Hanna and the Hitman: A SciFi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 8) Page 2

  “Of course I can talk. But you need to listen—”

  “How can I understand you? This must be a dream.”

  “It’s not a dream, and if you don’t be quiet, it’s going to seem more like a nightmare.” The little creature cast a nervous look over its shoulder. “They don’t like it when we make noise.”

  “Who doesn’t like it?”

  A roar came from the distance, and the creature darted back to the other side of its cell, grabbing its companion’s hand through the bars as it huddled into as small a space as possible. The noise had already begun to die off, but there was another roar as a new being came into sight, and Hanna lost the ability to speak. There was no way that this was anything other than an alien. His body was basically humanoid, but the proportions were slightly off—the arms too long and the legs too short. Red eyes gleamed from a blue-skinned face, and a crest of dark hair ran back across his scalp.

  He strode down the walkway, jabbing what looked like a stick at anyone still making noise. In the increasing silence, she could hear the harsh buzzing that came from the prod and the pained cry when it connected. She too huddled down at the back of her cell, making herself as small as possible, but it was no use.

  The alien stopped in front of her, leering at her naked body even though he couldn’t have seen much more than her knees and her hair.

  “Did you start this ruckus?” he growled, revealing pointed yellow teeth.

  All she could do was shake her head.

  “What a shame. The captain lets me take care of the troublemakers personally.”

  He grabbed his crotch, his meaning all too clear, and she shuddered with revulsion but still didn’t speak.

  “Fuck. I can tell you’re not gonna be as much fun as the other one.”

  With a disgusted noise, he walked away as she collapsed into a shaking heap. A small hand reached through and patted her back.

  “You did very well,” the prairie dog said soothingly. “I am Khuda, Daughter of Khara. What are you called?”

  “I’m Hanna,” she said weakly, still staring after the alien. “How can you say I did well? I didn’t even try to find out what’s going on or why I’m here.”

  Khuda gave her a look of what could only be described as pity. “We are on a Derian slave ship. What do you think is going to happen?”

  Slave ship? The words rang in her ears.

  “Slavery is illegal. Who are the Derians?” she asked stupidly.

  “You are not familiar with their species?” When she shook her head, Khuda sighed. “I see. You are from a pre-spaceflight planet?”

  “We have spaceflight.”

  “Beyond your own system?”

  She shook her head, and Khuda sighed again.

  “Gathering specimens from primitive planets is not allowed, but I doubt that anyone is going to stop them. I have heard rumors that the new Emperor is making an effort to enforce the laws but…” Khuda cast a worried look over her shoulder at the other animal. “In the long run, it makes little difference where you came from. We are all subject to the same fate.”

  “Being sold?” Her lips felt numb as she forced out the words.

  “Yes.” Khuda gave her an appraising look. “You should fetch a good price. You appear to be young and healthy.”

  “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she asked bitterly.

  Khuda shrugged. “You value your more expensive possessions. Hopefully that means your owner will be less likely to damage you.”

  Hanna shuddered at the unpleasant speculations that immediately crossed her mind, but she forced herself to remember that she was not the only victim here. “What of you?”

  “We Kheer have a gift for fine metalwork. Many races value that.” She looked over her shoulder again. Her companion was now slumped against the back wall, unmoving. “I am more concerned about Khira. She has never been strong, and I’m not sure she will survive if we are separated.”

  “They’re going to separate you?”

  “It seems inevitable. Two sales are more profitable than one.”

  Hanna couldn’t decide what was worse—to be as utterly alone as she felt right now or to be with a loved one, knowing that you would be torn apart. Not that she had any loved ones to worry about. Since her aunt had died the previous year, she had spent all her time learning to run the small business she had inherited.

  “You said that they weren’t supposed to take me. If some authority found out, would they take me home?”

  Khuda shook her head, her eyes sympathetic. “Interaction with pre-spaceflight worlds is forbidden. You would be freed from the Derians, but you do not seem like a fighter. Without a protector, I suspect you would soon find yourself enslaved again.”

  “A fighter?” A half-hysterical laugh escaped Hanna. “No, I’m not a fighter.”

  She hated even verbal confrontations. Terrified and overwhelmed, she turned her back on Khuda and curled into a ball, tears slipping down her cheeks. She must have cried herself to sleep, but when she woke, hoping that it had all been a terrible nightmare, nothing had changed.

  Time passed in a monotonous blur. The lights over the cages never dimmed, so the only way she could measure the passage of time was when one of the Derian guards came by to fill the food and water bowls. The food consisted of tasteless gray pellets, but she forced herself to choke them down. The purpose of the stream beneath the back of the cage became horrifyingly apparent after several large but unmistakable turds floated by. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment every time she had to use it, but she had no other choice.

  She looked for the other human but never caught sight of her again. At least Khuda would sit and talk to her, distracting her from both her misery and the ever-present fear of what would happen to her next.

  The ship stopped twice. Each time, a group of cages would be hoisted out of position and disappear down the corridor. They didn’t return. Fortunately, Khuda and her sister were not among those who vanished.

