Sex Slaves 03 Waiting for Dawn Page 18

  “And he lives on a planet that is fifth in the Ryclox solar system, a place called Greneen,” her mother had said. “He’s very important, and when he visits, he always asks for me.”

  Even with the red welts traveling across her body, her mother had spoken with pride. Not pride that she had birthed a daughter of a very important man, but pride in that she could sexually please him better than any of the other slaves at Ryl Plantation. For some reason, that knowledge had always bothered Dawn. But at the same time, she’d secretly done everything she could to learn about the man who’d given her life. Sneaking into the master’s rooms when he wasn’t around, she’d looked at the maps, learned where her father lived, and done her best to learn about the Gren.

  It was after the night when she’d finally lost her virginity that her mom had told her. “Zahn Corl will never know you now. Now you are truly a sex slave.”

  Whether her mom had been saddened by that knowledge or not, Dawn had never been able to tell.

  She hurried along the path at the front of the house, walking toward the carrier that Borna had just opened up.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, not wanting to be left at her father’s home.

  After all the years of wanting to know about him, aching to learn how he lived, she now wanted nothing more than to leave and possibly never look back. This wasn’t her life. She knew she hadn’t found the life for her yet, but staying here and enduring people who barely tolerated her was no better than the life she’d had on Ryl Plantation.

  Borna had climbed into the carrier, and started the craft with one hand, holding the other to her side. “Do you have the chips?” she asked, ignoring the fact that Zook had come to stand beside Dawn.

  “No.” Dawn remembered Trent scooping them up when Zahn Corl had announced that the three of them would be shown to their rooms. She hadn’t seen them, or him since.

  “Well, apparently neither of us rated word as to what those two planned to do with them. That bothers me.” She glanced past Dawn to Zook, her brown eyes darkening while she spoke. “And I plan to find out what is going on.”

  “Take me with you.” Already Dawn had climbed into the carrier.

  There was the chance that Trent would return, wonder where she’d went. But damn it to all the hells, the man wouldn’t just leave her without word and expect her to sit and wait like a good girl. That wasn’t how it would be.

  She turned to see Zook take a step backward, his expression showing emotion that wasn’t characteristic of the Gren she’d known so far. And she knew what he was feeling. He craved adventure too, and had always been left behind.

  “I want you to know something,” she said to him. “I’m not sure what ceremony took place last night. Your ways are foreign to me, I don’t deny that. But it was never my intention to come here and take over as the oldest child.”

  Zook opened his mouth as if he would speak, and then closed it again.

  “I never meant to disrupt your family,” she added, meaning it.

  Zook nodded and then brought himself to attention, looking very much like the boy she realized that he still was. Living in his father’s shadow, he’d never been given the opportunity to grow up.

  “May your battles be successful,” he said, his face once again properly masked, showing no emotion.

  Dawn nodded, not sure of what the proper response was.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “There’s trouble,” Borna said, only minutes after they were airborne.

  Dawn watched Borna work the controls with one hand, and tried to understand what she saw on the panels.

  “Can you work the search panel?” Borna asked, not looking at Dawn but paying attention to the controls in front of her.

  “Sure.” Dawn leaned forward, not having a clue how the equipment in the carrier worked, but damned determined to figure it out.

  She stared at the program Borna had brought up, looking at the screen that displayed blinking lights and a diagram that looked like a map of Greneen and the ships and space stations surrounding it. There seemed to be an awful lot of activity going on.

  “Here.” Borna pointed with her bad arm toward a group of buttons. “Pull up the communication at the space station.”

  Dawn did her best, with Borna guiding her, and soon they could hear the transmissions going on between the station that orbited Greneen, where her ship was, and the main outfit of military for Greneen.

  “We count ten ships in the first fleet. They left Bort less than an hour ago.” A man’s voice announced the information and Dawn frowned, glancing at Borna.

  “Damn it to all of the hells. I knew this would happen.” Borna hit the controls with her fist, anger flaring across her pretty face. “The Bortan have never attacked Greneen.”

  “Maybe they aren’t going to now.” Dawn couldn’t tolerate the thought of being on yet another planet that would be attacked by the nasty race.

  “There is only one way to find out.” Borna’s expression grew hard. “But I need a better communication system than this.”

  Dawn only had to think for a minute. “I have a TR-class ship orbiting this planet. It would have the equipment you need.”

  Borna turned at her, smiling. “We’re going to need it.”

  She accelerated quickly until they were out of the atmosphere of the planet and orbiting Greneen. Clarifying with the space station their intention, they were granted passage to board Dawn’s ship. Less than an hour later, the carrier slowed and came to a stop in the landing bay of Dawn’s ship.

  It felt damn good to be “home”. And that was exactly how she felt about her ship. Dawn led the way through the landing bay toward the command room of her ship. The controlled environment, her boots clicking on the solid floor, the smooth hum surrounding her of the ship’s engines, all of it offered a security that she was safe. However its emptiness nagged at her, memories of her friends from Poltar, of Trent, haunting her while she entered the ship’s main room.

