Page 3 of Tender Captivity (Human Pets of Talin)

Only because of long practice did Holian keep his inner turmoil from coming out in the sound of an enraged war rattle. As much as he wished to go back and beat on Nelaran more, he couldn’t let the little human remain in discomfort even a moment longer.

He would never be able to forget the image of Jinna cowering as Nelaran made ready to strike her. He would do everything in his power to make both Nelaran’s family and clan pay for Jinna’s treatment. But that was something he’d see to later. Right now she needed to be cared for.

It didn’t take long to carry her to his ground transport.

After ordering the vehicle back to his compound, he pulled his Ident Cube off his belt to contact a trusted healer.

She promised to be at his home within the next few marks.

That would give him time to talk to Jinna and prepare her for the healer’s visit.

Next he called his house manager, Renalan. Because he so rarely spent time on the homeworld, Renalan was the only staff he employed at the compound. Holian wasn’t surprised at all when Renalan received the news of an inbound human with absolute delight.

“I’ll need to order food, and we don’t have any kneeling or resting pads. And clothing! We’ll need clothing. And personal care products. And soft bedding for her nest. I’ll arrange everything!” he announced with a rattle of excitement.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Holian said as he sounded a rumble of amusement. “Order anything you think appropriate, but warm food is the priority.”

“Yes, of course!” Renalan said before ending the communication channel without a proper signing off.

Hanging his Ident back on his belt, he looked down at Jinna. Her breathing was deep and even, and her body relaxed. She’d fallen asleep.

In his experience, it was rare for adult humans to succumb to slumber so quickly when being held by a strange Talin. It was a strong indication that she’d been living a stressful life with Nelaran and his family. Fear would make it hard to sleep. But with him she felt safe enough to rest.

His chest swelled with feeling.

She was a pretty human with deep, rich brown hair that hung past her shoulders in thick curls. Her skin was a soft tan that would probably darken swiftly when exposed to sunlight. Would she like to nap on a soft mat in his garden, her body warmed by the gentle rays of the Talarian sun?

He should be making plans to transport her to Kalor Colony.

Far from Talarian, she’d be much safer. But he had at least another half solar of work to accomplish here on Talarian before he could return to the welcoming green jungles of Kalor.

For the first time since he’d taken over for his mother as an advocate for human pets and Talins rejected by their clans or families, he didn’t want to be parted from a human.

Normally it was easy for him to send humans where they’d be most happy or secure, but this lovely Jinna was different. He couldn’t explain it, but something was special about her.

The trip to his compound took almost a full mark of slow travel through the dense streets of Talarian’s capital city, Moravi.

For that entire time, he held Jinna, careful to keep her body secure as the transport gently swayed.

Her eyes only fluttered open when they came to a stop and he was extracting the two of them.

Standing still next to the transport, he watched her face carefully for signs of distress. He saw confusion first, followed by a flash of fear, and finally her expression shut down into a polite mask.

He didn’t like that. He didn’t want her to pretend with him.

“This is my home,” he told her as he strode to his front door. “You’re safe here.”

Renalan threw open the door and rushed out, rattling with excitement. The rattling startled Jinna, making her huddle against Holian’s chest.

Sounding a low, soothing rumble that many of the humans referred to as purring, he addressed the overeager Renalan.

“She’s had some trauma,” he told the male. “We need to keep the rattling to a minimum if you can.”

“Oh, of course,” Renalan said and stopped rattling in favor of echoing Holian’s purr as he addressed Jinna. “Hello, little human, my name’s Renalan. I’m Commandant Holian’s house steward. As long as I’m around, no one will hurt you ever again.”

Wide-eyed, Jinna shifted her gaze between him and Holian but didn’t speak. It took Holian a moment to realize what was going on.

“You’re allowed to talk to us,” he explained. “You’ll never be punished for speaking your mind, even if none of us want to hear it.”

Renalan’s soothing purr was interrupted with a loud rumble of laughter. “She should meet Lakin or Zia,” he said. “Then she’d believe you!”

