Free Vanquished by Allyson Young Page B

and
he reflected he had yet to earn her respect. Although he should demand it,
considering his status and the one he had conferred, simply by choosing her. He
set that aside.
    “Some of the crew volunteered for
this mission in the hope of finding a lifemate, Neira. But of course not all of
them spied one. There were only thirteen Earth females…found, remember.” He
thought that sounded better than captured or kidnapped, but from the look on
her face she thought differently.
    “So you’re sequestering the
rest?”
    “As is our
custom.”
    A faint snort escaped her, quite
out of keeping with her formerly stoic mannerisms. “Your
custom. Not ours. Not theirs. It makes me wonder what in hell they’re
thinking about. And how frightened they must be. And
what of the women who were chosen ? Do they have a choice? Or are they like
me?”
    Maintaining his control, Vayne
ticked off his answers. “Regarding the first of your concerns, I can only
assure you those females being sequestered are being provided with everything
they need and also given all appropriate information. Their questions are being
answered and they have time to prepare for what awaits on Nibiru. I’ve heard of
no worrisome responses. And the chosen… Consider them
as arranged marriages favored on your planet eons ago, Neira.” At her faint
look of surprise, he shrugged. “I am interested in the history of many worlds.
In any event, I assure you none of them, or you, will come to any harm—”
    “Except we’ve all had our power
taken away, lost our families and contact with everything familiar. To breed more Shadalla. To pay for the perfidy of those who
rule the Home World.”
    Her anger and bitterness cut him.
Stiffly, he responded, “You will all be cared for beyond anything you thought
or believed possible.”
    “Uh-huh.” Her disdain grated, and
he mostly kept his temper if only with great effort, but still he lashed out.
    “You will have nothing but time
to learn I speak the truth.” The cold, inflexible fact obviously struck her as
hard as any blow might have done. He witnessed the shock and another flicker of
despair as she turned away and sat heavily on the bed.
    Regret now colored his
perception, but there was nothing more he could do but show her the new way of
life she might expect. “Accompany me, Neira.”
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “I won’t allow you to sulk in my
quarters like a child.” He daren’t leave her alone, not knowing the lengths she
would go to in her efforts to avoid the inevitable. His comment had the desired
effect. He was already learning much about his intended, aware she would
respond to his inference from the depths of her proud, lovely form. She stood,
preceding him to the door. The paca didn’t conceal her angry movements.
    ****
    Vayne couldn’t remember a more
unpleasant meal. The rations were that of a warship, of course, and not
particularly fine fare, but it wasn’t the food. Neira projected an icy aura he
felt powerless to breach, surrounded by members of his crew and three of the
other women from the Astris , along
with their males. He couldn’t fault the way she presented herself, unfailingly
polite to those off-duty members, solicitous with the women who looked intently
to her for direction.
    Leric’s fair-haired female had
been quivering in her seat at his exec’s right hand, wearing the pale blue
colors of his particular calling. She’d taken her cue from Neira and had calmed
but turned from any attention offered by Leric. The same thing applied to the
two slight, brown-haired women wearing coral and gold, respectively, chosen for
the navigator and one of the weapons’ officers. Vayne preferred to see their
fear and anxiety drain away, of course, and leave room for their higher
functions to begin to assess and understand their situation, but there was no
balance in this. They should be drawing strength from their mates, embracing
the bonding process, as Neira should be looking to him. He