Retribution (Kall Alien Warriors #3) - Sue Lyndon Page 0,23
way he’d given her his shirt and healed her back and stroked her hair.
Whenever she awoke in the night, she would smell his shirt and wonder if maybe it was causing her dreams, and think maybe she ought to throw it to the floor.
But for a reason she couldn’t fathom, she didn’t wish to part with it, even though the blanket would be plenty warm on its own.
All night, he was her tormentor and then her savoir, over and over again, until she finally rose for the day, her mind not any clearer than when she’d drifted to sleep.
She glanced at his shirt. She didn’t have one anymore—the remnants of hers remained on the floor. So, she picked up the general’s shirt and put it on, telling herself she didn’t have a choice.
Chapter 8
Zamek stared at the video feed of Layla’s cell. The little human was currently jogging around her unit, wearing her pants and his shirt, the latter of which she’d tied into a bow at her waist to make it fit better. She was flushed and speaking to herself in English, though he couldn’t quite make out her words over the video feed.
He thought she looked adorable.
Alarm and guilt filled him. He shouldn’t be watching her. He shouldn’t be drawn to her and find her pleasing to look upon. For the rest of their lives, she would be his captive. His people would expect him to kill her. Questions would be raised after she survived a few moon cycles.
He ran a hand through his hair and growled. At least his home in Sumlin District was on the mountainside, and his servants were loyal. Even if he treated her with kindness, word wouldn’t get out. But he was required to report her death to Kall authorities when it occurred and turn over her body, so he couldn’t pretend to have taken her life. Not that he would consider lying to Kall authorities…
Fluxx.
Five days had passed since he’d beaten her. He sickened at the memory.
He continued watching her and decided he liked seeing her wear his shirt.
Ancient gods, what would he do with this human?
He’d lost his wife less than four moon cycles ago. He’d loved Shessema and he shouldn’t allow himself to harbor a growing fascination for a human female, particularly one who would be his lifelong prisoner.
She stopped jogging and got down on the floor for some strange exercises where she turned on her side and lifted one leg up in the air over and over. He moved closer to the video feed and heard her rapid breaths. Perspiration glistened on her face and neck.
He admired that she wasn’t sitting still in her cell in quiet desolation. She was keeping up her strength. Kall females usually only went on walks for exercise, so he was unaccustomed to witnessing a female complete a vigorous exercise routine. Every day she trained like this, once in the morning and again in the evening.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, once more debating what he should do with her. Keep her, he knew that. He also knew he must register her as a slave immediately upon arrival on Kall, as the only humans currently permitted on his homeworld were slaves—well, aside from the small number of human females who were already married to Kall warriors who happened to live on his planet.
But when he finally brought her to his home on the mountainside of Sumlin District? Should he house her with his servants and treat her as one? Or give her a room of her own and treat her more as a guest?
His servants might balk at the second option, but he reminded himself of their loyalty. No matter how he treated her in the privacy of his home, his servants wouldn’t spread gossip in town, as most servants would. He ruled his home with an iron fist and expected nothing but obedience from those who worked for him. In return for their allegiance, he paid them well and kept a roof over their heads.
Zamek glanced at the tablet which contained the report about Layla. He’d reread it at least a hundred times, memorizing all the details of her life. Yet still wanting to know more. He ached to visit her, to speak with her. To touch her.
Aberrant as it might be, he had enjoyed taking care of her after the beating, despite his guilt and the fact that he shouldn’t want to ease her suffering in the first place.