Free Gigi by Nena Duran

place.
    He decided to come clean. Now wasn’t the time for lies. While watching the recording, he’d recognized the brands around the couple’s neck. He’d gone to the planet in search of Mol because the old one had lived in Pendo’rah a long time ago.
    Gaining access to the old one meant earning the trust of his son, Kol. He owned a disreputable gaming den in the lawless district. Briq had taken a job as his bodyguard. It was then Fael had come in carrying what he’d claimed was the jid’rahal’s female. Thanks to Mol’s quick thinking, they were able to rescued Amada.
    “You should’ve seen her, Dru-lah. She used my pulse weapon and blasted Fael’s arm right off. She’s a worthy mate for the jid’rahal.” He pitied the supreme commander. His mate wasn’t one to be trifled with.
    “I’m curious. What did the old man tell you about the brand?”
    “They’re real. How can it be? The last recorded branded couple was about two thousand years ago.”
    “I don’t have to ask you to keep it a secret.” Dru-lah explained how Amada was taken from her planet. No one had known she was on board until Ounna had discovered her underneath one of the beasts. The supreme commander claimed her to keep her safe. The brand around their necks took everyone by surprise. “You know what could happened if news of this reaches the wrong ears.”
    “You have my word.” Briq nodded, a spark of hope starting in his chest. What if…
     
    * * * *
     
    The state-of-the-art Pendo’rahn shuttle offered Briq a sense of ease for the first time in years. He hoped Amada and the jid’rahal enjoyed all the happiness he’d found with Mor’u. Farewell, Amada, until we meet again.
    Things were going to be different from now on. He could feel it. With this new cutting-edge shuttle, he’d reach Galadonia in half the time. It was an impressive piece of engineering with a fully-loaded weapon system and a triple shielded hull. The A.I. was so advanced some would argue it was alive.
    They’d even had their first argument when it insisted its name was Ly-shra. Briq was used to just calling the things A.I. Every time he tried to give a command, it ignored him. The aggravating thing would only answer to Ly-shra. Who the frackk named a shuttle after a tiny bird?
    An agreement was reached between them. The A.I. approved the name change, and Briq promised to leave its systems alone. Conceited piece of junk really believed it was real. When he messed with the systems and codes it quickly changed its tune. Who’s the boss now? he thought smugly.
    Briq decided to explore the Rag’mar . Now that was a fitting name. It was a hybrid between a shuttle and a cruiser. Roomy with a cargo bay, a smuggler would kill a dozen Kreeh-noshians for it. He almost felt guilty for the way he’d acquired it, but his need outweighed the jid’rahal’s. The warrior could afford to buy a hundred more.
    After satisfying his curiosity, he returned to his new quarters carrying a small chest containing his personal belongings. He reached inside and pulled out a vial of the inhibitor. He frowned, trying to remember the last time he’d dosed. How long since my last rage? Briq sat on his platform and closed his eyes.
    Has it been that long? His last full-blown rage had been the same day he’d rescued Mor’u at the pit. Concern for her health prevented his mind from noticing anything else. His heart raced furiously at the implication. Being with her somehow suppressed his aggression. He’d found true peace the day he’d met her. The memory of what they shared gave him a feeling of pleasure he’d never reached with the inhibitor.
    How long will it last? rasped the tormenting voice inside . How long until you break down and hurt her? No, he was stronger than that. Do it now before it’s too late, before the beast awakens. It’ll tear her to pieces. He couldn’t take the chance. His love for her guided his hand, one drop, then another.
    Briq sat up, disoriented as a