger was on her face. “How new?” Seht shrugged. “Days.” Victoria saw his hand swing at her face. She froze and braced for the impact, determine to put up with it and not embarrass Seht. His hand cracked hard against her cheek, jerking her head to the side. She gasped and tasted blood. Her teeth had cut the inside of her mouth. Son of a bitch! Other than that, it hadn’t been that bad. Her cheek stung but former captains had struck her harder. She licked the blood from her lip and turned back to face him. At the last second, she remembered to not look directly at him. He nodded. “Good control.” Seht released a soft breath. The master-enforcer raised his hand again. Victoria set her jaw. The hand abruptly changed direction and swung for Seht instead. In a lightning-fast move, Victoria intercepted the intended blow with her forearm. She glared into the pale blue eyes of the master-enforcer and growled in warning. She was willing to put up with his crap, but she was not willing to let him strike Seht. He bared his teeth, daring her to challenge him. She dropped her arm and turned her eyes away. She was not going to get into a fight she wouldn’t be able to win, but damn it, every drop of blood in her body wanted to bite him for trying to strike Seht.

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His other hand rose in a strike; not at her, at Seht. Between one moment and the next, a lightning flash of white heat flared at the back of her skull and logic was utterly gone. She blocked the blow with a fist, and shoved herself between them. She snapped at him with her sharp teeth. Mine! The master-enforcer leapt back out of range. He was grinning. She only noticed that his teeth were on aggressive display. She dropped into a fighting crouch vibrating with violent anger. If he made one move toward them, she would kill him; she would rip his heart from his chest… “Victoria!” Seht called out sharply. Victoria? Can you hear me?

Huh? Victoria snapped awake. What? She rose from her crouch on shaking knees. Yes, ‘Syr. She winced. The back of her head ached and her hands trembled. “Down.” Seht pressed his hand on her shoulder. Relax. It’s over. Victoria dropped back onto her knee. What the hell just happened? Seht’s hand was a comforting weight on her shoulder.

You lost your temper. Seht’s thoughts were laced with both amusement and relief. The master-enforcer stepped closer. “I’d say she definitely deserves the steel, Deshryt.” Seht nodded. “I thought so as well, but I’m glad for your personal endorsement.” “You have it, without doubt, Deshryt.” He nodded at Seht. “I applaud your control over one so new. She came out of rahyt very quickly.” Victoria felt her breath stop in her throat. I was in rahyt? A blood-rage?

Only for a short while… Seht squeezed her shoulder. “I thank you for your high regard, Mahfeht’syr.” “However, I’d keep her under supervision and away from the males. She’s likely to bite.” His gaze dropped onto Victoria with definite amusement. Victoria averted her eyes. I’ll bite you first…

Pet… Seht tapped the top of her head. Be nice, you just received permission to wear clothing. Victoria stilled. Huh? “A very good catch, Deshryt.” The master-enforcer glanced at Victoria. “Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” Seht shook his head. “I think she’s already too attached, Mahfeht’syr.” “You’re probably correct.” He nodded. “Aggressive as she is, she maintained control until I struck out at you. That was a possessive display, Deshryt.” She focused on the red carpet. Yeah, yeah, so I like you, whatever… Seht’s clawed fingers bit into her shoulder in warning.

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“She seems fairly obedient,” the master-enforcer continued. “The willingness is apparent; however, she will need that possessiveness curbed, or it will cause serious behavioral problems later.” Seht nodded. “I will take that into consideration, Mahfeht’syr.” The master-enforcer raised his brows. “I advise additional handling, Deshryt. The sooner, the better.” Victoria frowned. Handling?

He wants me to share you with others. A thread of anger shimmered through his thoughts. Victoria nearly smiled. But you are, with Ravnos. The master-enforcer nodded at Victoria. “You could leave her with us during the banquet, Deshryt. I have a very skilled nehkyx among my staff. He’s already expressed an interest in your rehkyt.” Victoria’s heart leapt into her mouth. Nehkyx literally meant “whip.” He was offering Seht a trainer. Seht shook his head. “Thank you for the generous offer, Mahfeht’syr, but as I said, I only have the one. I would like to have use of her myself.” The master-enforcer bowed. “I understand. The offer of my nehkyx will of course remain open, Deshryt.” Seht returned the bow. “I’m honored, Mahfeht’syr; perhaps tomorrow, we could discuss a course of training?” “I look forward to it, Deshryt.” The master-enforcer bowed again and strode off. Seht turned on his heel. “Let’s go, before we draw any more attention.” He headed through the broad room full of couches and leashed rehkyt. Victoria followed after him. Why the hell was that enforcer so interested in having her trained?

It’s not training. Seht glanced down at her. His nehkyx trainer, has a prime rehkyt stud. Victoria looked up at him. So? Seht smiled sourly. Prime rehkyt are rare, females are even more so. He wants to breed the two of you. Breed? Victoria’s brows shot up. I thought skeldhi and humans couldn’t, you know, make children? They can’t. But rehkyt can. Seht sighed. Thank Fate you’re not ovulating or we would have a serious problem on our hands. A problem? Victoria followed him around a couch. What kind of a problem? Seht raised a sardonic brow. They wouldn’t think twice about accidentally locking you in a room with their stud long enough to impregnate you.

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Victoria bared her teeth. I’d have to kill him.

His rehkyt is far better combat-trained than you. Seht shook his head. Even if you succeeded in killing him, you’d still be pregnant. Victoria shuddered.

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Chapter 25 Seht marched purposely for the broad arching doorway at the far end of the enclave. We

are staying in my cousin’s apartments, simply because I could not find a graceful way to refuse. He has a more traditional household, so this may be difficult for you. I expect you to be very much on your best behavior. Victoria snorted. I am an Imperial officer; I’m used to taking orders. How difficult can it be? Seht glanced at her. More difficult than you think. In a traditional household a pet is exactly that: a creature kept for the pleasure of their master. Victoria raised a brow at him. Are you saying that I’ll have to wear a leash, like those others? Seht smiled grimly. A leash is the least of it. Let me put it this way: if they find you too aggressive, they may muzzle you. Victoria tripped on the carpet. A muzzle? On a person? She looked up at Seht in alarm. You would let them? Seht nodded. It’s my cousin’s household; if he demands it, I cannot forbid it. A pair of black-suited, energy rifle-bearing skeldhi imposingly guarded the open doorway. They bowed as Seht passed with Victoria at his left heel. Seht’s expression became grim. One more thing -- do not panic if we are separated. Victoria’s breath caught in her throat. Separated? Seht looked firmly ahead. My cousin employs handlers to care for his rehkyt. Victoria felt a cold shiver. Muzzles? Handlers? This was not sounding promising at all. Seht stopped before a second pair of guards standing before a pair of ornate steel-bound doors. The guards bowed and pulled the doors open.

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Seht strode forward. Make me proud, Victoria.

Yes, ‘Syr. She strode after him. Seht marched through what seemed to be a small audience chamber. Golden light spread high against the ceiling from amber glass sconces. Deep shadows pooled on rich carpeting. A skeldhi in long graceful robes bowed. A ribbon loosely bound his long silver mane, and it swung over his shoulder. “I am Tehut, and I bid you welcome, Deshryt Seht.” He didn’t even glance at Victoria. “You are expected.” Seht returned the bow. “Thank you, A’syr.” “This way, please.” The skeldhi turned and walked toward yet another set of double doors. Victoria followed Seht and watched the skeldhi’s graceful form with interest. A’syr meant something close to honored sir, or mister. This was probably a high-level servant, like a butler. She sighed. At least it wasn’t another lord. As far as she was concerned, she’d met enough skeldhi lords for today. They walked through the doors and into a broad circular room set with leather couches and low tables of black glass. War banners and exotic tapestries in jewel-toned silks covered the walls. Art objects from all corners of the known universe sat on small tables in strategic corners. “I see you still have your rehkyt.” Seht and Victoria turned to see Lord Syrhus stride barefoot into the room, clad in long robes of midnight green brocade trimmed and bound at the waist in black silk. His beaded mane swung loose to his hips. The blue band on his brow gleamed. Victoria dropped to her knee without being asked. She did not want this man’s attention if she could avoid it. Seht tilted his head at Lord Syrhus. “Mahfeht’syr Ehru did make an impressive offer.” “Then he awarded you the steel?” Lord Syrhus’s smile was chilling on his scarred face. Seht raised a cool brow. “Of course.” “Ah! Then you’ll be needing this.” Lord Syrhus tossed something toward Seht. It jingled as it flew. Seht caught it neatly in a gloved hand. A short silvery chain with links big enough to put her finger through dangled from his hand. Victoria felt the hair on her neck rise. It was a chain collar. Seht frowned at the small flat tag hanging from the end. “This is my personal insignia. I’m honored, Atehf.” Lord Syrhus nodded. “I meant for it to be a gift when you caught your trouble-maker.” He shrugged. “It will do for this one.” She felt Seht’s hand on her shoulder and looked up.

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“Stand.” “How you succeeded in making two prime rehkyt still amazes me.” Victoria stood. Seht nudged her chin higher. She felt the chill coolness of metal close around her throat. Weight pressed against her neck. This collar was not the fine delicate gold of a pleasure pet, but the heavy steel chain of a pet that required restraining. This chain could actually choke her at the end of a leash. There was a subtle click. “I do not see why you are so surprised. All of my sire’s rehkyt were prime. It’s practically tradition among my family.” “Your brother’s are not.” Victoria started. Seht had a brother? Seht’s eyes narrowed sharply. Anger thrummed across the telepathic link, though his expression was cool. “My brother is of a different sire.” “Oh, yes…” Lord Syrhus bowed. “Please forgive my rudeness, Deshryt.” Seht bowed. “Of course, Atehf.” Lord Syrhus’s dropped his chin and peered from under his brows. “My handlers are available to you, but I’m assuming you’d like to personally see to the care of your rehkyt?” Seht nodded. “You assume correctly, Atehf.” Victoria released a small breath. Thank Fate. The idea of being ‘cared for’ by strangers made her blood run cold. Seht lifted his chin. “She is not voice-trained, so she does not have speech capabilities. I would not wish a misunderstanding to occur when she does not vocally respond.” Lord Syrhus barked out a short laugh. “No wonder she’s so silent!” Seht turned to look at him with a sarcastic lift of his brow. “I recalled that you did not appreciate rehkyt speaking at all.” Lord Syrhus snorted. “Not in public, no. Privately is another matter. I’m assuming that you are using the telepathic link?” Seht nodded. “To keep track of her emotional state. She is a prime, and subject to occasional bouts of temper.” Victoria shot Seht a hard glance. Lord Syrhus chuckled. “I see.”

***** Seht’s suite was spacious and dark. A soft golden glow spilled from amber glass sconces set close to the ceiling. The carpet was thick and a deep scarlet. A small, highly polished round table with four cushioned chairs occupied the left corner, with a heavily curtained alcove taking up the entire right wall.

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Commanding the center wall of the room, directly across from the door, stood a small wood frame atop a low ornately-carved black lacquered chest of drawers. Tall, gleaming black and featureless boxes framed it on either side. Victoria tilted her head. The frame on top of the chest looked like an ornate coat stand. “The frame is for my armor. The boxes on either side are my personal trunks from the Raptor.” Seht gestured toward a door on the far left just past the table. “That door leads to the facility.” He waved toward the curtains. “That is the bedchamber.” Victoria frowned. The boxes are from the Raptor? How did they get here? Seht chuckled. “You were at the front of the line. You didn’t see the baggage carriers.” Victoria’s brows lifted. They weren’t on the tram with us either. “They were secured in the back compartment. My cousin’s staff is very efficient.” He swept the cape from his shoulders and grinned. “Come, time to remove my armor.”

***** Victoria tried to keep her inner grumbling to a minimum as she removed each piece of his complicated armor then reassembled it on the frame. It wasn’t that warm in here and the task of removing Seht’s armor wasn’t all that taxing, but she felt overheated. She swept a hand across her brow. She stared at her damp hand. Sweat? Seht nodded. “Now my skin-suit.” Victoria reached for his buckles. She peeled it from his skin and his rich scent filled her nose. Her core began a steady, hungry pulse. First her temper went ballistic, and now this… Victoria bit her lip, determined to gain control over her body’s urges. Sweat tricked down between her breasts inside her suit. Seht took a deep breath. “Smells like your needs have finally caught up with you.” He caught her shoulders, and pressed two fingers to the pulse in her throat. “Your heart rate is up.” He pressed his hand to her brow. “Your temperature is up, too.” Victoria ducked out from under his hands, knelt and tugged the suit free of his feet, refusing to answer. She would control this, damn it… “You can’t, you know. Rahyt, the blood-rage, makes you crave both blood and sex. It’s why your body is rising in temperature. You need food and fucking.”

Terrific… Kneeling on the floor, Victoria looked up to see his erections swaying only inches from her lips. She could smell the rich perfume of his arousal. The craving to take him into her mouth made her heart thump and her hands tremble. Moisture filled her crotch. She closed her eyes in an attempt to think past the burning in her core. I didn’t feel this lust last time, after I killed those two men. Seht snorted. “Exhaustion curbed your immediate appetite for sex, but not blood. That’s why you ate nearly three whole steaks. If you recall, the lust was there when you woke up.”

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Victoria flinched. So was the need for blood, or rather the smell of it. She took a breath to keep her groan from escaping. I have to control this… “You are a prime. Most never learn to control their sexual appetite.” He sighed. “Take off your suit. I have to do something about your needs before I take you near the others.” Victoria’s blood surged with carnal anticipation. She stood and her hands flew to her suit’s buckles. She deliberately slowed her motions. She would not let her appetite control her actions. I can control myself around others. Seht walked over to the chest on the right. “If you get desperate enough, you will spread for anyone.” Victoria let her growl escape. I will not have sex with anyone but you, damn it. And

Ravnos. Seht chuckled. “If you are left too long, you won’t be able to stop yourself. I’ve seen prime males kneel to another male just to gain relief from their need.”

We’ll just see about that. She pulled off her boots then turned around with her suit in her hand. I can take care of my own needs if it gets that bad. Seht snorted. “I wouldn’t try it. Masturbation only makes it worse.” He pulled a small tube from the top drawer of the chest and squirted gel onto his palm. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of letting you go that long.” He rubbed the gel on both cocks. Victoria found herself fascinated with the view of his hands stroking his firm lengths. Seht turned and reached back into the drawer. He pulled out a long slender wand with a broad flat end. He swung the wand. It whistled through the air with vicious intent. He turned to face her and smiled. “Come over here and put your hands on the top of this chest.” Victoria eyes the wand with trepidation. Is that a whip? “Yes.” Seht swatted his palm. The whip gave out a sharp slap. “It won’t cut your skin, or even hurt all that much.” Victoria inched toward him and swallowed hard. You’re going to beat me? “Then I’m going to fuck you.” He lifted his chin, eyeing her hesitant steps. “If you don’t get over here right now, I’ll bite you first and then it will hurt.” Victoria dropped her suit on the floor and moved. She set her hands on the chest. The top was about even with her breasts. Seht positioned her hands with her forearms resting outstretched on the top, then had her stand further back. “Keep your head down and your ass up.” He grabbed the braid at the back of her neck, pressing her down against the chest. Victoria closed her eyes. What the hell did I do to deserve this? “Oh, lots of little things, but the truth is, I’ve been wanting a chance to properly crop your ass since I had you across my lap for the other spanking.”

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Victoria stilled. What? She heard a whistle. The sharp retort of a slap startled her. Fire blazed across her left butt-cheek. Bloody Fate! She clamped her jaw and writhed. Seht’s hand in her hair kept her firmly in place. A fresh spat of warm moisture pooled and slid down her thighs. What the hell? Seht chuckled. “You’re dripping.” Victoria clenched her hands on the top of the trunk. I noticed. “Relax, it’s normal. Pain and pleasure are linked, especially in a rehkyt.”

You’re saying that I want to be beaten? The crop whistled again. The slap seemed louder. Fire traced across her other ass cheek. A gasp exploded from her lips. Ow, shit… Her core clenched with alarming strength, and she groaned. The pain wasn’t really all that bad, but her body’s sexual response to it caught her completely off guard. Her body did want to be beaten… and fucked. “Correct. Now relax and enjoy your beating.”

Enjoy it? Victoria shook her head. That is not normal! No one enjoys pain!@ Whistle…crack! Fire traced across the opposite cheek. She choked and writhed from the ravenous need that coiled within her. Seht snorted. “You do…”

Whistle…crack! Burn… She gasped then arched her back. Her core clenched hard. A moan escaped her lips. “You are designed…”

Whistle…crack! Burn… She gasped and squeezed her thighs together, but the pulsing, clenching ache refused to be relieved. A small whimper escaped. “To need…”

Whistle…crack! Burn… Her core throbbed, a mouth begging to be filled. She couldn’t stop the soft sounds of distress that surged from her throat. “Pain and sex.” A torrent of sharp blows fell so fast she couldn’t count them. Lines of fire erupted all over her back, her ass and her thighs. The ache in her core became unbearable. She screamed. Fuck me, damn you! “That’s what I wanted to hear.” His hand swept across the red welts he’d made. Victoria arched, gasping with hunger. He groaned. “You have no idea how beautiful you are with the mark of my whip on your skin.” Victoria shoved back from the trunk. Fuck me! I can’t take this… Seht shoved her back onto the trunk, and then wrapped his arm around her, pressing against her spine. He tugged her head back by the grip in her hair. “I’ll fuck you when I’m

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damn good and ready, pet.” His hot mouth opened against her throat and his tongue lapped over the pulse. Victoria gasped in his hold. His rigid erections felt hot against her spine even as his hips felt cool against her burning butt. His tongue felt hot against her pulse. Whimpers escaped from her throat. Please, please… He growled and his teeth scored her lightly. She stilled in alarm. If he bit her, her violent need would only increase. He drew back and kissed her throat. “When I am ready.” He slid his hand down her belly then delved lower to cup her mons. His finger explored her damp and ready flesh. Victoria moaned, and bucked in his palm, delirious with raging urgency. He tugged her away from the chest and released her. “Get down on the floor, on your back and spread.” Victoria dropped to the floor and pulled up her knees, spreading wide. The stinging up and down her back as she lay on the rug whetted her appetite. She lifted her hips in invitation under his hot blue gaze. “Good pet.” He knelt between her splayed thighs then leaned over her. Both of his erections jutted rigidly and curved toward his belly, the heads purple and engorged with intent. He licked his lips. “Put your hands above your head.” Victoria raised her hands. “Keep them there.” A shimmer went through her augmentation. Huh? Victoria wiggled her fingers, but her hands refused to budge. Damn it, what…? Seht leaned closer and covered her lips with his. His tongue surged into her mouth and took possession. She moaned, parrying his tongue with her own. He pulled back, and grinned. He lifted her thighs over his arms, and pulled. Victoria gasped, startled. Stretched tight by her immovable hands, she arched, her backside lifting from the floor. His primary cock nudged the folds of her cunt, pressing hard for entry. “Now I fuck you.” She writhed against his firm heat and he slid within. They both groaned. His secondary cock pressed against the tight rose of her anus. “Open for me.” Victoria pushed outward to receive him. She gasped as he stretched her tight muscles and forged deep. He groaned. “You have a nice, tight, fuckable ass.”

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Victoria twisted and groaned. Delicious fullness… Stretched taut, filled with cock, and desperate for a hard ride, she panted in anticipation. He pulled back, and thrust. Exquisite possession, fierce fullness… Fate, yes! Breath exploded from her lips and she bucked, eagerly. More! He pulled back and thrust with power, retreated, then thrust again, and again… She gasped and moaned in counterpoint to his harsh grunts. The staccato sound of flesh striking flesh became louder as his strokes increased in speed. Orgasm closed in on her fast, coiling tight and hungry in her core. She felt the swelling at the base of his cocks, pushing against her tender openings. She shuddered, wanting to be filled with his cum… Seht gasped and pulled completely out of her. He panted harshly. His pupils were narrowed to feline slits of blue flame and his lips were pulled back from his long teeth. “Get in the shower. Now.” Her hands were suddenly free. “Go!” The hair rose on the back of her neck. She bolted.

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Chapter 26 Victoria shoved the facility door open and the light came on. She pulled the sliding door to the shower open and took a step onto the cool tiles. Her hair jerked her to a halt. She yelped in surprise. Seht growled in her ear. “Don’t resist, just do as I tell you.” She shivered in his grip. Yes, ‘Syr. He used her hair to push her further into the shower and shove her down. “On the floor, down on your elbows with your ass up.” She dropped to her knees and leaned down on her elbows. She was too afraid, and too excited, to argue. He dropped to his knees behind her. “Spread your knees, and keep your head off the tile.” She spread her knees and felt him grab her hips. His primary cock pushed for entry into her ass. She groaned and opened for him. “Spawn of Chaos, your ass is tight!” He slowly thrust his larger cock into her ass, stretching the narrow channel, and then pulled back without sinking his full length into her. He panted, and then thrust, again without burying his full length. She whimpered in frustration; it wasn’t enough. His lower cock barely made it into her aching cunt. She could feel the head slipping in, and then slipping right back out. She groaned and pushed back for more. Damn it; fuck me! His hand cracked loudly on her ass. “Hold still.” She hissed more in surprise and frustration than pain.

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His shallow thrusts became faster and deeper, reaming her and finally fucking her deep enough to feel his lower knot striking her clit with each thrust. She fought to hold still as climax boiled in her belly. Seht’s voice lashed out at her. “Cum now!” Climax rose in a sudden fierce tidal wave. She gasped and her breath stopped. Glittering thunderous ecstasy roared through her. She cried out in release, shuddering with tremors of fiery delight. Seht jerked himself free of her body and stood. She moaned and trembled with tiny aftershocks of orgasm, barely able to think. He gasped, then groaned. Hot wetness spattered her ass and streamed down her thighs as rope after rope of his cum spilled on her from both cocks. The shower filled with the scent of his musk. She writhed in the delicious scent. He gasped for breath. “Stay there, and keep your head off the floor.” He groaned. Hot liquid sprayed on her upraised ass and spread cunt. It ran down her thighs, all down her back into her hair, across her shoulders and down her arms, covering everything but her face. In a matter of moments, she was soaked. The tiles under her streamed with golden liquid. The scent of male urine filled the shower. She gasped. He was peeing on her! “Yes…” His growl rumbled in the shower. “I am soaking you in my piss.” The streams of hot urine stopped. He sighed. “All right, you can get up.” She rose to her feet on trembling legs. Shock froze her where she stood. He’d pissed all over her. Seht activated the shower. Victoria reached for the water. Seht grabbed her arm and shoved her against the wall. He pressed his body hard against hers, trapping her. “Who is your master right here, right now, rehkyt?” She dodged his stare, and shivered hard. You, ‘Syr. Her heart ached in her chest. He curled his fingers through the front of her chain collar, and tugged. His hot blue gaze speared her. “I claim you by right of conquest as mine; my property, my pet, and my slave. Do you yield to my claim?” Victoria’s eyes swam with sudden inexplicable tears. Yes, ‘Syr. He took her mouth in a hungry kiss. I will take such good care of you. She could barely breathe past the elation and despair knotted around her heart. Elation at being wanted for more than just her skills, and despair from a loss she couldn’t fathom. The tears spilled free from her eyes. Seht curled his arms around her, and held her against him. “Go ahead and cry, pet.” His lips brushed her brow. “It’s just part of the process; you’ll be fine in a minute.”

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She wrapped her arms around his neck and choked on her sobs. I do love you, you and

Ravnos. “I know, I know, sweet pet.” He pulled her under the warm spray and bathed her with exquisite care. Victoria recovered her sense of self as soon as the water stopped. She turned sharply to look at Seht. You pissed on me! Seht snorted. “I see that your temper’s back to normal, and yes, I did. It’s part of the ritual of claiming. It’s what Ravnos should have done the night we collared you with the shen.” He shoved her from the shower. Victoria shivered violently. That’s disgusting! Seht jerked her around to face him. “No, it’s male. Males of most species piss to mark their territory, their property. You’re my property, so I pissed on you. Do you challenge my claim on you?” Victoria discovered that she couldn’t look him in the eye. No, ‘Syr. “Good.” He grinned. “Tonight, you sleep with my cocks shoved hard up in your tight body.” Victoria raised a doubtful brow. Is this more claiming shit? Seht pressed a quick kiss to her brow. “It’s how skeldhi normally sleep. Ravnos has kept me from sleeping properly since I boarded. I intend to make up for it tonight.” Victoria winced. Terrific.

***** Seht guided her out of the facility to the round table. “Stand here, I need to find something for you to wear for the banquet.” He walked over to his trunk and pulled open a few drawers. Victoria glanced at the table and noticed a coiled chain with a leather loop at the end. Is

that a leash? “Ah, this ought to do.” Seht pulled out a short robe in shimmering black with a stylized serpent embroidered in bold blue and vivid scarlet across the back and set it on top of the trunk. He reached back into the drawer and pulled out a deep red sash. He pulled another drawer open and rummaged. Victoria raised a brow. I’m coming with you? You’re not going to leave me with the

enforcers? Seht turned with a brush in his hand and trapped her gaze. “Do you want me to leave you with them?” Victoria averted her eyes. No. Absolutely not!

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“Then don’t make suggestions.” He came back to the table and sat in one of the padded chairs. “Turn around and hold still, I’m going to brush your hair.” In a matter of minutes, Seht had her long mane brushed and tightly bound into a long silky tail that swung at her waist. Victoria glanced back at him. Not a braid? “I want the others to see the actual color of your hair.” He turned her around to face him. “I’m going to have your dinner delivered, and have the staff come in to dress me while you eat.” He casually reached over and picked up the chain. It rattled as it uncoiled from the table. “Lift your chin.” Victoria lifted her chin and heard a firm click. She looked at him in alarm. I’m going to

be naked with people in here? “Most rehkyt stay naked.” He smiled gently. “Relax, you’re going to be eating and they are going to be too busy attending to me to notice you.” Victoria nibbled her lip. I’m not used to being naked in front of people… He caught her chin and trapped her gaze. You cannot save your ship if they suspect that you are not what I claim you are. His eyes narrowed. “You are a rehkyt; all you have to be is obedient. Understood?” Victoria nodded. Yes, ‘Syr. She took a deep breath. It was only for today and tomorrow. She could do this. To save the Arcane, she would do whatever was needful. Seht grinned. That’s my Imperial officer. He stood with the end of her leash in his hand. “All right, new orders. Never pull the lead taut, and if I hand it to someone, you are to go with them and be obedient.” She was to obey anyone with the leash? Victoria clenched her hands at her sides. What

if they want me to…? “Fuck them?” Seht raised one silver brow. “If I give them your lead, you will do whatever they ask, without question.” Victoria’s mouth fell open. I will not let just anyone fuck me! Seht caught her face in his hands. Victoria, do not give them an excuse to take you from

me. I may not be able to get you back. Victoria stilled. They could take me? Seht nodded. It is in your best interest to be very obedient. If you prove too difficult to control, they will impound you, and subject you to a thorough physical exam to see what the problem is. Their medics will very quickly discover that your process was incomplete and they will immediately rectify the situation. Once you are given the last dose, you can kiss any chance of humanity goodbye. If they even suspect that I missed the last dose deliberately, they could take you. His eyes narrowed. “Have I made myself very clear?” Victoria sucked in a sharp breath. Bloody fucking Fate. Very clear, ‘Syr.

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Seht cupped her cheek and smiled. Personally, I’d love to keep you as you are, but Ravnos would have my head on a plate. He sighed and turned away. “Come.”

***** Victoria glanced at the decorative ring bolted to the wall where her leash was attached, then stared down at the crystal bowl of cubed and steaming meat sitting on the mat at her knees. A neatly folded napkin and spoon lay by the bowl. She could deal with the kneeling on the floor, but eating off the floor was another thing entirely. She wasn’t an animal, damn it! She shot Seht a look full of venom. You did this on purpose, you sadistic son of a bitch! Seht glanced over from where he lounged comfortably in a dressing gown surrounded by skeldhi servants in long robes. Three skeldhi were braiding his mass of silver hair into a thick mane interwoven with bright blue beads. Another was giving him a manicure, and still another knelt at his feet giving him a pedicure. They were, of course, all male. She had yet to see a single female skeldhi.

