Free DangerouslyForever by A.M. Griffin

to do
anything he didn’t want. That was the reason why he’d left Drazlan years ago—to
chart out his own destiny and future. His father had used the word “must” a
lot. Saying things like he must take over the responsibilities of ruling
Drazlan, since Taio had abandoned them. It had been a lie and a ploy to try to
turn Kiehle against his older brother. But after he’d heard all the things he
“must” do so many times, he’d finally left Drazlan as well.
    The guard eyed him with a hint of wariness. One thing was
for certain, Alharad didn’t want his guard to anger Kiehle even before he’d
unpacked his bag. “This is your room,” he said, obviously deciding that he
didn’t want to die over a war of words.
    Kiehle gave a short nod. He didn’t think the guard meant any
harm. The Quolds were not known for their manners. Their abrupt speech patterns
and way of thinking hadn’t won them any friends from other species. But just
the same, as a warrior, Kiehle couldn’t show a hint of weakness.
    “What about me?” Thesan asked.
    “You will stay in the other quarters,” one of the guards
replied.
    He and Thesan exchanged glances, both guessing what the
“other quarters” would look like.
    “He’ll stay with me,” Kiehle stated.
    “As you wish.” The guards turned and walked away.
    “That was easy,” Thesan said. “I was hoping for some kind of
fight.”
    Kiehle watched the guards’ retreating backs. “They don’t
care where you sleep, so long as you spend your credits.”
    One of the guards stopped before turning a corner to look
back at Kiehle and Thesan. “Alharad will send for you shortly.”
    Kiehle nodded his acknowledgement and entered the room with
Thesan on his heels. “The sooner we find long-term companions, the better I’ll
feel,” Kiehle said, for the benefit of the listening devices he knew were
already in place.
    * * * * *
    A chime sounded in the suite.
    “Can you get that?” Kiehle yelled from the bathing room.
    I hate ionized showers , he thought as he stepped from
the booth. Ionized showers were ideal on space vessels, and since he spent most
of his time onboard them, it was something he had to endure all the time. He’d
thought since Alharad had one of the most lucrative brothels in this sector,
there was a possibility of bathing with real water.
    He tied his shoulder-length hair at the nape of his neck,
securing all the wayward strands. He slipped on a clean pair of pants and a
shirt then headed out of the room, following the sound of voices.
    He turned the corner and saw something he never would’ve
imagined in Alharad’s compound. Thesan was on his knees, speaking to a human
girl. She was so small and so thin, he could easily make out her bone
structure.
    He approached the pair, feeling his blood boil. Why was
there a child here? And why would Alharad send her to his room, when he
knew he was Taio’s brother? “Thesan?” He let his question hang in the air, not
wanting to ask if they should contact the Galactic Council out loud.
    Thesan rose to his feet with a grunt. “This is Yoshi,” he
said, motioning to the child. “She’s Alharad’s pet . Meaning, she is his
servant.”
    Kiehle growled low in his throat. She’s just a child. He took a step toward her. “Are you…” He couldn’t find the words he needed to
ask the impossible. If Alharad used or offered this little girl for pleasure,
he would kill him now.
    Thesan shook his head. “No,” he stated. “She’s not one of
the whores.”
    Relief poured from his soul. But it still wasn’t enough to
temper what he felt.
    Yoshi looked up at him with big round eyes. “I’m not old
enough yet,” she said.
    Kiehle balled his fists, imagining them wrapped around
Alharad’s neck.
    Thesan put a hand on Yoshi’s shoulder. “She’s already
explained that Alharad wouldn’t do anything illegal.” He looked down at Yoshi
uncertainly. “He understands that children are not to work the rooms until they
come of