Galactic Treasure (Quads of Galafrax) (2 page)

Give in, obey.
Dismissing the thought she continued to glare. At least her mouth still worked.

“Oh you slimy, bottom feeding para—” he lifted her with his clammy webbed fingers and pressed the inhibitor to her throat.

The satisfied triumphant smile on his fishy lips made her fight the control collar harder, causing herself even more searing agony.

“Much better, you will learn. I know you are new and training does take time. I have important visitors coming and wish to show off my most prized pet.”

He slid his hand into her hair, curling her rich red copper strands around it.

“So many colours, all in one place, a prize you are indeed. I shall be the envy of every delegate in the room.”

The fish man and all the other fish aliens had an obsession with colourful things. Splashes of colour were everywhere on his ship. He dressed himself in multi-coloured clothes. He had even dressed Ruby in a red jewelled corset top, which sparkled every time she moved, and a very short beaded skirt which reminded her more of a dangling lamp shade fringe than a skirt. Everything else was bare. Which made her extremely self-conscious of all her skin showing; at a size eighteen, there was a lot of her to show, but that was what fish man wanted. Display her milk pale skin, spotted with pale pink freckles. Servants came in twice a day to brush out her waist length hair, and make sure she was bathed and clothed.

Every time she protested, hurled verbal abuse and fought them. They quickly paralysed and silenced her.

She guessed the aliens had no preference in the size or weight of the women they had abducted along with her. Sadly, like Ruby, they too had been auctioned off to the highest bidder. At least she’d been fortunate to be bought by a wealthy owner, treating her like a pampered pet. She shuddered to think what was happening to the other women.

Talking to the women, one thing they had in common was they’d all been abducted at night, and in remote locations on Earth.

For Ruby, she’d been walking home from the train station in her little town, after attending a book conference in the city, her bags full of new purchases for her little bookstore. Within the blink of an eye she’d been paralysed, and knocked out. When she had awoken, they were far from Earth and the measly life she once called her own.

Her temper flared remembering how all sixteen women had been kept in small wire cages for days on end, with only water. If she ever got her hands on that slave trader, she’d staple his big ears to the nearest airlock then open the door and gladly watch his head explode.

“Remember, you agreed to behave.”

Ruby glanced down, seeing her clenched fists, and realised he’d released the control collar. She let out a breath, relaxed her shoulders and uncurled her fists. Unable to talk she glared and at the same time nodded.

“Good, come.” He clipped a gold chain lead on to her collar, tugging at it to make her follow behind.

Okay, so she didn’t have much of a life back on Earth, being a frumpy woman with a bookstore and two cats. But still, it was better than the humiliation of this life she’d been rudely thrust into. Honestly, she didn’t know how much more of being a fish man’s pet she could take. But she had to take it, had to survive.

There had to be a way out of this mess. One way or the other, she was determined to find it.

Chapter Two

Piclars scurried out of the way as the brother
s walked in pairs, and their rhythmic marching echoed through the passageways. They strode through the docking bay and into diplomatic quarters. Zay followed a mental map through the curving corridors to the Ambassador’s quarters.

The smell of the station was damp, which was nothing new for a Piclar Station, being a mainly aquatic species.
Although they could live out of the water, they required vast amounts of it to keep their bodies hydrated and skins moist.

Five days at a thousand credits per day, the Ambassador was getting a bargain, considering they had been hired to simply stand around, nothing but matching ornaments. To Piclars, anything naturally coloured red was a sign of good fortune.

Their uniforms were matching replicas of a Demos’ soldier, the only difference being no insignias or emblems showing rank and planet of origin.

Together they halted outside the door, which was guarded by two Piclar guards. Zay hid his amusement, observing the sudden trembling of the guards. Their gazes moving over the arsenal of weapons hooked to each of the brothers' belts.

“We’re here to see the Ambassador. I believe we are expected.” Bir stepped forward.

The guard on the right turned and pressed his hand to the door console, announced their arrival, and stepped back as the double doors slid open. The brothers entered, before moving to stand in a line behind Bir.

The station sitting room had been furnished with rich colourful drapery, large high-winged opulent chairs and a low table, in the centre, laden with plates of
Brac weed
and various native small ocean creatures the Piclars consumed. Two Piclars rose to greet them.

“Aaah, my guards, did I not say I had hired the best.” Boasted a rather bottom heavy Piclar to his friend. Around his neck he wore the Ambassador’s amulet of his planet.

“Demos soldiers, I am impressed, Rageelna.”

“Ambassador Rageelna, I am commander Bir, head of Fire
Bond Brothers Security. Your credits have cleared so we are here to ensure your safety during your stay on
Zarnak Station
. These are my quad brothers, Zay, Niz, and Tev. I can assure you during our years in this business, not one of our clients have come to any harm.”

“Fire Brothers Security, I have heard of you. I have also heard on the galactic news cast that one of your clients was assassinated?” The Ambassador’s friend spoke up.

Bir folded his arms, staring down the other Piclar. “Not while under our protection.”

The Piclar nodded, and the Ambassador's thin lips curved up into a smile. “Good, good, I am well pleased.
This will be my time to turn the trade talks to our planet’s favour, and with so much red surrounding me I cannot lose. Commander Bir, I must bring to your attention it is not just me you will be guarding. I have recently acquired a little pet, whose rarity and beauty of colour makes her extremely valuable.”

“The guarding of pets is not in our contract.
We will not be liable if it comes to harm. If you want to make sure your creature is kept safe, then it would be best if you keep it close to you.”