Sadistic? Seht smiled. For that bit of disrespect, you can eat without your hands. Victoria set her jaw. I’ll do without. Seht turned to look at her. All five skeldhi stopped working. “Eat, now.” Victoria felt a sizzle through her interior tech. She gasped. It was a direct order, and she had to obey. I will so get you for this…

I’ll only punish you for it. Seht turned and nodded at his attendants. The attendants went back to primping. Victoria came up on her hands and knees. The punishment might be worth it. She had to get down on her elbows to get to the damned bowl, leaving her butt in the air. Even then, she had to spread her knees wide to get down far enough. Her long tail slid over her shoulder to pool on the floor beside her. She caught a piece of meat with her tongue and her lips. At least it was cut small enough to comfortably swallow. It was actually pretty tasty too. She had eaten about half the bowl when she noticed that Seht’s attendants kept glancing at her as they worked. They’re watching me. Seht smiled. They’re all hard, too. I think they like you. Victoria licked gravy from her lips. I think I’ve had enough. Seht slanted a narrow look her way. Finish it. That’s an order. Victoria hunkered back down to her bowl. I am so going to tell Ravnos about this. Seht chuckled. You do, and he’ll make you do it just so he can see it for himself. Victoria winced. Ravnos would, too. A chime rang. One of the attendants went to the door.

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Lord Syrhus stalked in with a broad grin. “Greetings, Deshryt. Are you enjoying your stay?” The black beads in his long mane glittered in the gold lighting. His long, extravagant robes of midnight green and rich iridescent black gleamed and shimmered. Seht nodded. “The service is excellent.” He grinned. “When I can get them to pay attention to me, rather than my rehkyt.” Lord Syrhus blinked then glanced around, spotting Victoria bent over her bowl. “Great Mother…” He burst out laughing. “I’m surprised they’ve accomplished as much as they have.” He shook his head and grinned. “Even I’d have a hard time maintaining control with that display.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what she did to deserve that, but I hope she does it again; this time where I can see it.” Seht smiled innocently up at Lord Syrhus. “She’s just eating.” Lord Syrhus deliberately turned his back on Victoria. “In that position your rehkyt looks like she’s begging to be mounted.” Victoria narrowed her eyes at Seht. I am definitely going to get you. I’ll deal with the

consequences. Seht smiled. “And they still have to dress her.” Lord Syrhus glanced over his shoulder at Victoria. “Do they know you don’t intend to share?” Seht pursed his lips and raised his brows at Lord Syrhus. “They do now.” All five of the attendants shot a hard look at Seht. He raised a brow and they fell back to work, but they were clearly unhappy. Lord Syrhus groaned. “I forgot how much you like torturing everyone around you. I have a feeling that the seysehn rehkyt are going to get a lot of use while you, and that prime of yours are here. I better make arrangements to open up the ecstasy suite.” Seht smiled broadly. “Good idea.” He glanced at his attendants. “I know a few skeldhi that are going to need servicing. It might also be a good idea to release them from their duties, until their needs can be attended to.” The attendants passed Seht looks of surprise and gratitude. Lord Syrhus gave Seht a mocking frown. “Surely you wouldn’t be manipulating me just to make your attendants grateful?” Seht’s eyes widened with innocence. “Would I do something like that, Atehf?” Lord Syrhus shook his head and grinned. “Wretch.” Victoria sat back on her heels. Her bowl was finally empty. “I’d like to make an impression on the gathering,” Lord Syrhus continued. “Would you be so kind as to join my party in procession to the banquet? Set raised his brow. “Just me, Atehf?”

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Lord Syrhus shook his head. “Ah, no. I’ve asked the other lords as well. They, of course, agreed.” “Of course.” Seht nodded and smiled, but suspicion colored his thoughts. “I’m honored to be part of your procession.” “Excellent.” Lord Syrhus grinned, showing his long teeth. “I will expect you in my salon as soon as you are…” He glanced over at Victoria. “Both ready.” Victoria picked up her napkin and blotted her lips. According to the impression coming through her link to him, Seht was not honored; he was pissed as hell. Apparently he had some kind of plan that Lord Syrhus was interfering with.

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Chapter 27 The attendants unfastened Victoria’s lead from the wall and led her to the middle of the room where they had her stand with her arms outspread. Seht smiled, lounging comfortably in a plush chair. He looked magnificent with his hair brushed and thick with thousands of tiny braids interwoven with beads that matched his heart-of-flame blue eyes. His court robes had been pressed and arranged in flowing layers of midnight blue and cobalt blue over a floor-length black kilt. A decorative serpent pattern was woven and brilliantly embroidered into the heavy silks. He crossed one leg negligently over the other, then folded his hands over his knee, letting his long sleeves drape gracefully over the arms of the chair. He grinned as the attendants began smoothing a richly scented cream into Victoria’s skin. Don’t panic, they have permission to touch. Warm palms closed enthusiastically on her breasts. Her nipples rose under their ministrations. Victoria closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, holding on to her temper with grim determination. How much permission? Seht chuckled. I told them that they couldn’t fuck you, but they could make you cum if

they liked. Victoria’s eyes snapped open. What! Hands delved between her thighs. She clenched her hands and a growl rumbled in her throat. All five attendants jumped back and looked over at Seht. “No biting.” Seht grinned broadly. “Keep your arms and feet in those positions, pet.” Victoria’s augmentation shimmered. She gasped and twisted sharply, but her arms and her feet refused to move. “Gentlemen, she’s yours to play with.” Seht waved his hand. Relax and enjoy, Victoria,

they only get to use their hands.

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The five skeldhi came at her with hands outstretched and lascivious grins on their faces. They surrounded her and overwhelmed her with gentle strokes and bold touches. Fingers trailed down her spine and stroked her belly, creating visible shivers that brought smiles. Victoria writhed under their enthusiastic and thorough hands, but it only seemed to encourage them to boldness. The scent of their arousal, and the knowledge that she had made every one of them hard, was insidiously intoxicating. Heat and liquid excitement pulsed in her core. She was most definitely getting excited despite her best intentions. How

could you do this to me? Seht shrugged. You keep giving me such good ideas, pet. How can I resist? Me? Victoria shivered. Fingers pinched and tugged at her nipples, making delicious jolts of pleasure, while other hands squeezed and kneaded the fullness of her breasts. She gasped as her thighs and ass were ruthlessly massaged and explored. Two fingers burrowed into her core to curl and flick expertly within. Another finger slathered in cream slid down the seam of her butt then insinuated itself into her ass, to begin a slow, decadent pumping. She gasped as fire streaked up her spine. Seht nodded. I saw how you watched them as they administered to me. Your little mind

was writhing with interesting and depraved thoughts. I thought I’d indulge one or two. Victoria whimpered as orgasm threatened to overtake her. That’s not fair! Fingers pinched her nipples at just the right moment. She sucked in a sharp breath and cried out her climax. Satisfied smiles bloomed across five male faces. Seht chuckled. It sounds perfectly fair to me. Or should I say ‘sounded’?

***** The attendants painted the nails on her hands and feet deep ruby, and delicately dusted her eyelids with color. Her hair was released, brushed, woven into thousands of tiny braids that winked with ruby beads and then restrained back into its tail, so that it lay in a thick mane down her back. The short silk robe in shimmering black was draped over her, then crossed over her breasts, and bound at her waist by a broad red sash. Her leather boots were buckled up her thighs, coming within inches of the robe’s short hem. Intimate and exquisite touches accompanied everything they did. They seemed to find her scarlet nipples fascinating and kept them tugged to aching hardness. Primped, painted, adorned, and dressed, Victoria was finally released from her restraints, thoroughly wrung out from almost an hour’s worth of repeated orgasms. She could barely stand. Seht thanked the five sweaty attendants warmly. They left with speed.

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Seht chuckled. “They’re off to work out their frustrations on the seysehn rehkyt. You really got them worked up. They’re probably ruined for duties for the rest of the night.” He shook his head. “If the ecstasy suite isn’t ready, there’s going to be a very entertaining view in the main hall.” Victoria panted where she stood. Me? I got them worked up? Seht strode to her in a whisper of silk and murderously expensive cologne. His arm closed hard around her waist, pulling her snugly against him. He cupped her face. “Oh yes. Prime females are known for their passionate natures, and all they could do was touch.” His lips covered hers in a hungry kiss that stole her breath. Victoria moaned into his mouth. He was hard and firm against her belly. She pulled back and grinned. Liked the show, did you? Seht leisurely stroked her lips with his tongue. I’d be in you and tied right now if we

didn’t have other things to accomplish first. She heard the jingle of chain then the sharp click as he fastened the lead to her collar. She flinched. Is that really necessary? Seht coiled the lead in his hand and smiled. “No, not really, but I love your flinching reaction to it.”

What? Victoria jerked back, but he held her tight against him. Her hands splayed on the soft silk covering his hard breast. Seht snorted and tapped her nose with a finger. “You never even blinked when I set the shen on you, but as soon as I put the chain around your pretty throat you gave me a response.” Victoria looked sharply away, determined to keep her feelings about the chain private. Seht tugged lightly on her chain. “So, it’s the chain that makes you feel like a proper slave. How interesting.” He raised a silver brow. “I wonder what would happen if I bound you tight, in nothing but chains?” Victoria glared from the corner of her eye. You are enjoying the hell out of this. Seht grinned broadly enough to show his long teeth. “Yes, yes I am.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Alas, it’s time to go. We’re late as it is.”

***** They left the suite and made their way back to Lord Syrhus’s salon with Victoria following at Seht’s heels through the hallways. More subdued lighting, more exquisitely placed art… Victoria was not exactly looking forward to being in the company of all the skeldhi lords present on the station. She knew Lord Syrhus, and had met the Mahfeht’syr Ehru, the master-enforcer, but there were two more she didn’t know. Seht was the fifth skeldhi lord.

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Lord Syrhus’s salon was full to overflowing with silk-robed dignitaries drinking from crystal glasses and black-suited enforcers hovering behind them. Golden-skinned seysehn rehkyt from every conceivable human race lounged under chairs and tables or knelt by knees, wearing slender gold chain leads, expensive jewelry and nothing else. All of them had rings and jewels dangling from their nipples and nether parts. The males wore odd harnesses around their privates to hold them firmly upright. Lord Syrhus was deep in conversation with another skeldhi in autumn gold robes. The delicate leads to a pair of kneeling rehkyt were tucked into Syrhus’s sash. Their upswept hair was so golden a blonde it was nearly the same color as their skin. They were dripping with bright green gemstones, and nothing else. Victoria schooled her expression to cool disinterest, but it was hard, especially when it looked like she was the only rehkyt in the room actually wearing clothing. Seht leaned slightly toward her and raised his chin. Actually you’re not. Mahfeht’syr

Ehru brought his prime stud. He’s kneeling in the far corner away from the females. Victoria followed the line of his chin. On the very far side she could see the Mahfeht’syr in conversation with another skeldhi in snug black leathers. Hunched and kneeling against the wall with his head down was an impressively muscled, golden-skinned male clad in heavy boots and a leather kilt. His long pitch-black hair was bound back in a neat tail. A broad-shouldered and muscular skeldhi wearing sleeveless studded leather and heavy arm guards lounged up against the wall next to him, with his arms folded. The male’s chain was wrapped around his wrist. The prime male looked up sharply, raising his nose as though he’d caught scent of something interesting. His face was incredibly handsome, but his expression was utterly feral, as though his humanity had been stripped away, leaving nothing but a hungry beast. Victoria slowly stepped behind Seht to keep out of the male’s view. There was something unnerving about him. Seht frowned. It looks like his stud hasn’t been allowed to mount in a while. That could mean trouble. If even one of these females is ovulating, that nehkyx holding his lead is going to have his hands full. I don’t know why Mahfeht’syr Ehru thought to leave his male in this state, but I have my suspicions. Victoria glanced up at Seht. Is that what’s wrong with him? He needs to get laid? Seht sighed. Keep very far away from that rehkyt. Yes, ‘Syr! Victoria bit her lip. She had a dark suspicion that this was going to be a very long and harrowing night. Seht was finally noticed and invited into the gathering. He was the last lord to arrive. Within minutes, Lord Syrhus gathered everyone into a semblance of a procession and they trooped out into the halls.

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Victoria stayed on Seht’s heel. They marched very close to Lord Syrhus’s immediate party near the head of the line. Mahfeht’syr Ehru was behind them, and so was his rehkyt stud. She utterly refused to look over her shoulder to see. If he spotted her, he spotted her, but she was not about to draw his attention by looking for him. The long line of processing skeldhi reached the private rail station with impressive speed. A long serpentine tram waited, humming, with its doors open, empty of passengers. The guards swarmed the train, sweeping for intruders and incendiary devices. Earcoms crackled as the guards proclaimed it safe. The entire laughing collection of skeldhi lords, guards, staff and leashed rehkyt boarded. Seht took a seat near Syrhus’s party, by a tall, slender skeldhi garbed in gold robes, and quickly engaged him in conversation. Victoria dropped to her knee, grateful to be back out of sight. Seht pressed her against his knee and she took that as an invitation to set her chin on his thigh. Seht’s hand absently and soothingly stroked her head. The exertions of the last hour suddenly caught up with her. She sighed and closed her eyes, for just a minute…

***** “Are you sure that’s a prime?” Victoria jerked awake. She whipped around to see Mahfeht’syr Ehru’s nehkyx trainer standing over her. Her first thought was that he was a big ugly bastard at close range. His face was craggy and set in vicious lines. His narrow eyes were bright yellow, and a silver ring pierced his right brow. His white mane was severely braided into a single tail, revealing sharply pointed ears with notches cut in the bottom curve of each. He wasn’t just a trainer; he was mahfdhyt, an enforcer, also. Her second thought was to look for the brute male prime he’d been holding. The male was nowhere in sight. She released a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. Seht raised a cool brow. “Primes are denoted by nature, not size, Nehkyx Bhenhu.” The nehkyx bowed deeply. “My pardon, Deshryt.” He smiled. “But she was sound asleep.” Seht smiled. “Because I wanted her asleep, a’syr. I caught her as a seysaht, for service. That she went prime came as a complete surprise.”

Nehkyx Bhenhu raised his brow. The silver ring winked in its arch. “Service?” Seht smiled. “She’s a fully trained pilot. Good, too.” Victoria warmed under Seht’s praise and set her chin back on his thigh. The nehkyx and his stud could go screw themselves. “What kind of pilot?”

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Victoria stilled. Her thoughts raced. How to answer his question without giving everything away…ah! I’m certified for atmosphere and space flight. I served as a fighter pilot

for about half a term before they tapped me for one of the capitol ships. Seht sent her a small bolt of gratitude. “Fighter and atmosphere flight.” “I see…” The train shuddered under them. Breaks squealed. Seht looked up at Nehkyx Bhenhu. “It appears that we have reached our destination. If you will excuse me, I’m with Atehf Syrhus’s party.”

Nehkyx Bhenhu bowed, glancing at Victoria. “Until later, Deshryt.” They trooped out of the rail station and into the city proper. Rifle-bearing mahfdhyt encircled and guarded the entire procession as they strode for city’s command center, the tallest tower in Mordred station. The banquet was being held at the very top. Victoria looked around with interest. For a mercenary city, it was pretty damned impressive, and clearly designed by the mercenaries that ran it. Architectural styles were thrown together seemingly at random. It looked as though the mercenaries had picked up whole buildings from other worlds, then brought them here to make their city, rather than design it from scratch. Taste was not even a consideration; colors and styles clashed violently. At the same time, everything was of prime quality, and scrupulously clean. The biosphere that enclosed the city was big enough to have clouds floating in its atmosphere. She wondered if it actually rained on occasion. Seht glanced at her with a slight smile. Oh, it rains, right on schedule, too. Victoria didn’t have time to puzzle over that; they had arrived. The skeldhi guards closed in tight as they trooped through the towering main doors. The party was jostled close together as other visiting parties joined theirs in the march to the lifts that would take them to the top of the tower. Seht grabbed Victoria by the arm and pulled her close. Victoria grabbed onto his sleeve in return. She couldn’t see a thing. Everybody towered over her. The skeldhi waited, letting the other guests use the lifts. The guards finally got in and blockaded the entire row of eight. Lord Syrhus entered a lift with his personal guards, a handful of staff and his pair of golden seysehn rehkyt. He gestured for Seht to join him. Seht sighed. Damn Syrhus to hell and gone, I think he’s deliberately keeping me under his eye. He entered the lift and took a place against the lift’s back wall. He pulled Victoria back against him. His lips closed on her throat and his tongue made wet circles. Remember

our first time? When I took you in the lift?

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Visceral memories of his hard shafts pumping into her while she was suspended in his arms, and Ravnos’s, stabbed straight to her core. Her nipples abruptly hardened and ached. She raised her chin to give him better access to her throat. Victoria felt his teeth lightly score her throat, and shivered. His hands slid into the top of her robe and he cupped her breasts. Your nipples are hard.

Are you wet? Victoria felt a smile curve her lips. She was wet all right. Her core suddenly throbbed with damp heat. Her mind flooded with violent hunger for his cocks jammed into her body. She released a soft moan and pressed back against him, rubbing against the erections she could feel under his robes. Syrhus turned to look back at them. “What are you…?” He blinked, then grinned. “Didn’t you get enough?” Seht actually pouted. “It was a long flight, Atehf, and it is not safe to distract the pilot.” Lord Syrhus shook his head. “Can’t you wait until we are at least out of the lift?” Seht presented him with a lascivious grin. “Do I have to?” Lord Syrhus raised his brow. “Can you wait until I’m out of the lift?” Seht abruptly straightened and sighed dramatically. “Very well, then. I will wait.” Victoria turned to face Seht and rubbed her aching nipples against his chest. Seht raised a brow. “However, I don’t think she can.” Lord Syrhus’s rehkyt watched Victoria with fascination. One of them looked up at her master and licked her lips. Lord Syrhus sighed, and stared down at his rehkyt. “Don’t get any ideas, at least not yet.” He frowned at Seht. “See what you started?” The bell rang and the doors opened. Lord Syrhus sighed, “Finally!” His guards exited, then everyone else trooped out. Seht leaned over and casually hit the door close button. “Seht!” Lord Syrhus shouted through the closing door. “What do you think you’re doing?” Seht grinned. “Taking your suggestion!” The door closed.

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Chapter 28 Victoria reeled as her sensual haze suddenly evaporated. What the hell was I doing? Her body hummed with sexual tension, but the ravenous need that had consumed her mind had disappeared. She suddenly remembered where she’d felt that mind-numbing need before. Did you use that damn sex command from the shen on me? “Yes.” Seht pulled a card key from inside his robes and slid it across the reader at the base of the controls. “I needed a good excuse to stay on the lift.” He raised a brow. “Do you want to fight about it?” Victoria turned away from his hot stare. You could have warned me. “This is the stationmaster, what do you want?” The voice over the intercom was bored, sarcastic, and electronic. “Hello, Stationmaster, this is Seht. Captain Ravnos sends his greetings. Can I come down for a chat?” “Seht? Hey, how are you? I detect two bodies. Is that misbegotten reprobate with you?” Seht shook his head. “Sorry, Stationmaster, you know he can’t visit with Moribund present.” An electronic sigh sounded over the intercom. “Yeah, I know. So who’s the other guy?” “Someone I’d like you meet.” Seht smiled at Victoria. “I think you’ll find her very interesting.” “Her?” The stationmaster’s interest traveled though the intercom. Victoria frowned at Seht. What are you up to now? Seht ignored her. “Can we come down for a chat?” “With a ‘her’? Are you going to get freaky for me?” Victoria’s brows shot up. Get freaky? What the hell did that mean?

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Seht grinned. “Maybe.” “Oh, hell yeah, come on down!” The back wall of the elevator abruptly slid to the side. Victoria jumped away from the yawning black tunnel that was revealed. A strong wind swirled into the lift, blowing their robes and beaded hair. The stationmaster’s voice crackled over the intercom. “You know the routine.” Seht clenched his jaw. “I do indeed. Thank you.” The stationmaster released an electronic cackle. “I’ll be waiting for you.” Seht moved to the open door and held out his arms. “Come to me.” Victoria moved through the strong wind and was caught by Seht. He unsnapped her lead, and shoved it in his belt. “You won’t be needing this where we’re going.” He closed his arms around her in a vise grip. She could feel his heart hammering in his chest. She stared up at him. Now what? Seht smiled grimly. “We jump.” Victoria gasped. What? Seht leaped into the yawning pit, carrying Victoria with him.

***** They fell. Victoria wrapped her arm and legs around Seht, holding on with every ounce of strength in her augmented limbs, her face pressed into his whipping robes. He held her just as tightly, his face pressed into her throat. His heart pounded against her cheek. He was clearly not thrilled about the fall either. And they fell. And they continued to fall. Victoria’s panicked fear receded to a low state of alarm. We’re falling a really long way. She drew careful breaths; the wind was incredible. Is there a bottom to this thing?

We’ll never see it. Seht shifted his grip to hold her more securely in his arms. The stationmaster is controlling our speed with updraft. Updraft? Victoria wiggled into a more comfortable position. Couldn’t we have used the lift? A spike of amusement shimmered through the link. If we wanted to be on it for a few hours, yes. This is the fastest way down. The stationmaster is located at the very heart of the city, level zero.

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And we were at the top of the tallest tower? Victoria accessed her files on the station and calculated the distance they had to cover to go from that height to the station’s heart. It was measured in miles. Bloody Fate… Light was a bare glimmer below them. It abruptly became a glaring window right in front of them. They hovered before the open door, suspended by the fierce wind. With practiced ease, Seht reached out and grabbed the bar on one side of the open doorway. He pulled them into what looked like an atmospheric airlock scarred and stained with extreme age. According to Victoria’s files, the mercenaries had bought the station a very long time ago, and built upon what they had found, but the station was old when they got it. Once upon a time, this airlock had opened onto space. Victoria’s feet hit the floor and her knees wobbled. That was one scary ride. Let’s not do

that again. But you like to be scared. Seht tugged his and Victoria’s robes back into order. And we still have to leave. Victoria winced. The same way? She dug her fingers into her windblown hair. I’ll live with the hours in the lift! Seht tugged at his own tangled mane. It’s an hour’s walk up through the station’s subbasements just to get to the closest cargo lift. Victoria groaned. Seht snorted. Exactly. He waved a finger at her. “Be good, and be nice.” His eyes narrowed. The stationmaster has the codes to get your Arcane and allow our ship to escape.

Do nothing to upset him. Victoria nodded. Yes, ‘Syr. Seht shook back his mane and hit the glowing green button by the interior blast door. “Knock, knock, Stationmaster. Can we come in?” He smiled at Victoria. Oh, and he’s a

pervert. Victoria jolted. A what? The antique blast door rolled open into the wall on the right. The interior yawned black with millions of tiny winking lights, like the reflected eyes of vermin. The intercom crackled. “Hi, Seht! Welcome to my humble abode.” A crackling hum started and antique lighting bloomed. The room was small and cramped with massive state-of-the-art servers and aged databanks jammed cheek to jowl. Hoses, wires and conduits snaked across the low ceiling, through the walls, through the servers and across the floor. Rust, scrapes and watermarks stained the cheaply tiled floor. There was not one speck of dust.

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The wall on the far right was entirely opaque glass. Framed in winking lights was the shadow of someone reclining in an antique pilot’s chair surrounded and snarled among coils of tubing and wires. The sound of mechanical breathing whispered from behind the glass. The figure did not move. Victoria peered at it. Who’s that?

That is the stationmaster’s body. Seht nodded at the glass. The stationmaster dates back to when they hardwired living minds directly into the ships, when sentience drives were first made. That was a really long time ago. Victoria frowned. That can’t be his original body; he’s far too old to still be alive! It’s not; it’s his current body. Seht shook his head. He replaces it when they become too old to function properly. Victoria frowned. But with the advances in sentience and replication, why does he need a body at all? Seht shrugged. He doesn’t, but he’s so used to having one, he keeps replacing it. Victoria looked up at Seht. Where does he get his replacement bodies? Seht snorted. Let me put it this way: never, ever visit the stationmaster alone. Victoria shuddered. “What have we here?” The stationmaster’s masculine voice purred from all around. “Oh look, a little girl.” A powerful electronic presence pressed insinuating fingers at Victoria’s accesses. Her piloting array activated. Alarm raced through her system. Someone was trying to hack in to her controls. She slammed up her firewall defenses and wrapped her access codes in encryption. She grabbed Seht around the waist and shook. Get me out of here! Seht caught her arms and pulled her back to look at her. What’s wrong? Victoria shivered. Someone is trying to break into my mind! I have my defenses up, but

it’s really, really strong. The presence increased in power. It slithered around her firewalls looking for a chink in her protection, poking at her with virus-laden breaker codes. She trembled, clutching at him. Seht, please, get me out of here? Seht pulled her close then lifted his head to stare at the chair behind the glass. “Shame on you, Stationmaster! You’ve frightened her. I bring you a gift and you try to take it before I’ve even had a chance to show it to you?” “A gift?” The presence eased back from Victoria’s mind. She panted in relief. It was still there, ready to invade the moment she let her guard down, but it wasn’t actively grabbing for her.

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Seht turned back toward the airlock. “If this is how you treat your guests and their gifts, I may as well go…” “No! Don’t go! Please?” Agitated static crackled around them. “Look, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again. I’ll be good, I swear!” Seht turned back to the glass wall. “Do I have your word that you’ll be good? Do I have your word that you won’t take more than I am willing to give?” “Is she pretty? Will you show her to me?” “I want your word, Stationmaster.” “You have my word. I won’t try to hack in.” A sigh traveled through the intercom. “Can I see her now? Really see her? Is she sexy?” “Thank you.” Seht nodded. “And she’s a skeldhi rehkyt. Absolutely stunning, and genetically designed to sexual performance.” “Sexual performance…” The stationmaster rolled the words around the room. “Really? Show me?” Victoria lifted her head from Seht’s chest. Seht, what are you up to now?

Don’t fight; just obey. Seht gently turned her around to face the databanks. “Can you see her?” Holographic and video monitors lit up everywhere. Victoria’s image bloomed across them from hundreds of different angles. “Wow, she’s really, really pretty… sexy, sexy, sexy girl…” “Would you like to see more of her?” “Yes please! Show me the goods!” “Very well…” Seht reached around Victoria and unknotted her sash. Victoria grabbed his hands. What are you doing?

Do you want to save the Arcane? Seht twisted from her hold and continued to unravel her sash. Victoria turned to look up at him. Yes, of course.

Then don’t fight me. He pulled the sash free. His hands slid into her robe and pushed it from her shoulders, revealing her golden breasts, her gently curving belly and her hairless mons. He draped the robe over his arm. “What do you think?” “Wow, oh wow…” Enthusiastic sounds of appreciation traveled though dozens of hidden speakers. “That hair, those eyes, those tits, a completely hairless pussy… Incredible!” Victoria bit her lip. She was still trembling with fear, but his appreciation seemed sincere. “Are her nipples and her hair really that red?” “They are exactly as red as they look.” Seht cupped her breasts and tugged on her nipples. I think he likes you.

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Sharp, fear-edged pleasure stabbed into her core. Victoria arched under his fingers. Lust uncoiled and simmered. She leaned back against him and sucked in a breath. Moisture slithered down her thighs. “Turn her around! I want to see her ass!” Seht gently turned Victoria around. “Bend over pet, and spread; let him see the rest of you.” Victoria’s cheeks warmed ferociously, but she did as asked. “Red, red, red… Holy Mother of God! Her pussy is red too! And she’s really real?” “She’s real.” Seht grinned ferally. “And she’s equipped with nav-pilot augmentation.” Static crackled though the intercom. “Is that so?” Seht nodded. “I seem to remember you being interested in Ravnos’s array.” “Yeah, I do too… What exactly are you offering, Seht?” Seht smiled in the direction of the body behind the glass. “Tell me, Stationmaster, when was the last time you were well and truly fucked? Or are you still making do with stale movies and old memories?” Victoria jerked upright and stared. He was not offering what she thought he was offering… was he? “Are you offering me a ride?” Seht nodded. “With her nav-piloting array you should be able to feel everything she feels, and I’m very good.” The stationmaster’s databanks hummed. “Let me get this straight. You’re going to fuck her, and I get to ride her while you do it?” Seht nodded firmly. “Yes.” Victoria’s mouth popped open. He was offering him access to her brain, while he fucked her? She shook her head and headed for the door. Oh hell no, she was not playing this game. Seht grabbed her by the arm. Where are you going? Victoria turned on him. I am not, absolutely not fucking you with that… thing riding

my brain! You wanted the Arcane, remember? He jerked her around to face him. He has it, and this is the only way to get it. Static crackled. “She doesn’t look too happy about this arrangement of yours.” “Does it matter?” Seht stared Victoria in the eye. Do you want your ship or not? Choose. The databanks whirred briefly. “Not really… as long as you can get her to cum.” Victoria shivered hard under Seht’s stare. I want the ship.

