Moro's Price by M. Crane Hana

Author:M. Crane Hana [Hana, M. Crane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, Lgbt, Sci-Fi, aliens, abuse, captivity, Abduction, Dark, slave
Publisher: NineStar Press
Published: 2017-06-25T23:00:00+00:00

Forty-Two

“MERRICK DALGLEISH WAS part of the professor’s security team,” said Hegen, smiling a little wider, “not Ventana born, but we could tell Merrick knew frontier worlds. He and three other security people kept out the sightseers during the day and possible looters at night. He lived on-site in a shuttle he’d parked outside the fence. Quiet guy, not boastful, but damned fast in a fight.

“We learned that the evening Levi Halloran surprised Anya Weaver in back of the dig. No one else witnessed the start of it, but it ended with Anya crouched high on a standing stone while Merrick beat the shit out of Levi. When the rest of the dig crew pulled them apart, Levi said he’d file charges against both of them.

“‘Really?’ asked Anya, sliding down the stone like she was half-goat. ‘Let’s see who files charges,’ she said. She triggered some little bit of black jewelry on her wrist. Out projected a holo recording, strong and clear in the twilight. It showed Levi walking close and mouthing off some flustered greeting. Then he grabbed her. She’d angled the recorder upward. It caught him trying to kiss her, and her slapping him across the face with her other hand. Harder than he’d expected, because it rocked him back on his ass. Levi got up again and charged, but the new camera angle showed Anya was on the stone out of his reach. ‘I’m not for you, Levi Halloran,’ she called out in the recording. ‘It would mean your doom, to claim me as wife or mistress.’”

“What did he say?” Val asked.

“What do you think?” Hegen said. “Nothing right-minded folk would repeat, but it was clear marriage was nowhere on his mind. And by then, Anya’s recorder showed Merrick charging up the hill. Levi got thrown off the dig on his own land. Wynne Ventana made Galiah Halloran apologize to Anya. By the end of the next day, Anya Weaver and Merrick Dalgleish were inseparable in their waking hours and finishing each other’s sentences. Anyone could see he’d worshipped her from first sight. It only took Levi being an asshole to bring it out.”

“Did they—” Moro began.

“Don’t think so,” said Hegen. “Merrick slept in his shuttle, backed by more off-world guards posted by the professor. Anya slept in a private room down in Ventana Township, in the house the professor had rented. Once, in my hearing, Anya told Merrick she couldn’t breed with anyone not of her people unless she got permission from her mother. If Merrick wanted Anya, he’d have to go with her to meet her folk and have his genetics tested. Sounded too cold and clinical for love. Some human colonies are even stricter, so I thought little of it. When the professor wrapped up the dig and replaced all the earth and sod the way it had been, no one was surprised to see Merrick head off with Anya.”

“Where did they go?” Moro asked, unconsciously hugging Val closer.

Val tried not to squirm again. It was clear Moro really enjoyed Val in his lap.

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