Page 91

18

Kitos

The tools of our deception are laid out on the bed.

The concierge of the hotel brought them to us in exchange for a few measly credits. We can afford it. In addition to just how far Aurelian Credits stretch on this frontier world, the three of us have barely spent anything during our two hundred years as Aurelian Law Enforcement agents. While most of our peers worked their jobs, going home at night to lavish manors, and building harems of women – spending wildly – we cared for only one thing; becoming the best agents we possibly could.

As a result, we’d built up the equivalent of a small fortune – perhaps not a lot year-on-year, but now its accumulated, it adds up to quite a lot.

Enough to require us to slowly liquidate these accounts in creative ways that won’t draw too much attention. We need to bring the money into our control, so we can have it in hand when we make our escape with Allie.

I lick my lips at the items on the bed.

A leash.

A collar.

A tiny pleasure dress, designed specifically for slaves.

I’ve never wanted a slave. I view men who have to buy women – instead of earning their affection – to be pathetic scum. With every woman I’ve ever tasted, the pleasure has always been in knowing that theyachedfor me.

But with Allie…

…I’ll admit, a dark part of meenjoyedthe fantasy of treating her like a slave.

Allie stands with us, examining our recent purchases.

“Well, you justhadto go and get a pleasure dress, didn’t you?” She wrinkles her adorable nose.

“Would you prefer it my way?” I tease. “To be nude?”

Nude – with two deliciously painful clamps dangling from her nipples, and a plump, emerald-studded butt-plug firmly up her rear end.

Allie turns and gives me a playful shove, and I let myself stagger back, as if she could everactuallymove my muscular bulk.

The attitude in this room is light and playful – but only on the surface.

Our auras tell a different story. Each one of us is highly stressed right now – all except Daccia, who remains characteristically emotionless.

We’re anxious about what dangers lie ahead. The Rhino might be some backwoods whorehouse on a rough, frontier planet – but in places like it, there's always the potential for violence.

Throw in another team of Aurelians on the way – who might end up becoming our mortal enemies – and we all need to keep on our toes.

The hotel room we’ve secured is decent, for a shithole planet like Salcus. We’ve got the windows uncovered. Most people use holo-screens instead of looking out at the world around them – what little you can see of it through the thick smoke and smog. They prefer to blind the view with beautiful images of blue waters and paradise island scenes. My triad has never been one to shy away from the ugliness of life – and we gaze out upon it now.

Ugliness. Like being Bonded to a mate none of us trust.

Like being mated to a woman who might disappear at any moment; abandoning us as if we meant nothing to her.

Right now, she’s flirty and playful – and part of our scheme to investigate The Rhino.

But does Alliereallywant us, as we need her?

Or is it all a façade?

One thing is sure. It’s a hellish world outside. Hadrian is the one standing closest to the window, staring outside, lost in contemplation. Daccia, meanwhile, strokes the hilt of his Orb-Blade. He’s deep in thought too – probably mentally preparing for the upcoming battle of wits with this other triad of Aurelian Law Enforcement agents… and the possibility that it might become a battle of might, instead.

I look out of the window, too. As far as the eye can see, there are nothing but factories and slum houses. The oxygen level of the planet is lower than Old-Earth, and people far below teem like ants through the streets. They wear filters over their faces, but can’t afford the pure oxygen that’s needed to thrive on this dirty, polluted planet.