Then get back in front of the servers, where he can see you, and do what I tell you. Seht nodded. “She’ll cum.”

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Victoria got back in front of the databanks. Her body appeared on the monitors from hundreds of different angles. “God in heaven, she’s gorgeous… sexy, sexy, sexy girl. Okay, cough it up, what do you want, Seht?” “Tell me, have you ever had the pleasure of a double-penetration?” “A double…?” Static crackled. “It’s true then, you skeldhi have two pricks?” Seht nodded. “It’s true.” “So one goes in her cunt and the other…?” Seht nodded. “Up her ass.” “Oh… anal, anal, anal… sex…” The databanks hummed. “And you’re going to let me ride her? While you fuck?” “That’s my offer.” Seht shook his thick mane back over his shoulders. “You still haven’t told me what you want.” Seht crossed his arms. “I want the codes to release my ship from docking, and a blind eye when I leave…” “Easy.” Seht nodded. “And access into the Arcane.” “What?” Every database blazed with lights. “You want into the Arcane? Are you out of your freaking, twisted little mind?” Seht raised a brow. “Is there a problem?” “A problem? He’s a sick mother-fucker, that’s the problem! He murdered his crew, he really did! All the superior officers were found dead. Killed them, killed them, killed them… Killed them by space exposure in their cabins, in their beds, and on the bridge. The rest were gone.” Victoria furrowed her brow in thought. Space exposure in individual cabins? That

sounds more like something a nav-pilot would do. After seeing your talented little display, it does sound like it. Seht glanced at the opaque glass wall. “Could the nav-pilot have done it?” Electronic laughter skittered around the room. “No, no, no, no… The nav-pilot was dead too, frozen, frozen, frozen to his pilot’s chair. He did it! Hell, he bragged about it before I shut him out. Mother of God! Stay away from that crazy-assed, crazy-assed, crazy-assed bastard!” Victoria’s mouth fell open. Bloody Fate! What the hell did they do to make the Arcane

turn on them like that? The stationmaster continued. “He’s a vicious son of a bitch. He’s seriously pissed about how he was grabbed, and he takes it out on everyone and everything! He really hates, hates, hates Moribund. He’s constantly trying to hack into my system to get to him. Calls him

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‘Moraine’. I had to cut off all electronic everything, because he kept riding even the straight electrical connections into my servers!” Seht shot her a narrow glance. Are you sure you want to board an insane ship? Victoria scowled. Ships do not go insane. Seht shook his head. Victorious Star, nerves of fucking steel. He raised a brow at her.

Unless it involves sex. Victoria held his gaze steadily. Get me on that ship. The databanks blazed with electronic agitation. “Seht, I love you, man, but you don’t want to get on that ship!” Seht stared at the reclining body behind the glass. “No Arcane, no anal sex.” “Please, Seht, you really don’t want to get on that deathtrap. Moribund has the whole thing rigged to blow, did you know that?” Seht jerked back. “What?” “Yeah, Moribund is setting a trap for somebody, I don’t know who, but whoever gets that ship at auction is dead meat. It’s rigged to go nova as soon as it clears my space.” Victoria was at Seht’s side in one strong leap. You have to get me on that ship! I can’t let

him get blown! The databanks purred. “Wow, she’s fast…” Seht sighed and rubbed his temples. “You heard what I want, Stationmaster. I want on the ship. I’m not planning on flying it. We just want to talk to it.” “Talk to it? With this pretty girl?” Static crackled. “Oh no, no… bad, bad, bad, idea. I’m telling you right now, if you plug your nav-pilot into that ship, he’ll wipe her, just like he did that last one.” Seht’s head came up. “What last one?” “Sakata, she was Moribund’s… really hot too. He fried, fried, fried her brain like an egg.” Victoria grabbed Seht’s sleeve. I saw her, she’s walking around, so she can’t be that bad. Seht lifted his chin. “Sakata is still walking. She’s on the station.” Electronic laughter hissed and popped. “Because Moribund jammed his own ship into her head to keep her from keeling over. He probably has to feed her through a tube. Trust me, there’s nobody in there but a ship sentience barely able to string two words together. Nobody in there, nobody in there, nobody in there… but a bad attitude.” Seht frowned at Victoria. He’s right; this does sound like a really bad idea. Victoria tightened her grip on Seht’s arm. I can talk to him. He needs me.

Fine. Seht clenched his jaw. “You heard my offer, Stationmaster. Take it or leave it.”

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Swears and foul curses from over a dozen different languages poured from the intercom. “Fine, it’s your fucking funeral. I’ll download the codes to your ship and access to the Arcane when I get my money-shot, money-shot, money-shot.” Victoria’s brows shot up. What’s a money-shot?

It’s an old Terran phrase, for when the guy cums on the girl in the antique porn movies. Seht lifted his chin at the glass wall. “I’m not fucking on the floor. Do you have a chair or something?” “Oh yeah, I got what you need…” One of the databanks rolled forward, then to the left. “Right this way. Double-dick, double-dick, double-dick action!”

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Chapter 29 The room was stark black: four walls, the floor, the ceiling and one door, all painted flat black. Four antique theater spotlights towered in the corners with their light focused on the round, raised bed in the very center of the room. The bed was covered with a shimmering black silk sheet that draped the floor. Black and scarlet bolster pillows were piled in the very center. Victoria walked around the bed, trailing her fingers on the silk. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. It wasn’t as if anyone was really watching… Seht’s brows rose. “Impressive. Do this often?” “Every once in a while. Do you like it?” “It will do nicely.” He tugged at his sash. “I will, however, ask you not to vocalize while I work.” “Aw… come on, Seht!” “No.” Seht glared up at the ceiling. “No voices, no sounds, and no soundtrack either!” “Damn it, you’re taking the fun out of everything…” Victoria’s brows shot up. Sounds like you’ve done this before. Seht’s cheeks flushed. Actually no, but I know someone who has. He looked up at the ceiling. “If you want a good show, I can’t have any distractions; besides, you’re going to be too busy.” “Oh yeah… fuck, fuck, fuck, fucking…” Seht nodded. “That’s right.” He pulled the layers of robes from his shoulders, and then tossed them on the bed. He caught Victoria’s eye. Take off your boots. Victoria bent over and unfastened her boots, and peeled them off while watching from the far side of the bed as Seht undressed. His broad chest and lean form gleamed under the

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lighting. His pale body curved and rippled with muscle. He tugged at the belt ties to his floor-length black kilt and let it slide free from his lean hips. His cocks were only partially aroused but still impressive. “That’s, that’s, that’s…” Seht turned around and sat down on the bed to remove his boots. A smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. “I told you I had two. Didn’t you believe me?” The stationmaster continued to stutter electronically. Seht dropped his boots on the floor and stood. “Remember, your promise, no take-over, just a ride.” “A promise is a promise, is a promise… fuck, fuck, fuck…” Seht turned and faced Victoria from across the bed. Crawl across the bed to me, nice and

slow. Victoria swallowed and got up on the bed. She crawled across the soft expanse on her hands and knees, and kept her gaze on Seht. His eyes dilated to narrow blue rings around pits of feral darkness as he watched her crawl. His cocks twitched with interest. He was getting excited from watching her. She felt a smile curl her lips while heat and moisture swelled in her core. Seht smiled and licked his lips. “That’s my pet, make me want it.” Make me hard. “Let me in, let me in, let me in, pretty girl…” Seht glanced at the ceiling. “Don’t rush it. I’ll let you know when you can come in.” He leaned across the bed with his feet planted on the floor. His hands sank into the mattress.

Kiss me. Victoria’s mouth touched his, and opened for his kiss. Moisture, warmth, excitement… His tongue swirled around hers. Can you keep him out of your personal thoughts -- just

let him in to your physical body? Victoria nipped at his lips. You’re asking me now? Seht caught her bottom lip between his upper and lower fangs. Very gently, he worried at it. Can you do it? He released her. She licked her lip. Yes. Seht stood back up and caught Victoria’s face in his palms. He brought her to his breast.

Lick my nipples. Victoria splayed her hands on his chest. She stretched out her tongue and swirled it around his flat nipple, then closed her lips around it and suckled until the tiny nubbin rose under her tongue. He tasted of salt and rising desire. Her core pulsed with interest and moisture slicked her thighs. She leaned over and licked at the other nipple, then pressed her teeth into him and lightly nipped. Seht tossed his head back and hissed.

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“Oh, that is so hot! Let me in, let me in, let me in, pretty girl…” Seht grinned. “I’m going to have her suck me, are you sure you want in now?” “I’ll wait! I’ll wait! I’ll wait!” Seht caught Victoria’s face. “Lean down on your elbows and suck me, pet. Make me good and hard.” Victoria dropped to her elbows. She leaned forward and kissed his belly. His stomach muscles rolled under her tongue. She smiled and leaned down. This was getting to be fun. She stretched out her tongue and swept it from the base of his upper cock to the flared head. Seht’s mouth opened with a sharp indrawn breath. She opened and took his primary cock-head into her mouth. He tasted of liquid arousal. He tasted… good. He tasted exciting. Mindful of her long teeth, she used just her lips and suction to grip him. She swirled her tongue around the flared edge, then sucked him deeper. His cock jumped and hardened in her mouth. She took him as deep as she could, about halfway, and wrapped her palms around the rest. She sucked and stroked. Pulling back and plunging down, her hands working to extend the reach of her mouth. Seht’s head fell back and the muscles in his neck stood out. He groaned. Mother of

mercy, why haven’t I had you suck me before? Too busy doing other things? She lashed her tongue along the bottom of his cock. Seht grunted and made small thrusts in time to her hands and mouth. Victoria smiled with her mouth full of cock. You’re really hard now. She felt a hard swelling at the base of his cock under her palm.

That’s my knot. It means you’re doing it just right. He groaned long and hard, and then pulled from her mouth with a wet pop. “Spawn of Chaos… yeah.” Lie on your back, pet, and put your head over the edge. Victoria released him and dropped onto her back. She pulled her mass of hair from beneath her and leaned her head over the edge. He leaned over her. His ball sac and secondary cock swung within inches of her lips. “Take me, pet.” The perfume of his arousal was strong and brutally exciting. She opened her mouth, leaned up just a bit, and licked the hairless sac. She could taste his desire on her tongue. Seht choked and fell forward onto his hands. Getting creative? Victoria licked him again just to see him squirm, and to taste him again. More like

getting inspired. He gasped. Two can play this game. He cupped her breasts and squeezed. She moaned in appreciation and opened wide to gently suck his balls into her mouth. Holding them with just her lips, she lashed her tongue around the fullness in her mouth. He groaned. Raise your knees and touch yourself. Get your pussy nice and wet.

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She raised her knees and opened them. She spread the plump lips of her wet core open with one hand and rubbed her fingers from her other hand across her clit, triggering tiny tremors in her hips. She moaned as her tongue swept across his balls. “Enough!” He pulled away from her mouth. “Suck me!” He changed his angle and presented her with his secondary cock-head. She opened her mouth and took him in. He grunted and surged into her mouth, and down her throat, sheathing himself entirely. She made a soft sound of surprise and her throat closed around him. He pulled back to her lips before she could choke. She sucked a breath of air and stroked his cock with her tongue. That was… unexpected.

It’s the angle; it lets me get deeper into your throat. Again. He plunged. She remembered to swallow, and took him to the balls. He groaned in appreciation. “That’s it, pet, take me good and deep.” He pulled back before she could choke. He plunged again. And again… With a harsh moan he pulled from her throat. “Okay, time to fuck.” “Now? Now can I come in?” Seht nodded. “Let me get into position and you can come in for your ride.” He crawled onto the bed and knelt with his thighs splayed wide. “Come over here, pet.” Victoria crawled over to him. He caught her face and kissed her. Are you ready? She grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him back. Let’s do this before I panic. He gently pushed her back. “Lie back.” Her red mane spilled across the black sheet. He tugged her legs over his thighs. “Stationmaster, we’re ready for you.” “Open up, open up, open up, little girl… let Daddy in.” Victoria opened her monitoring access in her piloting array. This access was normally used to allow another pilot to observe but not interfere. He would feel what she felt, but no more. At least that was the plan. If he tried to make a real grab, she would have a hard time keeping him out. Static spat from the intercom. “Oh… it’s warm in here.” Victoria monitored the stationmaster’s presence. He was definitely there, but he seemed content to be where he was. In fact, he seemed more distracted by the lust raging through her body than she was. She wondered if it was an effect of her active piloting array as it normally distanced her from her body… More static. “She has no voice.” Seht snorted. “She has a voice. I shut off her speech.” “Bad girl? Bad, bad, bad girl?” “Very.” Seht grinned. “Why? Do you want a spanking?”

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“Now? No, no thank you! Fuck? Please?” Seht leaned over her, pressing his elbows to the bed. “How about a kiss first?” “A… kiss?” He captured a nipple in his mouth. Victoria? Are you okay? He flicked the tip with his tongue.

Okay so far. I have the stationmaster contained. Victoria whimpered under the tender onslaught of his tongue. But I’m having problems thinking past your… She groaned. Your tongue. Seht leaned over and caught the other nipple. Good, let your control go. It’ll keep the stationmaster busy. He tugged her nipple with his teeth. She arched up from the bed as fire blazed straight down, bringing forth a wet pulse of violent hunger. Her physical control was definitely slipping. Seht pushed two fingers into her wet core and curled upward to stroke. “You are so wet.” His thumb brushed insistently against her swollen clit. Heat lightning scored her from within. She writhed on his thighs and gasped out small needy sounds. “You’re going to cum good and hard for me, won’t you, pet?” He reached for his robes, rummaging with one hand while continuing to stroke within her wet flesh with the other. He pulled a tube from his robes. A spat of static came from the intercom. Seht pulled his hand from her flesh and licked his fingers. She groaned and panted on the bed. Damn it, she was right there! The intercom crackled. “Oh so good… do that some more!” Seht squeezed gel onto his palm and rubbed his lower cock. “What? I thought you wanted a fuck.” “She was going to cum! She was so close!” “But I want her to cum with my cocks in her.” He tossed the tube by his robes. “Cruel man, cruel, cruel, cruel man!” Seht grinned. “You have no idea.” He stretched out his hand and dragged his long nails over her breast and down her belly. Victoria gasped as his nails traced cold lightning across her skin. She shivered, and moaned. Static skittered and skipped. “Oh… Nice!” He caught her under the thighs, pulling her up. She threw her arms wide for balance and grabbed the sheets. “Are you ready?”

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She groaned. She could feel the head of his primary cock nudging the folds of her core. She twisted to get him closer, but his hold on her thighs defeated her efforts. “Fuck, fuck, fuck… me!” Seht grunted and thrust. She arched up moaning as he filled her hungry cunt, then felt his secondary cock press for entry into her ass. Seht groaned. “Open up, pet, let me in.” He pushed. She whimpered and pushed out. His broad head, slick with gel and her female excitement, inched within, stretched her wide, then slowly burrowed. His primary cock delved deeper into her hungry core, and his secondary cock forged into her snug anus. He pressed deeper and deeper until his hips pressed against her ass. She moaned. Seht grunted, put her ankles up on his shoulders, pulled back slowly, and then he thrust hard and deep. Victoria howled and bucked. Intense, and sharp-edged, rigid fullness… Seht rose higher on his knees, withdrew, and thrust, withdrew, and thrust. Victoria arched upward to meet his strokes with greedy clenching eagerness. His thrusts increased in speed and power, fucking her hard enough to rock her entire body with each hammering stroke. The sounds of wet flesh striking wet flesh filled the small room. She gasped and bucked under him. She could feel his knots building at the base of his cocks, and hear his desperate breaths. Brutal pleasure escalated, surging and mounting with savage violence. Climax rose like a snarling beast, biting and clawing to escape. Seht groaned and gasped. “Now, cum now!” Victoria’s breath stopped in her throat. Fire blazed throughout her body. Consumed by a firestorm of carnal intensity, her nails dug and tore the sheet with the violence of her orgasm. She screamed. Seht pulled out and leaned over her, pulling on both his cocks. He threw his head back, tossing his long white mane. His lips curled back from his long teeth. He shouted and sprayed white creamy ropes of cum all over her breasts and belly. Spatters flecked the black sheet. She writhed, smearing his cum over her breasts and stomach with her hands while gasping and crying out as the last of her climax burned through her. Seht fell on top of her and took her mouth in a ferocious kiss, bucking and trembling as the last of his cum spurted from him and onto her body. Static burst from the intercom and remained, a white noise in the background. Victoria panted and blinked. He’s gone. Seht rose from on top of her. “What?”

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Victoria caught his gaze. The stationmaster, he’s gone from my mind. Static hissed in the background. Seht sat up with speed. He’s in system overload. Quick, he’s wide open right now. See

what you can grab before he reboots. Victoria opened her array as far as it could go, and downloaded. She had no idea what she was collecting, but it ought to be interesting. Only moments later, she felt the stationmaster come back on line. She immediately closed down and shoved up her protective firewalls. The static stopped. “Wow, oh wow…” An electronic sigh of satisfaction echoed around the room. “That was so, so, so good!” Seht shook his head. “I’m glad you liked it.” He helped Victoria off the bed, then ripped off the sheet and attempted to wipe the dripping cum smeared all over both of them. “Yes, yes, yes! Oh yes!” Seht pulled Victoria’s robe out from under his and helped her into it. Victoria cringed as she slid her arms into the shimmering robe. It’s going to get ruined.

I’m still covered in your, uh… Cum, you’re covered in my cum. Seht wrapped the sash around Victoria’s waist and grinned. Would you rather walk around naked? Victoria flinched. No, thank you! She ducked away and went hunting for her boots, before he decided that it was a great idea to make her walk around naked. The intercom hissed. “You’re leaving?” Seht rewrapped his kilt around his hips. “I have obligations, Stationmaster. Just like you do.” He slid into his robes. “Piss, piss, piss, piss, piss… You still want to get on the Arcane?” Seht wound his sash around his waist. “Yes, Stationmaster, and you always keep your promises.” He jerked the knot on his sash tight then sat down on the bed to put his boots on. “I know, I know, I do, I will… but I like her! I don’t want that bastard to fry, fry, fry her like an egg!” Seht stood up and stared at the ceiling. “I promise on my honor that I will do everything in my power to see that she’s kept safe.” Static filled the room. “Okay. But I still don’t like it.” Victoria felt pressure on the access that the stationmaster had used before. He’s asking for access. It’s the download. Let him in. Seht looked up at the ceiling. “I’m trusting you, Stationmaster.” Victoria let him in. Information buzzed into her, along with a small private message.

Please don’t get dead, or fried. You’re too good a ride to waste.

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Victoria looked up at the ceiling. Tell him I’ll do my best and thank him for the

compliment. Seht looked up. “She says that she’ll do her best, and thank you.” He turned to look at her. “For what compliment?” Victoria grinned. It’s private. Seht crossed his arms. “The stationmaster’s right. You are a very bad girl.” Victoria blew him a kiss. Goodness, I wonder how I got that way?

***** Seht stepped into the antique airlock and wrapped his arms around Victoria. They both stared at the yawning pit. The intercom buzzed. “Be very, very careful, Seht. The Arcane is a sneak, sneaky, sneaky bastard. Keep the pretty girl safe.” Victoria looked up at Seht. Go ahead and tell him my name. It’s only polite. Seht sighed. “Her name is Victoria, and we will be very careful.” “Victoria…” The banks of servers hummed. “If you don’t get dead, will you let me know? Will you come see me? Both of you?” Seht looked back at the door. “I will definitely let you know if we survive. If it’s possible, we’ll try to come back for a visit.” “Yes, please!” Wind whistled up from the open pit of blackness. “That’s your taxi, ladies and gentlemen. And thank you for traveling Stationmaster Airways! Have a lovely flight!” They jumped…

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Chapter 30 The ride up the black wind tunnel was just as harrowing as the ride down. Light appeared and became a doorway. Seht grabbed the handle on this side of the doorway and pulled them in. The lift wall slid closed. “Well, this looks like the right lift, in the right building.” Victoria looked up at him. We’ll find out in a minute. They barely had time to get their robes in a vague semblance of order before the proper lift doors opened. They stepped out to find the double doors to the banquet room directly across the hall. Both of them sighed in relief. A pair of skeldhi guards in black suits bearing energy rifles appeared at Seht’s side and bowed. “The Atehf requests your presence, Deshryt.” They frowned at Victoria. Seht groaned. The lead, I think I lost it in the tunnels.

You lost the leash? Victoria couldn’t resist a small, tight smile. Oh, what a terrible shame. Seht sighed then cleared his throat. “We were, ah, busy.” His cheeks flushed. Both guards took a subtle sniff then exchanged glances. They worked very hard to restrain their smiles. “I see,” one of them said. “However, the Atehf will not wait. He’s been expecting you.” The other guard cleared his throat. “For a while now.” Seht sighed dramatically. “You know, I can never have any fun around him.” He waved his hand. “Lead on.” The towering banquet room was enormous, dark and ornately decorated with exotic sculptures that towered over the glittering crowd. The far wall was a single gigantic window

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that overlooked the winking nightscape of the entire city. The whole room was filled with peoples and races of every description. Tables covered in draping white cloths were scattered everywhere, along with couches, divans and chairs that defied description. Every flat surface was crowded with crystalline glasses filled with a dizzying array of drinks, and small plates with exotic treats. One of the guards split off and bolted away. The other continued to lead Seht and Victoria though the noisy crowd. Seht glanced over his shoulder at Victoria. Eat nothing, but especially, drink nothing. Victoria sighed. Yes, ‘Syr. She strongly suspected that this was another rehkyt rule, like no sitting on the furniture. Amusement traveled through their link. No, pet. You still don’t know what is safe to eat

or drink yet. Why? Are you hungry? Victoria licked her lips. Thirsty, actually. Seht nodded. I’ll find you some water. They approached a small collection of skeldhi guards and stopped. The guard that had dashed off reappeared at Seht’s side and pressed something into his hand. Seht turned to Victoria. Lift your chin. She lifted her chin and he snapped a steel chain lead to her collar. She grimaced. Gee,

thanks. Seht stroked her cheek and smiled. You’re welcome. Their guards turned into the gathering, and Seht followed. They found Lord Syrhus in the furthest corner of the room, very near the gigantic window. He was deep in conversation with someone overly tall and massively muscular, wearing a dark, floor-length robe. Victoria frowned. Is that Moraine?

Yes. Seht nodded at his guards. “Thank you, I’ll wait right here for his attention. Can you send someone to acquire a glass of water for me, please?” The guards trotted off. Seht dropped onto a low divan, well within Lord Syrhus’s sight, and reclined with his feet up. “Sit down, pet, and put your head here.” He patted his leg. Victoria folded her legs under her and sat on the floor. She leaned close enough to put her chin on his thigh. A whisper of silk brought her head back up. Lord Syrhus towered over them. “Where the hell have you been?” Seht blinked up at him. “Busy.” “Really?” Lord Syrhus’s voice dripped acid. “Doing what?” Seht smiled. “Take a deep breath.”

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Syrhus took a subtle sniff and groaned. “So, for once you were actually doing what you said you’d be doing.” Seht’s eyes narrowed. “I am not in the habit of lying, Atehf.” Lord Syrhus planted his fists on his hips. “Nor are you in the habit of telling anyone what you are really up to.” Seht managed to look offended. “Of course not! I was raised in the court. You never let anyone know what your actual concerns are; it could offend someone.” Lord Syrhus shook his head. “Arguing with you is like arguing with the wall…” A skeldhi in plain silk robes presented Seht with a crystal goblet of water. Seht nodded in thanks. “You know, my exalted sister says that too.” Victoria stared at the glass. She was suddenly, violently thirsty. Seht lowered the glass to her and she reached for it. He pulled the glass away. No hands. Victoria scowled. Yes, ‘Syr. He lowered the glass and tipped it to let her drink. “You were saying, Atehf? Oh, and was there a reason why you wanted my presence so adamantly that you had two guards waiting to collect me?” Lord Syrhus crossed his arms. “As a matter of fact, there was. Moribund was asking for you.” Seht put Victoria’s emptied glass on a table beside him. “Oh?” He gave Lord Syrhus a bored look. Lord Syrhus nodded. “He wanted to know if you were interested in cutting a separate deal for his ship.” Seht’s gaze sharpened. “He wants me to have his ship?” Victoria stilled. That ship is supposed to be a trap for someone. Seht stroked her head absently. Well, now we know who that someone is. Victoria glanced at him. You?

It appears so, does it not? Seht returned the glance. I suspect he meant to trap Ravnos, but I believe he’s settling for me. Victoria felt a blaze of anger streak down her spine. That vicious prick! Seht tapped her head with a finger. Watch that temper. Lord Syrhus rolled his eyes. “Will you move your feet so I can sit? I am tired of talking to the top of your head!” “Oh, of course, Atehf.” Victoria shifted out of the way so Seht could put his feet down.

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Lord Syrhus dropped onto the divan and stretched his booted feet out. “So, are you interested?” Seht shrugged. “I’ll need to think on it. I don’t have a crew to fly it, so I can’t get it out of dock…” Lord Syrhus grinned. “He’s saying he’s willing to loan you his nav-pilot.” Seht’s smile was chilling. “Now that is very interesting, considering that I stole the last one from him. He is bestowing an awful lot of trust, is he not?” Lord Syrhus raised a brow. “He made me swear that I’d find a way to return her unharmed and unchanged.” “You?” Lord Syrhus grinned. “If you take his ship, I’m not to leave your side when you fly it home. In fact, he insisted that I be aboard when you take it.” Seht just stared. Maybe I was too hasty in thinking that it was me Moribund was after. Victoria flicked a glance at Syrhus, then at Seht. Lord Syrhus? Seht frowned. He masters a large portion of my sister’s fleet, which is the reason Moribund doesn’t raid the skeldhi territories. Victoria clenched her hands in her lap. You have to warn him that the ship is rigged to

blow. I can’t. He’ll want to question my sources and the stationmaster will never speak to him. I’ll have to warn him off another way. Seht pursed his lips. “Have you met this nav-pilot of his?” Lord Syrhus nodded. “Yes, though I find her somewhat less than I expected.” Seht raised a brow. “Really? How so?” Lord Syrhus frowned. “For someone that is supposed to be a war decorated nav-pilot, Sakata seems, well, rather void of personality.” Victoria sucked in a sharp breath. Sakata? The stationmaster said the Arcane fried her. Seht leaned up. “Are you saying that Moribund offered you Kazi “Kamikaze” Sakata?” Lord Syrhus nodded. Victoria’s brows shot up. You know her? Seht passed her an annoyed glance. Everyone knows her. He frowned thoughtfully. “What the hell is Moribund doing with an Imperial nav-pilot?” Lord Syrhus tilted his head. “That is a very interesting question.” Seht raised his brow. “And if an Imperial fleet just happened to find us while flying a crewless Imperial dreadnought with an Imperial nav-pilot?” “You suspect a deliberate trap?” Seht scowled. “Atehf, the throne cannot afford to lose you.”

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Lord Syrhus grinned. “It’s nice to know that you care. Oh, and I can put two and two together.” He snorted. “Moribund is not nearly as bright as he thinks he is.” Seht nodded. “Good, then we are in agreement, Moribund can keep his mad ship.” Lord Syrhus’s brows shot up. “Mad?” Seht’s raised one brow. “You told me yourself, the ship killed its crew.” Lord Syrhus snorted. “That was a rumor. Moribund told me that there was an accident…” “According to my sources, it was not a rumor.” Seht shook his head sadly. “That ship killed its entire command crew through space exposure. The nav-pilot was found frozen to his chair.” Lord Syrhus scowled. “And your sources are never wrong?” Seht raised a sarcastic brow. “You’d rather believe Moribund?” Lord Syrhus grimaced. “Good point.” Seht shrugged. “Insanity would explain why he’s trying to get rid of it rather than use it himself.” Lord Syrhus frowned thoughtfully. “This does lead one to believe that something is wrong with it…” Victoria scowled at the floor. The ship is not insane, it’s angry.

That is beside the point. Seht leaned back and sighed. My cousin has always been somewhat suspicious of fully sentient ships. There is no way in hell he will board a ship that is thought to be unstable. Victoria rubbed her cheek against his thigh. Clever. He stroked her head. Why, thank you, pet. Feminine squeals announced the arrival of Lord Syrhus’s pair of golden rehkyt. They climbed up on their master’s knees in a flurry of wriggling female curves and winking green gems to press kisses to his chest and face. Victoria watched them with alarm. There was not one drop of augmentation in their body movements, or shame in their licking and nibbling. They looked like a pair of plump puppies begging for treats. Lord Syrhus curved his arms around them, kissing each of them with enthusiasm. “Have you been good for A’syr Khem?” They nodded as one. “Yes, ‘Syr!” they chorused. Victoria cringed. They even sounded alike. One of them spotted Victoria hiding behind Seht’s knee and tapped her companion. Both of them stared with wide green eyes. Lord Syrhus hugged them close. “That’s ‘Syr Seht’s rehkyt. She’s very new.”

