Surrendered Read online

  It wasn’t until the tour had concluded and the Mistresses were preparing to leave for the reception that Lady Wraith’neck finally noticed her priceless brooch was missing.

  “Oh!’ she gasped, looking down at her sleeve. “Where is it? Where is my Timbrian emerald brooch? It’s the birthright of my family!”

  “Don’t know, Mistress,” Thorn drawled, looking unconcerned. “I think you had it when you came in.” He was relieved she’d finally noticed—he’d been afraid he would somehow have to bring it up himself, which would have looked fucking suspicious.

  “Of course I had it when we entered the Library! I was showing it to Lady Rest’well!” she stormed. “I must find it! Help me look for it at once!”

  If it had been any of the other Mistresses belonging to the Sacred Seven who had lost some valuable trinket, especially one so vital to their standing in Yonnite Society, Thorn was certain all the rest of the group would have offered to stay and help look for it. However, Lady Wraith’neck was not well liked. Her coarseness, cruelty, and abrasive personality were plainly disgusting to her colleagues. Not even Grande Dame Thrust’much, who had appointed her to the position, wanted to stay and help her.

  “Well, Malisha,” she said, shrugging in apparent unconcern. “Your print and scan are keyed into the system. You can stay and hunt for your lost brooch as long as you like—just be certain to lock up the Library of All Knowledge when you leave. We’ll see you at the reception.”

  “But it will take ages to search all by myself!” Lady Wraith’neck pouted. “This place is huge.”

  “I’m sorry, Malisha—I would leave you one of my body-slaves but they’re both needed during the reception,” Grande Dame Thrust’much said, frowning. “I’m afraid you’re on your own.”

  She turned without another word and the other Mistresses turned with her. Leaving a fuming Lady Wraith’neck behind with only Thorn for company, they exited the Library.

  “Hmm,” Thorn remarked as the vast double doors clicked shut behind them, “Seems like they might not like you very much, Mistress.”

  “Shut up!” Lady Wraith’neck tugged hard on his leash again. “Just help me find the brooch!”

  Thorn searched diligently, like an obedient body-slave, taking his time to make certain the crowd around the Library had time to clear off to the reception in the next atmosphere dome. His Mistress continued to fume in silence and vent her feelings by yanking as hard as she could on his leash. Thorn endured this treatment stoically, biding his time and waiting for the right moment.

  At last he was certain they were completely alone—the noise of the crowd outside had died to complete silence and there was no sound but the hush of the air purifiers which kept the data stacks clean and Lady Wraith’neck’s own angry breathing.

  “Mistress,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Do you see that? There’s something bright over there.” He pointed towards the data stack containing the Hive’s information.

  “What? Where?” She jerked her head up like a hunting canine, intent on finding its prey. “Where is it, you idiot? Show me!”

  “Here.” Thorn led the way, though she kept a tight grip on his leash until they were standing in front of the tall, thin data tower which rose to the vaulted roof. “I believe it’s right under that stack.” He pointed to the place he had hidden the brooch.

  “Well get down there and get it then, slave!” She yanked down hard on the leash, trying to pull him down to floor level.

  But this time Thorn held his ground.

  “I wonder if you realize, Mistress,” he growled. “That the leash you’re yanking on isn’t attached to any kind of a pain collar.”

  “Of course I know that,” she snapped. “That idiot Neh’sanna forced me to sign a contract saying I wouldn’t use one on you.”

  “I think you’re missing the point.” Thorn leaned in close, pushing his face into hers. “Which is that you have no way to control me. No fucking way.”

  “What are you…are you threatening me?” Lady Wraith’neck drew back, a look of outrage mingled with uncertainty on her long, bony face. Clearly she was so used to being in charge and doing anything she wanted to slaves who didn’t dare complain, she didn’t know how to handle this situation.

  “Most certainly not, Mistress.” Thorn gave her his most intimidating grin. “There’s no need to threaten you because you’re going to do exactly as I say.”

  “I will not!”

  Lady Wraith’neck started to walk stiffly away from him—even now she didn’t seem to realize the danger she was in—but Thorn caught her by the back of her gown, spun her around and unclipped the leash from his collar. With quick, economical movements he tied her hands securely in front of her while she struggled and screamed. Then, for good measure, he lashed her to the long support spindle of the data tower.

  “No—how dare you? Let me go at once or I’ll have you beaten! I’ll beat you myself, come to that!” she shouted angrily.

  “Shut up,” he said harshly, giving her a quick shake so that her teeth clicked together sharply. “Just shut up and this will all be over before you know it.”

  “All be over? You…you’re not going to penetrate me, are you?” Her yellowish eyes were wide and her mouth trembled.

  Thorn felt his stomach do a slow forward roll. What a disgusting idea! In the first place, he was no rapist. And in the second, he couldn’t think of another person in the entire galaxy he would rather have sex with less that the evil Lady Wraith’neck. Still, if the idea kept her in line…

  “How many male slaves have you penetrated against their will?” he demanded, shaking her again. “How many, Mistress?”

  “I d-don’t kn-know,” she stammered. “None that didn’t deserve it. Males are the inferior species—they’re meant to serve and be used as we deem fit.”

  “You know, you might not want to say that while you’re tied up in the power of one of those ‘inferior males’,” Thorn growled. “You’re the inferior one now, Malisha. What if I decided you were fit for nothing but penetration and torture, as you decided about me?”

  “You wouldn’t dare!” Her yellow eyes narrowed but Thorn thought he saw fear far back in their depts.

  “I might,” he said casually. “It depends on if you give me what I want.”

  “If you think I’m going to let you ram your filthy shaft down my throat—”

  Thorn barked a laugh. “It always comes back to sex with you, doesn’t it? And since you don’t know anything about love or tenderness, all sex equates with torture.” He shook his head. “I’m actually sorry for you, Malisha. But no—I don’t want my shaft anywhere near your mouth. Or any other part of you for that matter. What I do want,” he continued. “Is for you to help me access the data in this stack.”

  He pointed to the stack with the Hive information stored in it.

  “What?” Lady Wraith’neck looked at the data tower uncomprehendingly. “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ll make it simple for you. Help me get the information I need and I might not kill you.”

  “But I—”

  Thorn was tired of her talk. He took her firmly by the back of the neck and pointed her face at the irising aperture which did the retinal scan.

  “Put your finger on the pad,” he instructed, nodding at her hands which he had bound in front of her. “And then step back and let me get the information.”

  In less time than it had taken to tie her up, the information about the Hive was stored in the tiny transmitter chip he had implanted under his fingernail. He began the transmission – in just a few minutes all the information would be on its way to the Mothership.

  “See now?” Thorn smirked at the fuming Lady Wraith’neck, who was still sputtering in impotent rage. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  “You…you planned this!” she accused him at last. “All along! You pretended to be a slave but you’re not!”

  “You’re smarter than I thought,” Thorn remarked dryly. “An