give his answer, but I am not surprised in the least. He is the one who is most against dealings such as these, and I do not blame him.
The air in the room is thick with anticipation and tension. It is the same feeling I get right before I teleport, when my mind and body are filled with trepidation because of what is about to occur. The first hundred times I tried, it seemed impossible, made even harder when I was punished for not performing. Teleportation has always been associated with fear and pain, but I pray it will not be this way forever.
“Fine,” Drozir says eventually, his voice tinged with resignation. “I want you to know I firmly stand against this decision. No creature, regardless of their species, deserves to be owned by another.”
Zinnik rises and punches Drozir in the shoulder. The playful gesture earns Zinnik a growl, but he brushes it off, always easygoing and unfazed by others. “Be careful, brother, or you will end up using your share of the loot to purchase all the females and will end up a bigger whore than me.”
A smile widens my lips, revealing my fangs. “Now that would be ironic…”
Giselle
This place reminds me of a dogfighting ring. And since human women are universal breeders, I guess that means we’re the bitches?
Disgust and rage swirl within my stomach, making me nauseous. I wrap my arms around my middle as if that will help and scan the area, taking in every detail. The exits are the first thing I always search for. There are four, one for every wall of the building, but they are far from the platform, or stage, where I stand. Three sets of grated metal stairs lead to the second floor, which is just a railed balcony that circles and overlooks the entire room. Everything is open.
There’s nowhere to hide, and escape is very unlikely. Damn.
“Do you think they’re going to examine us first?” I ask.
Lexi’s gasp has me dragging my gaze from the thick wires dangling from the rafters to face her.
“What?” I ask with a shrug. “It’s a legitimate question. Personally, I’d have the merchandise inspected before I sold it. Those bastards did scan us, but that couldn’t have been thorough. Right?”
She wraps her arms around her stomach. “I don’t know, but for both our sakes, you better hope you’re wrong.”
“Other than the initial scan, they won’t check us.”
Both Lexi and I turn in the direction of the voice. The speaker, a raven-haired woman, gives us a nod.
I return it. “How do you know?” The suspicion spreading through my body leaks onto my words. “I bet what goes on around here isn’t exactly common knowledge.”
“And you’d be right. My name is Bishop.” At our confused expressions, she sighs. “Bishop is my last name, but my first name is Jocelyn. You’d think I would stop doing that, but old habits die hard, especially ones learned in the military.”
I point to myself and then Lexi. “I’m Giselle, and I met Lexi while being transported in a G.C. vessel. So exactly how do you know they won’t inspect us?”
The former soldier juts her chin to the gathering crowd, which is multiplying with every second that passes. “These sales have to happen quickly because the longer they go on, the more chance there is of everyone getting caught. The G.C. declares any- and everyone present as guilty, so it’s not just the sellers who are very cautious. The entire operation only lasts for a certain amount of time, and this makes it challenging to go through a large group. Most thieves get rid of the booty they stole right away, not wanting to be seen in possession of it.”
Lexi and I share a look filled with relief. Our secrets are safe.
For now.
“It’s true.”
Another human female, one with light-brown hair, joins the conversation. I honestly don’t get why people always want to share their thoughts and feelings to complete strangers, but in this instance I’m glad for it. I’ve learned more about my predicament in the last five minutes than my time spent aboard the G.C. transport ship.
The power of communication is no small thing.
“What can you tell us?” I ask.
My words trip over themselves as soon as she turns to face me fully and I make out the bundle in her arms. It’s a human child. The nervous energy surrounding me heightens in intensity, and the fear permeating the area has my skin prickling. As if she senses my bewilderment,