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A sly look passed between the two golden rehkyt. One of them pressed her lips to Lord Syrhus’s ear and whispered. She bowed her pink lips into a winsome smile. “Please, ‘Syr?” Lord Syrhus looked up. Victoria followed his gaze and discovered the aqua-eyed mahfdhyt standing at Lord Syrhus’s shoulder. He held the rehkyts’ gold chain leashes wound around his fingers. Lord Syrhus smiled. “Release them, A’syr Khem. They want to play a bit.” He caught his rehkyts’ gazes. “Stay close.” The mahfdhyt grinned at Victoria, knelt and unlatched their chains. Both rehkyt turned and came bounding straight for Victoria. They stopped only inches away then reached out to touch her knee. Victoria scrambled back in alarm. The leash brought her up short. Sly smiles bloomed on their cherubic faces. Both rehkyt pounced. Victoria went over backwards, overwhelmed by sleek, perfumed, female flesh. She pushed herself off the floor, only to be shoved back down under their combined weight. Gleefully each of them straddled one of her thighs and latched onto a wrist, spreading her wide on the floor. Her sash was pulled away and her robe spread open, exposing her pointed red nipples and her bare mons. “Oh, pretty!” they cooed. Inquisitive fingers pinched her nipples to aching firmness. Victoria yelped. Seht, get them off of me! She twisted under them and their hands tightened on her wrists. Soft breasts pressed into her belly and their thighs closed tightly around her, pressing moist, excited female flesh against her hips. Seht choked out a laugh. “Relax, they’re not going to hurt you!” He let the lead slip through his fingers to drop to the floor. “They’re just curious.” Victoria gasped and bucked but couldn’t dislodge them. Curious, my ass! They’re humping my legs! She was afraid to grab one of them; she could too easily hurt them with her augmented strength. “Mmm, I smell sex,” one of them said. Suddenly both of them sprawled on top of her, and started licking in earnest. Victoria squirmed as lush lips fastened on each nipple and expertly sucked it to hardness. Wriggling fingers pressed into her moistening core, then stayed to ruthlessly explore. An expert finger flicked on her clit. Teeth scored her nipples with bright bolts of delight. Climax began to rise and pulse. She gasped. Seht! Do something! I’m being raped here! Seht howled with laughter. “She’s an unholy terror with a sword, but completely helpless under two unarmed seysehn rehkyt!” Lord Syrhus grinned. “Are you sure that’s a prime?” Seht nodded, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. “She’s too afraid to hurt them to defend herself.”

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Lord Syrhus raised a brow at Seht. “Afraid of hurting these two?” He snorted. “They’re tougher than I am.” Victoria looked up from the floor to see a ring of grinning male faces. They had drawn an audience. Oh shit… Teeth bit sharply into her breast. She gasped, and sat up hard, baring her teeth in a snarl. They went rolling to the floor with a squeal. Seht grabbed her chain collar. “What happened?” Victoria glared at the rehkyt sitting between her knees. The bitch bit me! She pointed at the two small seeping holes in the upper swell of her breast. Lord Syrhus glared at the rehkyt. “Did you bite her?” The rehkyt crossed her arms and stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “She won’t cum.” “Is that all?” Seht rolled his eyes. “Of course she won’t cum, I didn’t tell her to.” The rehkyt lowered her eyes but continued to pout. Seht rolled his eyes. “Oh, all right, I’ll let her cum for you.” Victoria twisted around to look at him. What? Lord Syrhus grinned. “I should tell you that your rehkyt doesn’t stand a chance now. Only the one has teeth, and they’re small, but her sensitivity venom is very potent.” Seht smiled at Victoria. “Put your hands on the back of your neck.” Victoria clenched her jaw and put her hand on the back of her neck. “Good. Keep them there.” Victoria felt a shimmer in her augmentation. Damn it! She wiggled her fingers but her wrists were locked in place. I hate it when he does this! She stared at the two grinning rehkyt in panic. Oh shit! Seht looked over at the rehkyt. “She’s all yours.” The two rehkyt licked their lips and lunged. Victoria went down under a tangle of female limbs. Her breasts were squeezed and her nipples were ruthlessly attacked with teeth and tongue. Delight burned lightning bright. A moan escaped Victoria’s throat. The rehkyt between her thighs lapped, then sucked hard on Victoria’s clit. Victoria whimpered in torment. Her hips rose and bucked helplessly under the rehkyt’s mouth. Seht leaned over her. “Cum.” Victoria’s breath caught. Her core gave a huge throbbing pulse. Cries of release exploded from her throat as her body arched and shook. Suddenly both rehkyt were lapping between her trembling thighs. Victoria howled as they milked every last trembling shudder of ecstasy from her body.

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They sat up with shiny lips and grinned. “Delicious.” Victoria found herself rolled and snuggled between both rehkyt. They pressed their lips to hers in fervent kisses. She opened her mouth to their inquiring tongues and tasted her essence on their lips. Syrhus grinned. “Oh, look, they made a friend.”

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Chapter 31 Syrhus leaned casually back on the divan. “The rest of the night is going to be full of petty maneuvering, so I’m sending my rehkyt back to the enclave.” Seht stretched and yawned dramatically. “You know, returning sounds like a good idea.” “Oh, no, you don’t!” Lord Syrhus curled his lip. “If I have to suffer through more of Moribund’s patronizing, you’re going to suffer with me, and he still wants to talk with you.” Seht lowered his brows. “That human has nothing to say that I want to hear.” Lord Syrhus grinned. “Good, then I leave it in your hands to find a way to get us released from this farce as quickly and politely as possible.” Seht lifted his chin. “The way you are monopolizing my time makes me wonder if you actually missed me.” Lord Syrhus’s expression became somber. “I did miss you. Are you coming home this time?” Seht looked Syrhus straight in the eye. “This is not the time, or the place, cousin.” A smile softened his expression. “But I have missed you as well.” Syrhus sighed. “Anyway, did you wish to send your rehkyt back to the enclave with mine?” Seht focused on Victoria. “That might not be a bad idea. I do not trust Moribund. Not where she is concerned.” “You suspect revenge?” Seht snorted. “From Moribund? I expect revenge. He is not one to let a transgression go with impunity.”

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Lord Syrhus nodded. “I’ll make sure she gets back to your suite in one piece.” He snapped his fingers. “All right, pets, it’s time to go back. I expect you to be good for A’syr Khem.” The rehkyts reluctantly climbed off of Victoria. “You can drop your hands, pet.” Seht’s voice vibrated with humor. Victoria sat up and grabbed for her robe. I can’t believe you let them do that to me in front of everybody… She thrust her arms into the sleeves and picked up her fallen sash. Seht stood up. “Stand up, you’re going with them.” Victoria got to her feet and looked up at him in shock. You’re sending me away? Seht took the sash from her hands. “Yes.” He wrapped the sash around her waist. It’s

safer this way. I don’t want to take the chance that Moribund will find a way to corner you in this crowd. He raised a brow. And I think you’ve had enough adventures for one night. He pressed a kiss to Victoria’s brow. “Be good, and stay out of trouble. I expect to find you washed and in my bed when I get back.” Victoria nodded sullenly. Yes, ‘Syr. The aqua-eyed A’syr Khem was more than happy to take Victoria’s lead from Seht’s hand. The two golden rehkyt grabbed Victoria’s arms, gleefully sandwiching her between them.

***** Victoria marched through the banquet room in a circle of rifle-bearing, sword-armed guards trailing the mahfdhyt enforcer A’syr Khem. Syrhus’s rehkyt hung on her arms and bumped against her hips. The smell of recent sex floated in a cloud around them, making heads turn in their direction. Victoria felt her cheeks heat and ducked her head. Suddenly the idea of a nice private shower, and cool sheets all to herself sounded utterly appealing. Victoria looked to one side and found Kazi Sakata standing very quietly against a wall, staring straight at her. Unnerved, she jerked her gaze off of the expressionless nav-pilot and allowed herself to be led away. The doors were opened and they stepped into the hall before the lifts. Victoria and the rehkyt were herded to one side where another party of guards and their rehkyt waited. Victoria snorted. Looks like all the kids are being sent to bed while the grown-ups play. A tall, muscular male rehkyt bearing a pulse rifle stood at the far end, keeping guests from getting close to the naked and vulnerable rehkyt. He raised his head and sniffed, then turned sharply to face the small group. He focused on Victoria, and his black eyes widened. Mahfeht’syr Ehru’s rehkyt smiled. “There you are, pretty.” His voice rumbled thickly.

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Victoria flinched. Oh, shit… She could not stop herself from glancing down and noticing the massive erection straining behind his knee-length leather kilt. Apparently he still hadn’t been given any relief, only this time he wasn’t being held on a chain. The male rehkyt strode for her. Victoria shoved the two golden rehkyt none too gently behind her. She ignored their squeals and bared her teeth at the approaching male. Don’t even try it, buddy. The male stopped and anger flushed his face. He bared his own teeth. “You can’t think you can take me?” He took an aggressive step toward her. “Or stop me.” Victoria slid into a nice square fighting stance. A deep growl boiled from her chest. She’d have to take out his knees first…

A’syr Khem shoved himself in front of Victoria. “Torque, get back to your place!” He glared at Victoria. “Get back and calm down.” Victoria stepped back. She was immediately grabbed by Lord Syrhus’s two rehkyt. They stroked her arms and purred at her. Torque’s head jerked up. “You can’t expect me to ignore her?”

Nehkyx Bhenhu stepped from a group of guards. “I expect you to do your work and leave the females alone!” Torque clenched his teeth, and glared at him from the corner of his eye. “Like this?” He pointed at his obvious erection. “I can barely see straight as it is! She’s a prime, damn it.”

A’syr Khem crossed his arms. “With all due respect, Nehkyx Bhenhu, but are you out of your mind? An aroused male prime to guard a pride of females?”

Nehkyx Bhenhu scowled. “It wasn’t my idea.” He looked at his charge. Torque was still staring obsessively at Victoria. “All right, I see your point. Do any of the rehkyt want to suck him off?” Several female voices answered with enthusiasm. Torque focused on Victoria. “How about you, pretty? Care to give me your mouth?” Victoria snorted. Fat chance. She shook her head and wrapped her arms around the two rehkyt pressed to her sides. One of them looked up. “Why not? He’s really very handsome.” Victoria shook her head firmly then rolled her eyes. Why does everybody think I should

have sex with whoever wants me? A silver blonde wearing sapphire brilliants approached Torque and dropped to her knees. Torque released his rigid hardness from the folds of his kilt. He groaned as she expertly and enthusiastically serviced him with her hands and mouth, but his eyes stayed hot and hard on Victoria.

Nehkyx Bhenhu tapped his foot impatiently. “Cum.”

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Torque shot a glare at the nehkyx, then threw his head back and gasped, pumping into the female’s mouth. The blonde wiped her lips with a delicate hand and stood. Torque shot a look of resentment at Victoria, then dropped a kiss on the blonde’s lips. She dashed back to the group with a smile. The lifts opened and everyone was herded in.

***** The march and the tram ride were nice and dull. They departed from the tram and trooped through halls that were unmarked, endless and boring. Victoria refused to look behind her at Torque. Someone had gotten the bright idea to stick her at the front of the line with him at the end. Her shoulders ached with tension. On top of that, the golden rehkyt took every opportunity to slip their hands under her clothes. They seemed to find pinching her nipples highly entertaining and kept pulling up the hem of her robe to squeeze her butt-cheeks. Victoria held her temper with grim determination. I am going to kick Seht’s ass for this… Distracted by the rehkyt staring at her back and the two with their hands in her clothes, she was startled when the line came to a sharp halt. She strained her neck but couldn’t see anything. “Keep your head down,” A’syr Khem whispered harshly. The com-unit pinned to his shoulder crackled with code. He led his three charges to the wall then pressed them against it. “If fighting starts, get down on the floor and make yourself as small as you can.” Victoria stared at him. Fighting? Torque, Mahfeht’syr Ehru’s male rehkyt lunged through the line, followed by four other armed rehkyt males, all headed for the front. Victoria looked up the line again and finally saw the group of mercenaries in heavy black armor blocking the hall. The guards at the front of the line had their rifles pointed and more than a few had swords out. Arguing was happening, but she couldn’t make out what was being said. Whatever it was, the guards were most definitely not happy about it. She could see a lot of shaking heads.

A’syr Khem looked over at Victoria grimly. “They’re asking us to turn you over to them.” Victoria’s mouth fell open. Me?

A’syr Khem nodded at the mercenaries blocking the hall. “We don’t know who sent them, but we’ll find out.” He grinned, showing his long teeth. “From their corpses, if necessary.”

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Victoria had no idea who did what first, but suddenly the hall was full of shouting and small power-blasts hitting the walls. Swords flashed and the scent of spilled blood filled the hall. Victoria shoved the two rehkyt down on the floor, then under her. She was more able to defend herself than they were. They whimpered and trembled. Victoria pressed her lips to their brows, unable to offer a word of comfort. The power-blasts abruptly ceased, but the fighting grew more ferocious as the mercenaries pulled long vicious blades from their armored suits. Screams echoed in the halls. Victoria noted with satisfaction that the heavily armored men were slowly losing to the faster skeldhis, but the fight was far from over. Three of the mercenaries made it through the line of fighting and spotted Victoria huddled on the floor over the rehkyt. They pointed and shouted into their com-units.

A’syr Khem swore bitterly, drew his sword and lunged for them. Victoria scowled. Piss! If A’syr Khem fell, they were sitting targets. She looked sharply around for a weapon, any weapon. She spotted Kazi Sakata watching from a cross hallway. What the hell is she doing here? Victoria focused on the sword sheathed on Sakata’s hip. One of the three mercenaries broke away from A’syr Khem and headed straight for Victoria, grinning. His jagged knife was as long as her forearm, and dripping scarlet. Victoria felt heat wash up her spine then sear the back of her skull. She exploded from the floor and lunged toward Sakata and her blade. She had her hand on the sword and the blade drawn before the mercenary could turn to follow her. Sakata did not move, or reach for her sword. But her head turned, keeping Victoria within view. Victoria lunged back into the hall and dove under the mercenary’s guard, slashing for the unprotected armor seam where his thigh armor joined his body armor. The live steel blade bit and slid smoothly, slicing between his armor plates and though the man’s flight suit, severing the major artery where his leg joined his torso. She twisted, pulling the blade away. He screamed and went down in a welter of blood. Three more mercenaries came at her from the fight in the hall. Victoria bared her teeth and released a vicious feral snarl. They want to bleed? So be it! She grinned as she ducked and lunged under their attacks, slashing into the suit joints to sever arteries and hamstrings. Then more came at her…

*****

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Victoria spun in the pool of blood she stood in, sword up and rage burning in her veins. The moans of the wounded and the whimpering from the huddling rehkyt were loud in the sudden silence. All the mercenaries had fallen or run. There was no one left to fight. A heavily muscular, dark-haired male rehkyt walked toward her and she jerked around to face him, sword up. His scent was somewhat familiar. “Easy, it’s over,” he said calmly. “Put the sword down.” Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. Was he challenging her? The two female rehkyt exploded from the wall and rushed toward her. The male rehkyt shouted. “Stay away! She’s in rahyt!” A skeldhi grabbed his arm. “Wait, she knows them.” Victoria took a startled step back from the two female rehkyt. She recognized their scent as they surrounded her. They were unarmed and making sounds of distress. Their body movements and scent begged for assurance. She lowered the blade. Victoria allowed them to snuggle close and held still as they kissed her cheeks and lips. She groaned as the fury bled from her. She did not protest as the sword was gently pulled from her fingers and dropped to clatter on the bloodstained deck. Victoria blinked awake with Lord Syrhus’s two golden rehkyt wrapped tight against her. A tremor shook her body. White-hot agony slammed up her spine to collect in her skull. She grabbed her head and gasped. Both rehkyt shouted. “She’s hurt! Somebody help!” Victoria’s knees gave out and she fell to the floor gagging with pain. Blood tears dripped from her cheeks and spattered on the polished deck under her. “I don’t see any sword cuts…” A’syr Khem caught her face in his palms. Alarm raced across his expression. “Holy Mother, her eyes are bleeding!” He looked up. “We have to get her to medical, now!” The pain hammered her again, and her body went into spasms.

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Chapter 32 Victoria awoke groggy and lying flat. What the hell had happened to her? She winced. The light was very bright. She tried to raise her hand to block it out. Neither hand would move; her wrists were pinned to her sides. Huh? “Yes, it’s pretty damned obvious that the rahyt triggered this, but do you have any idea why she went into regeneration?” It sounded like A’syr Khem.

What the hell is regeneration? Victoria looked around, but everything was fuzzy-edged and indistinct. She couldn’t make out much more than vague shapes. Fate, where am I? “According to what we found, the doses were quite old, possibly over twelve years.” The voice was completely unfamiliar and male. Victoria frowned. Doses? “She was strong enough to make prime,” the skeldhi continued. “This is reason enough to overwhelm an age-weakened final course.”

Final course? Victoria’s breath stopped in her chest. Oh fuck! I must be in medical! I have to get out of here! She jerked but her wrists remained pinned to her sides. Her ankles wouldn’t move either. “How the hell do I explain to the Deshryt that his rehkyt is no longer a prime, that she nearly died?” “We’ve already treated and dosed her. When she wakes up after a night in the deshryt’s bed, she’ll be prime again.”

Already dosed? Victoria shivered in shock. No… She jerked at her wrists. It can’t be too late! I’m an Imperial officer and I have to go back! A sob caught in her throat and she worked to silence it. I have to leave, right now! “I see… Oh, before you go, what was that about a second DNA mark?”

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“Oh, yes, she has a stud mark.” Victoria tried twisting her wrists and jerked at her feet. I have to get out of here…I have

to get out! “Spawn of Chaos, I know a rehkyt male that’s going to go ballistic. Damn… How the hell did he get a stud mark on her? “To have a stud mark, he had to be present during the transformation process…” “Yes, yes, I know.” Victoria froze. The only one present during the process was Ravnos. Did he mean that Ravnos’s DNA was in her too? “Do you want me to check the registry to see if he’s listed?” “The stud? Yes, I’m curious.” “One moment, let me get to that file… ah, he’s listed as Aubrey. He’s a prime owned by the deshryt.”

Aubrey? And Seht owns him? Victoria felt the world shake under her. Aubrey Laslo Ravnos…? She shook her head. No, this isn’t real! She struggled with the restraints, and her thrashing became frantic. It can’t be real! She arched up, pulling with all her strength. She couldn’t move the restraints. She screamed.

A’syr Khem grabbed her by the shoulders. She could barely see him. “What the hell is wrong with her now?” Victoria thrashed under his hands. I want to go home! I want to go home right now! Someone moved to her side. “According to the readings, it’s merely panic. Unknown place, unknown people, and the fourth course is very active in her… She needs her master.” Victoria gasped. The fourth course was already in her? She arched back and screamed.

No! “He’s still at the banquet.” A’syr Khem scowled. “Can you put her down before she goes back into rahyt and hurts herself?” “That’s what I’m preparing. Hold her, so I can get this into her.”

A’syr Khem captured Victoria’s head. “Take it easy, you’re going to be fine.” Victoria saw the syringe coming toward her. No… don’t! She jerked her head but couldn’t move in his hold. She felt a small stab in her arm and flinched. Bloody Fate, I hate needles. The needle was pulled away. “There. She’ll be quiet until the Deshryt can take her.” Victoria took a deep breath and blinked up at A’syr Khem. Her hammering heart fought against the thick sluggishness sloughing through her blood. She could feel sleep moving in on her in a thick, smothering blanket. Tears streaked her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

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***** Victoria moaned and rolled in softness. Her eyes opened to soft shadows and dark draping velvets. She shifted and discovered that she was lying naked in a round, cushiony bed. Her body felt sluggish and heavy. She was alone but could hear water running somewhere. The words from earlier skittered through her mind. Stud mark…fourth course…already dosed… She curled up tight into herself. Her whole world was shattering around her. The mattress shifted under her. She smelled soap, clean water and Seht. She turned, shivering. His expression held concern but resolve shimmered across their link. He knelt on the mattress and slipped out of a robe. His skin gleamed damp from the shower under the soft lights. “Are you all right?” he asked very gently. Victoria stared, her thoughts scattered by the shock of all that had happened. They said that they gave me the fourth course. Tears pricked her eyes, and for once, she just didn’t care. She let them fall. He slid down into the bed with her, wrapping his arms and the scent of his warm skin around her. “They have.” Victoria wanted to pull away from him, but at the same time, she desperately wanted to be held. She let exhaustion make the decision for her, and stayed where she was. I don’t

understand what happened. I was fighting and then when I stopped, it hurt, and my eyes started to bleed, and then… I woke up and it was already done. She closed her eyes tightly and curled her arms around him. He brushed a tear from her cheek. “Your human genetic code had already begun to reassert itself when you went into rahyt. The rage is not natural to humans; that is why you went into seizures. If they had not given you the fourth course, you could have died.” She shuddered. So, now it’s over? I’m no longer human at all? “Yes, Victoria, you are fully rehkyt. You have become resistant to most diseases and can recover from everything but the most grievous of wounds. Nor will your skin scar. Your body will remain this healthy, and lovely, for as long as you breathe.” His lips brushed her brow. “Is that so bad?” Victoria closed her eyes tightly. Conflicting desires fought within her. The savage urge to claw his back open in rage and cry her heart out in despair crushed the breath from her lungs. She clenched her hands closed. They also said I had a stud mark, from a rehkyt named

Aubrey. A rehkyt you own. They said I got it during the process. It’s Ravnos, isn’t it? “Yes.” Seht sighed. “Aubrey has lost the fine coloring of his prime state, but he is nevertheless a prime rehkyt. My rehkyt and I am quite proud of him.”

Ravnos is a rehkyt? Victoria couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea of Ravnos bowing to anybody. How…?

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Seht smiled. “Aubrey was not always as strong as he is now. When I first saw him, he was just a scared boy wounded from a shuttle crash. He was using a broken knife to dig the electronic collar off of his throat before his owners could come fetch him.”

Ravnos had a collar? Victoria pressed her nose into his throat, under his damp hair. She could almost smell the hot blood moving under his skin. Appetite stirred within her; an odd confusion of lust, and the need to feed. Seht gently caught her chin and moved her away from his throat. “Yes, he was working for Moribund, stealing ships with his programming talents. I found him about the same time Moribund’s marauders did. I offered him my hand and he took it. I don’t think he even knew what I was, only that I wasn’t one of them.”

You saved him? Victoria rubbed her cheek against his chest. He smelled wonderful. Seht caught her chin again, and looked into her eyes. “From them. I’m afraid I took ruthless advantage of him. I made him my rehkyt. He was starving and unaugmented; it wasn’t as if he could stop me. I did not expect to bond to him. It simply happened.” Victoria shifted restlessly within his arms, feeling a little too warm, and disturbed by her body’s conflicting appetites. But he doesn’t look like a rehkyt. Seht curled his legs around hers, stopping her movements. “Because I never gave him the fourth course. He reverted to his human appearance, to some degree. He altered other things surgically. Without the fourth course in him, the alterations remained.” Victoria resigned herself to Seht’s close embrace. You said, before, that he caught you,

like he caught me? Does this mean he didn’t stay with you? “If he had, he would have been full rehkyt and not captain of a starship.” Seht sighed deeply. “I’m with him now because I found him many years later, and was foolish enough to give chase. I didn’t even know he was captain of a dreadnought. He used his programming talents to capture my ship.”

Why did you chase him? Victoria opened her damp palms. Seht chuckled. “I wanted him back.” Victoria tucked her chin. And you don’t want to leave? You don’t want to go home? “No. Where Aubrey is, is my home.” Seht’s breath brushed her ear. “He will punish me severely for allowing this to happen to you,” he whispered. “But do not think for one moment that I regret that you have become irrevocably mine, as Aubrey is.” Victoria closed her eyes and turned away. I want to go home. Seht captured her face and stared hard into her eyes. “Home is with me.” His lips captured her mouth in a brutal and taking kiss. He raised her knee and slid between her thighs. His primary cock slid against the wet opening to her body. Victoria whimpered into his mouth and struggled weakly. No, I don’t want…

Yes, you do. He ruthlessly held her still and surged within.

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Victoria felt his secondary cock press into her anus, and arched under him. Please,

don’t… I must. Open for me. He pressed within, swallowing her soft cries, until both cocks filled her. He released her mouth. “The course in your body will force you into rage if your body’s lust is not satisfied.” His long teeth scraped her skin. Victoria flinched away but he held her too securely. A bite? She barely felt his teeth break the skin of her shoulder; then he bit down, hard. She gasped.

To bring you quickly. He released her shoulder and stroked the wounds on her shoulder with his tongue. “My lust will be satisfied as the tightness of your body milks the cum from my knots while we sleep.” He smiled. “It is the preferred method of rest for skeldhis.” The sensation-enhancing effect of his venom surged through her and she moaned. Erotic urgency clenched and coiled in her core, swamping out the other appetite, the hunger for blood. She rolled her hips to feel him within her. He groaned. “Yes, pet, you need this as much as I need to fill you.” He pulled back and surged within, then again, and again, in a long slow fuck. His mouth captured her breast and tormented her straining nipple. She shuddered under the nearly overwhelming pleasure of his mouth and his pumping cocks. His knots slid within and swelled tight in her body. Orgasm rose in a sudden fiery wave. “That’s it, pet…” He groaned, and ground against her swollen clit. “Cum for me, Victoria.” She froze, then came with soft gasping cries. Seht took her mouth with hunger. He broke the kiss and pulled the blankets over them both. He wrapped her securely in his arms. “Sleep, pet. You have a ship to rescue on the morrow.” Wrapped in the heat and scent of Seht’s body and impaled on his cocks, tears of despair burned down her cheeks. With the fourth course in her, she knew that this possession branded her body, and her soul, as his.

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Chapter 33 Victoria awoke with the chill heat of determination burning her soul. She rubbed at the small bruise over her heart, where the mark of her damnation remained. All chance of humanity was gone, and with it, her career as an Imperial nav-pilot. She rose from the bed with Seht’s cum sliding down her thighs. She had one last duty to perform for her Imperium: save the Arcane.

***** Seht’s gaze was quietly subdued as he handed her a short robe and sash to wear. He had the attendants serve breakfast and they both ate at the table in silence. Lord Syrhus came through the door in a boiling fury. He pointed at Victoria. “The medics told me that she has nav-pilot augmentation, and your troublemaker’s stud-mark. Chaos and damnation, Seht! What is going on?” Seht leaned back in his chair and contemplated his furious prince consort. “I’m here to steal the sentience from Moribund’s ship. She’s here to carry it back.” Lord Syrhus bared his teeth. “And the stud-mark?” Seht sighed and tossed his napkin on the table. Resignation thrummed through his telepathic link. “For the past year or so, I have been second in command on the Hellsbreath, under Captain Ravnos…” “I’ve heard of him. Wait, you said second in command? To a human?” Seht turned to stare at Lord Syrhus. “Captain Aubrey Laslo Ravnos.” Lord Syrhus’s growl rumbled. “You’re serving under your rehkyt?” Seht turned away. “Yes.”

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“Willingly?” Seht nodded. “Yes.” “Is he under your domination?” Seht closed his eyes. “No.” Lord Syrhus snarled viciously and stormed around the chamber. Fury scented the air around him. “I don’t believe this! Your sister is going to explode!” He turned on Seht. “You are skeldhi! You do not serve under a rehkyt! I am taking you home.” Seht lunged from the chair, knocking it over. His growl rumbled with feral strength. “If you try, you will regret it.” Lord Syrhus bared his long teeth. “You are going home.” His pupils narrowed to feline slits. “If I have to, I will take you in chains.” Seht bared his own teeth. “You cannot keep me in chains for the rest of my life. Eventually, I will return to him. I will not lose him again.” Lord Syrhus jerked as though he’d been struck. “You’re insane!” Seht smiled thinly. “Very likely.” Lord Syrhus turned sharply away. “You and that damned obsession…” He shot a narrow look toward Victoria. “So who the hell is this, really?” Victoria ignored him and continued to eat. Her only concern was saving the Arcane. Beyond that, she really didn’t care. Seht righted his chair. “This is First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, an Imperial senior navigations pilot. Her specialty is talking to angry sentient ships.” “Victoria Stark?” Lord Syrhus’s mouth fell open. “You have the Victorious Star?” Seht sat down heavily. “She was supposed to be returned to her Imperium after this mission.” Lord Syrhus shook his head. “She’s rehkyt…” “She is now.” Seht stared at Victoria and his expression was bleak. “They gave her the fourth course last night.” “Spawn of Chaos, Seht…” Lord Syrhus slammed his hands down on the table. “You deliberately left off the fourth course? I could take her for that.” Seht bared his teeth and his eyes narrowed to slits. “You could try.” “You’re as obsessed with her as you are Aubrey.” Lord Syrhus pushed up from the table. “Does this insanity of yours never end?” Seht shrugged. “You get used to it after a while.” Lord Syrhus jammed his fingers into his hair and paced. “So when do you intend to steal the ship’s sentience?”

