“Thoseare plasti-dura-steel,” she said conversationally. “We used them last cyclewhen we transported a Gox. Have you seen them? They’re these huge, hairybeasts—about your size but they have two hundred times the strength of a normalmale. So you might as well give up. You’re going to be manacled to your cotuntil I can be sure you’re not a risk to me or my crew.”

Thrace openedhis mouth but his voice didn’t want to work at all now. Damn it, when would theparalytic wear off? Or were his problems vocalizing due to the merciless boutof agony he’d experienced when the slaver used the pain collar on him? Eitherway, when he tried to speak, all that came out was a croak.

“Look,you’ve been out for hours,” the girl said. “Are you thirsty?”

Thrace triedto say “yes” but again, only a dry croak came out this time.

“Don’ttry to speak—your voice needs to recover like the rest of you,” the girladmonished. “Just nod your head if you want a drink.”

Stiffly,he nodded.

“Good.Here.” She was already holding a long silver metal container with a flexiblestraw stuck in it. She put it to his lips but Thrace turned his head away as morememories washed over him.

Drink it up, there’s a good slave, croonedthe Master’s physician. It’s to relaxyou…it’ll get you ready, make things a little easier…

Thegirl frowned, clearly not understanding his silent refusal of the drink.

“Ithought you said you were thirsty? Don’t worry—it’s just nutrient water. See?”She wrapped her lush, berry-colored lips around the clear straw and sucked,letting Thracesee her drink and swallow. “See?” she said again when she was finished.

Helooked at her for a long moment. Surely she wouldn’t have taken a drink of thestuff herself if it was drugged or poisoned. It was just that his head wasstill fuzzy and the past kept getting tangled up with the present.

Thegirl looked at him and held the cup patiently, waiting for him to make up hismind. At last Thracedecided he had no choice but to trust her. Slowly, he inclined his head.

“Good,”she said briskly. “I’m glad you’re willing to at least try it.”

Sheplaced the straw gently between his lips and held the cup for him while Thracetook an experimental sip.

Theminute the cold, slightly sweet liquid hit his tongue, his thirst exploded. Hedrank quickly, almost gulping in his eagerness.

“Whoa…whoa—takeit easy, big fella,” the girl cautioned. “You don’t want to make yourself sick.Take it slowly—there’s more where that came from.”

Thracefinished what was in the cup and lay back, letting his head rest on the pillow.

“Good.That’s good.” The girl seemed pleased.

Thoughshe wasn’t really a girl, Thracethought, studying her. He estimated her age to be somewhere in the mid to latetwenties—younger than himself but old enough to know what she was doing. Shehad a calm self-confidence about her that was impressive.

Shewas studying him as well.

“Iguess I’d better come up with a name for you.” She sounded thoughtful. “I can’tkeep calling you big fella and big guy.”

Heglared at her.

“Have…name,”he croaked, finally getting a few words out. “Thrace.”

“Thrace,huh? Okay.” She nodded. “I’m Trin—Captain Lonnara Trin of The Alacrity. I wasn’tsure if your people had names or not—some species don’t, you know.” Sheshrugged. “Anyway, you’ll have to excuse me. I’m from Zetta Prime so I don’tknow much about males. Also, I’ve never owned a slave before so there’s goingto be a pretty steep learning curve here.”

Thrace glaredat her, his arms tensing in the manacles until his biceps bulged and the chainsrattled menacingly.

“Not…”He choked, his voice failing him again. “Not…slave!” The harsh words weretearing his throat to ribbons but he’d be damned if he let her think she ownedhim. “Not…slave!”

Shefrowned. “So you weren’t raised inthe Carnal Houses and trained to serve all your life?”

Heshook his head violently.

“Allright.” She nodded. “I believe that. But I don’tbelieve you’re not a slave. Why else did you call me ‘Master’ when youtried to choke me?”

Thracesubsided, looking away. Even if he could have talked, there was no way in allthe Seven Hells that he would tell her about his past.

“Uh-huh.”Trin was looking at him thoughtfully. “Hit a nerve, didn’t I? Don’t suppose youcare to tell me what happened to your lastmaster, do you?”

Heturned his head to look at her, letting all the hated and rage show in hiseyes.

Trinflinched away from his look of hate.

“Allright, so you don’t want to talk about it. Fine. We can discuss it later. Butjust so you know, I’m not unchaining you until I know what I’m dealing with.”

Thrace justkept glaring. Never—he was never going to speak aloud what had happened back somany cycles ago. To speak memories aloud was to give them new life…new power.And this slim girl with the creamy brown skin and big, dark eyes already hadmuch too much power over him to start with.

Herattled his chains again menacingly. Not that she would have him in her powerfor long. Thracewas going to be certain of that.

* * * * *

Trinwatched the emotions play over his strong features. Clearly he was angry thatshe’d dared to question him. Well, he could be angry all he wanted—she wasn’tletting him up until she had some answers.

Heshifted on the cot, his big body straining against his bonds. His biceps bulgedand his torso and hips moved as he shifted, causing his abdominals to rippleimpressively.

Trinhad never seen a being who was so muscular before—with each muscle group sowell defined. It was…interesting. It almost made her want to touch him—to pethis smooth, tan skin which was several shades lighter than her own—butsomething held her back.

She’dbeen treating him like one of her horses—like a big, dumb animal that neededpatience and understanding. But there was a fierce intelligent blazing in thoseextraordinary silvery-blue eyes. It made her question her people’s long heldbelief that males were little better than animals with limited understandingand brainpower.

Maybeit would be better just to leave him alone for a while. She was about to get upand go when she realized what all the shifting around was about. He wasn’t justtrying to get free—he’d been out for hours and a few minutes ago he’d drunk ahuge cup of liquid. He needed to relieve himself.

“Youhave to go, right?” she asked, looking at him directly. No point in beatingaround the bush.

Helooked at her mistrustfully and then gave a short, curt nod.

Great! Just great. Hersuspicion confirmed, she sighed internally. Not only had she bought a slave whowas angry and hostile, she was now his sole caretaker since she and Sidna hadhad their falling out. And she was going to have to help him since she didn’tdare to let him help himself.

Well,luckily the med-bot was set up for this kind of thing. It had a long, slivertube that connected to various parts of the anatomy for waste disposal. As longas all he had to do was urinate, it shouldn’t be too bad.

“Okay,”she said, reaching for the clasp of his too-tight black leather trousers. “NowI don’t know a lot about male anatomy but—”

Alow rumbling growl began at the bottom of his deep chest and turned into a fullthroated roar of pure rage.

Thedeep, bass noise shook and surprised her. It reminded her again of the soundmade by the lions from Earth which she’d studied. Maybe he was part animalafter all!

Trinjumped back and looked up to see him glaring at her with such intense hatred onhis face it hit her like a blow.

Goddess, what’s wrong with him? She’dnever seen such fury and all because she’d tried to help him. All because shewas going to open his trousers and…Oh.

Suddenlyshe understood. She’d told him that she bought him as a slave and that she camefrom Zetta Prime. Possibly he thought her people used body slaves the same waythe mistresses from Yonnie Six did. Another look at the way his broad chest washeaving and his big body was twitching confirmed her guess. He looked like herstallion, Swift, when he was nervous and ready to rear. When he got like that,he would shy and lash out at the least little thing and the big Havoc, Thrace,looked the same way.