Insurrection (Nevermore #1)(11)
“Why would he hate you so?”
“Because I found out what’s being done with the humans they round up, and Frayne wanted to make sure I was discredited before I told someone the truth behind his family’s wealth.”
A chill ran down her spine at his ominous tone. “What are you talking about?”
His gaze burned into her with a sincere honesty that was haunting. “Last night when Frayne was supposed to meet you ...”
“He said he was sick.”
Xared scoffed. “Yeah, he had that part right enough. Only, it’s more mental than physical.”
His angry disdain confused her as a sick feeling of dread rose up. “Pardon?
He ground his teeth before he answered. “They got in a new batch of humans to review. He wanted me along so that he could brag and show-off his importance.”
Her stomach tightened at the way Xared said that. He was both hiding and trying to reveal something. “What do you mean?”
His skin had a greenish cast to it. “The Dawners raided our colony in Phoenix, Daria. What do you think they do with the people they find?”
Honestly, she’d never given it much thought at all. But there was one obvious answer. “Execute them.”
Xared laughed bitterly. “That would be far, far kinder. But it’s not that simple. Humans they deem attractive are a viable commodity. A highly valuable one. Exotic attractions they keep for their private clubs and collections.”
She shot to her feet as she struggled to hold back a wave of nausea. What he was talking about...
No. It was outlawed! Trafficking of Materians had been illegal for centuries.
But then, humans weren’t Matens. To her race, they were animals, unprotected by their laws ...
No one would care what high-ranking officials did with their human captives.
Her stomach pitched violently at the thought. This was sick and disgusting! Not even humans should be subjected to such a thing!
“And the ones they don’t find attractive?”
“They’re biologically compatible to us, and most Matens consider humans to be nothing more than mindless animals. Unfit even for menial work. There’s only one use our people would have for them.”
Spare body parts.
This was more than she could handle or accept. Her stomach pitched violently, and she heaved faster than she could blink.
Out of nowhere, a bucket appeared just in time for her to give in to the sickness she felt at what her race was doing to the humans.
Mindless, animals, or otherwise, the humans didn’t deserve to be enslaved or worse, used as inanimate replacement parts.
While she’d heard of Materians who sold organs and limbs they’d scavenged from felons or impoverished donors they’d underpaid for the service, those practices were frowned upon and often brought up for prosecution.
What Xared was talking about...
She looked up as her stomach finally settled down. “You’re serious?”
Xared nodded glumly. “They have no qualms about it. My mistake was having a reaction only slightly more violent than yours.”
“What did you do?”
“Punched Frayne in his smug, arrogant face and left before I throttled the rank dog.” Somehow Xared made the bucket vanish as he sighed. “I was caught off guard by the sight of the survivors and their wretched state, and Frayne and his crew laughing about their plans for them. Normally, I can hide what I’m feeling. Just as I can hide who and what I really am. But last night . . .” His skin tone faded until he was the same tawny color as Josiah, and his thick curly hair turned a deep, dark brown.
Talk about being caught off guard! Daria gasped at the last thing she’d ever suspected about someone she’d known the whole of her life. “Xed?”
He bowed his head sheepishly. “I’m what’s called a Shif, Daria. I can change some of my appearance at whim. My hair color, eye color and skin tone. But I have to keep a rein on my emotions or I default back to my birth appearance.”
“Looking human?”
He nodded.
She winced as she finally understood completely. That would get him killed in the wrong company.
Or in most company.
“When I saw the state of the survivors and heard Frayne laughing without pity, I felt my control slipping, so I had to do something to distract him. Slapping his ass silly seemed like a fair compromise. Made me feel exponentially better and got his attention on his bleeding nose, and not on whatever part of me might not appear Maten.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“I will not argue that. Especially since Joey called me much worse when he found out what I’d done. That man really needs to work on his vocabulary. If there was a Ph.D. for innovative uses in the F bomb, he’d hold the highest level of it.”
“F bomb?”
“Kollen ti.”
“Oh.” She scowled as she attempted to conjugate that in their language and failed miserably. “Guess it’s harder to do that in our language.”
“Little bit.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “So… you ready to leave the room and begin your new life?”
Hardly. Daria bit her lip as she considered what might be on the other side of these walls waiting for her. “Are there humans out there?”
He nodded.