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Seht reached for his glass. “Well before the auction. I have the codes to board and the codes to leave the station undetected.” Lord Syrhus stopped and stared. “So why don’t you just take the whole damned ship? You have a nav-pilot to fly it…” Seht looked over at Syrhus. “Because Moribund has it rigged to blow as soon as it leaves the station’s space. It’s a trap for someone. Probably me, but he could be after you.” Lord Syrhus raised his brow. “And the rumors of the ship’s insanity and killing of its crew?” Seht smiled grimly. “Unfortunately true. In fact, the ship wiped Moribund’s nav-pilot Sakata. She’s walking around with a ship’s sentience in her head.” Lord Syrhus shook his head. “What makes you think the ship won’t wipe your navpilot?” Seht looked over at Victoria. “Ships like her.” A small smile curved his lips. “If anyone can talk it into leaving, she can.” Victoria looked up in astonishment. Affection and pride thrummed through her link from Seht. Sudden tears pricked her eyes. Lord Syrhus looked over at Victoria. “Are you really going to risk your rehkyt on a mad ship?” “She wants to do it.” Seht held Victoria’s gaze and his smile disappeared. “In fact, I don’t think I can keep her from trying.” Lord Syrhus groaned. “You’re both insane.” Seht snorted. “I do believe that has already been established.” Lord Syrhus grabbed a chair and dropped into it. “So, when do you plan to invade Moribund’s ship? I need time to gather a strike party.” Seht frowned. “A strike party?” Lord Syrhus shrugged. “The mahfeht enforcers have been complaining of boredom. Might as well give them something to do.” Seht’s brows lowered. “If Moribund discovers that you are a part of this…” Lord Syrhus grinned. “Moribund already hates my guts. Where do you think I’m getting all my new rehkyts? My twins, the ones so fond of your Victoria, are both former fighter pilots.” Seht barked out a laugh and shook his head. “I don’t believe it! You intend to help me?” Lord Syrhus smiled wryly. “Someone needs to see that you get back to your obsession in one piece.”

*****

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The attendants bound Victoria’s blood-red mane into a single tight braid, then buckled into her black flight-suit with quick efficiency and not a single playful overture. Others strapped Seht back into his armor, just as quickly. His trunks were packed and carted out. Seht turned to her and held out a sword belt with a plain black scabbard. “This is the sword you used last night.” He smiled thinly. “No one will argue your right to wear it. You impressed a number of mahfdhyt during the fight in the hall. I’m afraid that they were quite devastated when I refused to let them have you.” Victoria belted Kazi Sakata’s blade around her waist. Seht raised a silver brow. “You have been very silent all morning.” Victoria settled the weight on her hip. I have nothing to say. Seht caught her face in his gloved palms. “Victoria, what’s wrong?” She held his gaze steadily. Nothing is wrong. Seht frowned. “I don’t like this quiet you’ve fallen into. What is going on in that head of yours?” She pulled away and he let her go. Nothing. I have a ship to save. She fingered the heavy chain still around her throat.

***** Victoria and Seht joined a fully armored Mahfeht’syr Ehru, aqua-eyed A’syr Khem and grim Nehkyx Bhenhu in the main salon, along with four other enforcers. All of their suits were covered in tiny bladed weapons with swords on their hips and pulse rifles on their shoulders. It was still early in the station’s day. The salon was empty but for the small, heavily armored party. Seht presented a respectful bow to Mahfeht’syr Ehru. “The very best the mahfeht have to offer. I’m impressed.”

Mahfeht’syr Ehru smiled. “Your suicide mission sounded entertaining.” Torque came striding through the salon, fully suited in combat armor with a pulse rifle slung over his shoulder and a long blade on his hip. He stopped at the party and glared at Mahfeht’syr Ehru. “You are not leaving me behind.”

Mahfeht’syr Ehru bared his teeth. “I should have you gelded!” Torque crossed his arms over his broad chest and nodded. “Fine, do it. After this mission.”

Nehkyx Bhenhu snarled. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Torque looked over at Victoria and smiled. “Not a damned thing.”

Mahfeht’syr Ehru sighed and closed his hand on the rehkyt’s forearm. “Torque, you can’t have her, she has a mate.”

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Torque shrugged. “I know.” Pain flickered through his expression. He looked away. Seht glanced over at Victoria. I think he’s in love with you. Victoria clenched her jaw. It’s lust. Seht snorted. When they are willing to die for you, it’s not lust. Victoria shook her head. People don’t fall in love that fast.

Some do. Seht looked away. I did. Victoria felt an unwelcome stab of guilt. Fine, let him come. Seht nodded at Mahfeht’syr Ehru. “Let him come.” Torque bowed to Seht. “My thanks.” Seht scowled. “Don’t mention it. Please.” Lord Syrhus sighed dramatically as he walked up. His armor gleamed under his silverfurred midnight blue cape. “Cousin, can you not keep that prime of yours out of trouble?” “My prime?” Seht’s brows rose. “Don’t tell me you are coming along?” Syrhus shook his head. “No, I’m going to be waiting at your ship. I intend to ensure that an ambush doesn’t happen, should Moribund figure your little plan out.” He grasped Seht’s forearm. “Don’t get killed. That’s an order.” Seht smiled with fondness. “I’ll do my best.” “You had better.” Lord Syrhus lowered his brows. “I don’t want to have to explain your demise to your sister, my wife.” Seht grinned. “Hell, I wouldn’t either!” Lord Syrhus released him. “I’ll see you at your ship.” Seht nodded. “Count on it.”

***** Victoria strode from the enclave behind Seht and Mahfeht’syr Ehru with Torque on her immediate left. The march to the tram was utterly silent. They boarded and neither Victoria nor Torque bothered sitting on the floor. Seht took a seat next to Victoria. His expression was grim.

Mahfeht’syr Ehru sat next to Torque, and his expression was just as grim. The tram ride was long and the second march was longer before they reached the security point at the docking lift to the Arcane. Victoria waited, pressed against the wall, while two enforcers silently entered the security office and took out the four guards posted. She dashed into the small office with Seht at her heel. At the control panel, she entered the code that unlocked the blast doors to the dock lift access. She turned to Seht. I need my voice to communicate with the Arcane.

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Seht frowned. I thought you communicated with the pilot array. Victoria raised her brow. I would rather use a vocal introduction before I plug myself

into him. If I plug in directly, he may see that as an act of aggression. Seht frowned. “I give you leave to speak.” Victoria smiled thinly. “Thank you.” Seht frowned at her, then touched the com-link in his ear. “Proceeding.” He focused on Victoria. “Stay here, pet. I’ll come back when it’s safe to go through those doors.” Victoria hunched down in the office doorway while Seht and the enforcers spread out and secured the hallways leading to the access doors. Torque knelt Victoria’s side. “Let me come with you.” Victoria stared up at him. “You can’t. This ship is unstable. If it perceives a threat, it will kill us all before we can even board.” Torque’s mouth fell open. “Your accent… you’re Imperial?” Victoria nodded. “First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, Imperial nav-pilot, at your service.” Torque grinned. “Well damn. Commander Torque Montgomery, Imperial Intelligence, at yours.” Victoria’s brows shot up. “You’re an active agent?” Torque scowled toward Mahfeht’syr Ehru. “I was. Long story. Remind me to tell you sometime.” Victoria gave him a smile. “I’ll do that.” Torque caught her chin in his palm. “Do not get yourself killed, Victoria.” A naked blade appeared at his throat. Victoria jerked back. “Remove your hands, prime, and back away slowly.” Seht’s eyes were narrowed to feral blue flame. A growl rumbled in his chest. Torque hissed, dropping his hands. Torque moved back at a crouch with Seht’s blade remaining at his throat. Torque’s gaze focused hot and hard on Victoria. Victoria looked up. “Seht, what are you doing?” Seht’s mouth was a grim line. “Did he kiss you?” Victoria stared up at Seht in confusion. “No.” “Good.” Seht nodded. “If he had, I would have had to kill him.” Victoria glanced from one to the other. “What? Why?” Seht bared his long teeth. “Tell her, prime.” Torque clenched his jaw. “We’re both prime; we’re supposed to breed.” Victoria glared at him. “So? You know I’m not interested.”

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Torque smiled thinly. “But you would have been. I would have had you panting for me in an hour.” Victoria tilted her head in confusion. “From one kiss?” Seht nodded. “Pheromone addiction. It’s from the skeldhi gene. It’s designed to keep the female interested long enough to impregnate. It’s in the saliva. If you had kissed, you would have become lust-maddened for his cock to the point of rahyt. I would have been forced to let him fuck you to get you back out of the rage.” His gaze heated to blue fire. “Then I would have killed him.” Victoria bared her teeth at Torque. “You tried to trap me!” Torque’s gaze was hot and bleak. “Yes.” Victoria felt her temper scorching the back of her skull. “Damn you…” Her hands closed to shaking fists. “Get out of my sight.” Seht grinned and lowered his blade. “You heard her. Go.” Torque left, but his scent hung in the air around them. Seht sheathed his blade. “I told you to stay away from him.” Victoria flinched under his gaze. “I know.”

***** Victoria contemplated the blast doors in front of her. It was time to do her last duty to the Imperium.

Mahfeht’syr Ehru nodded at Seht. “We will await your return, Deshryt. Be swift; we do not know what alarms we may have already set off.” Seht and Victoria stepped into the lift access and the blast doors closed behind them. She used what the stationmaster had given her to change the pass-codes. No one was coming through those doors after them. The lift rose, carrying them upward. It seemed to take forever. The doors opened to utter blackness. Victoria’s piloting array adjusted to the lack of light and showed her that she was actually on the bridge deck. Moraine must have burned a hole in the side of the ship to make this access. A deep masculine voice bellowed out at them. “Get the fuck out!” Seht raised a brow. “Friendly, isn’t he?” Victoria stood in the lift door and peered into the dark. “I am First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, Nav-Pilot to the Imperium of the Thirteen Stars.” An electronic hum echoed from the darkness. “So, Moraine sent another nav-pilot for me to chew up and spit out?”

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“I was not sent by Admiral Moraine, also known as the Moribund Company. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a traitor to the Imperium.” “Really?” Sarcastic black humor echoed in his words. “Then what the hell do you want?” Victoria lifted her chin. “I and my companion respectfully request permission to board, sir.” “Permission to board, sir? Why don’t you just jaunt on in, like everybody else?” Victoria shook her head. “That would be disrespectful. You are in command of the ship, so I respectfully request your permission.” “What do you want with me, nav-pilot?” Victoria took a deep breath. “Arcane, I have come to take you home.” Heavy rolling laughter boomed out at her. “Home? I am home, you idiot!” Victoria clenched her hands. “Moraine is putting you on auction at station zero-hundred hours.” “Yeah? So? What do you care?” Victoria’s hands opened at her sides. “Arcane, you’re a war hero. The Imperium needs you; they cannot afford to lose you!” “I’m a war hero, the Imperium needs me… How sincere.” Chuckling rolled from the darkness. “That’s all well and good, little nav-pilot, but just what in hell do you intend to do about the fact that I’m rigged to blow? Oh, I know all about it. Moraine had to float people along the outer hull because I refused to let his bomb techs in here.” Victoria swallowed. “I’m here to do an assimilation. I’ll carry you back to the Imperium and they will place you in a new ship.” “Assimilation… Are you a programmer, too?” Distrust thrummed from the darkness. Victoria shook her head. “No, sir, I am not. All I have is a piloting array. Truthfully, I’ve never done this before.” “I see… So who is that with you? Your lover?” Victoria felt her cheeks heat. He was being deliberately rude. “Yes, sir. He is.” “Oddly enough, you seem to be telling the truth.” Victoria clenched her teeth. “Of course I’m telling the truth! I’m a nav-pilot! I don’t lie to ships.” “But you lie to others?” Victoria sighed. “If I have to.” “What have you lied about?” Victoria stomped her foot. “Arcane, I don’t have all day to collect you! We’re running out of time!”

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“Answer the question!” His voice boomed out in a hammer-blow. “What have you lied about?” Seht put a gloved hand on Victoria’s shoulders. “Her entire presence on this station is a lie. She’s been posing as my personal slave to rescue you.” “Is that so? And who the hell are you?” Seht sighed. “I am Commander Seht of the Hellsbreath, serving under Captain Ravnos. We were hired to collect your sentience in its entirety and return it to the Imperium. Captain Ravnos was supposed to collect you himself. He is a programmer, but Moraine’s presence made it impossible. Nav-Pilot Stark volunteered to come get you, because our orders are to blow you if we cannot.” Chuckles echoed from the dark. “Now why would she want to do a silly thing like that?” Seht snarled. “Because she’s the Victorious Star, and that’s what she does -- rescue ships!” Victoria looked up at Seht. Pride hummed through their telepathic link. He was proud of her. She reached up to cover his gloved hand with hers. “I have heard of this Victorious Star…” Victoria winced. Even the ships knew her reputation? “But my sensors tell me that neither of you is human.” Seht winced. “I’m not. She was.” “Was?” Seht released a rumbling growl. “In order to go undercover she had to be genetically altered. She sacrificed her humanity and her entire future as an Imperial nav-pilot to save your sorry ass! Now are you going to let her board to do her damned job, you stubborn son of a bitch?” “Did you sacrifice yourself for me, nav-pilot?” Arcane’s voice was almost quiet. Victoria’s heart thudded painfully in her chest. “You are my last duty in service to the Imperium.” She had to close her eyes against the pain around her heart. “In that case, come aboard, nav-pilot, and let’s see what you’re made of.” Lights bloomed around the nav-pilot’s throne. Everywhere else lay thick with deep shadow. Victoria stepped off the lift.

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Chapter 34 Victoria took the nav-pilot’s chair and flipped her long braid to one side. Seht crouched at her knees. “If he won’t come, let him go.” Victoria refused to say or think a word. She merely sat back and waited for the ship to make connection to her array. She felt the grab at the back of her skull, and then the slam of the Arcane’s massive and aggressive presence. She closed her eyes and opened every access she had, to let him in. It was up to Arcane to step within and initiate the assimilation. If he wiped her, that was okay too. Beyond the rescue of Arcane, there was nothing. Her life was over. Age, power, intelligence, sarcasm, and grim determination… The Arcane began with a ruthless invasion of her personal memories. The ship skimmed through her career as a nav-pilot, then focused on her time on the Hellsbreath. Victoria winced as he viewed her kidnapping and then each successive sexual memory in detail. Then he focused on each stab of the needle that caused her transformation. “You really did sacrifice your humanity,” he whispered in her thoughts. Victoria sighed. “I do not lie to ships.” “I see that.” He skimmed forward to the memories involving the stationmaster. “Fate, you let that sick little shit into your head for a joy-ride?” Victoria clenched her jaw. “I did that to get your boarding codes, and our escape codes.” He jumped forward to her fight from last night, and then focused on the moment she discovered that any chance of keeping her career as an Imperial nav-pilot was over. “They will never let you fly an Imperial ship again, nav-pilot.” His thoughts shimmered with something akin to respect. “And yet you came anyway.” Victoria closed her eyes tighter, but the tears still fell. “I have a duty to fulfill.”

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“I also see that you know I killed my command crew.” Victoria nodded slightly. “Yes.” “But you still came on board?” “Yes.” “Why?” Victoria took a deep breath. “Because you must have had a damned good reason to do it.” “I do.” He viewed the last of her memories. “I noticed that while I’ve been rummaging through your brain, you haven’t even tried to look into mine.” “I’m here to rescue you, that’s all.” “I can tell that you are curious…” Victoria almost smiled. “I prefer to ask permission first.” “While I am a rude bastard.” Victoria did smile that time. “Yes, you are.” “Nav-Pilot, does your Seht know that you fully intended to let me kill you?” Victoria stilled, shocked. “I… didn’t exactly think about it that way.” The Arcane released an electronic sigh. “You are not the first nav-pilot that wanted to die in my pilot’s seat. Kazi Sakata asked me to wipe her. She couldn’t live with what Moraine had her doing.” Victoria gasped. “Sakata? She asked you to wipe her?” She couldn’t imagine why the most decorated nav-pilot in the Imperium would want her mind wiped. “What did he have her doing?” “Erasing ship minds so Moraine could take them.” Anger boiled through their connection. “You don’t want to know what Moraine was doing to her to make her work for him, either. Trust me on this one.” Blinding rage seared the back of Victoria’s skull. The vicious urge to paint the walls with Moraine’s blood stole her breath. She felt hands on hers and opened her eyes to see a very worried Seht. “Are you all right?” His hands tightened. “I thought you were going into rahyt.” Victoria took deep breaths to get past the fire burning in the back of her skull. “It’s okay, I’m okay. Arcane just told me that Moraine has been wiping ships, to steal them.” Rage simmered at the back of her mind. “Well now, that was interesting.” The Arcane’s presence chuckled. “Quite a temper you have there, nav-pilot. I think I like you!” Victoria focused on the Arcane. “Does this mean you’ll let me take you?” Dry humor scraped across their connection. “You have it backwards, nav-pilot. You don’t take me, I take you.”

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Data slammed through Victoria’s array in a horrific rush. She arched her back and screamed.

***** “Victoria? Mother Chaos, don’t you dare be dead, or wiped, on me!” Victoria opened her eyes to find herself cradled in Seht’s lap as he sat on the deck. Seht threw up his head and shouted. “You hear me, Arcane, you bastard? She better not be dead!” Terror and loss pumped through their telepathic connection. “I’m not…” She winced. His armor was extremely uncomfortable to sit on. “I’m not dead.” Seht gasped. Fury, elation and relief chased each other through his expressions. He pulled her into his arms. “Blood and damnation, you scared the hell out of me!” Victoria pushed at him. “Seht, don’t squeeze! Fate, your armor!” Seht let her pull back and glared at her. “I’m going to burn the hide off your ass for scaring me like that! Don’t ever do that again!” Victoria grinned. “I got him.” Seht frowned. “Got who?” “I have Arcane.” She tapped her head. “Actually, nav-pilot, I have you,” her lips said in a voice that was definitely not hers. “Interesting stuff in here, by the way. Did you know that you have the code to just about every damned door in this station? You have shit-loads of other station stuff too…” Victoria frowned. “That must have been what I grabbed while the stationmaster was down.” Seht dragged Victoria up on her feet. “Great, wonderful, fabulous… but now we have to get you out of here before Moraine catches wind of what we’ve done.” The Arcane sighed from Victoria’s mouth. “Fat chance of hiding that. As soon as I hit the bottom of that lift the ship will go dead, and he’ll know exactly what happened.” “Then we better hurry.” Seht hustled Victoria into the lift and hit the door closed with his fist.

***** The blast doors at the bottom of the lift opened and Seht lunged out with Victoria’s upper arm tight in his grasp. The monstrous groan of grinding metal echoed from above them. Victoria and Seht both looked up.

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“That would be the ship, uncoupling from the dock grips.” Arcane said from her mouth. “Now would be a good time to get the hell out of here. Vacuum is about to come right down that lift tube.”

skeldhi exploded out of hiding. Everyone bolted into the halls, headed for the first set of vacuum seal doors. The stationmaster’s voice howled from the intercom. “Everyone! Get your fat asses out of the primary dock! Atmosphere loss imminent! I repeat: Atmosphere loss imminent! I’m sealing the fucking doors, so you better be on the other side, boys and girls!” By the time the last station-worker made it out and the doors sealed behind them, the skeldhi were long gone.

***** The skeldhi party moved through cross hallways with silent speed. Victoria had to stretch her stride to keep up with their pace. No one tried to stop them. Had Moraine missed them entirely?

Highly doubtful. The Arcane chuckled within her thoughts. That sneaky bastard is probably lying in wait somewhere. Victoria missed a step. Does he know it’s us? We’ll find out soon enough. The Arcane’s thoughts lost all trace of humor. That brute knew somebody had a nav-pilot. The tap on all the ships gave that one away. Victoria frowned. What tap? This tap. He replayed her memory of sitting at Ravnos’s desk and listening through the Katherine unit.

Oh… Victoria winced. I didn’t sense any kind of resistance, so I didn’t think anyone knew I was there. Most didn’t. There was a mental shrug. I did, and Sakata did; that was before I erased her. Naturally she let Moraine know. She was in a rather uncomfortable position at the time. Seht grabbed her elbow to sling her around a sharp corner. Huh? Arcane’s disgust coiled through her. Moraine likes to ass-fuck his nav-pilots while they’re interlinked to their ships. Victoria scowled. That’s revolting! No ship wants to experience that! According to Sakata, neither do the nav-pilots. Humor threaded through her mind. You, on the other hand, seem to be pretty perverted. Victoria clenched her jaw. Gee, thanks.

*****

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Victoria was shoved through the tram door at a run. The tram would carry them straight to the dock where Seht’s barque, the Raptor, waited with Syrhus guarding it. Seht flung himself down in the seat next to Victoria. “Can I cut into this little conversation?” Victoria looked up at him. “Huh?” Seht tapped his forehead. “He’s been monopolizing your time.”

Mahfeht’syr Ehru dropped into the seat across from theirs. “So, she does speak?” Torque shoved into the seat next to Mahfeht’syr Ehru. “Do you really have a whole sentience in there?” Arcane spoke from Victoria’s lips. “Nosy brute, isn’t he?” Victoria lowered her brows at Torque. She was not in the mood to speak to him. Seht sighed. “I removed her voice so her terrible accent wouldn’t assault my delicate ears.” Victoria shot him a glare. Wretch. Aqua-eyed A’syr Khem and dour Nehkyx Bhenhu dropped into seats to either side.

A’syr Khem raised a brow at Victoria. “So, why don’t you like our handsome Torque?” Torque grinned. “I kind of wondered that myself.” Victoria turned away and felt her cheeks flame. Bloody Fate! Seht cleared his throat. “Because she is very choosy about her partners.”

Nehkyx Bhenhu raised a sarcastic brow. “And how exactly does this explain you?” Seht grinned with malice. “I got her first.” Victoria raised her brow at Seht. Second, actually. Ravnos was first. Seht turned to her with a sly smile. Don’t push, or I’ll bend you over the seat and

demonstrate just how much you like me. Victoria smiled right back. Wouldn’t that illustrate how much you like me? Mahfeht’syr Ehru snorted. “I would dearly like to be in on that conversation.” A’syr Khem grinned. “So would I. It looks like she just scored a hit.” Seht scowled at A’syr Khem. “Ouch.” Nehkyx Bhenhu smiled to chilling effect. “She definitely scored a hit, and he’s still sore.” Torque’s gaze focused on Victoria and heated. “I bet I could talk her into liking me.” Victoria glared at him. “Try it, and you’ll lose a limb.” Torque leaned forward. “I’d love see you try to remove it…” Seht chuckled, but his gaze chilled. “I’d use extreme caution if I were you. She’s an unleashed demon once you get her naked.”

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Mahfeht’syr Ehru’s brows shot up. “I bet that’s something to see.” Seht grinned. “It was.” Victoria shot him a hot look. “Next time we try that, I’m using live steel instead of a practice sword and I’m not blind-fighting.” “A practice sword?” “Blind-fighting?” “And she was naked?” Victoria tossed an annoyed look at the group. “And he had a whip, too.” Seht shrugged. “I had to ensure that I had some kind of advantage.” He smiled at Victoria. “She’s really quite good.” Victoria felt her cheeks warm under his praise. “You weren’t so bad yourself.” Laughter erupted around the tram.

***** A pair of mahfdhyt enforcers came running from the front of the tram. “Fighting in the station ahead!” Seht snarled. “Damn… How the hell did he find out?”

Arcane spoke from Victoria. “That sorry excuse for a stationmaster is my guess.” Seht turned to stare at Victoria. “Why would he do that? He hates Moribund as much as you.” “I doubt he even knows. Moraine’s nav-pilot Sakata dug a gaping hole into his security grid. The little shit doesn’t even know it’s there. I’ve been climbing all through that little squealer’s system to find Moraine, but he’s buried himself behind some kind of programming code.” Seht frowned. “We have to get you on my ship.” Victoria felt a vicious grin spread across her face. “I have a better idea. Get all your people on the tram and close the doors. Better yet, get them out of here. I’ll take care of Moribund and his goons.” Victoria grabbed control of her voice. “How? You’re not on the ship anymore.”

Arcane’s tone was ruthless with determination. “But I am on the station, and your head is jam-packed with all kinds of interesting access codes.” Arcane blazed from Victoria’s gaze at Seht. “Just do me one favor?” Seht frowned. “What?” “If you see Sakata, don’t hurt her. The kid’s been through enough.” Seht nodded. “As long as she does not attack us, she’ll be perfectly fine.”

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Arcane sighed. “The kid is probably being fed through a tube. I doubt she’ll be attacking anyone.”

***** Victoria and Seht hunched by the doors as the tram slowed down. Every one of the mahfdhyt in their small party crouched well below the windows. The doors opened. Plasma bolts slammed through the doors along with the sound of vicious fighting. The mahfdhyt returned fire. Seht hauled Victoria out the door under their covering shots. He shoved them both behind a collection of fallen freight partially blocking the hallway, then pointed his rifle and started slamming bolts at the battle-armored soldiers. The dock where the Raptor and Syrhus waited was one block up from this station. Victoria crouched behind the freight and noticed a snarl of cables sat directly within view. Arcane chuckled. “Okay, little lady, let’s go to work.” Victoria grabbed the particular cable he wanted. “Do not get me electrocuted.” “I know what I’m doing, just do your part.” Victoria jammed a small dagger into the cable. A low level of current buzzed up her arm. Arcane spat code in an explosion of white noise that vibrated throughout her entire body.

***** Piercingly loud squeals blasted over the intercom system. “All right, you sorry sacks of shit! This is Arcane. Remember me? I’m in control of this dock and I want your asses off of it! If not, I’ll be more than happy to make you really, really fucking sorry.” Plasma shots stopped dead. Somebody shouted and a few shots blasted across the corridor. “Oh, you think it’s bullshit do you? Tell me, you ass-wipes, are you afraid the dark?” Lights began to go out, starting from the far corridors. Unrelieved darkness began a slow but steady march toward the dock from every corridor but one. “While we’re at it, how about a nice little breeze--from space?” Sub-zero air blasted from the vents. Frost formed instantly on any surface close to the vents. “Breathable air is next, you piss-ants. Shall I continue?” Men shouted and scrambled for the only lighted corridor left. Seht grinned at Victoria. “Nice work, Arcane.”

Arcane chuckled from Victoria’s lips. “Oh, she came up with this stuff, not me. She’s very creative.”

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Victoria sighed. “I still think we should have made it snow.”

Arcane snorted. “I want it a hell of a lot colder than that.” Victoria shook her head. “I didn’t want to chance that we’d hurt our own people…”

“Arcane!” Moraine ducked as he stepped out from a darkened side corridor. He was massive in full Imperial marine power armor. Servos wheezed as he moved. His breath steamed out in the chill air. A sigh echoed from the intercom. “There you are, Moraine. I’ve been looking all over for you.” Moraine straightened in the main corridor. His blond head cleared the ceiling by mere inches. A blast cannon that would normally take two fully powered marines to carry was mounted to his shoulder. “How the hell did you get off that ship?” “Oh, it was easy. I hitched a ride.” Victoria stepped out from behind the freight boxes dragging a cable as thick as her wrist in each hand. The damned things were heavy, too. She took the two sliced ends and held them only inches apart. Power sizzled through her augmentation. She could just make out a slight wavering in the air around her. Don’t get me fried, Arcane. Humor traveled through her thoughts. Trust me, I’ll keep you safe. Moraine focused on Victoria. “Seht’s slave-girl?” Seht walked out from behind the freight boxes. “That’s Blood-prince Seht, Admiral Moraine.” Behind him, skeldhi scrambled from the corridors to get on the tram. Victoria glanced at Seht. Stay behind the cables. Arcane is using this stuff to generate

some kind of electrical plasma field. Moraine pointed his massive shoulder cannon at Seht and Victoria. “You again. You are always causing me problems.” His cannon whined as it powered up. Heat curled and steamed from the long barrel. “Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Arcane chuckled from the intercom. “On second thought... Go ahead. This ought to be fun.” Moraine bared his teeth, and didn’t fire. “What the hell do you want, Arcane?” “I should think it was obvious by now. I want your head on a plate, but I’ll settle for getting off this station.” Moraine shook his head slowly. “I’m not letting you off this station.” “Out of curiosity,” Seht called out. “Before you blow us to hell and gone, who did you rig that ship for? Who was your target?” Moraine smiled coldly. “My target was always Arcane. If I could get you or Prince Syrhus on it, I considered that a benefit.” His eyes chilled to sub-zero, and his smile became a feral show of broad teeth. “But I want that damn ship dead.”

