The reluctant Matara...
Yorso’s face was working. “This is a nightmare. We shouldn’t be here.”
“We’re almost to her quarters,” Osopa muttered. He felt as if he was damned near running, but the door he aimed for wasn’t getting any closer.
Yorso was right. It was a nightmare.
A lanky man with a waist-length braid appeared at the end of the hall, coming from the infirmary. Usually, Osopa was desperate to avoid Dr. Degorsk and his penchant for bad jokes. With Tina bawling and howling for rescue, the appearance of the head medic made his knees wobble with relief.
“Dr. Degorsk!”
“Oh, thank the ancestors.” Yorso sounded as if he were sobbing.
Degorsk waved, but his usually happy visage was a thundercloud. It was often easy to forget the Imdiko’s temper was as bad as his jokes. He looked oddly despondent and furious at once. He hurried to them and tried to turn Tina so he could look at her. She screamed and attempted to bite his fingers.
His grin was savage as he glared at Tukui. “Good set of lungs on this one. Definitely healthy respiratory system. You chose well, along with loud, Clan Tukui.”
Osopa’s cheeks felt stiff as he smiled weakly at the joke. With Degorsk showing his teeth as much as he was, damned near snarling, it seemed the most diplomatic response.
Tukui was flushed, whether with frustration or panic, Osopa couldn’t say. “This isn’t normal. Is it?”
“For a woman whose life on Earth is forfeit for being carted off and ravished by men? Quite normal, I’m afraid.” More teeth came on display. Osopa wasn’t afraid of Degorsk, but it paid to be wary when someone looked that feral. He watched the medic carefully.
“When will she stop?” he shouted over Tina’s shrieks.
“Good question. When you find out, let me know.” Degorsk gentled, leaning close to speak in Tina’s ear. He spoke in English. “I understand, little Matara. This is terrifying.”
For a wonder, she settled into sobs, her face hot against Osopa’s chest. She sagged, no doubt exhausted from her violent exertions. Something in his gut shriveled to hear her crying.
“There must be something we can do.” Osopa heard the waver in his own voice, his iron control slipping.
Degorsk rubbed his forehead, his expression weary. “We’re conquerors. They’re the conquered. It’s going to be rough for a bit.”
“You don’t have any suggestions?” Yorso begged.
“Kalquor’s psychiatric board recommends doing exactly what she’s most afraid of. Get it over with. Stop letting her fear of it terrorize her.”
Tukui was aghast. “You mean—”
“Make love to your new Matara as soon as possible. Show her the joys of intimate contact. Get her past the idea of damnation.”
Anger trickled into the Dramok’s tone. “Force her? That’s what you’re telling us to do?”
He wasn’t the only one becoming irate. Osopa trembled with outrage. Taking a woman as she begged him not to? It would be an abomination.
He was too livid to speak. Fortunately, Tukui had plenty to say.
“Like hell we will! We’ll refuse a Matara before we do that. And I’ll personally yank the head off any man who dares it. No matter who he is. Rank be damned!”
Fortunately for his career, Tukui was forced to draw a breath. Degorsk sailed into the sudden silence with a harsh bark of a laugh. “Bite her first. Earthers lose their inhibitions when injected with our venom. They welcome sex after the bite, in fact. You’d be amazed how willing they are.”
The young Dramok’s rage deflated in an instant. “Oh. I hadn’t heard—well, that makes the situation better, if she’ll want us. Doesn’t it?”
Did it? Osopa wasn’t sure either, but he wasn’t a doctor. If the psychiatric board said it was the route to take—who was he to argue with that?
“Make her and your ears happy, gentlemen. Bite your spirited darling and have a long, joyous clanship.”
With that, the doctor moved on, avoiding Tina’s kick as he left them. His smile had turned into a snarl again. It made Osopa wonder if it was indeed as simple as biting the captives into sensual compliance.
If so, why was Degorsk in such a foul mood?
OMG - love it - can't wait.
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