Because she was still silent and he’d seen suspicion flash across her face, he didn’t press the issue. He was willing to be patient and let her realize she was truly safe.

“I have food,” Renalan declared. “The table in the lounging room is set for you to feed her. I didn’t have any human feed, but I prepared everything we had that’s safe for human consumption.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Holian said as he followed Renalan into the large home. The place had been built many generations ago when the style was more about opulence than practicality.

Between war and disease, he and his son were the only ones left of his family.

They made up one of only three remaining families in his clan.

That was one of the reasons he was so influential.

All the vast wealth of his clan had ended up being split among only ten Talins.

Couple that wealth with his distinguished military career, and it meant he was pulled into politics much more often than he liked.

But at least he could try to do some good with his resources.

The enticing smell of food was heavy in the air as Renalan led him into the lounging area. The room was meant to be a comfortable place to gather for conversation. Thick reclining mats were laid out all along one wall. Several tables were set up with the backless chairs most Talin’s favored.

One table was bare, but the other one was brimming with overfull dishes. “Dear ancestors, Renalan. This is a feast. Is there any food left in the preparation room?”

Renalan sounded an embarrassed rumble. “I wanted to make sure there would be something here she’d like. I might have been a little overenthusiastic.”

“Not at all,” Holian said as he sat at the table and arranged Jinna in his lap. “I’m hungry also. Thank you for taking such care with our comfort.”

“It’s nice to have you here, Commandant,” Renalan commented, and Holian could hear the wistful note in his voice.

Was his friend lonely here on Talarian? When he got back to Kalor he might need to see if any of the humans or retired soldiers would like to travel to Talarian to keep Renalan company.

It could be hard living in the capital, surrounded by so many but isolated by politics and strict social protocols.

Before he could mention that idea to Renalan, the male hurried from the room, talking over his shoulder as he left. “I haven’t ordered anything else yet, so I’m going to see if I can contact the market before they close for the day. Leave everything after you’re done. I’ll come back to clean.”

Holian looked down at the human and his breath caught. He’d been ready to say something amusing about Renalan buying out an entire store, but Jinna’s hungry eyes were fixed on the food. That drove all other thoughts out of his head.

Although he knew humas were capable of feeding themselves, he indulged in the pleasure of feeding her with his own hand.

“I’m sure you’ve only been fed that atrocious human feed,” Holian said as he plucked up a bit of jol and held it to her mouth. “This will be far more flavorful.” As he spoke, she opened her mouth and delicately took the bite from his hand.

Two things happened at once. An intense feeling of affection filled him and blood rushed to his mating shaft, making his flesh pouch uncomfortably tight.

When had feeding a human become an erotic act for him? This had never happened to him before.

“More, please,” she requested, her voice quiet and a little shaky, but at least she’d spoken to him.

“As much as you want,” he promised and fed her another bite of jol. “Of anything you want.”

Jinna ate until she felt full enough to burst. Everything Holian offered was more delicious than the plain brown balls of food mashed up in warm water she’d been given by Nelaran.

Although she hadn’t been starved, he sometimes forgot to feed her, like this morning.

She knew a few missed meals weren’t going to kill her, but hunger had been yet another discomfort she’d been forced to bear.

“You can request food at any time,” Holian told her when she finally refused to eat any more from his hand.

That had been a strangely sensuous experience.

No one had ever fed her like this, not even her husband.

And this Talin had been so patient with her, even encouraging her to try different dishes and urging her to point to the ones she liked.

“Thank you.” It felt strange to talk after spending most of the last few months remaining silent.

When she’d first been delivered to Nelaran, she’d tried to explain that she wasn’t a slave.

That she’d been abducted and sold illegally.

That had gotten her the first beating. She’d learned quickly talking wasn’t encouraged by her owner.

Unlike Nelaran, Holian sounded a delighted rumble at the sound of her voice.

The way he was treating her was so different than how she’d been treated so far, she felt a little spot of hope developing.

In a universe that, at best, treated humans as second-class citizens and at worst enslaved them, she’d given up on finding kindness from anyone nonhuman.

But maybe she was wrong and a little bit of compassion could be found.