The Breeding Experiment - Laurann Dohner Page 0,30

to know exactly what had happened with Darla, and why her scent clung to him. Washing from a sink obviously hadn’t removed all traces of her.

He looked around the large shuttle bay, hoping to catch a glimpse of Darla. There were no females in sight.

He worried about her. That Elth had knocked her to the floor hard before he’d been able to tackle it away. Was she seriously harmed? He wanted an update on her condition.

He also wanted to see her with his own eyes, to make certain that she was well.

* * * * *

“Talk to me! Darla!”

That familiar voice snapped her awake. Darla peered up into her sister’s eyes, hovering about a foot above her own. She was glad to see Becky and instantly reached up, cupping her face.

“Tell me that you’re okay.” Her sister appeared panicked and her voice was too loud.

“I’m fine. Are you okay? Did the Elth hurt you once I was taken away?” Darla wanted to sit up to see more of her sister, but Becky didn’t back off, keeping her face close. She’d probably headbutt her if she attempted to move.

“They didn’t hurt us. Once they took you away, they didn’t feed us, but we were given water.”

Darla gently pushed at her sister, and that finally prompted Becky to straighten. She tried to sit up but felt weak and dizzy. Her sister helped her get upright. That’s when she realized she was on some padded type of gurney with a blanket covering her. She turned her head, taking in her surroundings.

“It’s a special space shuttle with gravity,” Becky whispered. “To treat injured people. Like a space ambulance.”

“I see.” Darla saw four people in dark blue uniforms with medical patches on their arms, helping some familiar faces. It was the women who’d been taken off the shuttle from Radison and locked up by the Elth. The women sat on similar padded gurneys, placed randomly in the long shuttle. A few of the women were lying flat, being attended to by the four medical personnel.

“The Elth hurt them?”

Becky took a seat on the edge of the gurney, next to Darla’s knees. “They’re weak from not eating.” She lowered her voice. “Barbara kept ranting and screaming at those aliens every time they came to check on us in that room, right until the door opened to reveal half a dozen armed fleet people.”

Darla turned to her sister and saw Becky rolling her eyes. It made her smile. “I’m not surprised by that. She seems to enjoy drama.” Then her humor faded. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m feeling better. The doctors gave us some energy drinks immediately, and something to eat that reminded me of lumpy mashed potatoes.” Her sister reached out and touched her shoulder. “They also slapped some patches on our skin, under our clothes. I don’t know what they’re for, but I was told it would help us recover faster.”

Then Becky took her hand, tears filling her eyes. “What did…he do to you? Are you alright?”

Darla knew her sister well, probably too much. She’d assume the worst. “It’s not what you’re thinking, I promise. Gnaw didn’t hurt me at all.”

“But the aliens said they were going to make him breed you.” Pink tinted her sister’s cheeks. “Your clothes are gone. I mean, you have your shirt still, but nothing else. No undergarments. I know because I was there while they were cleaning and patching your thigh, where you were torn up when you were first brought onto this shuttle. The doctor said the Elth did that to you, but was he lying?”

“Elth tentacles have hooks on them. One of them grabbed me and yanked me to the floor.”

“Did it also take your undergarments?”

Darla shook her head. “I removed them.”

“Why?”

“Um…”

Becky leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Did he hurt you? Was it painful? I assume you were forced to…you know.” She blushed again.

Her sister had never had sex, or even been on a date. They’d rarely left the greenhouse on Radison. Their father and brothers were the ones who did most of the travel. The few strangers who visited were kept far away, with no chance of catching even a glimpse of either of them. It had always been so, for safety reasons once they’d hit puberty.

“Oh goodness.” Tears filled her sister’s eyes.

“No,” Darla whispered. “Gnaw didn’t hurt me. I swear. Gnaw and I had to do some things, but it was all my idea.”

That halted her sister’s tears, and her eyes widened, shock