Alien Conquest: (The Warrior's Prize) An Alien SciFi Romance by Scarlett Rhone

you may tell the attendants what you require for cleaning, and they will do their best to see you have it.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Just because you are donara does not mean you get special treatment.”
    “I wouldn’t have expected special treatment.”
    Gurun snorted. “Well, you won’t get it. The bathhouse is common space. You do not get to commandeer it.”
    “O-kay.” Alaina sighed. This guy hated her and there was no getting around it. She missed Yfia suddenly and wondered she was, hoping she was okay. Then she shook herself and followed Gurun into bathhouse, glad at least for the opportunity to actually bathe.

Chapter Fifteen
    Vega fell asleep again after Domina Lennai and the donara left. The donara. Alaina. She haunted his drug-addled dreams, the gold of her hair and the feel of her body against his, the memory of her lips and the shame of taking a kiss he had not been invited to take. Eventually the drugs in his system began to fade, replaced by the sharp reality of the pain. And then Dyhar, the House Chara Master of Cursii arrived in the little surgery to escort him back to the Chara palace. Dyhar was tall and broad-shouldered, built like a brick house even into his retirement, and he shouldered Vega’s arm up and helped him walk from the pit to the transport Domina Lennai had sent to bring him home. With a wince and grumble, Vega made it to a seat in the vehicle, one arm hugging his wounded side.
    He’d hoped he would be able to make it to the Palace without having to discuss the day’s events, but that hope was short-lived.
    “Lohar and his friends are to spend a month in the cells,” Dyhar murmured, as the transport started moving.
    “He deserves worse,” Vega muttered.
    “Does he?” Dyhar’s expression was dubious.
    “We won.” Vega scowled. “We won the games and his stupid shit knocked us clear off the lists. The penalty will take me another three games to get back to where I belong. He can rot.”
    “It wouldn’t have been so easy for him if you were more brotherly with the other cursii,” Dyhar pointed out.
    But he’d been making the same damn point ever since Vega had arrived in the barracks, and Vega had been sick of hearing it for just that long as well. Some fought to pay off debts, some fought because they sought glory and fame and the money that came with both. Vega fought because if he won, if he gained the top of the lists and earned his freedom, his small home planet would be released from its conquered control by House Chara. He was fighting for an entire world, for his people, and he didn’t give a fuck about being brotherly in the process. He never would. Dyhar sighed when Vega said nothing. “Well, you’ll be out of the barracks for a while, anyhow. Probably for the best. Domina has ordered that you be given private rooms and the best care.”
    “Domina is kind,” Vega muttered.
    “To you,” Dyhar said. “And you know why.”
    “Yes, Master, I do know why. And she can be as kind as she likes but it won’t change our circumstances. She is my domina and I will do as she says, until such time as I am free again.”
    Dyhar just rolled his eyes. “Watch your attitude, Vega.”
    “I’m sure it’s just the drugs and the pain, Master Dyhar.”
    “I’m sure .”
    Dyhar left him alone for the rest of the way back to the palace. The rooms prepared for him in the servants quarters were very comfortable, far more comfortable than his bunk in the barracks. Carpets on the floor and curtains in windows gave way to a gorgeous view of the space outside the station. It was small, but the bed had a real, soft mattress and a toilet en suite. This was the closest to luxury Vega had known in years and he sprawled out on the bed, heedless of getting sand or blood on the soft sheets, and just lay there for awhile, letting the worst of the pain roll through his body.
    He tried to push all the thoughts from his mind, but inevitably he saw Alaina whenever he closed his eyes. It was