  Less than one feeding cycle after the second stop, the ship stopped again, and two of the Derians came hurrying down the corridor.

  “I don’t like it. We’re never going to make a profit selling her here,” one of them said.

  “Captain’s order,” said the other. “He says that Imperial cruisers are inspecting ships in this sector. You know what will happen if they find her. At least we made a good profit on the other one.”

  To her horror, they started fitting the hoist to her cage.

  “Khuda!” she cried as the cage rose off the ground.

  Her friend watched her sadly. “Have courage, my friend.”

  “Courage?” She choked back a hysterical laugh. “I don’t have any courage.”

  “I think you have more than you realize, but I will pray to Napisten that you find a kind master.”

  One of the Derians laughed. “Maybe a whole bunch of them if one of the whorehouses wants you.”

  At least that fate had not befallen her. Instead, she had been dumped out in a huge, freezing warehouse. After a quick, unenthusiastic auction, Maakin had won her. And she had gone from one cage to another.

  But then Aidon had come along and freed her. She gave a grateful look at the big warrior striding along in front of her as she remembered Khuda’s advice about finding a protector. Perhaps the Kheer’s prayers had worked after all.

  Chapter Three

  The female was still following Aidon when he reached his ship, and a certain begrudging admiration filled him. He had not set an easy pace, and even though he had known that she had slipped several times, she didn’t complain or ask him to slow down. Instead, she scrambled to her feet and kept going.

  He reached in his pocket for the controls to unlock the ship, but as he did, two of the planet’s natives stepped out of the shadows surrounding the ship. Tall and broad-shouldered with shaggy white fur and long nails and claws, they made an impressive display. He had no doubt that he could take them, but it would be a long and vicious bat
tle. His blood pumped eagerly at the thought, and he prepared to change form.

  Then he heard a slight gasp from behind him, and a small, cold hand grasped his arm. The female was looking to him for protection? He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had expected anything from him unless they were paying him. And if there was a battle, she would undoubtedly be hurt. He sighed.

  “Why have you blocked my path?” he asked, using the supercilious inflection common to a Kaisarian priest. “You have no reason to stop one who is about the business of his God and his Emperor.”

  “You are no more Kaisarian than I am,” the lead Hothian said calmly.

  They had detected his true identity? He would have sworn that that was impossible.

  “I have no idea—”

  The leader shifted position, glowing blue eyes burning into his, and Aidon abandoned the attempt to prevaricate.

  “What do you want?” He discarded the smooth, cultured tones of the priest and used his natural cold growl. He felt rather than saw the female look up at him, but she didn’t step away. If anything, she moved closer.

  The Hothian followed the slight movement. “You are taking the human off world?”

  “She has arranged for passage with me.”

  “Really?” A vast depth of disbelief was rendered in the single word. The Hothian looked at Aidon’s female. “Do you leave of your own free will?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was soft but utterly determined, and Aidon looked down to see her raise her chin defiantly. An unexpected pride filled him, and to his astonishment, he found himself putting his arm around her and pulling her closer. She didn’t hesitate to burrow into his side.

  “Very well.” The leader shook his head and looked back at Aidon. “We have need of your services.”

  “I’m not available. I’m leaving today.”

  “And I am afraid that won’t be possible. It appears there is an issue with your ship’s registration.”

  A growl erupted before he could call it back. “There’s no problem with my ship.”

  “Unfortunately, there is. We anticipate the delay will last approximately one week. By an extraordinary coincidence, the task we wish you to perform could take place within that time frame.”

  This time, Aidon made no attempt to suppress his growl. “You can’t make me take a job for you.”

  “You are quite right, of course. But the delay will occur in any case. Wouldn’t you rather earn some extra credits while you wait?”

  “I have plenty of credits. That is not the only reason I take jobs.”

  “I know. And that is why we have chosen you for this one.”

  The leader’s eyes flicked back to Aidon’s human. “Perhaps we could discuss it inside, in a climate more suited for your…passenger.”

  Fuck! Aidon should have realized that she was huddled next to him for warmth rather than a desire to be at his side. Removing his fur-lined cloak, he wrapped it around her thin shoulders and nodded abruptly at the other male.

  “Where do you wish to talk?”

  “This way.”

  The male led the way across the landing field, apparently unconcerned about Aidon’s presence at his back. Of course, his companion fell in step behind Aidon. Aidon kept his senses alert for any hint of trouble, but aside from that, he ignored him.

  They paused in front of a heavy metal door, and the Hothian entered a code before gesturing inside as the door opened. “After you.”

  “I don’t think so. You lead the way.”

  The male laughed, a surprisingly pleasant, low rumble. “I grow even more convinced that you are the right male for the job.”

  He passed through the large opening into a darkened room. Aidon automatically adjusted his eyes to take in his surroundings as he followed him. The second male remained outside.

  The room was not what he had expected. Low couches covered in a velvety fabric circled the walls, with small tables placed in front of them. The leader moved to a central firepit, and a moment later, a warm, flickering glow lit the room.