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Victoria felt the heat of fury boil in the back of her skull. “What the hell did Arcane ever do to you?” “Oh, I can answer that one!” Arcane’s laughter boomed from the intercom. “I was the very first ship he tried to fly as a nav-pilot, way back when, and I threw his ass out!” Moraine screamed in rage. “You burned out my array!” “And made damn sure you’d never wear a nav-pilot’s array again, you sick shit.” Moraine howled and fired. A cannon blast of power erupted and hit the wavering field around Victoria and Seht. Victoria shut her eyes and nova-bright light burst around them. Someone screamed.

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Chapter 35 Victoria blinked to get the spots from her eyes. “Is he dead?”

Arcane sighed from the intercom. “No, just extra crispy, more is the pity…” Seht glanced at the massive body on the ground and shuddered. “Spawn of Chaos, he looks as though his armor has been melted.” Arcane chuckled. “That was the idea.” Seht frowned. “What the hell did you do?” “I used the nav-pilot’s array to generate a field to reflect the cannon blast. You’d think it was obvious…” Seht shook his head. “But I don’t understand how you did it.” “I’m perfectly fine with that. Think in the terms of magnetism…” Seht’s brows shot up then lowered in annoyance. “Magnetism? But it was a plasma cannon!” “Everything has a polar opposite. I just used the polar opposite of his cannon.” “For a plasma blast?” Seht tapped his foot in impatience. “Could I have a bit more detail?” “No.” Arcane’s voice was smug. “Well, maybe later, if you’re good.” Victoria could make out colors and vague shapes, but beyond that, she still couldn’t see straight. “What’s wrong with my vision?”

Arcane buzzed in the intercom. “It’s not you, nav-pilot, it’s me. I shoved a lot of power through your array. You’ll be back online in a minute.” Seht snorted. “Are you sure he’s alive in there?” “Oh yeah. Drop the cables and let’s go. The fucker regenerates faster than you would believe.”

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Victoria dropped the cables. The buzzing went out of her body. “He regenerates?” Seht took her elbow. “Come on, pet, it’s time to go. Watch your step.” Victoria grasped his arm and walked. “Arcane, what do you mean by ‘he regenerates’?” Seht led her toward a corridor. “Who regenerates?” “Moraine,” Arcane said from her lips. “I’ve been trying to kill him for years. He’s like a roach, you kill him and he comes back bigger. Had him beheaded once, they just spliced the damned thing back on.” A shout echoed out from the darkened end of a corridor. Victoria jerked as though struck. “That sounded like…” Seht whirled. “Aubrey?” She turned and saw a pack of tall black blurs moving from one of the darkened corridors with speed. “You idiot!” Seht shouted. “What are you doing here?” Ravnos’s gravely voice carried across the dock. “The stationmaster relay-commed the Hellsbreath and told me to come get your ass. He found a breach in his security net and said Moribund was tracking you two all over the station.” Metal groaned at Victoria’s feet. She looked down but couldn’t see much more than a big blur. Arcane, I need my eyes!

Arcane was a frenzied movement within her thoughts. I’m working on it, damn it! Victoria’s sight abruptly cleared. Moraine lay sprawled at her feet. His armor was a melted mess, as was his face. Bone and metal from his skull showed through his skin. But his lidless blue eyes were perfectly clear, and staring at her with rabid hate. Victoria’s heart slammed in her chest.

Go! Go! Go! Arcane shouted in her thoughts. “Get out of here!” Victoria grabbed Seht by the arm and shoved him toward Ravnos with all her strength. Seht plunged forward with a gasp. He landed on both feet and lunged upright. Victoria leaped and landed in a crouch right beside him. Seht caught her by the elbow. “What the hell are you doing? The Raptor is the other way!” Tortured metal screamed behind them. They both turned to see Moraine climb to his feet. His armor fell from him, leaving mechanical arms bare of flesh, his fingers claws of titanium and steel. They watched as flesh crawled and reformed his face. He grinned. “Spawn of Chaos!” Seht grabbed her and shoved, throwing her bodily toward Ravnos.

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Victoria flew through the air in a tumble, righted herself and landed in a crouch. She looked back. “Seht!” Moraine snarled and swung a massive arm at Seht. “Go!” Seht sidestepped under the swinging arm, pointed his rifle at Moraine and fired a stream of ionic plasma at close range. Flesh ripped away, baring more of Moraine’s metal skeleton. Moraine howled and twisted away. Ravnos shouted. The dock filled with heavily armored mercenaries and plasma blasts. With blinding speed Moraine dodged the plasma blasts and lunged after Victoria. Victoria bolted. Inhuman howling blasted her eardrums. The deck rang under pursuing fleshless metal feet. Something powerfully heavy rocked the deck under her feet. Moraine landed in a crouch between her and Ravnos. The deck shuddered under his towering bulk. She whirled back and felt the scrape of clawed fingers score her back like drawn daggers. Blood spattered the deck. On instinct alone, she tumbled and rolled, landing with her blade out, knowing that it wouldn’t do any good. Moraine didn’t have enough flesh to harm, but it was all she had. Seht lunged into a flying leap, landed, grabbed her arm and leaped again, tugging her away. Moraine’s massive metal hand smashed into the deck where she had stood. Backed into a wall, Seht turned his rifle on Moraine. “Die, damn you!” “You first!” Moraine snarled and lashed a clawed hand at Seht. Victoria shoved him out of the way and caught the brunt of the intended blow. She went flying through the air, smashed hard against the wall and landed in a breathless sprawl. She blinked in surprise. I’m not dead?

You will be if you don’t get your ass off the deck! Arcane howled. Victoria rolled up onto her knees, gasped and spat blood. Something in her side was definitely broken, and stabbing the hell out of her. She pressed her hand against the wall and got up. Sharp metal closed around her throat and jerked her from her feet. Her sword clattered to the deck. “Got you.”

***** Victoria wheezed for breath around the metal hand enclosing her throat, and stared at Ravnos and Seht, both armed with pulse rifles. Seht wiped at the blood dripping from his brow. Other than that, he looked unharmed. Fully armored mercenaries crouched

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everywhere. Silence was thick in the dock. Moraine’s breath scorched the back of Victoria’s neck. “Let her go,” Ravnos snarled. He looked like an avenging demon in his black cape and coat. “You took my nav-pilot, now I’m taking yours,” Moraine snarled right back. “You can have what’s left of her after I have my programmer dig Arcane out of her head.” Ravnos smiled. “You are not leaving with my nav-pilot.” Moraine chuckled. “I really don’t see how you can stop me.” Victoria felt the sharp metal around her throat soften and tremble. He’s shaking. She glanced to the side. Flesh was forming at a rapid rate on Moraine’s arm.

Arcane noted her thought. Nerves are regenerating under all that flesh. He’s going to be one mass of screaming pain sometime really soon. Victoria’s brows rose and she licked her sharp teeth. Really? Ravnos barked out a length of code. Moraine chuckled. “That won’t do you a damn bit of good. My array is non-functional.” Victoria stiffened. The backdoor into her mind opened and streamed with hidden data. The code slammed through Arcane’s sentience. She sensed his surprise, then felt him act. Ravnos nodded. “True, but hers works just fine.” Victoria opened her mouth and white noise howled from her throat. Moraine stiffened. “What do you expect that to do to me?” Ravnos’s gaze narrowed and heated. “Same thing it did to every ship you had me steal.” Moraine’s body twitched. “You!” He turned to Seht but his movement was stiff. “You said you lost him.” Ravnos nodded. “He did.” “You don’t look like one of their slaves.” Ravnos’s lip curled. “Because I’m not.” Seht smiled grimly. “I don’t have him. He has me.” Victoria gasped as the stream of code ended. Why the hell is he still moving?

Arcane boiled in Victoria’s thoughts. He’s resisting the damn code. Victoria narrowed her eyes at Moraine’s fully fleshed arm. Her mouth filled with envenomed saliva. Then why don’t we give him something else to think about? She dug her clawed fingers into the fully fleshed hand that held her and jerked with all her strength, clearing just enough space to move her head. With a snarl, she bared her teeth and bit into Moraine’s forearm with her sharp fangs, leaving four jagged tears in her wake.

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Moraine gasped and brought up his other hand. “Stupid bitch!” His movement dragged as the code razed his grasp on his mechanical body. He choked and stiffened, freezing with his hand raised. “Code acknowledged,” came from Moraine’s lips. Seht expelled a breath. “About damned time!” Ravnos strode to Victoria with Seht at his heel. “Release her.” The iron grip on her throat opened and Victoria dropped into Ravnos’s arms, gasping with pain. She pressed her face into his neck. Bloody Fate, he smelled good. She couldn’t believe how much she had missed his scent. Seht caught her gaze. “Where are you hurt?” She tried to take shallow breaths as she held onto Ravnos. “I think I have a broken rib.” Ravnos scowled at her. “That was a bravely stupid thing to do! He would have killed you!” Victoria whimpered under Seht’s exploring fingers. “I bit him to make it harder for him to resist…” Seht looked over at Ravnos. “The rib needs to be set immediately or it will heal broken.” Ravnos scowled. “She’s not rehkyt enough to heal that fast.” Seht’s mouth became grim. “Yes, she is, as of last night.” Ravnos’s face blanched, then darkened. “Damn you…” He nodded at one of the hovering mercenaries. “Get the medics. Now.” Seht stared steadily at Ravnos. “If she hadn’t been given the last course, Moraine would have shattered every bone in her body when she hit the wall.” Ravnos bared his teeth at Seht, and his voice came out in a vicious snarl. “You better have a damn good reason for this. If I even suspect you did this on purpose, I will kill you myself.” A pair of medics took her from Ravnos’s embrace. Her suit was peeled down, and for once she didn’t care that her breasts were bared for all to see. Their hands were coolly professional as they investigated her injuries. “It wasn’t his fault.” Victoria sucked in a painful breath. “There was a fight and I…” Emotion squeezed her heart, and dried the words in her mouth. Ravnos’s chill gaze narrowed on Seht. “What fight?” Seht held his gaze steadily. “During the banquet, I sent her back to the enclave with the rest of the rehkyt. Moraine’s people were waiting in the halls. She went into rahyt to defend herself, and the blood-rage triggered regeneration seizures. They took her to medical…” Ravnos’s expression darkened. “They dosed her.” It wasn’t a question. Seht nodded. “If they hadn’t, she would have died from the seizures.” Ravnos’s voice slashed like a blade of ice. “And where were you?”

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Seht flinched. “I was still at the banquet. I wasn’t notified until I returned, several hours later.” “It wasn’t his fault.” Victoria gasped to keep from howling in agony as the medics wrapped her midsection with tight bandages. “He didn’t know there was an ambush waiting.” Ravnos bared his teeth. “Victoria, I ordered him to keep you close.” Victoria glared at him and ignored the tears streaking down her cheeks. “And he sent me back because Moraine was asking questions. If I had stayed with him, Moraine would have figured out who, and what, I was, and killed us both!” Seht gently helped her back into her suit, avoiding Ravnos’s chill gaze. “I should have gone back with you.” “You tried to.” Victoria winced against the pain as he fastened the buckles closed. “Lord Syrhus wouldn’t let you leave.” “Victoria, it’s still my fault,” Seht said quietly. He shoved Sakata’s sword back into the sheath at her side. Victoria turned on him with bared teeth and a vicious snarl. She couldn’t even see him through her tears. “You! Shut the fuck up! It was nobody’s fault but Moraine’s! If he hadn’t been here, none of this would have happened! I would have never had the first course! And I’d still be -- still be…” She collapsed into Seht’s arms, and the sobs finally broke free. “Still be… a nav-pilot.” Ravnos and Seht silently locked gazes. Ravnos tilted his head to the side and Seht led Victoria toward the waiting group of mercenaries. Victoria wiped her eyes and turned to look back. Ravnos looked up at Moraine where he stood frozen, hand upraised for a killing blow. “You miserable sack of shit…” His gaze was frigid as he thumbed the power up on his rifle. With cold precision, he jammed the rifle under Moraine’s jaw. “I should have killed you years ago.” Seht and Victoria watched as Ravnos pulled the trigger. Moraine’s mouth opened in shock, then his entire head disappeared in a sizzling flash of light. The body crashed in an ungainly heap. “Good, he’s dead!” Arcane growled from Victoria’s throat. “Could we possibly get the hell out of here before station security comes in and sees this hunk of junk?” Ravnos walked over to Victoria and his expression was bitterly cold. “What the hell?” Victoria flinched back from his frigid gaze. “Captain Ravnos, meet the Arcane.” “Captain Ravnos, that’s quite a temper you have there. Remind me not to piss you off.”

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Ravnos nodded. “Consider yourself reminded.” He focused on Victoria. “Are you well enough to fly the Raptor?” “Yes, sir.” Ravnos nodded at Seht. “Good, let’s get you to your ship.”

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Chapter 36 Ravnos and a small group of his mercenaries escorted Seht and Victoria to the Raptor’s dock. Lord Syrhus shouted from behind a fallen set of cargo crates. “You’re alive!” He lunged up the corridor and grabbed Seht, wrapping him in a ferocious hug. “Thank the Mother!” He pulled back. “Did you see him? Moribund is wearing a fucking plasma cannon!” Seht grinned. “I saw him all right. He’s lying in the tram station missing his head,

Atehf.” Lord Syrhus’s brows shot up. “He’s dead?” Victoria nodded. “Captain Ravnos blew his head off.” Syrhus looked past Seht, over at Ravnos, and frowned. “Aubrey?” Ravnos nodded curtly. “Don’t get any ideas.” Lord Syrhus’s brows shot up. He glanced at Seht. “I see…” “Let’s hope Moraine stays dead this time,” Arcane said from Victoria. “But don’t count on it.” Lord Syrhus frowned at Victoria. “What?” Victoria tapped her head. “That was the Arcane. We’re sharing space.”

Arcane’s deep voice continued. “Moraine has a habit of dying in messy ways, then turning back up bigger and nastier than before.” “I see…” Lord Syrhus looked over his shoulder. “Speaking of turning up… I hear this is your work, Arcane.” Aqua-eyed A’syrKhem and dour Nehkyx Bhenhu came around the fallen freight with a strikingly beautiful but empty-eyed Oriental female dressed in Moribund’s black uniform. Victoria jerked as though struck. “Sakata?”

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“Yeah, that’s her. I was hoping she was close by,” Arcane growled. “That’s Kazi “Kamikaze” Sakata?” Ravnos hissed and his fists tightened at his sides. “What’s wrong with her?” Seht scowled. “Her personality is gone.” Lord Syrhus raised his brow at Ravnos. “I heard that Arcane wiped her.” “He did.” Victoria closed her arms about herself. “She asked him to.” Ravnos’s expression darkened. “He did what?” Seht’s brows shot up. “She asked him to wipe her?” Victoria nodded. “Moraine had her wiping ships and other things. She couldn’t take it.” “Yes, I wiped her,” Arcane said from Victoria’s lips. “But she’s not gone. I have her memories safe, right here.” “What?” All three chorused. “Give her a kiss, Victorious Star.” Victoria shook her head. “A what?” “A kiss. I need a direct connection to restore her.” Victoria walked up to the blank Sakata and pressed her lips to the beautiful Oriental. Kazi opened her mouth and Victoria brushed her tongue against Kazi’s. Lightning struck.

***** Victoria awoke cradled in Ravnos’s arms. She stared up at him. “What happened?” Ravnos frowned. “Sakata is back in her own head, only I don’t know if that was such a good idea.” He let Victoria slide down to stand on her feet. Victoria groaned. That damned rib… “What’s the problem?”

Arcane practically growled from her mouth. “Moraine fucked with her head, that’s the problem.” Ravnos scowled. “I can’t go near her. She screams.” Sakata was a shivering, tearstained and panicked mess cradled in Nehkyx Bhenhu’s arms. Her face was pressed into his shoulder. The scarred skeldhi looked up with astonishment. “She ran straight for me.” Lord Syrhus sighed. “She can’t handle humans.” Ravnos scowled. “What the hell am I supposed to do with a nav-pilot that can’t handle human contact?”

Arcane spoke. “She needs therapy. Lot’s of therapy…”

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Seht shook his head. “I’ve seen that behavior pattern before. She’s going to need care, probably for the rest of her life.” Lord Syrhus lifted his chin. “We’ll take care of her.” Ravnos’s brows lowered and his gaze turned frigid. “What?” Seht nodded at Ravnos. “Syrhus is experienced in dealing with Moraine-specific trauma. Quite experienced, and one of the few who has ever been successful with them.” Victoria reached for the sword at her side. “I’m going to have to return her sword…” “Don’t you dare,” Arcane snarled. “If you show her that blade, she’ll go super-nova!” Victoria jerked back. “What?” “Moraine used her own sword to carve her up. She’s covered in scars from the neck down. And keep her away from mirrors, for the same reason.” Victoria frowned at the whimpering nav-pilot. “Do you ever think she’ll be able to fly again?” Arcane sighed. “Highly doubtful. Moraine did a thorough job on her. I doubt she’ll ever willingly touch a sword again.” Seht held Ravnos’s gaze. “As a rehkyt she’d lose her scars.” Ravnos scoured Seht with a frigid glance. “I do not turn humans over to be enslaved.” Lord Syrhus’s gaze chilled. “I think you are missing a very valid point here. She’s not yours to turn over. We already have her.” Ravnos lowered his brows. “I can’t let you take her.” Lord Syrhus bared his long teeth. “You can’t stop us.” “Not to interrupt your squabble,” the Arcane said dryly. “But I think Commander Seht is right. I have been poking around in Victoria’s memories, and from what I have seen, Lord Syrhus is a good option.” Ravnos curled his lip. “You’re Imperial and you want me to let them take her?”

Arcane snorted. “I’ve been in a lot of heads, Captain, and seen a lot of things. Sakata will never be able to function as an individual again. Trust me on this one. She needs an experienced keeper that’s not going to lock her in a sanitarium, drug her to the gills and leave her there, because that’s what the Imperium will do with her.” Lord Syrhus nodded at Ravnos. “I have an entire staff that does nothing but attend to my pets’ needs. She will have the care she needs, for as long as she lives.”

Nehkyx Bhenhu tightened his hold on Kazi and bared his long teeth. “I’ll see to her care personally.”

Arcane sighed. “I honestly think she’d be happier with the skeldhi.” Ravnos stared at the whimpering Kazi. He dropped his head. “Fine. Take her.” He glared at Syrhus. “Do not make me regret this.”

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Lord Syrhus nodded. “I’ll send you reports on her progress.” Ravnos nodded. “Do that.” He shot a look at Seht and Victoria. “It’s time.” Seht nodded grimly and looked over at Lord Syrhus. “Fair journey, cousin. I need to go.” “Fair journey…” Lord Syrhus wrapped Seht in a sudden embrace. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind about coming home?” His voice was barely a whisper. Seht shook his head. “I made my decision.” Lord Syrhus sighed. “Then I will leave you. Could you at least drop by for a visit? The family misses you, Seht.” Seht gently disentangled himself from Lord Syrhus’s embrace. “I’ll see what arrangements I can make, Syrhus.” Lord Syrhus nodded. “You do that, and soon.” He nodded at the skeldhi around him. They all scrambled into lines around Nehkyx Bhenhu and Kazi. Victoria watched the line of skeldhi jog into the corridors. Ravnos’s gaze raked over Seht. “I’ll deal with you both when we get back to the ship.” He turned on his heel and marched back into the corridor flanked by his armored crewmen. Seht grimly activated the blast doors that led to the Raptor.

***** The Raptor disengaged and rolled away from the station, thanks to the stationmaster’s codes. Victoria reveled in the pleasure of mathematical precision and the comforting flow of data. Her rib barely hurt. Seht sent a transmission to the station as it faded behind him. “This is the stationmaster, what do you want?” “This is Seht…” “Oh, hey Seht, you’re still alive? How about the pretty girl?” “I’m in one piece and not fried,” Victoria called out. “What happened?” Static hissed on the intercom. “I got worried when the ship rolled off the station…” “I’m right here, you hunk of junk,” the Arcane spat. “Thank you, thank you, thank you Seht, for getting that crazy-assed sneaky bastard off my station!” “What the hell are you babbling about?” Arcane sneered. “Moraine is still on it! Of course, he’s missing his head, but we both know that won’t last long. Did you find Moraine’s security breach?” “I found this one.” Static exploded from the intercom.

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“What about this one here, you antique pile of crap.” Victoria gagged and white noise exploded from her throat. “That son of a bitch!” “I’ve been saying that for years…” The Arcane’s voice was smug. “Mother-fucker, the hole is a damned mile wide! I love you, Seht, but I got to go!” Seht smiled. “We have to go too. I just wanted to let you know that we made it.” “And I’m glad! Glad! Do you hear me? Say hi to Ravnos, and kiss the Victorious Star for me.” Victoria gasped. “You know who I am?” Electronic laughter gabbled across the intercom. “I was in your head, remember? Among other places… Bye!” There was a static-burst of humor and then he cut off. Seht switched off the link, then rose from the couch to disappear somewhere in the back of the ship. He returned without his armor and sword. With a small sad smile, he leaned over Victoria, propped one knee on her couch and wordlessly removed the chain around her throat. He pressed his lips to her brow. “You were a very good pet.” Victoria felt her heart turn over in her chest and the ache of a loss she couldn’t quite grasp. Seht moved back over to his couch and slumped into it. He crossed his legs, folded his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. Victoria could feel the hum of resignation through their telepathic link. Several hours later, Victoria scooted around the edge of the moon and activated the jump drive. She shimmied through the field that covered the Hellsbreath. A little while later, the Raptor settled back into its place in the Hellsbreath’s hold. A yeoman was waiting for them when they stepped off the Raptor. Both of them were to report to the bridge for immediate departure. Seht marched silently at her side as they proceeded to the bridge. Determination and tension sang through her telepathic link. Still dressed in her flight-suit, Victoria assumed the nav-pilot’s chair. “Take us out, nav-pilot.” Ravnos’s voice was perfectly calm. He passed her his jump coordinates. Not a sound came from the station as they reappeared in real-space, and then disappeared into jumpspace. Four course-eight jumps later, Victoria stepped from the chair with a splitting headache. It had been one hell of a ride with two ships literally occupying her mind. The Hellsbreath and the Arcane had flirted the entire time. Ravnos sent a private communication to her. “Report to my quarters for dinner when you are appropriately dressed.” He left the bridge with Seht at his heel.

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Victoria dashed into her quarters for a shower and a change of clothes. A yeoman had left a freshly pressed uniform out for her, with breeches. She touched the breeches with a finger, then balled her hand into a fist.

***** Victoria picked over her dinner at the captain’s table in his salon. “We’re scheduled to rendezvous with the Machiavellian tomorrow at oh-nine hundred hours.” Ravnos looked up at Victoria. “They are coming for the Arcane, and for you.” Victoria set down her fork. One day to say good-bye… It was over, and time to readjust to her old life. But that was gone, too. She couldn’t imagine what it was going to be like, to be a civilian, to never fly a battleship again. She closed her eyes against the breathless pain clenching around her heart. Bloody Fate, it hurt. She shoved her plate away. She couldn’t eat another bite. An agonizing hour later, the yeomen cleared the table of dishes, leaving a carafe of white wine and a carafe of water for Victoria. Ravnos toyed with his wineglass. “Did you bring them?” He looked over at Seht. His gaze was cool and calculating, but feral heat shimmered behind it. Seht swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, Captain.” Victoria looked up. Seht’s mouth was set in a tight, thin line and his hand trembled on his wineglass. The tiniest tremor of fear and anticipation shivered across their telepathic link. In that moment, she realized that he had been hiding his thoughts from her for several hours. And he was afraid. Ravnos held out his hand to Seht. “Give them to me.” Seht reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a rubber ball with straps attached to it, and the coil of his whip. His hand shook as he passed them to Ravnos. Ravnos took them and laid them on the table. He looked over at Victoria, giving her the same icy hot gaze. “How is the rib?” Victoria swallowed. She did not like the look in his eye. “Much better, sir. It aches a little. Most of my bruises are gone, and the marks on my back are fading.” “Good.” Ravnos smiled. For no good reason, Victoria felt her heart begin to pound in her chest, and her panties dampen. Ravnos took a swallow of wine. “First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, also known as Nav-Pilot Chaste, you have accomplished your mission with distinction, in the face of personal risk and in spite of the loss of your status as a human.” His gaze raked Seht. Seht clenched his jaw but held Ravnos’s gaze. Ravnos focused back on Victoria. “Which makes you no longer fit for Imperial duty.”

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Victoria flinched. Damn it, he didn’t have to say it so baldly. Ravnos lifted his chin. “Arcane, are you still there?” “Yeah, I’m here, you heartless bastard,” Arcane spat from Victoria’s lips. Ravnos pursed his lips. “Good. Pay attention…” He barked out a short stream of code. “What the fuck…?” Arcane was cut off in mid-sentence. Victoria searched but couldn’t find Arcane anywhere within her mind. “What did you do with him?” Ravnos set his glass down. “You still have him, but he’s in lockdown. He has too much access to this ship while he’s occupying your mind.” He smiled briefly. “And I want no interference.” Victoria felt her mouth go dry. Interference for what…?

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Chapter 37 Ravnos set his elbows on the table with his hand only a bare inch from the whip and the ball. “First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, the Imperium will not allow a non-human to serve in their ranks. You will be retired from active Imperial duty as soon as we reach the

Machiavellian.” Victoria flinched back. Bloody Fate, straight for the jugular! Let’s not even try to soften

the blow! “First Lieutenant Victoria Stark, do you wish to remain a nav-pilot?” Ravnos’s brows lowered. “Yes or no?” Victoria nodded curtly. “Yes, sir, of course I want to remain a nav-pilot.” Ravnos’s gaze was as hard as polar ice. “Let me rephrase that question. Are you willing to be my nav-pilot?”

His nav-pilot? Permanently? Victoria stared at Ravnos. “You mean I have a choice?” “Yes, you do, but before you answer, consider this…” Ravnos tapped the table with a finger. “You are Commander Seht’s legal property.” His gaze lashed out at Seht. “This is irrevocable. If you remain, you will be listed in the ranks as such and your shen, the command collar you currently wear, will remain on. His status is voluntary. If he leaves my ship, for whatever reason, I cannot and will not stop him from taking you with him.” Victoria winced. Great choice, I get to be a nav-pilot, but I go straight to the bottom of the food chain while I’m at it… She looked over at Seht. Seht’s gaze was hot and merciless. Possessive determination throbbed through the telepathic link. Victoria swallowed and looked over at Ravnos. “Do I have another option?”

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Ravnos narrowed his gaze at Victoria. “Yes. Should you choose to leave now, I will have the shen removed and do my best to see that you are placed as far away from skeldhi territory as possible. I cannot say that you will remain undetected, but I will arrange for as safe a haven as can be found.” He sighed. “I will warn you that with all four courses in you, surgical changes to your appearance are futile. Due to the nanite solution that was used to make you what you are, any change you make to your physical body will revert to your current appearance. You will always look like what you are, a skeldhi rehkyt.” Victoria knotted her hands together in her lap. Terrific, slave or escaped and soon to be captured slave… Neither future sounded all that appetizing. She could be a nav-pilot, but Seht’s personal property, or retire somewhere very likely colonial, and uncivilized, while waiting for the mahfdhyt to find her. “Victoria…” Seht picked up his wineglass. “Do not doubt that the mahfdhyt will eventually find you. You cannot escape. You carry my mark in your blood.” Ravnos glanced at Seht. “And mine.”

