Torec turned out to be a Minino. The tiger-like pleasure slave was brought to her by Katadre herself. The raven-haired guard looked at Angel with rage.
"If I find one mark on him..." The woman cut herself off short, her chest heaving with barely contained violence.
Torec's eyes narrowed as he looked from his mistress to Angel.
The golden-green eyes had a slit pupil, and his pointed ears poked through his fall of orange and black striped hair. Though he wasn't as tall as Devon, his body was a study in sleek muscle and sinew. It was all covered in the slightest hint of fine hair giving him a striped appearance. Angel stared fascinated at Torec's tail, as it whipped in irritation behind him.
"He's a cat," she said shocked.
"He's
my
cat," Katadre practically hissed.
Angel looked back at Katadre and saw her love for this creature, though she was sure the woman would never admit her feelings for the Minino tiger.
"Just leave him and go. I wish to rest." Angel saw Katadre's eyes widen just before she turned and walked toward the bed that dominated the center of the rooms allotted to her in the glass and metal castle. When she turned it was to see Torec kneeling at his mistress' feet, hugging her. Katadre had her fingers in his hair, stroking, her lip trembling. Angel almost gave in and told her to take her precious pet, but one look at Devon, who still knelt on the floor, head bowed, made her want to make the woman suffer a little while longer. After all, she had wanted to take Devon from her.
Angel winced, realizing she was beginning to think of Devon as hers. She knew once she found the missing Edenian Master Guardians, Devon would no longer be her concern.
Katadre looked back at Angel, her eyes moist. "He needs to be fed often. He eats meat. I also give him cream in the mornings and just before rest cycle." She ran her fingers through Torec's mane again. He was purring, rubbing his face against her. "His mane needs to be brushed often."
When Angel remained silent, the guard looked back up. "Please don't hurt him."
"Why would I do that?"
Katadre's eyes narrowed, her nostrils flared. "You hit your slave. I saw you. How could you hit some poor blind pet?"
Angel felt herself flush. She hadn't been expecting the guard to say such a thing. It changed her perspective on how women treated men on this planet.
Not knowing what else to say, she turned on her heel and clasped her hands behind her back, not bearing to look at the other woman. "Go now. I won't hurt him. You have my word."
She didn't leave right away, but after a long while, Angel heard the door to her rooms close with a decisive click.
Taking a deep breath, she turned once again.
Torec looked frightened. Angel thought it odd that such a huge, strong male could be frightened of her. She knew Mininos had sharp claws and fangs. He could rip her throat out effortlessly.
Angel rubbed her temples. She did not enjoy playing the part of mistress. She abhorred anything that had to do with slavery.
"Go rest...both of you."
Torec slinked away to the large cushion at the foot of the bed, but Devon remained where he was. He hadn't said a single word.
She walked over to him and lifted his face to hers. He flinched at her touch and turned away.
Angel fought the urge to sink her fingers into the wealth of ebony satin that was his hair, pull him up and... "What the devil is wrong with you?" The sound of frustration in her voice made her grimace.
She saw his throat move as he swallowed. "How can you act like nothing happened?" It was barely a whisper, but she heard him clearly, understood him perfectly.
Still, she needed to analyze her riotous emotions, needed more time to put in perspective what she was undoubtedly starting to...crave now. "Devon, what in Hades are you talking about?"
His eyes began to glow as they rose to hers. She gasped and looked at Torec, who'd settled himself belly down on the cushion. Even though his head rested on his crossed forearms, his big eyes regarded them with curiosity, his tail flicking back and forth between his claves. Since Devon's back was to the other pleasure slave, she knew Torec couldn't see Devon's eyes lighting up again like laser beams.
She glared at Devon. "Eyes."
He frowned. "I don't understand you."
Angel leaned over until her nose almost touched his. "Your eyes, Devon. They're glowing again," she hissed.
His breath puffed out, frustrated, confused, his eyes searching. "I hurt you." She watched him sink his fingers into his hair and pull. His chest was heaving as if he were having trouble breathing.
She was honest enough with herself to admit that she'd wanted Devon...still wanted Devon.
"It was a dream. It wasn't real," she lied.
His eyes widened. He couldn't have looked more shocked. "A dream," he echoed.
"The punch was real though." Her scowl deepened, "For coming all over me. "
Now his jaw dropped.
"Devon, your eyes," she repeated through clenched teeth.
Slowly, the luminescence faded and his gaze became blank once more.
***
Devon's mind reeled at her words. A dream? Or a vision?
A light tug at his throat. He allowed Angel to lead him to the slave cushion behind him. There was someone else with them. Whoever it was, purred like a cat, but Devon sensed that it was a humanoid male.
Angel's footsteps led away from them. A cool, rain-scented breeze wafted over his bare skin. She'd gone out on the balcony. He could feel the warmth of the Utuduodian sun warming his skin. Something swiped over him. A tail?
Devon turned his head, focusing a bit of his power on the being next to him. His skin tingled with awareness. The cat-man was staring at him. Again, the tail swept up his leg, settling between his thighs. The tip tapped thoughtfully against his crotch. Devon frowned and reached down. His fingers encountered soft fur. The urge to stroke the warm softness was almost overwhelming. Torec purred louder.
"Have you always been a slave?" Devon carefully placed the inquisitive tail on the cushion beside his leg.
