Eve Vaughn Read Online Free

and busted it against the wall. She brandished the jagged piece of glass at us, and even cut my hand.” She held it up as evidence.
    Dar winced when he saw the deep gash. “And then what?” he asked tightly.
    “What is Iosis doing here?” Personally Dar couldn’t stand the man. He was Zavian’s personal spy, and probably twice as corrupt. Whenever Dar saw him he wanted to ring Iosis’s skinny little neck.
    Though he had no proof, Dar suspected Iosis was abusing the animals. On a few occasions there had been marks on the animals’ skins. Once Dar witnessed the other man caressing one of the Mulka’ Beasts in a disturbing manner. Iosis had given him a weak explanation regarding what he was doing, but the incident remained in the back of Dar’s mind.
    Iosis flushed. “I heard the struggle and I came to assist. It’s a good thing you came,” he bit out finally, even though the brief look of pure hatred he shot Dar made a lie of his words. “That female is a menace.”
    “When they’re frightened maybe. She was obviously terrified, as are many animals are when they’re brought into a strange new environment,” Dar countered.
    “What… what do you plan to do with her? You can’t put her in the holding unit with Quark. She’d probably dismember him,” Iosis protested.
     
     
     
    - 21 -
    Dar’s lips tightened. As much as he hated to agree with him, Iosis was right.
    Shara would have to be isolated until they knew for sure there’d be no more such incidents.
    With a sigh, he nodded. “You three clean up, and I’ll take her to one of the isolation cells.” Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Dar strode out of the infirmary with the limp female over his shoulder. His strides faltered when he heard the sounds of weak sniffles.
    No. Surely he was imagining this. Was she actually crying?
    He quickened his steps, not stopping until he reached the isolation unit. Placing his palm on the DNA identifier, he waited the few seconds it took to verify his clearance before the door opened.
    Dar carried her to a cell at the end of the unit. He had to punch in a security code on the panel in order for the laser shield to disappear temporarily.
    Her body trembled against his as the sniffles grew louder. He could tell she was fighting back the sobs, but losing the battle. As he carried her to the far corner and placed Shara down on the pile of straw, his heart went out to her. She curled up in a ball, her eyes teary and bewildered. Full, pink lips quivered as if she would burst into full-fledged tears at any moment.
    Incapable of feelings, emotions and pain? Seeing her like this, he knew that wasn’t true. Was it possible these Humans weren’t lower beasts at all, but another intelligent life form? How could something so Flamrylian-like not be sentient?
    And what of his reaction to her? With so many life forms on other planets, it wasn’t against the law to intermarry other sentient beings, but by his people’s standards, she was an animal -- a bottom feeder. What he’d felt during that brief moment in the infirmary would generate disgust within his people. He’d have to force this irrational feeling away, and treat her as he would any of the other creatures in his care.
    Still, when a single tear slipped from her eye, Dar couldn’t help but be moved.
    Unsure if she’d attack him, he risked kneeling next to her and touching her cheek.

    - 22 -
    Shara flinched, and then turned her head away. Dar pulled his hand from her as if he’d been burned. Shara’s skin was so soft, much softer than any other female he’d touched before.
    What was the matter with him? This wasn’t right. Still, he couldn’t walk away just yet. “I mean you no harm.” He knew she wouldn’t understand a word he’d said, but somehow he felt the words were needed. “I won’t hurt you,” he repeated.
    She lay there unresponsive, staring at his mouth as if she were trying to decipher what he was saying. Were it not for the flash of