Free Hawk's Slave by Jordan Summers

face. He looked at Hawk in disbelief.
    “I need to question him. Take him to the dark chamber,” Hawk said.
    Shadow nodded curtly, then disappeared with the invader in tow.
     
    * * * * *
     

 

Chapter Seven
     
    Opal’s stomach lurched the moment the world righted itself. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath as she tried to shake off the dizziness. She was naked but for the collar Hawk had given her.
    “Finally,” a male voice said.
    She looked up and found herself at the feet of the alien who’d tried to purchase her on Farn. Opal staggered to stand. It took two tries, but she eventually got her legs to support her.
    Opal glanced around and saw other creatures that looked like the one in front of her, situated around the bridge of a ship. They were all male. All were staring at her with a mixture of disgust and desire. Again she got the impression that their desire wasn’t sexual in nature.
    Did they all breathe fire? Did it really matter? It would only take one of them to burn the flesh from her bones.
    The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Opal played it off as the effects of the light ring transport, but wasn’t sure she’d fooled the man in front of her.
    She glanced out the viewer and saw Hawk’s ship drifting across the screen. Had it been disabled? Did they plan to finish the job? Opal’s gaze returned to the blue-haired alien to try and gauge his intentions.
    He was watching her closely and seemed particularly interested in her reaction to Hawk’s ship.
    Opal’s face blanked. She took care to show no emotion at all, then forced herself to face him. “My name is Opal. I am a Phantom Warrior. Who am I addressing?”
    Some of the crew sneered at her tone, but the scaly being in front of her grinned, flashing a mouthful of pointy teeth. “I am Captain Zeth,” he said. “Your new owner.”
    She bristled internally, but didn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’d angered her. Instead, Opal ignored her nudity and bowed at the waist.
    “Captain Zeth,” she said, acknowledging his position.
    His eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised you’re not upset by the turn of events.”
    Opal arched her brow. “Why would I be upset?”
    He cocked his reptilian head. “I was under the impression that Hawk viewed you as more than a slave. After all, he refused to sell you, even after I offered him an outlandish sum of credits.”
    Her lips thinned. “You are mistaken,” she said. “I’ve been his captive for over thirty days. Did your men not inform you where I was found?”
    Zeth’s grin widened. “A pleasure chamber if I’m not mistaken.”
    Opal gave him a curt nod. “I didn’t volunteer to be placed there.”
    He inhaled. “Yet, you smell like him,” he said.
    She tensed. “I did not volunteer,” Opal repeated.
    Understanding dawned in the big alien’s eyes. “I seek a pet,” he said, “not a whore.”
    Opal bit the inside of her mouth so hard that she drew blood. “I am a warrior, not a whore.”
    Zeth turned his back on her. The move showed his confidence in his own power, while insulting her as a warrior. “Of course not,” he said, but his tone said otherwise. He walked across the bridge and took his seat. His eyes moved to the collar around her neck.
    “Would you like me to remove it?” Opal asked. She could smell Hawk on the leather with each inhalation she took.
    “That won’t be necessary,” Zeth said. “It suits your new position.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at the floor beside his seat.
    Opal strolled forward, taking care to sway her hips seductively. She reached Zeth’s side and stopped.
    His gaze raked her, then he grabbed her arm. The second he touched her, Opal’s body recoiled. She was so attuned to Hawk’s touch that any other’s seemed unnatural.
    “Don’t worry, pet,” Zeth said. “You’ll get use to the coolness of my scales soon enough.” He yanked her down to her knees. “Now shift.”
    Opal swallowed her revulsion and