Page 2 of The Emperor’s Concubine (The Thibian Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER 2

ONE MONTH LATER…

“ I want Paris, Mama,” London sobbed into her mother’s neck.

Callie was very close to tears herself. How could she possibly explain to the two-year-old what was going on when she was still trying to make sense of the entire mess herself? With each passing day on this Godforsaken planet, her hope of going home and seeing her other precious baby again dwindled.

“I know, sweetie. I want to see Paris too.”

“Wanna go home.”

Callie stroked London’s soft curls. “So do I. Remember what Mommy said? As soon as I find a way, I’ll get us home where we belong.” She could barely convince herself, so it was no surprise when her child glared at her.

“Mean Mommy! Wanna go home,” London screamed, kicking and flailing wildly. Normally Callie didn’t tolerate temper tantrums, but how could she scold London when she so desperately wanted the same thing?

She estimated they’d been on this world the Adieaens called Adlene for about a month now. From the moment she woke up until she went to bed, she was trained in the arts of pleasing men.

At first she’d rebelled against the teachings, trying instead to find ways to escape, but she soon learned that if she didn’t obey her trainers, she couldn’t see London. They kept her daughter sequestered in the nursery section of the training building with the rest of the children.

For good behavior, Callie was rewarded a visit to the nursery, and lately they had been fewer and farther between. She shuddered as she thought of all the things she’d been subjected to, but those moments with London were one of the things that gave her the will to live.

“Baby, I’m doing the best I can. I promise you’ll see her again. I’ll do whatever it takes.” Unable to hold back the tears any longer, Callie pressed her forehead against her daughter’s and cried at the futileness of the situation. A few weeks ago she didn’t think aliens existed, but now she was in another Universe about to be sold like a piece of meat on an auction block.

Her heart ached every time she looked at London because she was also seeing Paris’s face because they were identical. It was a constant reminder of what she’d been forced to leave behind.

They were ready to sell her. She’d overheard Rzxie and another Hunter discussing her fate. When she asked what would happen with London, no answer was given. Callie didn’t think she could survive if she were parted from this daughter as well. Her heart just wouldn’t withstand the pain.

“Mama, I sawee.” London gave her a kiss on the cheek and patted her hair.

A slight smile touched her lips. She looked into her baby girl’s big brown eyes, so like her own. “I love you so much. I just want you to know, that if anything happens to me, Mommy loves you.”

The door burst open. Callie’s head shot up. A feeling of dread washed through her when Theki strode through the nursery doors, a fierce expression on his face, or at least she thought so. It was so hard to tell with his species. “Your time is up. Let’s go. The buyers are outside and ready to bid. We don’t have very long to prepare you.”

Callie gasped. “I’m… I’m being sold today?” She thought she had more time.

“We feel that your training is adequate. Now let go of the child and come with me.”

“No,” she whispered, her eyes blinded by tears.

Theki stepped forward. “I must have heard incorrectly because I know you didn’t say no to me. Now come along or I’ll have to use the stunner.”

Her grip tightened on London, causing the child to cry out. “Too tight!”

“No. I can’t leave her. She’s all I have left.” Even as the words tumbled from her lips she saw Theki reaching for the weapon he used to keep the slaves in line. Callie didn’t care. They’d have to pry her child out of her cold, dead arms.

“I’ll give you one more chance, human. You can come with me, or you can feel the sting of this.” He pulled out the stunner. “I will guarantee you that it will hurt.”

As though sensing her mother’s anguish, London wrapped her arms around Callie’s neck and started to cry again. “No, Mama. Don’t go!”

Callie couldn’t remember crying so hard before. She knew Theki meant business, but letting go of London was something she couldn’t do. “I’m not going to leave her. I won’t!”

“You’ve been warned.”

She was blasted on the arm, but it sent a large electric shock through her entire body. Falling to her knees, she still didn’t let go of her sobbing daughter. “I won’t leave her. You’ll have to kill me first.” Pain rocked her entire being, but all she could focus on was that this monster was trying to separate her from London.

