Sweet Alien Savage (Zerconian Warriors Book 4) (19 page)

Alien Mate

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“Zoelle? Zoelle, wake up.”

God help her. Someone really wanted her to suffer. Her arms and legs ached from being restrained for hours. She was hungry, tired, and she really, really had to pee.

“What?” Zoey asked tiredly, opening her eyes.

“More buyers are coming. Stand up straight and look respectable.”

Zoey gaped at her. “You actually want to be bought?”

“Of course. Once we have been sold, we can explain who we are and they can return us to Zerconia.”

“You are delusional.”

“What do you mean?” Even with dirty clothes, crazy, knotted hair and a distinct odor, Liula still managed to look down her nose at her.

“The types of people who purchase slaves at these auctions are not going to give a shit who you are. They aren’t going to just release us.”

“You do not know that.”

Zoey groaned. “Yes, I do. I thought I was naïve, but lady, you really take the cake.”

“I am not naïve. I am a hundred and fifty years old. I have lived far longer than you have.”

“But how long has it been since you left Zerconia? Things change. No one cares who you are. These people have no scruples. They are buying slaves, for God’s sake.”

“Why does no one do something about these auctions? They should be outlawed.”

“The Alliance frowns on them, but they can’t do anything since they’re held on planets that don’t belong to the Alliance.”

Liula stood straight. “Here they come.”

With a sigh, unable to find any interest in the group making their way down the passage, Zoey attempted to find a more comfortable position. How long did they intend to keep them tied up like this? Was it actually possible for her bladder to burst?

At least, then she knew she wouldn’t be bought. Wetting herself surely wasn’t an attractive quality in a slave.

She closed her eyes, exhaustion slipping over her. She’d never thought it possible to sleep standing up but then she’d never been this exhausted before. A strong smell reached her, turning her stomach.

God, what was that? If her stomach wasn’t empty, she’d be heaving its contents all over the floor. The only thing she’d ever smelled that was that bad was that troll she’d encountered on Musin.

Her eyes shot open and she stared over at where the guards were standing further down the passage. She couldn’t see anything of the buyer they were escorting.

Damn it.

“No, no good. Need lanana.”

It was him. Stinky.

“They didn’t even look at us,” Liula said with a sniff. “You could have made some effort.”

“Hey! Hey you!” Zoey yelled out, ignoring Liula.

The guards turned to glare at her, one of them moving her way, his stare menacing. Nerves danced in her stomach and she licked her lips. But there was no going back now.

The short creature with them turned, staring at her. It was him. The troll who had been insistent on buying Giz. As wide as he was tall, he had orange skin and a shock of frizzy purple hair that stuck straight up from his head. Bushy purple eyebrows almost completely covered his small, black eyes.

“Remember me?” she asked him. “Remember the lanana?” That’s what he’d called Giz.

God, please let him remember her.

“Quiet,” the guard ordered with a snarl, reaching for her. Zoey flinched back as he struck her face. Tears filled her eyes as pain slammed through her. Cheek throbbing, vision blurred, she took a gasping breath.

Shock filled her as she realized Liula was yelling at the guard, berating him. But she pushed all of that aside when she saw that the troll had moved to stand in front of her. He bounced up and down.

“Lanana.”

“He’s not with me,” she told him.

Disappointment filled his face and he turned away.

“But if you tell me what you want him for I could possibly help you.” She’d never give him Giz, but surely they could figure something out.

He turned back.

“First, you free us. Both of us.” She nodded at Liula, who had quietened down and was listening. “We will reimburse you.”

He dipped his head to one side, clearly confused.

“Uhh, we will pay you back. All the credits you spend.”

“And lanana?”

“What do you want him for? You don’t want to eat him, do you?”

He made a face. “No eat. Need fur.”

“You need some of his fur?” she clarified.

He nodded.

Jeez, why hadn’t he said that in the first place?

“I’ll get you as much fur as you need. A lifetime supply.”

“Lifetime fur?”

“Yes. I promise.”

He studied her for a moment. Then nodded. When he spoke to the guard, it was in another language, but soon the guard released them from the wall.

Zoey’s arms ached so badly she gasped as she lowered them.

“Are you well?” Liula asked, looking unaffected.

“Cramps,” Zoey replied as they were led along behind the troll.

“How do you know him?” Liula asked.

“We met a while ago. Long story.”

“And what is a lanana?”

“It’s Giz.”

“How odd that he wants his fur. It’s not even that clean.”

Zoey glared at her. “Considering Giz just saved us perhaps you could refrain from insulting him.”

Liula looked at her in surprise. “That wasn’t an insult just the truth.”

“Well, right now your hair doesn’t smell all that great either.”

“There is no call to be rude.”

Sweet merciful heaven give her patience.