The Ambassador shifted to the left. Zay sucked in his breath as his gaze fell on a shiny mop of wavy, fire red hair. Peeking over the Ambassador’s chair he saw a pale almost white forehead and the most dazzling pair of blue eyes, like crystal pools of clear water. She rose farther up showing a rounded face, and there were some kind of little spots over her straight, elegant little nose and over her rounded, slightly reddened cheeks. His gaze dropped to her lips, ruddy pink and full, and her rounded little chin. Her flame-red hair framed her face, making her soft-looking, pale skin stand out.

Zay’s body reacted and hardened in an instant, and he hadn’t even seen all of her. Hell, he didn’t even know what species she was.
What by the ice plains is wrong with me?

Everything in Zay screamed at him to act, to shove everyone out of the way to get to her. His fingers tingled in anticipation of how she would feel when he touched her. Would she be as soft as she looked? He wanted, no,
needed
to find out.

He met her gaze, and she stared right back at him with a touch of wariness. Was this the pet the Ambassador wanted them to guard? Intelligence shone in her gaze, not the dullness of a simple creature.

“I will pay extra to ensure she is not stolen from me.”

The female rolled her eyes and turned her head and sank behind the chair. It took every ounce of will power not to move. Zay clenched his teeth to stop from blurting out his demands.

With a side glanced at Bir, he saw his brother was also staring in the direction of where the little creature had vanished. They all had caught sight of her.

“Ambassador, may we see this pet of yours?”

Zay noted Bir was doing his best to hide the hard edge to his tone. The cool calm and collected brother was rattled. “To see what guarding her is worth.”

Hell, he would pay any price, even them blowing the job, snatching her up and fighting their way out.

It didn’t matter if they were not all born brothers, because they still all thought alike. Zay knew Bir wanted a full glimpse of this delicious little creature. They all did.

“But of course. Ruby, come here, my pet.”

There was no instant obedience, as they waited for her to respond to her master’s command. Zay would have laughed if his rod wasn’t so painfully hard.

And the damn fucking sex droid is broken, just my luck.

“Ruby, come here now!” barked the Ambassador, his bubbled gurgle showing his annoyance, but still she didn’t respond.

I like this female, more than I should.

“Forgive me, my pet is still in training and has much to learn.”

Zay watched as the Ambassador pulled a control unit from one of his pockets, and his eyes narrowed in on it with disgust. He glanced up to meet Tev’s gaze, yes, he knew exactly w
hat it was. Control collars were outlawed across half the galaxy. The female suddenly bolted to her feet, glaring angrily at the Ambassador.

Fight and fire in her gaze told Zay she had spirit and intelligence.

He couldn’t help but rake a hungry gaze down her frame. An abundance of lush pale skin stood out against her jewelled top, sparkling with each of her jerky movements. Ruby’s pretty face twisted in pain. It was clear she was trying to fight the collar. Anger streaked through his gut, seeing the vocal inhibitor added in as well.

She was not a willing pet, but a slave. Slavery was also outlawed for any species living with in the
Hellious Galaxy
. Not a doubt she did not fall within
Hellious
jurisdiction. Zay inwardly cursed. Legally, they couldn’t do a thing.

Every protective instinct in Zay told him to grab the controls, shove it down the Ambassador’s throat, before snapping the Piclar’s neck. Then scoop up the female and head back to their ship, where he would take hours to explore every inch of her soft skin, whispering promises of pleasure and safety.

Bir caught his gaze, the message loud and clear.
No
. Zay clenched his fists and jaw. Never had he been swamped with such strong desire, forcing him to battle for reason.

“The species is familiar, but I cannot place it,” Bir continued, in a deceptively calm tone.

“It is called a human. The Jorval assure me they come from a very primitive planet. I hear they don’t even have space travel.”

Human, no wonder she seemed familiar.
It was well known on Galafrax the X’Hani high lords had taken a human female as their
sheraz
. Not only that, but the female had recently birthed twin females. News of the first twin females ever born on Demos had reached the farthest Demos outposts.

Ruby stopped just behind the Ambassador, her upper brow beaded with sweat. Zay could see the trembling of her body and wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms, comfort and soothe her.

“Turn off the control collar, Ambassador. I was once a training instructor for young Demos quads. Just like young males, most pets just need firm instruction.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at Bir. The Ambassador hesitated a moment, before nodding and switching off the controls, tucking it back into his pocket.

The female heaved a sigh of relief, now free from pain.

“Please demonstrate, Commander Bir. Show me
how you can make her obey without the control collar.” The Ambassador took a step back and to the side.

Zay saw her swallow.
Fear flooded her eyes and she took a step back.

He won’t hurt you, little red, be still.

“Ruby, come and stand here.” Bir pointed to the spot just before him.

She hesitated slightly, before walking the few paces forward and coming to a halt, her gaze lowered.

“Permission to touch your pet, Ambassador.”

“Granted.”

Bir reached out, placing a gentle hand under her chin, and lifted her head. With his other hand he swiftly removed the vocal inhibitor, and gently stroked a single finger down over her cheek. They all observed her shudder in response to Bir’s touch.

I want to touch her.
Zay struggled for control, clenching his jaw so tight it ached.

“That is not advisable, Commander Bir.
She has a fire viper’s tongue.”

Zay refrained from snorting his disbelief at the Ambassador’s warning.

Bir dropped his hand but held her eyes captive. “You will remain silent, and answer only yes and no to any questions, is that clear?”

“Y- yes, sir.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, although it trembled like a shuttle entering a planet’s atmosphere.