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It either means that – or that Lord Oblog has no more use for us. If something happened to my triad – if they were captured or killed – then we’re about as useful as any other human woman on this ship.

We’re flesh to be sold, or holes to be fucked.

But I’m clinging to the positive, because no matter what we want, we’re going with the Bullfrog. He’s massive and has an Orb-Axe hilt at his waist, just waiting to be activated. Tessa and I are powerless against him.

Or, are we?

If I had the element of surprise… Could I take the bastard down?

I imagine pulling the tiny Orb-Weapon out of its secret hiding place and cutting the Bullfrog’s Achilles tendon, bringing him down to the ground. From there, I could kill him – I know it.

But the Bullfrog just stands and stares. He’s clearly got no interest in hurting us – he just wants us to move.

I know where.

I grab Tessa’s hand and help her out of bed. She’s in the same clothes she’s worn for days, because she changes or showers when I order her to.

The mental conditioning Ling put me through, plus the enhancements of the Bond, allow me to put all the pieces together. We’re going to the throne room – I know it.

That’s Lord Oblog’s audience chamber – and he’s a man who likes an audience.

The Bullfrog steps back into the slushy waters of the ship and gestures for us to pass him. I lead Tessa into the fetid water.

This Bullfrog is wily. He doesn’t let me behind him. He’s clearly been in enough battles to not let anyone behind him – not even a human woman, of the type his species looks down on as nothing more valuable than the flies buzzing around the ship.

Tessa is frozen. I tug at her arm, forcing her to stumble along with me.

“It’s okay,” I promise her. “You’re going to X12.”

That’s where she’d been planning to go in the Elnor – the same place as me. I’d managed to get that tidbit of information out of her earlier; that the last members of her distant family live on the planet.

The ones that weren’t killed by Scorp.

That’s more tragedy in Tessa’s past – but it’s her future I’m worried about now. X12 is her destination, where she’ll be well-looked-after…

But is Lord Oblog going to let her get there? Or is she going to suffer anaccidentalong the way?

Suddenly, there’s too much going on in my mind. Ineedto speak with my Aurelians. I feel so alone right now – more lonely than I even did when I wasactuallyon my own.

The Bullfrog grunts, and marches us through the sludge. I don’t bother wearing shoes, even though there are some in the closet. It’s actually worse when the grimy water gets inside them. It’s better to just watch out for the nips of the tadpoles and the worst of the filth, and then just shower afterwards.

We’re led to the main throne room –thank the Gods!

If we’d been diverted from that path – taken somewhere different – it would have meant that something horrible was going to happen. I feel that in my bones. It would have meant Tessa and I no longer served any purpose to Lord Oblog, and he’d have ordered me to be taken to the hanger bay and thrown into nothingness, or incinerated in the kitchens.

Or, even worse, given to Gab’nah.

But the throne room is a known quantity. Lord Oblog is dangerous, but he’s rational – and as long as he needs the Aurelians for just two more –fuck , just one now–shipments, I’ll survive a little longer.

The huge doors loom in front of us – guarded by the same two Bullfrogs. Their Orb-Axes are already activated, humming with the promise of violence. Those weapons seem toseek outblood - as if they’re somehow sentient, and have a mind of their own.

I can feel the cold pressure of the Orb-Ring around my finger, and the hilt of the Orb-Knife buried deep inside of my pussy. It was the only place I could think of that I could keep it safe – but the cold malevolence resting within me is deeply unsettling.

The two Bullfrogs are silent, as always. They stare blankly forward as the doors open for us.

As soon as the doors open, I see them.

My triad!