“We are not doubting, your Eminence.” Xairn’s voice was low with barely controlled fury and his grip on Lauren’s shoulders tightened until it was almost painful but he didn’t display any outward signs of anger. “But I regret to say that I cannot comply with your ruling. This female, and no other, is bonded to me. So I cannot let her go.”
The Quinlow’s mouth yawned wide in fury and Lauren saw that it was burning inside as well. She could feel the flames against her skin—not hot but cold. So cold it made her lungs ache to inhale the air around it. “You dare defy me? Death is the penalty, as you well know, insolent Scourge.”
“Of that I am aware,” Xairn said evenly. “And if a life is needed to satisfy, then you may take mine. But not until I am guaranteed that my female, Lauren, will be treated with respect and kept safe from the Spider.”
“No,” Lauren protested. “Xairn, you can’t!”
He gave her a brief glance. “I will be glad to die if it ensures your safety.”
“I will care for your female as I would my own progeny,” Slk said, his three eyes blinking. “Blix shall never have her. The clone either.” He turned a disapproving look on the thought thief. “I claim her—for the material that made her was harvested illegally under my own roof. You shall have neither of them.”
“Slk makes a telling point and his claim is valid.” To Lauren’s immense relief, the Judge of the Market drew back, its bark-like face creased into a frown. “Slk has decided to assert his rights. It seems that defective food cubes or no, you cannot have either female, Blix. One is bonded to another male—I cannot break a life bond. And the other was grown illegally.” It turned its attention to Lauren. “You must, however, return the slippers.”
“They’re in our ship, your…your Eminence,” she managed to say. “I’ll be more than happy to return them.”
Blix arched one pale blond eyebrow at them. “A moment, your Eminence. Of course I am pleased to comply with your rulings, but are we certain the Scourge is telling the truth? He claims to be bonded to this female but I see none of the Scourge marks of possession on her.”
Lauren felt herself freeze inside. Oh God, the marks of possession. What had Xairn said they were? A collar and a brand? Not to mention the various piercings. And she had none of them.
“I only bonded her last night,” Xairn said, frowning. “I have not had time for such things. She wears my scent on her skin—that is enough for the time being.”
“A brand, at the very least, is necessary to prove possession.” Blix crossed his arms over his chest. “A collar and piercings may be removed but a brand is permanent. If the female does not display your brand then I contend she is not bonded to you.” He looked at the Quinlow. “Your ruling, your Eminence?”
The Judge frowned at Xairn. “Blix speaks the truth—your female will need to be branded in order for your claim to be validated.” It held up one long twig-like finger, tipped with blue flame. “If you wish, I can brand her for you myself. But she must be marked before I can allow the two of you to leave.”
“I think that is an excellent idea, your Eminence.” Blix nodded.
“You sadistic bastard.” Xairn glared at him. “You just want to see her pain.”
Blix shrugged and gave him a nasty grin. “Why not? If I can’t have your sweet Lauren, I might as well get some fun out of your farewell.”
Lauren’s heart, which had already been racing, began to beat so fast she thought she might faint. God, she didn’t want the tree thing to touch her, to burn her! But if it was the only way they could get out of here alive, what choice did she have?
“All right,” she whispered, having trouble making the words come out. “If…if you have to.” She started to step forward but Xairn pushed her back.
“With respect, your Eminence,” he grated. “That is not how things are done among Lauren’s people. I have said that I was bonded to her but not that I owned her. In point of fact, it is Lauren who owns me.”
The Judge frowned. “This is highly irregular. The Scourge always own their females.”
“Not in this case,” Xairn insisted. “In fact, if either of us should wear a brand, it should be me.” Pulling his shirt open, he knelt suddenly before the tree-like being. “I submit to your ruling, your Eminence, and ask that you brand me now with my female’s name.”
“Xairn.” Lauren whispered his name through numb lips. “Xairn, please…”