Another blast hit her, this time temporarily paralyzing her. Theki spoke into his communicator. “I’m going to need some assistance in the nursery.”

Callie couldn’t move, but she was still aware of everything going on around her, London’s tears, Theki’s pacing, and the sense that her life was about to change forever.

When the nursery door opened again, two more Hunters stepped inside. “What would you like us to do, Commander Theki?”

“Separate her from the brat, and then send her to the women so she can be prepared for the auction,” Theki ordered.

If she could have, she would have fought the two Adieaens as they pulled London out of her grip. “Mama! I want Mama!” her daughter screamed. As one of the men carried her out of the room, her will to live slowly ebbed away.

“Two thousand kwazars!” An overzealous participant shouted.

“Two thousand and fifty!” someone else yelled.

Theki chuckled. “Two thousand fifty kwazars! Do I hear two thousand five hundred? This fine specimen hails from Earth, and she’s eager to please her new master or mistress.”

Standing naked before a crowd of leering aliens barely registered in her mind. Already the worst had been done to her. Being separated from her daughter was one of the most painful experiences she’d ever had to face. She didn’t even flinch when Theki fondled her breasts.

“Her body is nice and ripe. She’ll provide hours of pleasure for any lusty male or female, if they’re so inclined.” He then turned her body until her bare ass faced the crowd. Callie bit her bottom lip when he palmed her ass. “This backside was meant for riding. Have you ever seen such a well put together female? And look at all this wonderful dark flesh.”

Callie had never been so degraded in her life, but all she could think about was her babies. She willed herself not to cry because she wouldn’t let these bastards know they’d won.

“Three thousand kwazars!”

“Fifty!” A hush fell over the bidding participants. She had no idea what a kwazar was worth, but judging by the look of pure delight on Theki’s face it must have been a lot.

“Mother of the stars, I knew you’d bring us a handsome sum, but I didn’t expect so much. I think I may have to find more women like you the next time we venture to Earth.” Theki turned her back to the crowd. “Fifty thousand kwazars, do I hear fifty five? Going once, going twice. Sold to the Thibian couple!”

Callie gazed out to see a man and a woman who looked human, but not quite. Their skin seemed to have a glow to it, and their hair was whitish blond. They were a tall, handsome duo; however, they both looked rather fierce. Whoever they were, she vowed they’d get no pleasure from her.

Rzxie stepped forward and led her behind the auction block, throwing a robe around her body. “You’ve done well, human. Much better than we expected. I’m… I’m sorry about the little one. I can imagine how you feel.”

Callie glared at her. “Don’t you dare offer me any of your false sympathy. You have no idea how I feel. You and Theki took me away from my other daughter, and now you’re doing it all over again. You both deserve to rot in the fiery depths of hell.”

“Please, try and understand?—”

“Oh, I understand, all right. I understand that you’re heartless creatures who live off the profits of selling innocent people. I’d appeal to your sense of shame, but I doubt you have any. To separate a mother from her children is probably the most despicable thing in the world.”

“Like I said, human, I do know how you feel,” Rzxie insisted.

“Oh, and how could you possibly know?”

If Callie didn’t know better, she would have thought that the alien was blushing, a secret expression entering her beady eyes. “I recently learned that I’m with child.”

“Congratu-freakin-lations.” Bitterness seeped into Callie’s heart. Fuck this bitch and her unborn child.

“I just wanted you to know that I do understand. I feel this baby growing in my womb, and already I love it more than life itself. I would be devastated to go through what you are, so… I… I’m going to see if your new owners will accept your little one.”

A sarcastic remark rested on Callie’s tongue but she held back. She wasn’t stupid enough to throw an opportunity like this away. “Do you think they would allow me to… take her with me?”

“I can’t make any promises, but I will see.”

“What will happen to her if they don’t want her?”

