Free My Man Michael by Lori Foster Page B

asked. But he understood, and added, “He’s male. I get it.”
    “He has a male voice,” Kayli clarified, “but he’s a computer.”
    “A male computer,” emphasized Hauk. “Unlike some gender-free units.” Then he added, “And Kayli, I’m quite pleased you didn’t say just a computer.”
    “Now Hauk, would I insult you that way?” Kayli taunted.
    “On a daily basis,” Hauk confirmed. “But I tolerate it because I love you.”
    She snorted. “More likely because I own the ship.”
    Hauk sniffed in return—but didn’t refute that.
    Chuckling at their sibling-like banter, Mallet asked, “You name all your robots and computers?”
    “But of course, otherwise, what would I call them?”
    Hauk asked, “Shall I proceed, Kayli?”
    “Yes, please.”
    And suddenly Mallet found himself in a heavily wooded setting. He could smell rich earth and moss and the scent of running water carried on a balmy breeze. All around him, leaves rustled, large unfamiliar birds screeched, and animals snarled.
    Shocked, he took Kayli’s hand and pulled her behind him as he searched the area, looking for the source of those angry animal roars.
    “That’s enough, Hauk. Thank you.”
    The woods disappeared, placing Mallet back in the stark white room.
    He stared at Kayli. “Holy shit.”
    Disapproval warred with amusement. “I see that I’ve surprised you.”
    “Again.” He ran a hand over his head. “I take it we weren’t transported?”
    Amusement won out. “We were not. The room provides a three-dimensional vision of all commands. To get the full benefit, you need to sit in one of the chairs. They can provide simulated motion and air disturbance, along with temperature changes.”
    “No, thank you.”
    She laughed—and the sound was so rusty, but rich and pure, that Mallet found himself heating with temptation.
    “It’s all an illusion, Michael. The chair will simulate other affects of your command, but no harm can come to you.” She lifted their laced hands. “Or me. That is why you put yourself in front of me, isn’t it? To protect me?”
    Feeling self-conscious in the face of her amusement, he shrugged. “I guess.” And as his irritation grew, he added, “It’s instinctive.”
    “And perfect for our purposes. We need a warrior like you, a man capable and caring.”
    That reminded Mallet of something her mother had said, and he jumped on it, anxious to ease the awkwardness of the moment. “What did Raemay mean about a sacrifice?”
    Kayli avoided his gaze. “I would prefer to explain that later. For now, we should take you to eat, and then you may either return here to familiarize yourself with our community, or retire to your room to get some rest.”
    Mallet caught her chin and brought her gaze around to his. “I’m not tired, Kayli. Food can wait. And I’m not ready to explore this room further just yet. So how about you just answer my question?”
    “It is complicated.”
    “Un-complicate it.”
    She sighed. “Very well. As you know, we are under siege from a neighboring colony. The men are bigger than our norm, though nowhere as massive as you. More along the lines of my height.”
    “And you’re a runt,” he teased. But he recalled that her mother stood no more than a few inches over five feet—much shorter than her daughter.
    Kayli’s expression contorted with anger. “They are savages. Marauders taking what they want without consideration. At first, we tried to fight them, but that only caused damage to our homes and lands without success in defending our people. When we engage, they go after our men, knowing that we have a shortage and that our men are most valued.”
    More valued than the women? Mallet was too astonished to comment. He couldn’t imagine a bunch of women trying to protect men. It wasn’t natural.
    “Have they killed many of your men?”
    “None.”
    “None?” He grunted. “Then . . . ?”
    “Sheltering the males leaves our untrained women vulnerable for