“Are we going to have lunch before we go?” Sasha hated the submissive tone in her voice, but she couldn’t manage anything stronger. When her mother turned around with a shocked, angry expression, Sasha knew she was in for it now. She should have kept her hungry mouth shut.
“Sasha. I’ve been pretty tolerant with you. I’ve let you go out partying and enjoying your fame.”
True, but Sasha also knew it was good for her image to be photographed with important celebrities and to be seen at expensive restaurants. Rather than say that, though, she remained silent and said nothing.
Jenna’s eyes narrowed. “Do you realize I couldn’t get the laces as tight as I did the last time you wore this dress? You’ve put at least two inches on your waist, and three or more on your hips.”
“I’m sorry, mother,” she murmured weakly.
My breasts are bigger, though, and the camera appreciates them, she thought with a sense of rebellion. She was so sick of having a mind filled with thoughts she couldn’t voice.
She decided to try one more time. “Mother, I don’t want to go to the cattle call.”
“Uh-huh,” her mother answered as she examined Sasha’s face and swept powder across her cheek.
“These charities are a better use of my time. This Preor thing is nothing but a shameless grab for attention.”
“Well, of course.” Jenna rolled her eyes with exasperation. “That’s the whole point. It will make you famous and it will get our message out. The Preor—and the Ujal—don’t belong here. They never did. There is no magic, no love, no bonding. It’s brainwashing, mind rape… Rape in every sense of the word! These women did not choose to be mates. They were forced.”
“Wait.” Sasha was suddenly struck with fear that went beyond anything she had ever experienced. “If this beguilement thing affects everyone and leaves them without free will, what’s to stop them choosing me?”
Her mother patted her cheek, still paying more attention to her daughter’s appearance than her words. “I’ll be there, sweet pea. I won’t let them take you.” She grinned, the humor not reaching her cold eyes. “Besides, it would be really exciting to get proof.”
“Proof?” Sasha’s voice was strained as she tried to stop herself from screaming the single word.
“Proof that it’s brainwashing and rape, of course! If an independent woman like you can get taken in, it will prove that no woman is safe. The Preor will get kicked off the planet so fast they won’t have time to open their wings!” She cackled, still not seeing her daughter’s expression. Jenna hitched the neckline of the dress so Sasha’s breasts bounced in the low-cut garment. She nodded in satisfaction as if her daughter was now the perfect mixture of sexual siren and innocent girl.
“You look fantastic, sweetheart,” Jenna breathed. “No male on any planet could resist you!” She rubbed her hands together and finally looked into her daughter’s face. Sasha wasn’t stupid enough to confuse it with real intimacy. Her mother was just checking Sasha’s makeup. That was obvious from the way her eyes darted around.
A desperate emptiness consumed Sasha’s chest, but she pushed the emotions away. She couldn’t cry now. Her mother would yell at her for ruining her makeup and then call her weak and useless. She had to pull herself together and do this. Then they might be able to have a nice dinner and her mother would reward her with well-earned praise.
Actually, after the earlier comment about her weight, Sasha realized there would be no special dinner. She would be lucky to get a plate of unseasoned steamed vegetables. Her stomach growled loudly in protest and she swallowed down her hunger—and her anger.
Her relationship with her mother had been reaching a breaking point lately with Sasha occasionally speaking up for herself when she never had in the past. But even though she spoke up, she usually didn’t get anywhere, her protests simply tossed aside by her mother’s relentless emotional abuse. The saddest thing was she didn’t even seem to be aware of how hurtful and damaging her words were to Sasha. Perhaps from her mother’s perspective, she really was doing the best she could for her daughter.
Sasha couldn’t be sure either way. That was what kept her where she was—the fear that maybe her mother did know more than her. Maybe, she really would get hurt if she ventured out on her own. Thoughts tumultuous, she lowered her eyes to the floor as her mother walked around her, smoothing the dress, or teasing out a curl of her hair.
A pit of cold misery rose from Sasha’s chest into her throat. Her usual arguments weren’t working right now, if they ever had in the past. Her mother had just given an impressive speech about how Preor seduction was like rape on every level.
But she’s sending me in there. She basically said she wants it to happen to me so she can get it on film.
Sasha tried to take a deep breath to hold in her tears, but the dress was too tight. She blinked hard, desperate to stop her eyes from watering before her mother noticed.
Is this my life? Am I going to be a prisoner forever?
Sasha might have finally started asking the right questions, but she had no idea how to answer them. She was terrified of the Choosing, terrified of her mother, and frightened of the media that would capture her in disgrace tonight.
She was also afraid of the Preor. Funnily enough, stacked against all the other fears in her head, the aliens were the least of her troubles.
Her stomach growled again, loudly enough for her mother to hear. Jenna looked at her sharply, her expression clearly showing her disapproval, and Sasha continued to stare at the ground while trying not to cry.
Maybe there would be food at the Choosing.
Sasha thought rebelliously about stuffing her face with finger food instead of swanning around trying to snare a dragon mate. If she had to go into the belly of the alien-beast, she might as well make the most of her trip.
She would stay away from the Preor males and make sure no one chose her. If she had to do this, she was doing it her own way.
Chapter Four
The last of the excited Preor warriors vanished through the doorway to the stairwell, intent on reaching Preor Choosing Station Tau, which was next door to Preor Tower. Meanwhile, Whelon was intent on getting to Preor Tower’s med bay. No, he believed they called it a “clinic” on Earth. No matter, the intention of the location was the same—to see to the health of Preor and human-Preor mates.
He navigated Preor Tower’s halls with ease, taking the elevator down to the main floor before continuing to the clinic. Once inside, the scent of sterilizer and the bright lights comforted him with their familiarity. Healing centers were all the same, no matter their location. It was easy to turn his mind from the events going on next door and clear his mind of any conflict.
Choosings happen all the time. Why does this one seem to affect me so greatly?
Inside the clinic, Whelon spied a small crowd gathered at the back of the large room, and he was relieved to see the familiar faces of Esteemed Warrior Jarek and Healing Master Chashan standing beside Melissa joi Jarek. She sat upon a ryaapir unit, leaning on a stack of pillows and appearing quite annoyed. He had to smile at the situation. If the female was able to appear annoyed with the fawning men, all must be well with her.