“We raise the children until they are of an age to be sold. I can’t make you any promises because your little one is another mouth they’d have to feed. I’ll do what I can.”

“Would Theki allow it?”

“Leave Theki to me.”

For the first time since London was ripped from her arms, hope blossomed in her breast. She touched the Adiae lightly on the arm. “Thank you. This would mean a lot to me.”

Rzxie smiled, and the women shared a silent moment of communication, coming to an understanding of sorts.

Just then Theki approached. “What is taking so long? Isn’t the human ready? Her new owners are waiting.”

“Theki, I thought of a brilliant idea. Why not allow her new owners to take the little one as well? After all, they were quite generous.”

Theki frowned. “Have you gone mad, woman? Why would I just give them the child when she will bring us a lot of money in the future? I placed her genetic information in our system, and twenty years from now, she’ll be even more beautiful than her mother. Do you think I’d easily part with such a nice profit?”

“But that’s twenty years from now, and didn’t you say that it was getting expensive keeping all these children? What’s one small child?”

“She’s one child that will make us a lot of money.”

Callie watched with bated breath as the argument went back and forth. She silently prayed that things would end the way she wanted them.

“Throw in the child for goodwill. The Thibians are our best customers. If word spreads of your generosity, more will come and spend more money.”

Theki gave his mate one long hard look. “Why is this so important to you?”

Rzxie sighed. “I just think it would be a good gesture.”

“And what makes you think they’d even want to take the child? I refuse to reward this human for her defiant behavior.”

“Then don’t do it for her. Do it for me?” Rzxie patted her belly and gave Theki a meaningful look.

“Does this really mean that much to you?”

“Yes.”

“All right. I will talk it over with the Thibians. Now that I think about it, this just might be a good idea. If the child is as headstrong as her mother, then she may be more trouble than she’s worth. And you know what, she may be a tool the Thibians can use to control this defiant human. Yes, you are very wise, Rzxie. I will go talk to them about this.”

When Theki left them alone once more, Rzxie turned to Callie wearing a wide grin. “You see, I knew it would work out.”

A humorless smile touched Callie’s lips. “It would only really be perfect if I had my other baby with me. Not a day has gone by when I haven’t thought about her and what she must be feeling. I wonder if she’s safe and if she’s being taken care of.”

Rzxie nodded. “Yes, I see your dilemma, but I can only do so much.”

Callie could have pointed out that she wouldn’t be in this predicament had they not captured her in the first place, but thought better of it. It wasn’t long before Theki returned, the two Thibians following closely behind him.

The tall, pale skinned male stepped in front of her, and she instinctively took a step back. He looked over at Theki. “I see what you mean. She does have spirit, but she’s also just what our King desires. He wants someone… different, and there aren’t any women like her on Thibius. Come, slave, and let me put this collar on you,” the man ordered.

Callie took another step back. Would her humiliation never end? To be sold naked on the auction block was one thing, but putting a collar around her neck degraded her on a whole different level.

Rzxie came up behind her and gripped her arms. “Hold still and do as they say, you fool, unless you want Theki to change his mind,” she whispered.

If she wanted London with her, she’d have to play by their rules. She forced herself to remain still while the blond placed the metal collar around her neck. When he pulled out a chain to clip to the hook, she wanted to pull away but managed not to.

“I am Darus, and this is Tuk.” He gestured to the gaunt looking woman. “We’re emissaries for King Blaze, and you are now his property. It is your honor to be a part of his harem.”

She was to be in a harem? Would this nightmare ever end? She shot Rzxie a questioning look, but the alien merely looked ahead.

“We understand there is a child. We’re willing to take her if you can guarantee us your complete obedience.”

Callie nodded her head vigorously. “Yes.”

Darus studied her dispassionately for a moment before nodding, seeming satisfied. “All right, Theki, you may bring the child out and then we must leave for Thibius.”

Callie’s heart raced with anticipation. She wouldn’t lose London after all, but what kind of life would she have living as a member of a harem? The thought was unsettling.