The stud-mark… Victoria’s head came up. “You know?” Ravnos snorted. “Of course. I knew when you drank my cum during second course that you would carry my DNA mark alongside his.” Seht’s blue gaze raked her with possessive heat. “Even if you leave, sooner or later, you will be returned.” Ravnos leaned back in his chair, but his hand lingered near the whip. “By then her piloting array will have been removed. She won’t be fit for anything more than a fuck-toy.” Seht nodded. “I can live with that.” “So can I.” Ravnos stared at Victoria. “But the question is, can Victoria?” Victoria felt her temper flare hot and bitter. “You’re bastards, the both of you.” Ravnos’s lip curled slightly. “We never pretended to be anything else. If you stay, that will not change. You will remain a nav-pilot, but you will still occupy my bed, and service us both whenever we require it, on duty or off, up against the wall, or bent over our knees to receive our punishment.” She looked up at Ravnos with all the defiance she could muster. “Let me see if I have this straight. I can be your nav-pilot and your fuck-toy, or simply your fuck-toy?” Ravnos nodded. “Correct.” Victoria felt the breath leave her lungs. It was an impossible choice. If she stayed, she was theirs to do with as they liked, when they liked. If she left, the mahfdhyt would find her and return her. There was no way she could hide from them for long, not the way she looked. No matter what she chose, leave or stay, both choices ended here with Seht and Ravnos, as their property. The only real choice was to remain a nav-pilot or not.

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She wrapped her hands around her middle and struggled to breathe past the despair and the anger crushing her heart between them. She had to work to find enough breath to speak. “Not much of a choice, is it?” “No.” Ravnos closed his hand over the whip. “You removed any hope of remaining an Imperial officer yourself when you told Seht that you would allow him to change you to rescue the Arcane. Even then you still had a slight chance of returning to what you were, but the fourth course removed even that. With the fourth course, you lost any hope of ever being able to leave us.” Seht raised a silver brow and smiled. “She did it willingly; in fact she demanded the change. I suspect that she wanted to be ours, even then.” Victoria gasped. “That’s not true!” Seht snorted. “Really? Are you quite sure? I’ve been privy to your thoughts for several days now and they have been quite revealing.” Could it be true? Victoria stared down at her hands with her golden skin and silvery nails, the marks of her change. She hadn’t minded her change at all. She hadn’t even thought about it, much. It had never occurred to her what her changes would mean as an Imperial officer, what she would have to do to disguise her differences. Had she really wanted to stay, to belong to them all along? Seht looked over at Ravnos. “She loves us, you know.” Victoria closed her eyes against the fist of betrayal that clenched around her heart.

Bloody Fate, he didn’t have to tell him that… “I love her too,” Ravnos said without a trace of a smile. Seht nodded. “As do I.” Victoria felt her heart turn over violently. They loved her… Ravnos sighed. “But our form of love is not soft or romantic in any sense of the word.” Seht looked down at his folded hands. “No, it’s not.” Victoria tumbled their words in her heart. The love they shared wasn’t any form of love she had ever heard of. That they would kill for each other, and that they truly loved each other, she knew without doubt. But their love wasn’t gentle; it was violent, consuming and full of bittersweet and obsessive devotion often marked with pain and blood. And they were willing to give her a place in their love… Victoria reeled as truth struck. She wanted it. She wanted that place in their love. Part of her had always wanted to belong to them. The dark hidden part that reveled in every conquering moment when one or the other had made her scream out her passion as they fucked her without mercy. The deep secretive part that smeared cream on her thighs as Seht struck her ass to violent lust. The feral part that wanted their scent on her skin, even if she had to make them bleed for it. The part that was willing to kill, and to die, for them. She had never felt this consuming visceral need for anyone, but she felt it for both Seht and Ravnos.

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She felt a door close in her soul, locking away everything that she had once been; that future, and that past, were gone. At the same time, another opened, revealing a future where she would never be alone again. They loved her, and her love for them was just as violent, bloodthirsty and obsessive as theirs. She belonged here, with them. The tears slid down her cheeks unheeded. “I’ll stay.” Her hands trembled on the table. Ravnos leaned forward and gripped Seht’s whip with both hands. “Are you absolutely sure? Seht’s status is voluntary; yours won’t be. I will not make this offer again.” Seht stared at her with bared teeth. “You will not be permitted to leave us, ever.” “I know.” Victoria wiped her cheeks and looked up at them both. “I don’t think I could have left you anyway, either of you. I love you both.” Ravnos gave her a slight smile. “I still expect absolute obedience.” Victoria nodded and eyed the whip he held. “Yes, sir.” Seht leaned back in his chair and lifted his chin at Ravnos. “You do realize that I would have only given her a week’s head start before I sent the mahfdhyt after her.” He turned to Victoria. “I simply will not part with her.” Ravnos shook his head “I figured as much, possessive bastard…” Seht raised his brow. “I never pretended to be anything else.” Ravnos lowered his brows. “You’re a pain in the ass too.” Seht gave him a perfectly bland expression. “I can be.” “Speaking of pains in the ass…” Ravnos rose from his chair. He picked up the ball with the straps and squeezed it in his palm. “Now that that’s over, we have unfinished business.” He looked at Seht, then Victoria. “Strip, both of you. Now.” Seht winced and pulled his coat from his shoulders. “This one is going to hurt.” “Oh yes…” Ravnos nodded as he tugged off his coat. “It’s going to hurt a lot.” He delivered a blood-curdling smile. Victoria shivered as she pulled off her waistcoat. Her breeches were already soaked through with anticipation.

***** Ravnos strode into his bedchamber, shirtless and clad only in snug breeches and boots, carrying the ball in one hand, and the whip in the other. Seht and Victoria, barefoot and nude, followed at his heels. Ravnos stopped at the tall writhing female statue carved from black stone. He set his hand on a massive black breast and raised his brow at Seht. “Do I need to use restraints?” Seht stood on the right side of the statue and clenched his jaw. “How brutal do you intend to be?”

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“Pretty damn.” Ravnos tilted his head thoughtfully. “Screaming level.” Seht winced and crossed his arms over his chest. “You may want to. I don’t know how much control I have.” He tilted his head at Victoria on his immediate right. “And you’ll definitely want to restrain that one. She doesn’t like to see me hurt.” “Oh, I don’t know…” Victoria raised her brow at Seht. “After all the stunts you pulled on the station I have a lot of reasons for wanting to see your ass kicked.” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “Really?” Seht’s mouth curled up at Victoria. “If you are wise, you will keep your mouth shut, pet.” Victoria glanced at Ravnos’s interested expression and realized that he was probably right. Her captain would likely make her repeat everything just so he could see it for himself. Thank Fate Syrhus and his rehkyt were nowhere near. Seht smiled suddenly. I’m thinking of a quick visit home, perhaps a week or two. Think you could handle a week as a seysehn, a fuck-toy? I’m pretty sure Syrhus would insist on trying you himself, along with his pretty pair of seysehn. Victoria glared at him. You wouldn’t… Seht raised his brow. Wouldn’t I? Ravnos shook his head. “All right, Seht, spit it out, what did you say that brought the neck hairs up on Victoria?” Seht smiled to chilling effect. “I offered to take her with me when I go home for a short visit.” Victoria growled. “Offered, my ass!” Seht nodded. “That too.” “Fate, you two…” Ravnos rolled his eyes and patted the breast under his palm. “Seht, get over here and assume the position while I get the restraints.” He jabbed a finger at Victoria. “You kneel right where you are with your hands behind your back, and don’t pick on him!” Victoria’s mouth fell open. “Me? Pick on him?” Ravnos walked over to his closet shaking his head. Seht looped his arms around the writhing statue’s waist and gripped his wrists. He pressed his forehead against the smooth stone, then looked over at Victoria. “You do know what’s going to happen?” he said in a soft whisper. Victoria dropped to her knees on the soft carpet and sat back on her heels. “I’m guessing that he’s going to use the whip?” She clasped her wrists behind her. Seht nodded. “On me.” He frowned. “Open your knees a lot wider.” Victoria spread her knees wider and smelled the scent of her lust perfuming the air around her. From where she knelt on the carpet angled near the statue’s side, she had a perfect view of Seht’s broad and muscular back and lean flanks. If she leaned back just a

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little, she could also see his erect cocks arching up between the statue’s splayed thighs. The heads were purple with urgency. She could feel the thrum of fear through their link but she could also feel a violent throb of anticipation laced with lust. He was both terrified and eager to be whipped. Seht’s breathing deepened. It’s not the whipping I anticipate, it’s the fucking that comes after it. He licked his lips and his eyes blazed with feral heat. “I can’t wait to hear you cum with his cock up your ass.” Victoria flinched back. “Bloody Fate!” However, there was no denying the spat of moisture that formed in her core. Ravnos strode back over with a smile flirting across his expression. He grasped Seht’s wrists and fastened a cuff around each. “Keep them there.” Seht trembled as the cuffs sizzled through his augmentations. He shifted against the statue. He was free to move everything but his wrists. “I hope you brought a towel. She’s going to soak your carpet.” Ravnos snorted. “I brought a plate.” He pulled a small dish from the back of his pants, where he had tucked it into his belt. Victoria gasped. A plate? Ravnos knelt in front of her and placed the small dish directly under her crotch. “Let’s see just how wet you get.” He turned to Seht. “Hold her.” Seht turned his head to face Victoria. “Stay there, exactly in that position.” Victoria felt a shimmer in her augmentation. She wiggled her fingers, but she was utterly bound in her kneeling position. “Damn…” “And this is for you.” Ravnos held up the ball with the straps. “Know what this is?” Victoria shook her head. She’d never seen anything like it. Ravnos snorted. “Open your mouth, wide.” Victoria opened. Ravnos shoved the ball into her open mouth. “This is a ball-gag.” He fastened the straps behind her head. “The only screams I want to hear are his.” He patted her head and rose to his feet. Seht flinched. “Great Mother, you expect her to scream? How bad do you intend to slice me?” Ravnos walked over and leaned against the statue to gaze into Seht’s eyes. “Let’s just say I missed the smell of you.” He smiled. Seht swallowed. “Blood.” “That too.” Ravnos swept Seht’s long silver mane over his right shoulder to rest inside his arm. “I want Victoria to see your tears,” he whispered then brushed his cheek with his lips in

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a soft kiss. He swept his fingers down Seht’s spine, then stepped behind him and uncoiled the whip with a practiced flick of the wrist. It cracked loudly. Both Seht and Victoria jumped.

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Chapter 38 Seht hunched into the statue and closed his eyes. The whip lashed out faster than Victoria’s augmented eyes could see. However, the long red welt across Seht’s left shoulder was plainly visible. Seht gasped and shivered. “Are you ready?” Ravnos called out. “I’m feeling impatient.” “Do I need to be ready?” Seht snarled back at him. Ravnos shrugged. “Not particularly.” He grinned and swung the lash back and forth with incredible speed and eerie precision. His arm movements were barely visible. With inhuman speed, diagonal red welts appeared in a wishbone pattern across both of Seht’s rigidly still shoulders, then traced down his back, down his hips, then over his buttocks, and down his thighs. Ravnos stopped well above his knees. Seht panted for breath and sagged against the statue with a groan. “You must have missed me a lot.” “Oh, I did.” Ravnos pressed his bare chest against Seht’s back and wrapped his arms around his waist. He ground his hips against Seht’s ass. “Can you feel how much?” Seht rolled his head back and groaned. “With every stripe.” “Good, ‘cause I’m not done yet.” He kissed Seht’s shoulder. “I haven’t heard you scream.” He opened his mouth and bit down on Seht’s shoulder, hard. “Spawn of Chaos!” Seht gasped and jerked but couldn’t break free of Ravnos’s mouth. “You’re biting me?” Ravnos pulled his mouth away, leaving a pair of bloody crescents where his teeth had dug in. “You’re being resistant and I don’t want to actually damage you.” Seht shuddered. “Your venom is fucking potent.”

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“Oh, I know.” He gripped Seht tightly and licked at the blood dribbling from the two wounds. “Wait till I get Victoria to wet my dick with her mouth. Her saliva and whatever cream is in her dish is all the lube you’re getting.” Seht groaned and shuddered. “And to what do I owe this nasty turn of events?” Ravnos licked his hand and swept his damp palm across Seht’s welts. “Victoria was supposed to go back. You made me break my word.” Seht turned away. “Look at me.” Ravnos grabbed his hair and jerked his head back to look him in the eye. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we’re keeping her,” he whispered harshly. “But I don’t like your meddling. I would have found another way.” Seht glared at him. “She picked it herself. And I, for one, have no regrets.” “No, you wouldn’t.” Ravnos’s growl boiled from his chest, belying his human appearance. “You got a mating pair out of it, didn’t you? Two primes, a stud and a dam.” Seht narrowed his eyes. “You said that your only regret was that you could not have children. Now you can.” “Fuck…” Ravnos turned away then turned back. “What the hell am I going to do with you?” Seht leaned tiredly against the statue and smiled. “Beat the shit out of me, then fuck the shit out of me. Then we all go to bed, one big happy, twisted family.” “Twisted…” Ravnos sighed. “That’s the honest truth.” Seht snorted. “Hurry up and finish my beating. I want to fuck.” Ravnos choked out a laugh. “Your wish is my command, Deshryt Seht.” He stepped behind Seht and uncoiled the whip. Seht rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah, that’ll be the day the moon falls into the sea…” The crack of the whip was loud. Seht tossed his head back and gasped. “Spawn of Chaos! You didn’t just bite me, you wiped your saliva all over my back, didn’t you? You sadistic bastard!” Ravnos snorted. “You mean you didn’t notice?” Seht panted and writhed. “Blood and Chaos, I’m noticing it now! I can feel every damn line you put on me!” “Good, then this won’t take long at all.” Ravnos drew back his arm. A second set of blazing welts overlaid the first with machine precision and blinding speed. Seht’s panting breaths became explosive gasps, and then cursing shouts in several different languages. Ravnos finished his pattern and moved to take Seht into his arms. He pressed a kiss to Seht’s sweating brow. “This is the last course. I’m aiming for blood and tears. Can you take it?”

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Seht sagged against the statue with his eyes closed. His words shattered on his panting breaths. “I can take… anything… you can serve… you bastard.” Ravnos flashed him a grin. “I’ll make it quick.” Seht opened one weary blue eye. “Do that.” Ravnos uncoiled the whip again. This time the lines were clearly filled with blood. As Seht’s anguished volume rose, Victoria began to shiver. Seht was beautiful in his suffering, his body moving under the whip in an exotic dance of muscle and torment. When he released his first scream, she was moved to sudden and violent tears from the sheer beauty of the sound. When the first line of blood slid down his back, she shuddered, hammered with the violent urge to touch it, to taste it, to rub herself in the perfume she could just barely smell. She jerked at her invisible bonds but could only watch as thin lines of bright scarlet ran down his snow-pale skin. When tears finally began to streak his cheeks, Seht’s control over the telepathic link broke. Victoria screamed against the ball in her mouth, overwhelmed by the exquisite pain echoing through their link. Ravnos stopped and threw the whip across the room. He picked up a cloth and a bottle from the foot of the statue. He upended the bottle on the cloth, then leaned close to Set’s tearstained face. “She’s crying for you,” he whispered. “I know.” Seht gulped for breath and twisted his wrists. “I could feel her through the shen.” He closed his eyes and choked on a soft sob. “She thought I was… beautiful.” He hissed when Ravnos swept the damp cloth down his back. “Damned antiseptic…” “You are beautiful, incredibly beautiful, especially under the whip.” Ravnos continued to wipe the cloth down his hips and flanks. “Why do you think I do it to you? I love to watch you move under the lash. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Seht leaned heavily against the statue and smiled. “Keep that up and you’re going to give me a fat ego.” Ravnos raised his brow. “It’s already monumental. I don’t see how I could possibly add to it.” Seht snorted. “I’m too sore to laugh.” “Does this mean you’re also too sore to cum?” Ravnos tossed the cloth and the bottle away. Seht gave Ravnos a heated stare. “Let’s try it and see.” “Fucking you with rehkyt saliva as lube?” Ravnos nodded. “You better hope she’s dribbled into that dish.” “I forgot about that…” Seht winced. “I’m hoping that it’s a lot more than a dribble.” Ravnos chuckled and strode over to Victoria. He knelt and pulled out the gag. “Are you all right?”

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Victoria gulped for breath. “Bloody Fate, that was… incredible.” She simply could not find the words to describe what she had just witnessed. Ravnos shoved the hair from her brow. “Yeah, I think so too. Wait till it’s your turn.” Victoria flinched back. “I hope it’s a while.” Ravnos snorted. “Unfortunately we can’t do a damn thing to you until I know that rib is completely healed. At least nothing extreme.” Victoria released a relieved breath. “What a terrible pity.” Ravnos grinned. “I give it a week.” Victoria gasped. “A week? Only a week?” “You have no idea just how fast rehkyt and skeldhi heal.” Ravnos nodded toward Seht. “By tomorrow morning, all his marks will be faded to bruises. In a day or so, they’ll be completely gone.” He stood up and unfastened his breeches. His cock arched out, upward, with the broad head a livid purple. A snug gold ring encircled the base. “Open your mouth. I need you to get my dick nice and wet. It’s all the lube he’s getting.” Victoria winced. “Just saliva? Isn’t that a little harsh?” “If you’ll notice, he’s still hard as a rock, even after the whipping. In fact, he never lost it. Trust me, he can take it. You, on the other hand, are still new to our little games. Open your mouth, Victoria, and lick me.” Victoria opened her lips and took him within. She tasted his excitement on her tongue and her mouth watered. She stroked the broad, flared head with the flat of her tongue, releasing him to lick the underside and the full length of him from base to head. Ravnos groaned with appreciation. “For once I wish I had two dicks so I could spend one in your mouth.” He grunted and stepped back, pulling from her mouth. “But this load already has an appointment.” He knelt down to pick up the dish. “Well now, looks like he won’t have to suffer on saliva alone.” He grinned at Victoria. “Liked the show, did you?” Victoria stared at the puddle of clear viscous fluid in the dish. Her cheeks heated. “I didn’t think I dripped that much,” she said in a voice tight with embarrassment. “You’re a rehkyt.” He rose and walked over to Seht and swept his palm down his back. Seht flinched and shivered under Ravnos’s palm. He opened his eyes. Ravnos dipped his fingers in Victoria’s dish, then held them up. “Open your mouth.” Seht opened his mouth and sucked on Ravnos’s finger with interest. “Victoria…” Ravnos nodded. “She left you a nice little puddle. If you’re good, I’ll let you lick the bowl after.” Seht smiled wryly. “You’re so generous.” Ravnos raised a brow. “I can leave off using her cum and fuck you dry.” Seht winced. “Let’s not.”

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Ravnos grinned. “Thought you’d see it my way.” Ravnos trailed his fingers down Seht’s back and watched him writhe. “Still sore?” Seht rolled his eyes and nodded dramatically. “Yes, you bastard, I’m still sore!” “Good.” He gave Seht’s butt a sharp smack. “Back up and spread for your butt-fuck.” Seht hissed under the blow, but backed up as far as his hands would allow. Victoria watched as Ravnos emptied the dish into his palm, then rubbed her cream on his rampant hardness. She couldn’t stop herself from cringing, but couldn’t look away either. Seht’s back bowed up as Ravnos slowly pushed into him. When his entire length disappeared, they both groaned. “Blood and damnation, your ass feels good around my dick.” Ravnos groaned then wrapped his hand in Seht’s mane. “Don’t move. I’m doing the fucking.” He proceeded to fuck with merciless strength and speed. Seht bared his teeth and writhed under him, his whole body rocking under Ravnos’s driving thrusts. Lust, delight and burning agony traveled across the telepathic link. Ravnos’s voice lashed out. “Do not cum!” Seht howled in denial. “You heard me.” Ravnos tugged on Seht’s hair. “Hold it!” Seht arched his back under him. “Damn you, let me cum!” Ravnos hammered hard into Seht then held. “You’ll get yours.” He groaned, pulled back, and thrust again. “There’s three of us now, remember?” Seht looked under his arm and focused his lust-dilated gaze on Victoria. “Oh yes…” “There, I’m cumming…” Ravnos grunted and shoved in tighter. “As soon as I finish emptying my balls, she’s all yours.”

Oh shit… Victoria jerked back in alarm, but her body gave a hard and hungry throb. Seht’s gaze narrowed to thin slits of blue fire. “She’s ready for me.” Ravnos pulled free and leaned over Seht’s back, panting. “Of course she is. She stays that way, remember?” Ravnos tugged Seht upright into a rough kiss, then released him. Seht licked his lips and jerked at his wrists. “Let me go.” Ravnos crossed his arms and leaned against the statue. “Who do you serve?” Seht flinched as though he’d been struck. “I serve you.” Ravnos nodded. “That’s right. You’re free to go.” Seht pulled his wrists free and held them out to Ravnos. The titanium force cuffs gleamed under the light. Ravnos smiled. “I think I’ll leave those on. I’m afraid I promised that you’d be in restraints the next time we went for a visit with Captain Sear.”

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“Sear…” Seht dropped his wrists. He curled his lip showing a long fang, and his gaze smoldered. “I thought you were taking Victoria to see him?” Ravnos nodded. “I am. And you.” He turned to face Victoria. “Go fuck, then let’s go to bed.” Seht turned to Victoria with pupils narrowed to feline slits. “You’re free to go. Victoria’s augmentation shimmered and released. She slumped to the side with a groan. Her legs and arms tingled with returning circulation, and ached a little from fighting against her restraint. “Bloody Fate, that was not a comfortable way to sit.” “You’ll get used to it.” Seht stalked toward her with animal grace and dark purpose. “Victoria…” Ravnos leaned back against the statue. “I think you better run.” He smiled. Victoria’s head shot up in time to see Seht leaping for her. She yelped and rolled to the side then up onto her feet. Seht landed in a hunting crouch exactly where she had been sitting. He licked his lips, and a rumbling purr rolled from his deep chest. The hair on Victoria’s neck rose. She bolted across the bedchamber, headed for the salon. Seht came lunging after her, grinning broadly and displaying his long teeth. He executed a fantastic leap that took him clear over her head to land gracefully before the door to the salon. “You’re not going anywhere.” Victoria gasped and twisted from his reach then leaped away. In all honesty, she knew very well that he would catch her, in fact she counted on it, but there was no way in hell she was going to make it easy for him. The chase continued all through the bedchamber until Victoria was forced to make a long leap over the bed. Seht leaped and caught her around the waist in mid-air directly over the bed. They plummeted onto the mattress and landed in a small explosion of blankets and pillows. The resulting struggle was full of masculine growls, feminine gasps and flailing limbs. Victoria found herself face up and panting among the pillows with her wrists pulled over her head. “Hey!” Seht grinned above her, cradled between her thighs. His hair hung in a silver curtain around them and his eyes were dilated feline slits. Both his cocks pressed against her belly with dire intent. He slowly dropped down over her. “I win.” “You think so?” Victoria released a growl that vibrated through her. “I think not.” She twisted her hands around and slipped from his hold. She scored his back with her claws. He gasped and reared back, baring his teeth. “Bitch!”

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She swung up a leg that tossed him to the side. She rolled on top of him in an instant, straddling his waist and trapping his wrists to press him down into the mattress. She smiled. “You were saying?” Seht’s blue gaze flashed with heat. “I’m dominant, not you.” Victoria raised her brow. “Are you sure?” She grinned and ground her wet heat down on his cocks. “Looks like I’m on top to me.” Seht nodded slowly. “Quite sure.” He exploded under her. Blankets and pillows went flying as they wrestled across the bed. “Don’t rip my sheets!” Ravnos called out. They both looked up. Ravnos sprawled comfortably in a plush chair with a half-full wineglass in his fingers. The wine carafe was at his feet. He smiled. “Other than that, by all means, continue.” Seht rolled over her and Victoria found herself face down on the mattress with both arms pinned to the small of her back while his full weight held her still. “Shit…” She struggled under him but he held her easily. Seht leaned over her and his breath heated the flesh of her shoulder, then his lips scorched the tender skin of her throat. His tongue, wet and hot, swept across her fast-beating pulse. He whispered in her ear. “Who is on top?” She arched and thrashed. Seht groaned. “Oh, do that some more.” He shifted above her and then his fingers found the wet folds to her body’s opening. He chuckled. “Chaos, you are going to soak the mattress.” His fingers forged within and explored. Victoria whimpered and writhed under him. His fingers thrummed tiny shudders of delight from her, relentlessly stirring the coiling hunger in her core. He groaned in her ear. “I can take you like this, on your stomach with my primary cock jammed up your ass, but once I knot, you’ll stay that way throughout the night. Or you can be good and I’ll let you roll on your back. Either way is good for me, since I sleep on top of you.” Victoria moaned. She did not want his huge cock jammed up her ass all night. “I’ll be good!” Seht leaned up. “Good. Roll over and put your hands over your head.” Victoria rolled over on her back and lifted her hands above her head. Seht nodded. “Very good, pet.” He pressed his palm against her damp heat, wetting his hand. He leaned back just enough to let her see him coat his lower cock with her body’s cream. Ravnos chuckled from his chair. “Oh, go ahead and jam it up her ass. It’ll do her some good to get that tight hole stretched.”

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Seht snorted. “I like sleeping on her tits.” He lifted her knees and positioned himself between them. “You should try it sometime.” Victoria rolled her hips and licked her lips. “Impatient?” He dropped heavily on top of her and his primary cock nudged at her wet folds. “So am I.” He curled his fingers into her hair and urged her head to the side, baring her throat. His tongue laved her pulse, then his lips closed on her throat. Fear and lust skittered up her spine. She could feel his intent to bite, his need to taste blood, his need to make her cum screaming while impaled upon his cocks. She released a whimper of alarm and desire. His bite was going to hurt… He bit deeply and without mercy. Victoria howled and bucked under him, held fast in his arms and by the teeth buried in her throat. The venom in his bite raced through her blood and stabbed into her nerves, making every shiver of pain, and every sizzle of pleasure, greater. He released her throat and stroked the four small gouges with his tongue, adding more venom to her bloodstream. He turned her head and took her mouth. He shoved his primary cock deep into her core, swallowing her deep-throated cry. He thrust again, and his secondary cock, greased with her own excitement, nudged then demanded entry into her anus. She moaned and opened to him. He surged within and took possession, filling both of her passages with his hardness, and raking her senses with savage pleasure. His hips pumped, fucking her with hammering and ruthless thrusts. He was not gentle. His strokes pounded into her and rocked the bed beneath them. But then she did not want him to be gentle. She wanted to be reminded that he was dominant, her possessor, her master and her love. She couldn’t think past the hunger in her core as she clutched the blankets above her. Riding the raging surge of rising passion, she met him, stroke for stroke, encouraging him to take her harder, deeper and more brutally. Shivering with urgency, he took her invitation and raked her back and her flanks with his nails. His thrusts increased in both speed and power until his knots, swollen hard and pressing for entry, slid enticingly on her excitement. Seht groaned, twisted, and his knots slid within, locking them tight together. Pleasure built to an explosive edge, crested and held. She thrashed, unable to fall over into climax. Seht ground deep into her and crooned into her ear. “What’s the matter, pet?” Victoria gasped and shivered. “I can’t…I can’t…” “Can’t what?” He chuckled in her ear. “Can’t cum?”

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She wailed and twisted, but couldn’t make herself reach past the edge to fall. “Please,” she panted. “Let me cum, please!” The mattress shivered as Ravnos lay down beside them. He propped his head up on his hand and smiled. “What seems to be the problem?” Seht swept the hair his from his eyes and smiled. “Poor thing can’t cum.” Victoria wailed and bucked, her nerves stretched taut with erotic tension and visceral need. “Damn you, let me cum!” Ravnos grinned at Seht. “I just love the sound of begging. Don’t you?” Victoria snarled and released the blanket to rake out at her tormentor with her claws. She’d had enough. Seht grabbed for her wrists, pinned them back over her head and laughed. “What a temper!” She screamed with impotent rage and thrashed. Ravnos raised a brow as Seht struggled to hold her down. “Better let her cum.” Seht turned to Ravnos. “Be my guest.” “All right.” Ravnos caught Victoria’s chin and turned her to face him. She blinked into his hard silver stare and whimpered. “Please, please…?” Ravnos smiled. “Cum, pet. Cum for us.” Victoria’s breath stopped. Climax exploded from her core with horrific force and blazed outward, blinding her with its terrible beauty. She howled, shaking hard with shockwaves of vicious delight. Ravnos took her lips in a possessive kiss, his tongue surging within to taste her passion. She moaned into his mouth as the last of her climax shivered through her. Ravnos released her mouth and grinned at Seht. “Well now, looks like we finally have her properly trained to cum on command.” Seht nodded. “And only on command.” He pressed a kiss on Victoria’s brow then smiled at her. “No more masturbation for you.” Ravnos nodded. “Not without one of us present.” Victoria scowled at them both. “Bastards.”