  Borna made herself right at home, seeming to know more about Dawn’s ship than Dawn did. Her actions reminded Dawn of Trent, the way she quickly worked the controls and repeatedly glanced up at the large screen in front of them until she had the information that she wanted.

  “I can’t believe this,” she said, running her fingers through her thick hair.

  “What?” Dawn wished she had half of Borna’s warrior skills, her calm ways while staring at a panel that appeared to show almost a dozen Bort ships heading their way.

  “We will be annihilated,” Borna said, not looking up.

  “We?” Dawn asked.

  “Yes.” Borna gave her a hard look. “I don’t deny who I am. What my people are doing is wrong, but nonetheless, I’m Bortan. I’m not ashamed of that.”

  Dawn didn’t understand, but Borna looked away after a moment, and left her wondering what it would be like to be in torment with her own people. She barely focused on the panel in front of her when it dawned on her that she’d despised who she was too, yet still despised the Bortan for destroying her life. Glancing at Borna , she saw the woman in a new light. Proud of who she was, but despising what her people did, somehow hit a bit close to home.

  “Look at this.” Borna pointed, adjusting the controls and then looking up at the screen on the wall in front of them.

  Dawn felt the floor move under her feet when she stared into the star-filled space that appeared in front of her. Fighting off dizziness she managed to hold her ground when something flew past her ship.

  “What was that?” she whispered, realizing she white-knuckled the edge of the control panel.

  “Greneen is sending out fighter pilots.” Borna stood back from the panel, a look of disbelief crossing her face. “The Bortan are going to get their asses kicked.”

  Dawn glanced down at the panel, and then up at the screen in front of her. Several ships passed by them. Without another thought, she reached for the panel, engaging engines.

  “What are you doing?” Bo
rna cried out.

  “Get in your seat.” Dawn took control of the ship, bringing it around, breaking orbit. “I’m sorry, Borna. But if the Bortan are going down today, I’m going to be a part of it.”

  “No!” Borna grabbed Dawn’s wrists, giving no sign that the quick action affected her injured arm. Determination made her expression hard. Her dark eyes burned with the intensity of emotions that crossed her face. “We will watch. But I can’t be a part of this fight.”

  Dawn had her ship out of orbit, moving into deeper space. Borna’s hands were cold against her wrists, but she hadn’t managed to prevent her from slowing the ship.

  “You’ve already announced that you disapprove of what your people have done.” Dawn managed to free her hands from Borna’s grasp and stared the woman in the face. “There is no way I can sit here and watch the Bortan send out more ships, ships that will destroy life, continue to take down the solar system.”

  “I don’t approve of what my people are doing. And I’ve made no secret of it.” Although shorter, Borna stood her ground in front of Dawn. Putting her hands on her hips, she glared at Dawn. “That doesn’t mean I wish my planet destroyed. You didn’t like being a slave, but the destruction of your home burns deep in your soul. Tell me that it doesn’t.”

  “And the Bortan did that to my home,” Dawn hissed, but then Borna’s words slowly drifted through her.

  She let out a sigh, running her fingers through her hair while she turned her attention to the screen that showed they were moving deeper into space, heading for the line of fire.

  A red light started flashing on the control panel, grabbing their attention. Someone was hailing the ship. Dawn slapped the button that would allow the transmission to come through.

  “Prepare to be boarded.” Trent’s voice filled the control room.

  At the same time the engines strained against a force field that forcibly slowed their ship. Dawn looked quickly at the screen, her heart suddenly racing at the realization that Trent had arrived. Yet at the same time wonder filled her that she hadn’t noticed another ship closing in on them.

  Borna moved quickly, decreasing engine speed. “The force field will tear at the exterior if we don’t slow down,” she explained.

  Dawn stood next to her, adjusting the view of the screen in front of them. A Gren ship paralleled them. While they watched a carrier left the ship, oddly appearing as if the ship had simply opened up and burped it out.

  Dawn opened communications. “Turn off your force field. We can’t open the landing bay for you until you do.”

  The engines lowered their hum while the instruments in front of her showed the force field had been dropped. At the same time, the ship paralleling them cut off to the side, leaving the carrier that approached them.

  Dawn pushed the necessary buttons and then turned to meet Trent. Waiting until the carrier was docked, and the landing bay doors shut, she pressed the button next to the door. It slid open silently, in time for her to see Trent Dar disembark from the carrier. Two other men were with him.

  His cape swarmed around him as he approached her, the two Gren behind him. In all black, with their boots clicking rhythmically against the floor, they appeared a dangerous lot. Their long capes made them appear larger than they were, and non-blinking black eyes appeared to miss nothing as they neared her.

  Dawn stepped to the side, allowing them entrance onto the main part of the ship. Trent barely acknowledged her, moving ahead purposely toward the helm.

  Just his scent, a mixture of Gren leather and something very much Trent, filled her senses, making it hard to do much more than stare at him for a moment. Her heart came to a stop, Trent filling her control room, appearing larger than life.

  “Pull this ship out of the line of battle,” he ordered, his tone fierce, demanding.

  The two men with him hurried to her control panels, ignoring both her and Borna. Suddenly Dawn’s heart began racing too fast. Her breath came to her so quickly she felt lightheaded. He was so tall, so powerful, so incredibly in charge.

