Free Shattered Stars by Viola Grace Page A

herself a light one.
    He smirked. A
dance class was in order.
     
    * * * *
     
    Hannah pouted the whole
way back to the skimmer launch outside the valley. Preeahsh was
settled in the stable with his females, and Hannah was fuming over
the punishment that Mero had decided on.
    Her patron was
very amused.
    It took her a
few tries, but she finally said, “I didn’t hurt myself.”
    “No, but you
endangered yourself. Those beasts are not tame. The would flatten
you in seconds. So, you will learn to be lighter on your feet in
case you are tempted to try something like that again.”
    She wrinkled
her nose. “I am thinking it was a mistake to tell you how much I
hated dance class.”
    “You get a
punishment that doesn’t injure you, and I get a more graceful
companion. We both win.” His smugness was cloying.
    Hannah crossed
her arms over her breasts and enjoyed her sulk all the way
home.
     
    Szriata was a
Yimerian of exceptional grace. Her pearlescent skin glowed, and her
midnight hair hung nearly to her ankles. Every movement was a
dance.
    “Miss Hannah,
you mustn’t rush. This is a dance, not a race.” She stood behind
Hannah and controlled the movements of her limbs.
    Hannah tried to
slow down. “I am guessing that going faster will not get this over
with.”
    “You are
guessing correctly. You are lucky that you have been given this
chance to learn.”
    Hannah wrinkled
her nose. “I am feeling that luck.”
    Szriata laughed
and stepped away, looking at her in the mirror with her dark eyes
smiling.
    “I think we
might skip this for something that is a little more active. The
formal dances are fine, but they don’t appeal to you. Let’s try the
bladed fans.”
    Hannah perked
up. “Bladed fans?”
    “Oh, yes. The
dances done with them are sensual and deadly. Mero will have to
trust you.”
    Hannah snapped
her jaw shut. He let her put her teeth around his cock; he should
trust her with a blade.
    Szriata went to
her supply box and opened it, putting aside some veils before she
removed two sets of fans. One for Hannah to practice with and
another for Szriata to demonstrate with.
    The dance
master walked to the floral display on a small table, and with a
slight smile, she executed a turn, a bow and her hand moved,
flicking the fan open and slicing the head of the flower without
even trembling the stem. Those were very sharp fans.
    Hannah fought
the urge to clap happily and followed her dance master’s
instructions. The day was definitely looking up.
     
    * * * *
     
    From his vantage point
overlooking the courtyard, Mero watched Hannah concentrate and
learn the motions of the blade dances. Of course, his little human
would be interested in fighting. She was obedient when she was with
him, but there was spirit behind her eyes. Duty and honour were
what kept her pliant.
    He wanted
more.
    Szriata was
patient with her and very amused by her student. He wondered idly
if Hannah realized she was dealing with another Hmrain.
     
    * * * *
     
    Hannah sat next to Mero
at dinner, and Szriata sat across from her.
    “So, sister,
how is my companion at dancing?”
    Szriata smiled.
“Impatient, brother.”
    Hannah blinked
rapidly as she absorbed that. They didn’t look related.
    Szriata smiled
at Hannah. “I am guessing that he hasn’t told you that the Hmrain
were a designed species a few eons ago.”
    “Designed?”
    “Certainly.
There was chaos in the empty sectors. Pirates, raiders, slavers,
they all hid on perfectly live worlds and preyed on those
travelling the shipping lanes around them. The masters decided that
a species should be created that would have no ties to any other,
including themselves. They combined genetics from dozens of races
to create us. We soon walked the worlds and brought structure to
the wilderness.” She winked.
    Hannah looked
over to Mero. “So, you are...”
    “One of the
Hmrain, as is Szriata. There are only two dozen others, but we are
sufficiently powerful to keep our worlds safe.” He