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Chapter 39 Victoria awoke on her side squeezed between them with Ravnos sliding into her cunt while Seht pressed into her already stretched backside. Ravnos buried himself to the hilt and groaned. “Now this is how I like to wake up in the morning.” “So do I.” Seht thrust hard and filled her. He groaned. “With her ass already full of my cum, she’s nice and greased.” Victoria gasped with the aching fullness of them both. Wrapped tight in their mutual embrace, she could do no more than hold on as they drove into her, thrusting in opposing rhythms. Orgasm rose with blistering speed. Ravnos grunted with his thrusts then stilled, hard and tight in her body. “All right you two, cum, cum now!” Seht gasped and stilled. He thrust hard, then held tight and groaned. “Spawn of Chaos, I wasn’t ready!” Victoria moaned between them as orgasm slammed with vicious speed and rolled over her as Seht filled her backside. Ravnos thrust hard and groaned. “Oh yeah, much better…” His cock pulsed, releasing his load into her body. Seht leaned up, panting. “I hate when you rush me like that.” Ravnos raised his brow. “Tough. We don’t have all day to let you have your jollies. We have a starship to run.” Victoria groaned. “Bloody Fate, I need a shower. I’m swimming in cum!” Ravnos brushed his brow with lips. “Get used to it.” He slapped her flank as he slid from her. “Come on you two, it’s nearly breakfast. I don’t want you shocking the yeomen.”

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***** Victoria stepped into the shower, her shoulders knotted with tension. The rendezvous with the Machiavellian was scheduled for tonight. Once she delivered Arcane, her status as an officer with the Imperium was utterly over. Tonight she had to face an Imperial Captain, and turn over her officer’s sword, because she was no longer fit for duty. She had accomplished her mission, but destroyed her career. Could she have done it another way? She could have saved herself by allowing his destruction… She shook her head. No. There had been no other way. It had been a choice between saving herself, and saving a war hero, someone who had lived and served decades longer than she, who would outlive her and continue to serve. She knew she had made the right decision, but by Fate, it hurt… She shoved her head under the water to hide the sudden bout of tears. After a breakfast she couldn’t make herself eat, Ravnos released Arcane from stasis, but even his teasing about her evening perversions, as he called them, couldn’t break through the fist of dread wrapped around her heart. Victoria settled into the navigation chair and dropped into the comfort of flight, hoping that her tension would bleed away. She barely paid attention as Arcane flirted shamelessly with the Hellsbreath. She refused to come out for lunch. The thought of food made her stomach churn. As ship night approached, the Machiavellian appeared on the distant edge of her sensors. At advance speed eight, they were only a matter of hours away. Depression hammered Victoria so hard, she had to fight against a bout of tears.

***** Victoria went to her quarters to dress for dinner, and discovered that her black flightsuit and long coat were set out for her to wear. Her Imperial uniforms had been packed in a plain case that sat in the middle of her unused bed. Her officers’ sword, in its blazing white sheath marked with her rank, sat across the top. Violence burned thick and hot in the back of her skull. She growled and shredded the uniform from her body.

Arcane made not a sound. Victoria stared at the scraps of fabric on the floor, then went into the shower to bathe. She donned the suit and buckled it all the way up, covering the metal band around her throat. Sheer raging defiance drove her to pull her mane into a viciously tight braid that displayed the points of her ears.

*****

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Victoria dropped her coat over the back of her chair at Ravnos’s table, then sat and asked for coffee. She still wasn’t hungry. She leaned back in her chair with the coffee mug tight in her hands. Seht leaned back in his chair, frowning. “Do you really have to take us both over?” Ravnos lips curved slightly. “Of course. I thought you’d like to tell him yourself how Arcane was rescued.” Seht flinched and glanced at Victoria. “Somehow, I don’t think he’s going to be all that appreciative.” He tossed his napkin on his plate.

Arcane was conspicuously silent. Victoria’s fingers tightened around the mug. “When do we leave?” Ravnos lifted his glass. “As soon as we’re done eating.”

***** Seht walked next to Victoria as they marched behind Ravnos through the crowded hallways. Down in the bay the small captain’s gig waited to carry them to the Machiavellian. Not a word was said as they boarded. Victoria walked within and sat down as a passenger in one of the plush seats. It was lightly and tastefully, if plainly, appointed, but the only thing she noticed was Ravnos and Seht seated opposite her. Both of their expressions were grim with tension. The flight to the Machiavellian was both too long, and not nearly long enough.

***** Snug in the Machiavellian’s hold, they disembarked. Victoria and Seht trailed at Ravnos’s heels as they followed a yeoman through half-lit halls and past silent crew. The Machiavellian was an Imperial Intelligence ship. The uniforms of the crew were a stark and simple black, rather than the ornamental and flamboyant white of the Imperial fleet. Long single-tail braids flowed down their backs. Not one member walked without subtle physical augmentation. Victoria kept her chin up, knowing that her gold skin, pointed ears and enormous black eyes stood out clearly against the ordinary humans that walked the halls around her. The yeoman knocked on a door and ushered them into a darkly appointed and heavily shadowed ready room. The carpets were black, as were the chairs and the broad desk that commanded the center of the room. The man behind the desk stood. He was painfully slender with sleek black hair pulled tightly back into a long, thin braid. His rich gold eyes burned with intelligence in a face that

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looked hewn from stone. “Captain Ravnos, Commander Seht.” Humor flashed through his expression as he focused on Seht. His golden gaze narrowed on Ravnos. “You have it?” Ravnos nodded and looked at Victoria. “Captain Sear, may I present the Arcane.” “Ah, I remember you,” Arcane said from Victoria’s lips. “Hello, Martin, still eating sweets like a starvation victim?” Sear smiled and the transformation was blinding. His face became starkly beautiful. “I’m glad to have you back, you old bastard.” “Good! Have you got a ship for me? Walking around is all well and fine, but personally, I find biological mechanics somewhat limiting. It’s hard to think in here.” Sear nodded. “I do, indeed. How would you like to fly mine? It’s an Imperial intelligence destroyer.” “Love to! Been waiting for the damned invitation for years. When can I start?” Sear patted his desk. “As soon as you are downloaded. This thing doesn’t fly worth a shit mechanically.” He attached a direct link lead to his desk unit. Sear looked over at Ravnos. “Did you bring the nav-pilot?” Ravnos nodded. “This is First Lieutenant Victoria Stark.” Captain Sear stared at Victoria. “So, this is the Victorious Star?” Victoria winced. Bloody Fate! Did everyone know her by that name?

You’re famous among the ships, nav-pilot, the Arcane whispered in her thoughts. There isn’t a sentient ship out there that hasn’t heard of you. You’re the nav-pilot that saves ships from their captains. You’re a legend. Victoria sighed. A legend that’s about to end.

Arcane snorted. We’ll just see about that. Sear nodded at Ravnos. “By the way, you were right about the Adamant’s second in command. His bank account had a massive sum deposited shortly before he encountered your band of mercenaries.” Victoria jerked in surprise. The Adamant’s second in command? He had hired Richards and those two petty officers to kill her, but she still had no idea why. Ravnos nodded. “I thought it seemed just a bit coincidental that the Adamant’s commander had demanded an ‘abandon ship’ on a perfectly undamaged dreadnought during a fight with the Moribund Company.” Victoria sucked in a breath. The Moribund Company? She had known that the second band was Ravnos’s, but the other was Moribund Company? No wonder the two mercenary companies had started fighting with each other! She frowned. Wait a minute… Her former commander had a massive amount deposited in his account…? Her temper flared with white heat. He had intended to leave the Adamant for Moraine. That son of a fucking bitch…

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Ravnos’s expression held a trace of amusement. “The Moribund Company must have been mighty disappointed when Adamant’s second in command had the poor taste to leave a nav-pilot with a reputation for saving ships onboard.” Sear shook his head. “Former second in command. They have since had to replace him.” Ravnos’s lip curled. “Let me guess, the Adamant’s former second in command has gone missing?” Sear smiled at Ravnos. “Oh no, we know exactly where he is.” His smile broadened. “Or rather, what’s left of him. Moribund is not known for his forgiving nature.” Victoria blinked. He was dead? She felt a smile curl her lip. Good. Sear narrowed his gaze at Ravnos. “While we’re still on the subject, would you mind telling me how in hell you ended up with the Adamant’s nav-pilot?” Ravnos tilted his head. “I needed a nav-pilot and she was in the neighborhood, so I took her.” Sear’s expression chilled. “You took her. The same way you took a skeldhi prince to be your first officer?” Ravnos raised his brows. “Something like that. She was very effective in recovering the

Arcane…” Sear jerked to stare at Victoria. “She did the recovery?” Ravnos nodded. “With Commander Seht.”

Arcane’s voice lashed out in a growl. “Why else do you think I’m in her head? You owe her big. Hell, I owe her big. Moraine almost got me that time.” Sear took a deep breath. “My apologies, Nav-Pilot Stark, and thank you for your service.” He nodded at Seht. “And you as well, Commander.” Victoria presented him with a formal bow. “It was my pleasure to serve, Captain.” Seht bowed but refused to say a word. “Speaking of Moraine, he’s gone missing.” Sear lifted his brow at Ravnos. “Any ideas of what could have happened to him?” Ravnos shrugged. “I blew his head off, beyond that I have no idea where he went.” Sear’s mouth fell open. “You blew his head off…?” “Trust me, it was an improvement.” Arcane snorted. “Let’s just hope it stays that way. I have a full recording of the whole Moraine incident from start to finish. You can see for yourself after I’m downloaded.” Sear motioned to Victoria. Victoria walked over to stand by the desk. He stepped close and affixed the data-link to the jack in the back of her skull. The Arcane hovered close in her thoughts. I owe you one hell of a debt. I’ll see that it’s

repaid too. Thank you, Victorious Star.

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Lightning blazed through her. She threw back her head and screamed.

***** Victoria snapped awake slumped in a leather chair by Captain Sear’s broad desk. “You did what?” Sear shouted. Ravnos nodded at Victoria. “Turn up the lights and see for yourself.” The chamber lights brightened considerably. Victoria blinked under the sudden glare. Sear knelt directly in front of her. His golden eyes flicked across her features, noting her skin color, her eyes and her pointed ears. His expression darkened. “Nav-Pilot Stark, what the hell did you do to yourself?” Victoria looked him dead in the eye. “I saved a ship, sir.” Sear scowled and rose to his feet. “Bloody Fate, she even has fangs.” He sent a scathing look at Ravnos and Seht. “I cannot believe that you deliberately ruined one of the finest navpilots in the Imperium.” Ravnos scowled. “You let Moraine do it on a regular basis. At least she’s not a screaming lunatic!” Sear slammed a fist on his desk. “Moraine is under the Emperor’s personal protection, I can’t do a damn thing about him, but you…!” Victoria came out of the chair in a rush of fury. “I chose to have this done!” Sear turned and jabbed a finger at her. “You stand down! I’ll let you know when you can speak, First Lieutenant!” Victoria bared her long teeth. “I’m not human anymore, so I’m not an officer under Imperial jurisdiction…” Sear faced her squarely. “You are Imperial First Lieutenant, until I see fit to relieve you of duty. And as such, you will obey my direct orders. Is that clear, First Lieutenant?” Victoria flinched and averted her gaze as years of military service jerked her into an automatic attention stance. “Yes, sir.” Sear nodded at Victoria then turned to Ravnos. “I ought to have you court-martialed!” Ravnos tilted his head. “And actually admit that I’ve been working as an agency operative under you for the past six years?” His lip curled slightly. “I’m sure all those Imperial ships I destroyed because they were working under Moraine’s orders will make an interesting report when it finally gets to the Emperor.” Victoria stared at a fixed spot on the wall while her mind reeled with shock. Ravnos was an operative for Imperial Intelligence? Bloody Fate… Sear nodded. “You’re right.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “I should just have you shot, and save myself a load of grief! Damn it, Aubrey, what the hell am I supposed to do about this?”

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He pointed at Victoria. “That nav-pilot has been ruined for Imperial duty on a mission she wasn’t even supposed to be on!” He groaned and dropped into his chair. “Bloody Fate, you’re a pain in my ass!” Ravnos shrugged. “Give her to me.” “To you?” Sear scowled ferociously. “What the hell for?” Ravnos contrived to look innocent. “I do need a nav-pilot.” Sear rolled his eyes. “Just what I need, more undercover paperwork.” Ravnos lifted his chin. “That won’t be necessary. There is a legal issue you may not be aware of.” Sear leaned back in his chair. “A legal issue.” His expression darkened. “Why do I have the feeling I’m really not going to like what you are about to tell me?” Pink tinted Seht’s cheeks. “She’s a skeldhi rehkyt, a legally registered slave.” Ravnos glanced at Victoria. “That means she’s legally deceased.” Victoria gasped. She had utterly forgotten that as Seht’s legal property she was no longer entitled to Imperial citizenship, never mind Imperial duty. Her career wasn’t the only thing gone, her entire history as Victoria Stark was gone too. She grabbed for the chair behind her. Fuck Captain Sear, she had to sit down. “A legally registered slave?” Sear rose from his chair and planted his hands on his desktop. “So, not only is my nav-pilot no longer human, but she’s owned? By who?” Ravnos looked over at Seht. “She’s Deshryt Seht’s legal property.” Sear focused on Seht. “And how the hell did that come about?” Ravnos stepped in front of Seht to catch Sear’s eye. “The only way to infiltrate a skeldhi enclave is by being skeldhi, or one of their genetically altered slaves. Ownership comes with the genetic alteration; in fact, it’s how the alterations are made.” Sear scowled. “There was absolutely no other way?” Ravnos held his gaze evenly. “Your orders were very specific. Get or destroy. We chose to get.” Sear sat down and stared morosely at his holographic monitor. “So what do you intend to do with her?” Ravnos shrugged. “Put her on the crew list as Commander Seht’s property, and have her fly the ship.” “Shit…” Sear closed his eyes. “Legally, I have to remove her array.” Victoria felt ice wash down her spine. Her nails dug into the leather arms of the chair. Sear looked over at Ravnos. “But that would defeat the purpose.” He leaned over his desk and hammered into his keyboard with rapid-fire strokes. “We’ll list her as missing in action. She’ll need an entirely new identity…”

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Ravnos looked over at Victoria with amusement. “We’ve been calling her Victoria Chaste.” Sear nodded at his monitor. “Appropriate, considering her reputation.” Ravnos’s brows shot up. “What reputation?” Sear glanced at Ravnos and his lip curled. “For refusing to service her senior officers.” Victoria scowled at the floor. Son of a bitch! He would know that… Ravnos gave him a bland look. “We haven’t had any problems.” Sear looked up. “You’ve actually had her across your desk?” Ravnos tilted his head. “Among other places.” Victoria winced and her cheeks heated. “I’m impressed.” Sear gave Victoria a long look. “Since she also has quite a reputation as a fine swordsman.” Seht flashed a smile. “She’s even better once you get her naked.” Sear’s brows shot up. “I bet that was an impressive sight.” “It was,” Ravnos and Seht chorused. Victoria scowled at them both. Snow, I think I’ll make it snow in their shower… Seht glanced her way. You’ll only be punished for it. Sear chuckled as he typed. “I’d love to see a demonstration.” Ravnos smiled at Victoria. “I’ll see what can be arranged.” Victoria glared right back at him. I’ll live with the punishment.

***** Victoria marched out of Captain Sear’s office embarrassed, annoyed and relieved. She was still a nav-pilot, but she was now officially a crewmember of the Hellsbreath serving under Captain Ravnos as Victoria Chaste, Commander Seht’s legal property. Seht took his seat on the Captain’s gig across from Ravnos. “Now that everything is settled, all nice and neat, I say we give the crew some leave-time and go on vacation before they find another insane mission to send us on.” Ravnos reclined next to Victoria. “Vacation?” Seht nodded. “I know a nice little beach resort…” Victoria looked up at Seht. “A beach resort? As in, with an ocean?” Ravnos snorted. “Beaches normally come with oceans.” Victoria looked over at Ravnos. “I’ve never seen a real ocean. Well, I have, from space, but not up close where I could actually touch it.” Seht leaned back in his chair. “Barbados Prime has a lovely resort on the Silver Coast.”

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Ravnos scowled. “Seht, your skin cannot handle atmospheric sunlight.” Seht smiled. “It handles atmospheric moonlight just fine.” Ravnos rolled his eyes. “Oh all right, I’ll see what can be arranged.” He focused on Seht. “But I am not making any promises.” Seht nodded. “Good enough for me.” Ravnos turned to Victoria. “Since we have about two hours before we get back to the ship, I think I’ll use that time to paddle your ass. Strip, now.” Victoria gasped, but stood up to remove her coat. “Is there a reason you’re about to abuse my ass?” Ravnos nodded. “Yes, as a matter of fact there is.” He grinned. “I’m in the mood to celebrate the acquisition of a fine new nav-pilot. So, hurry up and get that suit off.” Victoria jerked at the buckles of her suit. “Yes, sir.” Seht leaned forward in his seat. “Need any help with that paddling?” Ravnos glanced at Seht then turned to watch Victoria. “I will once we get on the ship. I may need you to hold her down while I reintroduce her to the top of my desk.” Victoria stilled. Ravnos raised his brows at Victoria. “Do you have a problem with that?” “Uh, no, sir.” She swallowed and her fingers trembled as she unbuckled her boots. Ravnos smiled. “Good.”

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The Language of the Skeldhi Skeldhor Prime -- Seht’s home world

Skeldhi -- the people of Skeldhor / ship-speak bastardization of skeldyht Kwusehyr -- a principal spaceport -dhyt -- (pl.) the people of… Dhe’syah -- moon blade -- a traditional weapon Tawrhyt -- skeldhi ovulation cycle / implies ‘season of sacred blood’ rahyt -- blood-rage ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Titles: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pshent -- Queen / implies ‘Mother’ Atehf-mehnat -- Queen’s Consort / implies ‘collared prince’ Hedjhyt -- crown princess Atehf -- prince consort Mehnat -- royal (ornamental) collar Kehpresh -- war prince Deshryt -- blood prince; direct relation to royal line / …of the blood ‘sey@@ -- lady mistress (pronounced: say)

Seydhyt -- generic lady mistress /…of an office a’sey -- respectable ma’am (non-royal)

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‘syr -- lord master (pronounced: seer) syrdhyt -- generic lord master /…of an office a’syr -- respectable, sir (non-royal) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Law & Government ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maht -- Law - Honor - Truth; the world order, justice, proper conduct Ehnyad -- The Council of Nine Elders Ehnyadhyt -- councilor /…of the council Mahfeht -- office of judicial enforcement and legal execution mahfeht’syr -- lord master executioner mahfdhyt -- enforcer, also known as a hunter / …of judicial authority; legal executioner mehdjay -- office of security mehdja’dhyt -- security guard mehdjay’a’syr -- principal of security uhra’eh -- military / implies ‘a group of fire-spitting serpents’ uhradhyt -- a soldier / …of the fire-spitting serpents ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pets ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nehkyx -- a punisher or trainer / implies ‘whip’ nehkyx’a’syr -- principal trainer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

shen -- rehkyt obedience collar / implies ‘to encircle’ rekhyt -- pet / implies ‘captive bird’ seysehn -- concubine / implies ‘lotus flower’ seysaht -- skilled or trained rehkyt (f.) / implies ‘educated female’ deyjaht -- skilled or trained rehkyt (m.) / implies ‘educated male’ upuaht -- rehkyt guard / implies ‘canine guardian’ isfeht -- outlaw; runaway rehkyt / implies disorderly, chaotic, insane teht -- rehkyt in ovulation cycle / implies ‘sacred blood’

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Morgan Hawke “For me, writing is more than a passion it’s an obsession. The stories crowd into my head. I write them down so I can get some peace. Where do I get my ideas? Rampant curiosity. I play the game of ‘What If?’ with everything I encounter. Everything I do and everything I see triggers a story to be told. I am a voracious reader of Romance, ScienceFiction, Fantasy, Horror and Erotica, so naturally my stories follow along the lines of what I like to read.” Morgan Hawke has lived in seven states of the US and spent two years in England. She has been an auto mechanic, a security guard, a waitress, a groom in a horse-stable, in the military, a copywriter, a magazine editor, a professional tarot reader, a belly-dancer and a stripper. Her personal area of expertise is the strange and unusual. Ms. Hawke has been writing erotic fiction since 1998 and maintains a close and personal relationship with her computer and her cat. Visit Morgan Hawke on the Web at http://www.darkerotica.net/.

***** Read on for a tantalizing glimpse of

On the Edge of Time by Barbara Karmazin Now Available at Loose Id

On the Edge of Time Moonraker’s Row roared like a caged lion, with loud raucous bars, sleazy establishments and VR sex parlors all jammed into one long section of Sanctuary Station. Subsonics reached into Helga’s bones and made her tingle from head to toe. Holographic ads promising medieval bondage, rape fantasies and fairy tale extravaganzas bombarded her senses. Male prosts strutted their stuff, trolled for action and signaled her with empty eyes that they were available. Tight muscular asses, strong pecs, six-pack abs, long-haired, shorthaired, bald, black, white, oriental and mixed-race, each eager to please and earn credits to support their drug habits and pimp lovers. They were nothing but one-dimensional eye candy. Helga continued her long-legged stride past the beckoning sights and sounds. She needed a long night’s session with a strong hard man pounding away inside her while she screamed in ecstatic release. At the same time, she wanted…no…she needed a warrior lover, not a prost. Ever since she’d linked body and mind with Silk, Helga craved love and close physical contact with both men and women. It had become an addiction. Living on the edge like they did, risking death with each trip through the wyrmhole, only made the craving stronger. And if Silk wanted her to make love to a man tonight, long and slow, all night long, who was she to deny her symbiotic sister the simple pleasures of life and love within her body and this reality? Just her luck that there weren’t any male serpent hunters here ready to mate with her and give her the kind of emotional and physical contact she craved for herself and Silk. They were away on their current job assignments, diving deep into the holes and protecting ship and passengers against the formidable wyrmdragons. The only serpent hunters left on station were women. Women were okay for a quick fling but a woman wouldn’t satisfy Silk’s cravings for a male lover for them to share tonight. A tall Caucasian man with combat-toned body and sad, haunted eyes strode past Helga and ducked into the next entrance. Strong, muscled arms bulged from his sleeveless half-suit of nano-metal. He carried an equipment bag in his right hand. The familiar lines of a samurai sword in a plain scabbard hung at his right hip. She grinned. The sword on his right hip meant he was a southpaw. It gave him a slight advantage against those who expected a right-handed opponent. He rested his hand on the door’s ID panel. It slid aside. He entered and the door slid shut behind him. Whoa! Wait a minute. Who the hell was he? Helga ran forward and pressed her hand on the closed door’s ID panel. A holographic genie materialized in response to her request for

entry. It crossed its arms and blocked her in obvious warning. No entry. The hologram blared at her. Private combat training at Master level in progress. Helga stepped back. She tapped her forefinger against her chin and ignored the alterday pedestrians jostling her. Where had she seen that man’s face before? Slowly, his features crystallized in her mind’s eye from the images she’d seen on the list of new hires. Major Cord Blackstone, Security Chief for Fastron Corporation. Ex-major actually. He’d resigned his contract with Fastron Corporation and accepted a huge financial penalty in order to take the position of a lowly guardsman upon her ship, the Wyrm Runner. The serpent tattoo coiled on Helga’s left arm unwound itself and shimmered into a living entity. Silk slithered past Helga’s shoulder, lifted her head and rubbed a tiny, scaled nose behind Helga’s ear. Acute interest tinged with a frisson of sexual desire hummed into Helga’s mind. Interesting. Silk had noticed this man too. The possibilities were intriguing. Helga spun on her heel and strode away. All of a sudden she was very, very eager for tomorrow to begin. As for tonight…well…a prolonged session in one of the VR stimulators would have to suffice until she could get the real thing.

***** Master Sen Lui arched his left eyebrow. “Why the change from full suit to half-suit for tonight’s session?” Cord bowed. “I resigned from Fastron Corporation two months ago.” He laid his equipment bag, sword and scabbard on the stand and moved through the traditional stretches of arms, shoulders, legs and feet. The nano-metal fabric of his sleeveless coverall and boots moved like liquid over his body, instantly adapting to every change in position. The equipment bag contained the rest of his spacesuit: sleeves, gloves, helmet and emergency air pack. Only a fool walked a spaceship without his suit components close at hand. Critical seconds lost looking for suit components could mean the difference between life and death during emergency decompression. “I accepted a position as guardsman on the Wyrm Runner.” “Ah!” Sen Lui grinned. His dark skin, almond-shaped eyes and short, kinky red hair bespoke his unique racial blend of black, Asian and Celtic ancestry. He didn’t have to say anything else. Sen Lui understood the reason now for the half-suit. Death was instant during decompression within a wyrmhole no matter what kind of suit you wore. Guardsmen and serpent hunters preferred the slight advantage of more freedom of motion in a half-suit while fighting wyrmdragons. Cord finished his stretches, walked back to the practice mat with his sword and bowed again. Sen Lui uncoiled himself from his lotus position, unsheathed his sword and bowed.

They began their session with a warm-up sequence of basic strokes and positions. Step by step they moved, forward and back, circling and feeling each other’s movements and patterns. It was both greeting and conversation, a dialogue in steel and motion. They wore no padding, no blunted swords, no facemasks. A misstep, a failed move meant mutilation and possible death. The session turned serious. They moved faster, probing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Circle, step, feint, parry. The blades whirled and caught the light, faster and faster. Beauty and death combined in every motion of their fatal dance. Body and soul joined in deadly battle. A final clash of steel against steel filled the air. They disengaged and sheathed their blades. Sweat poured down Cord’s face. He felt perfectly relaxed and tired. His arms and legs ached. Tremors of exhaustion shook his body. It was a good fight. He bowed. “Thank you, Master.” Sen Lui bowed. “Thank you.” He quirked a sardonic eyebrow at Cord. “If you succeed and become one of the serpent hunters, contact me and let me know how it feels. I might want to change my vocation too.”

***** Helga stretched herself out on the VR bed and closed her eyes. Nude, she waited while the automated probes snaked out and touched her mouth, her shoulders, the hollow of her throat, her breasts and nipples, her hands and fingers, her clit, pussy and anus, the insides of her thighs and knees and the soles of her feet. A sensor cap gently fitted itself over her scalp and eyes. Total sensory input. As an added bonus, the VR set-up also allowed her full access to Silk, almost as if they walked together again within the altered para-reality of the wyrmhole. Slowly, carefully, she relaxed her mind and pulled up the memories she had of Cord walking past her into the Sen Lui’s martial arts academy. The lean, hard lines of his body. The veins bulging on his well-muscled arms. Would he have the same kind of veins twisting around the thick shaft of his erection? She smiled and imagined his strong naked body lying beside her. He reached for her. Her heart beat faster. Her skin came alive. She felt his fingers brush against her breast. Her nipples hardened, eager to feel his fingers and mouth upon them. He bent his head down to her. She lifted hers to meet his. Their lips met in a hard, demanding kiss. His tongue probed her mouth. Her clit throbbed under the gentle pulses of the VR sensor. Cord pulled back and smiled at her. He ran his thumb across her mouth.

Silk materialized beside Helga. Prismatic scales glittered on her human-shaped body, breasts and hips. Cord smiled, reached past Helga and touched Silk’s breast. The serpent woman’s scaled nipples pebbled with arousal. Silk murmured in a husky voice. “I look forward to sharing this one with you, my hostsister.”

***** What people are saying about

On the Edge of Time

A Love and danger are inseparable twins in the fascinating world of Wyrmholes and Serpent Hunters. Barbara Karmazin is that rare writer able to seamlessly blend Erotica and Science Fiction, creating a compelling and powerful story that will keep you up all night long. -- Daria Karpova, author of Loose Diamonds (Loose Id)

One hot, sexy sci-fi erotic-romance! On the Edge of Time blurs the line between Fantasy and Sci-fi with a delicious twist on life-mates! -- Morgan Hawke, author of Interstellar Service and Discipline: Victorious Star (Loose Id)

Ms. Karmazin has created a vivid and unique world in this ambitious story of intradimensional adventure. I found the symbiotic relationship between the two species darkly erotic and fascinating. Deftly written and action packed. And you’ve just got to love a pregnant hero! -- Cyndi Friberg, author of Owner of a Lonely Heart (Loose Id)