Sheala by Judy Mays Page B

immediately, Sheala sneered, “You will live to regret this.”
    “I had thought to be gentle with you your first time, but I’ve changed my mind.”
    Before Sheala could reply, he jabbed his tail between her thighs.
    She gasped but did not cry out. Raising her chin, she sneered into his face. “Not what you expected?”
    He slapped her again. “Whore.” Withdrawing, he pushed the now naked Tetiras over a table and finished on her what he’d begun with Sheala.
    “Who?” he demanded from Sheala after he’d finished with Tetiras.
    Sheala’s refusal to answer earned her a third slap.
    She blinked back tears.
    Bakom grunted. “The high and mighty Alalakan daughter no longer a virgin. You didn’t waste any time, did you? Or, perhaps, you lost your virginity long before you assumed your majority, and that nose stud you wear is nothing but a lie. An interesting tale to tell everyone, don’t you think?”
    Turning away from Sheala, he said to Gothran and Tetiras, “Enjoy yourselves with her and put her back in her cage when you finish. I’ll return tomorrow. Eliana, you’ll have to forego your pleasure for tonight. I wish to return to the Academy, and the shuttle must be returned to its owner. I leave that task to you.”
    As the door closed soundlessly behind her family’s enemy, Sheala looked at the two naked hermaphrodites who stood before her. “My father will reward you handsomely if you return me to him.”
    Both Tetiras and Gothran ignored her. “Do you wish to enjoy her first or shall I?” Gothran asked as he lowered the table to its usual horizontal position.
    “You take her, my love,” Tetiras said as Gothran untied Sheala and rolled her onto her stomach. “I will enjoy you while you enjoy her.”
    Only the Gattan woman writhing in sexual frustration heard Sheala’s screams.

    * * * * *
As Eliana maneuvered the shuttle down onto the roof of the building where her boss lived, Bakom snapped, “You know where to take the shuttle?”
    “Yes,” Eliana replied in a soft voice. Sheala’s nonvirginal state had obviously soured his mood, and he’d brooded in silence for the entire time it had taken them to arrive here.
    “Good,” he grunted. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Eliana sighed with relief as Bakom walked away from the shuttle. Now if only she could get to the Alalakans in time.

    * * * * *
A single drop of blood rolled down over Marljas’ elbow and dropped to the floor as he pushed a single claw into his arm. The pain kept him focused. His betrothed had been kidnapped. Whoever had committed this crime would die. Gattan honor demanded it.
    Around him, Sheala’s relatives argued.
    “We have to do something,” Ban snarled. “We can’t just sit here.”
    “Bakom would never have taken Sheala if it weren’t for me,” Brianna said with tears in her eyes.
    “Perhaps it would be best if…”
    Every gaze snapped to her.
    “Don’t think to complete that thought, Brianna,” Jamiros snapped. “You’re married to my son and carry my first grandchild. You’re just as much a part of this family as Sheala, and you will go nowhere near Bakom. Do you understand?”
    Brianna nodded, but she had a defiant look on her face.
    “Char,” Jamiros ordered, “keep an eye to your wife. Do not let her out of your sight. We don’t need her to do anything stupid, we have enough problems.”
    Char nodded and sent a searing look to his wife. She didn’t appear in the least intimidated.
    “Don’t even think about it,” Ban added in a sharp tone. “Do you really think Bakom would give Sheala back if he got his hands on you?”
    Before Marljas could add his opinion, a loud commotion in the street drew their attention.
    Looking out the window, Char’s brother Rodane said in an astonished voice, “Someone’s landed a shuttle in the middle of the street!” He leaped away from the window and through the doorway into the hall.
    Marljas joined Ban by the window. A slight figure left the shuttle and