Dovis (The Vorge Crew Book 2) Read online

  Dovis

  The Vorge Crew – Book Two

  By Laurann Dohner

  Dovis by Laurann Dohner

  Sold into slavery as a child, Mari was raised on a vessel repair station, growing up to become a highly prized engineer. So she’s surprised when her owner not only grants her freedom, but finds her a paying job aboard The Vorge. Mari’s determined to impress her new captain and crewmates. It’s the only way she’ll remain free, safe from the hands of other slavers. But there seems no impressing Dovis, the ship’s head of security. He’s huge, hairy, scary, and seems to hate humans.

  Dovis finds humans weak and annoying at the best of times. They don’t need another one aboard The Vorge. Especially a female who works hard enough to make everyone else look lazy. He wants Mari gone—until he meets her. The tiny human is sweet, shy, timid…beautiful. Now Dovis really wants her gone. He isn’t happy about his attraction to a human. Especially when he can’t be certain Mari’s desire for him is from the heart…or an accident of his own making.

  The Vorge Crew Series List

  Cathian

  Dovis

  Dovis by Laurann Dohner

  Copyright © August 2018

  Editor: Kelli Collins

  Cover Art: Dar Albert

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-944526-94-8

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is coincidental.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Dovis – The Vorge Crew – Book Two

  By Laurann Dohner

  Chapter One

  It was tough being an alien. The fact that Mari was human made it ten times rougher. No one from Earth had made a good impression after they’d taken to space. Many had become thieves or slave traders. She didn’t blame most races for their mistrust. Her own family had sold her at the age of ten for money.

  What kind of people do that?

  Not good ones.

  Mari had been one of the luckier kids sold as far as slavery went. She’d been bought by a Teki family that ran a ship repair station. They’d taught her to fix darn near anything that could fly in space. Her small size and quick ability to learn had been assets, earning her respect.

  That meant safety from harm, since she was valued. The Teki race viewed humans as disgusting to look upon because they only had two arms and no tentacles. Some of their customers didn’t agree, and they frequently tried to touch her. They were painfully discouraged by her owners. The Teki protected Mari with lethal force when necessary.

  Freedom wasn’t a word she’d dared even whisper. That got slaves killed or punished faster than refusing to do what they were told. And Mari always did as she was told.

  That’s why dread filled her when K’pa called her into his office after her shift ended. He was the current head of household and ran the station for his family. It never boded well when the alien who held her life in his tentacles wanted a face-to-face meeting.

  All six of his eyes stared at her while his two mouths had curved upward in what passed for smiles. “You’re done here.”

  Panic and fear set in right away. She scrambled to think of how she’d messed up. The retrofit of the engine she’d just finished had gone perfectly. She’d even been a day ahead of schedule.

  “Please don’t push me out an airlock! I’m sorry for whatever I’ve done. I’ll try harder.” She was ready to drop to her knees to plead for her life.

  He snorted, which passed as laugher for a Teki. “You’ve made us a lot of money, Mari. I’m finally old enough for a mate and to have children of my own.” He leaned forward, four of his tentacles resting on his desk. “P’ski is taking over.”

  A shudder ran down her spine. He was K’pa’s younger brother. Any little mistake caused him to lose his temper. He also thought the workers were treated too nicely and had bragged about making lots of changes when his day to run the repair station came. Some of those changes included longer hours and less meals provided each day. He’d also complained the workers were dressed too nicely for slaves. He’d threatened to make them walk around naked to save credits.

  K’pa leaned back in his chair. “You are free, Mari. My gift to you for excellent service and the fortune you helped me make over the years. I’ve saved well for my family-time retirement. No one is a better mechanic than you.” He snorted again. “Plus, it’s a matter of honor. With you off the station, repairs will likely fall behind.” His double set of lips curved upward again. “P’ski thinks he can do better than I have at running our business. I won’t allow that.”

  Shock held her mute as she stood there, trying to process everything he’d said.

  “There is a ship currently in for repairs that has another human onboard. Captain Cathian Vellar is an ambassador for the Tryleskian planet. They abhor slavery and treat other races with respect. I wanted to find you a good home.” He used a tentacle to open a drawer and pull out a data card, shoving it her way.

  She accepted it and glanced down fast. Her image had been duplicated on the card, some sort of identification.

  “I negotiated good wages and living conditions for you upon his ship. He promised to protect you against harm in all ways. I know you sometimes fear others, since we’ve had issues over the years with customers when they’d spotted you. You’re pathetically defenseless, with your lack of claws and your puny size. The captain expects you when you leave my office. Go right to his ship on port three. You are to report directly to him. That card is your pass to freedom.”

  “Thank you.” It was terrifying to leave the familiar for something new, but P’ski scared her more. Working for him would become a nightmare.

  “You’ve never given me any trouble, Mari. Never tried to escape. You were the best slave I ever purchased.”

  She’d had nowhere to go, and had been smart enough to stay where she’d been protected. Even repair workers heard the whispered rumors of how bad it could be off the station for anyone traveling alone. Slavers might capture them, and they could end up in far worse circumstances. The Teki fed their workers three times a day, gave them access to medical care if they were injured, and issued new clothing every year. They might be locked into their sleeping quarters after a shift, but they had clean, solitary rooms, which kept them safe. No one could molest them, or steal them away.

  “Thank you.” She bowed her head, clutching the card in her hand.

  “I wouldn’t have sold you if you’d been my spawn,” K’pa said. “For a human, you are smart. Your parents were not. I made certain Captain Vellar is aware of your value despite how you look. I vouched for what a hard and dedicated worker you are. He is intelligent and will treat you good. Make me proud again.”

  The door behind her opened and she spun, heart pounding. It was K’pa’s assistant. The alien held a large tool case. “I packed her personal belongings inside, master.”

  “Escort her to port three, Ri. If anyone asks, she’s fixing something. My brother is paranoid I’ll pull a stunt of this magnitude—and he’s correct.” He snorted. “Make certain she gets there without delay. You’ll be punished if she doesn’t leave on that ship.”

  “Yes