  But this was her ship. Licking her lips, she knew she had to stand up to him, once again remind him that he couldn’t walk all over her, leave her and reenter her life without a word, taking over the second he was in her presence.

  She opened her mouth to tell him as much when he turned and acknowledged her for the first time.

  “Take over on weapons,” he instructed, his black eyes taking her in with a single glance.

  He’d barely had time to finish the task of destroying the Bortan chips when they’d received word of the ships leaving Bort. After parting ways with Zahn Corl, he knew that even though he’d tossed over his resignation to Command Center, there was no way he would sit out on this fight. It hadn’t taken much to manage a ship. Hoping to reach Dawn’s ship before it was endangered in its current orbit, he shouldn’t have been surprised to see that she was already aboard, and getting ready to stick her cute little ass where she had no right being.

  She looked ready to protest, her lips pursing with a defiant expression. If there had been time he would have loved to kiss that look right off of her face. But the Bortan were closing in.

  “We’ve got visuals on the Bortan.” Mash Ke, a Gren for hire that Trent had known for quite a while, stood to his left, monitoring their tracking devices. “I’m counting six ships approaching at high speed.”

  “They’ve sent out scopers.” Trent turned his attention to the screen in front of all of them. “Put it up on visuals.”

  “Scopers are a bad sign.” Borna had moved to the back of the room. She leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, silently stating she had no intention of helping them fight.

  Dawn had never been more out of her league. It had been one nightmare standing on the ground, watching the ships fly overhead, attacking and destroying, with no means of defense. Now she stood on the bridge of her ship, capable of attacking, of fighting back. Her heart raced so hard she could hardly breathe.

  Six long, thin ships, dark and menacing looking, appeared on the screen.

  “Magnify.” Trent leaned on his fists, staring at the screen.

  Dawn watched his profile, hard and focused, not a muscle twitching, his expression revealing nothing that might be going through his head. He’d shoved his cape over his shoulders, revealing his muscular arms and the width of his chest.

  The man took her breath away. Staring at him she could almost forget where she was, the incredible danger looming around them. Trent filled her bridge with his power, his domination, his ability to master a situation. He’d fought the Bortan before, faced them and taken them down. This was her first time.

  Dawn forced herself to focus on the screen, her stomach turning with nerves. She prayed she wouldn’t get sick. Defying the master had been one thing. Leaving Poltar for the first time, meeting her father, taking on the Corl family—all of that had challenged her. But none of it compared to what she feared she was about to experience.

  “They’re geared up to attack.” Trent looked at her, for a moment sensing her fear, seeing the nerves that ransacked her body and turned her expression pale. “Dawn. Load the missiles.”

  He watched her turn her back to him, not responding but simply carrying out the order. She wasn’t used to combat of any kind and shouldn’t even be near the controls. This ship was hers though, and he doubted she would leave without a fight.

  Borna’s silent retreat to the back of the room was statement enough. As much as he’d like to put her to use, knowing the woman had combat skills that were comparable to his own, he respected her decision. Whether she was proud of it or not, the Bortan were her people. Unless she offered, he wouldn’t ask her to be part of the attack.

  Watching Dawn reach for the controls, push the necessary buttons, he admired her determination. She stood tall, calmly carrying out the task, preparing the missiles and then turning, looking at him. Her gray eyes swarmed with emotions. Her brow creased with worry, her lips pursed with determination
.

  There wasn’t time to learn why she had left Corl’s home. He’d learned of her departure when Zahn Corl’s son had contacted him, right before the man parted ways with him. Fire had raged through him that once again she’d run off without letting him know where she was going. He thought he had made it perfectly clear she wasn’t supposed to do that.

  The more he learned about her, the more he believed she had been one lousy-ass slave. She didn’t do a damn thing she was told to do. However, amazingly enough, so far, she seemed willing to take his orders. Damn good thing too. The last thing he needed right now was for her to get stubborn when they were nearing attack.

  A bright light filled the screen and he didn’t miss Dawn duck, suddenly covering her face with her arms.

  “They’ve attacked,” Rog Mor, the other man Trent had grabbed before heading for Dawn’s ship, yelled.

  “Open a channel to the Gren fighters. I want to hear all communications.” Trent issued the order and Mor pushed the necessary buttons.

  The bridge was suddenly full of excited voices, orders and demands flying back and forth as the Gren captains moved quickly to counterattack.

  Another explosion rattled the ship, the screen filling with light briefly as a nearby ship exploded. Tension filled the room, all members ready with their fingers on their controls while they watched the screen.

  “We’ve got a transmission coming in,” Mor announced.

  “Put it on broadcast.” Trent glanced over at Dawn, her expression taut with fear.

  “Who commands your ship?” It was the high commander of the Gren army, her face appearing on the screen as she searched her own screen. Her expression relaxed and she straightened. “Trent Dar. I won’t ask why you man a TR-class ship. We welcome your assistance.”

  Trent nodded, studying the warrior who stared at him over the large screen in front of them. He knew little about her, other than she was one of the many higher-ranking Gren who maintained the space immediately surrounding their planet.