“We should have all been present.” Councilor Bertok spoke again. He was from the outer region, the wildlands he had mentioned, and I knew their customs regarding their mates was much more brute strength than gentle persuasion. While I knew the first fucking must be witnessed, it did not mean I enjoyed the idea of providing pompous farks like him with sensual entertainment at my mate’s expense. My life as leader was under constant scrutiny, but there would be one aspect that would remain private. Once back at the palace, my actions with my mate would be ours alone. Not even Goran would be in attendance. I would train her to my personal expectations, not to those of the entire council.
I did not respond to the comment, but said, “I have claimed her. She is marked by my seed and she bears my chain. There will be no further discussion.” I curled my fingers, beckoning Goran to join me. “If you look at the agenda for this session, we can start with the economic gains made in sector four.”
I turned my attention to the reason for this meeting. Continuing to talk about my mate only extended the time I would be kept away from her. Her life on Earth—or what she’d done to be banished—did not concern me. She was here with me now and I would not let her go.
* * *
“Look at the chain dangling between her legs. She hasn’t pleased him.” The woman’s shrill voice had me spinning around, the chain whipping against my thigh as I did so. I hissed out a breath and picked up the chain to hold it so it would stop stimulating the walls of my pussy. That didn’t work. I had only been carrying the spheres in my body for a few minutes and I was ready to weep and beg Tark for relief from the constant pleasure. It was a subtle hum, enough to constantly remind me of his control over me—and my orgasms—but not enough to bring me that sweet release.
They vibrated and pulsed similarly to the medical probe, although in a much more subtle way. By having to hold them inside, I had to clench my inner walls, which only added to the delicious torture.
Several women stood before me. They all wore an identical simple garment that looked like a sheer slip dress. I could see the outline of nipple rings through the thin material, but I couldn’t see that any of them had a chain strung between them, as I did.
The woman who’d spoken was beautiful, except for the sneer on her lips. Her dark hair flowed long down her back. She was tall and willowy with small breasts and a slim waist. She was everything I was not.
The skin on my bottom was sore and I wondered if they could see the marks Tark’s touch had left on me through the thin slip Goran had given me to wear. My complexion was pale enough that I couldn’t even hide a simple blush. A red bottom would be blatant. Their scrutiny was intense, eyeing me as if I’d come from a different planet—which I had.
“I am Kiri,” one of the women said as she stepped forward. She was shorter than the annoying one and while curiosity laced her expression, there was no malice. With a tilt of her head, she added, “The others are Lin, Vana, Ria, and Mara.”
I didn’t know who was who, so I nodded at all of them.
“We were working on our craft when you came in. Please, join us.”
The space was similar to Tark’s, with carpet covering the ground. Similar lights made the room have a soft yellow glow. The air was warm and the scent of almonds filled the air. I recognized the aroma from my dream at the processing center.
She turned, along with the others and settled at a table where they seemed to be carving small pieces of wood. There were several comfortable chairs, a low coffee table—God, did they have coffee here?—and another tall table against one wall that was laden with various platters of food and pitchers of various colored liquids. While I associated a harem as a type of prison, there were guards outside after all, the amenities matched that of Tark’s own tent.
The ladies settled in to their tasks, all except for the thin, beautiful one. She stared at me as if I’d been brought in with the trash.
“He will reject you,” she snapped.
“Mara, leave her be,” Kiri said.
Mara rolled her eyes at the other woman’s words, but only I could see the disgust and envy on her face. “I hear only convicts are sent from Earth. What was your crime?”
I had no friend in Mara, that much was obvious. Perhaps a little fear might go a long way instead, so I told her the truth. “Murder.”
The other women stopped their work and one hissed in pain. “Ah, I sliced my finger.”
She held her injured hand in her other one as the women circled to tend to her.
“I can help.” I attempted to step around Mara, my medical training urging my body forward before I stopped to consider.