  Unlike the off-world braziers, the firepit actually emitted a reasonable amount of heat, and he felt Hanna’s shivering stop. Rather to his surprise, she made no attempt to move away from him.

  “Will you be seated?” the leader asked, sprawling on one of the couches. Despite the other male’s relaxed posture, Aidon did not make the mistake of believing him to be off guard. He gave an abrupt nod and sank down on another couch, where he could keep an eye on both his host and the door. Hanna came down with him, sinking to her knees at his feet. He could feel her body pressed against his legs, and another flare of unexpected arousal went through him.

  “What are you doing?” His voice came out gruffer than he intended.

  “Humans are not permitted on furniture,” she said softly, her head bowed.

  His arousal was replaced by anger. He knew what it was like to be treated as little more than an animal. The wealthier races of the inner Empire regarded all other species as lesser.

  He put a finger under her chin, her skin like delicate silk beneath his touch, and lifted her face to his. Those incredibly blue eyes looked up at him trustingly.

  “You will sit beside me.” Without waiting for her response, he lifted her easily up next to him, her slight weight barely noticeable. Once again, she surprised him by not moving away but snuggling closer. Forcing himself to ignore the soft curves pressed against his side, he turned his attention to the Hothian. The male was regarding him with what Aidon suspected was amusement.

  “What is this job?” he growled.

  “I am Njkall of the Arac Cave. And you are?”

  He debated giving the male his assumed identity, then gave a mental shrug and went with the truth. “My name is Aidon.”

  Njkall waited expectantly, but Aidon had no more to add. He no longer claimed any family or tribal associations.

  After a brief pause, the Hothian continued, “You are a Pardorian, are you not? One for hire?”

  Aidon wasn’t entirely surprised, based on their previous conversation, but it was still disconcerting to be revealed so easily. When shifted, all aspects of his being assumed that of the person he was mimicking.

  “What makes you think so?”

  “You do not smell like a Kaisarian,” Njkall said calmly. He raised a hand before Aidon could respond. “It’s a subtle difference. Most species would not be able to detect the anomaly, but our…history has resulted in an exceptionally keen sense of smell.”

  Since very few Hothians ever left their planet, their ability to detect his true form was most probably not a threat, but he made a note to be cautious of them in future and turned to the second part of the male’s assumptions.

  “Why do you think I’m for hire?”

  “Perhaps I should mention that I am employed as a guard at a certain research facility in the north.”

  Aidon barely managed to mask his reaction. This Hothian knew about his activities?

  “Is that supposed to mean something to me?” He raised a casual eyebrow.

  “I detected that same difference in scent at that facility—which leads me to suspect that you were sent to infiltrate that location. Under the circumstances, I do not believe that your motives were either innocent or unrewarded.” Njkall waved his hand again. “I neither know nor care about the specifics. I simply wish to hire your services.”

  “And I wish to return to my planet.” Need to return.

  “Such a shame that your ship will be impounded for at least a week. Of course, if you were to complete our request more quickly, I might be able to…hurry that along.”

  Aidon snarled, allowing his true nature to emerge, and saw the Hothian tense, although he made no other move. Hanna also tensed but once again, moved closer to him rather than away.

  “I do not respond well to blackmail.”

  “I understand. Under other circumstances, I would not pursue such a course, but time is short and we are desperate.”

  He suspe
cted that it had cost Njkall to admit how much they needed his help, and he relaxed slightly.

  “Go on.”

  “There is a female—a much beloved member of our cave. But she is young and as the young often are, foolish. She has abandoned her cave and taken up with an alien male.”

  “You want me to hunt down a runaway girl?”

  Njkall’s claws tapped together. “If she truly left of her own accord, we would be concerned but we would accept her decision. But in this case…”

  “Young females do foolish things. Why do you think this is more than that?”

  “Because she is with Chotgor.”

  The name dropped into the room like a stone in a still pond. Although Aidon had never met him, he knew of Chotgor. A former gladiator who had battled his way to wealth, he had become a notorious slave trader, famous for his fighting pits. His fighters were usually slaves, the fights were always brutal, and they were always to the death.

  “Why is he here?”

  “Supposedly, he is trying to recruit fighters. I suspect he was attempting to see if he could steal some of our people. We have a certain reputation for fighting skills.” Njkall bared his teeth, and Aidon had to suppress the instinct to respond in kind. The male would be a worthy opponent.

  “Why would your female go to him?”

  “We heard a rumor that one of us had been encountered in a fight pit. He is Zemma’s brother. She may have been foolish enough to think she could get information from Chotgor.”

  “Why don’t you go and get her back?”

  Njkall tapped his claws again. “We have a contract with the Empire. Port Eyeja is a free zone operating under Imperial rule. In return, they leave the rest of Hothrest under our control. If we breach that contract, they could attempt to exert their rule over the rest of the planet. We would fight, of course, and we would cause great loss, but in the end, we would lose.” Glowing blue eyes met Aidon’s. “If I knew for sure that she was being held against her will, I—we—would take the chance, but it is possible that she is there of her own accord. He has a reputation for great charm.”

  “I’m not a godsdamned nanny.”