strongly that the men deserved an existence that was just as comfortable as the underclass of women who bore the planet’s children. There were some who ridiculed her for her opinions, called her too liberal, too soft. But there was little they could do. Zaer had been elected for life and only an edict from the council of twelve could unseat her as commander.
She walked the dark corridor slowly, glancing into each cell to see each man for herself. The ones who’d been there some time always recognized her. They always nodded. They knew their life could be much worse, and Zaer liked to think that they appreciated her generosity and compassion. Sometimes the new ones would cause a ruckus. Flail against the bars of the cell or yell and scream obscenities at her. They would soon learn that such behavior was unacceptable. In all her time below decks, Zaer had had every kind of insult thrown at her and it only caused her to pause and smile.
“Where are the newest ones?” she asked, turning to look at the nurse behind her.
“Still in holding, ma’am. Would you like to see them?”
“I think I would,” Zaer replied and began walking toward the holding cells in the back.
“I’ll fetch a baton,” the nurse said, hurrying toward the office where they kept the correctional implements. The guards all carried them. It was easy to shock even the largest specimens into submission.
“That won’t be necessary,” Zaer called after the woman and continued walking toward the cells in the back. The nurse finally caught up with her.
“But ma’am, I have to tell you, some of the new ones are… well, they’re quite rugged,” the nurse said, somewhat out of breath from running back and forth.
Zaer couldn’t help but smile. The women always got more than a little nervous when she would enter the cages herself, unarmed and unescorted. If they only knew what she did when she came down alone at night.
“That’s not your concern. You’ll be perfectly safe, I assure you,” Zaer comforted, arriving at the first cell. As Zaer peered inside, she couldn’t help but smile. The nurse had not been telling stories. ‘Rugged’ was something of an understatement. The eyes that looked back at her almost glowed with fury. Though he was sitting down, the man was easily almost seven feet in height. His massive, broad chest was covered in hair, as were his arms and legs—thick, curly black hair that made his olive skin seem even darker than it was.
Zaer felt a swell of something start in her middle and move between her legs. If the others were anything like this one, she would be kept more than suitably amused until the next crop arrived. “Open the cell.”
The nurse gasped at the request.
“Ma’am, I must insist…” the nurse spluttered. But Zaer turned to look at her immediately, stopping her in midsentence with a scowl. Concern was one thing but to question a direct order? She couldn’t have that.
“Young woman,” Zaer shot, tired of all the mollycoddling she’d been doing all day, “you’ll do as you’re told or you’ll be suspended without pay. Now if you want you can lock the door to the gatekeeper’s room and stay in there while I go inside but you will open this door and you will do so at once.”
The look on the young woman’s face made Zaer immediately regret the tone she’d taken. She didn’t like speaking to anyone that way and she knew the girls were all just scared and worried for her more than anything. But their helplessness was so tiresome sometimes. Zaer looked after her as the woman scuttled away and made a note to apologize to her later. As the door to the gatekeeper’s room closed and locked, Zaer turned back just in time to hear the familiar click of the cell door opening. She watched it swing open slightly.
As Zaer entered the space, the man inside eyed her closely, but didn’t move. Zaer moved slowly, keeping her eyes on him at all times and making sure she had a gentle smile on her
She walked the dark corridor slowly, glancing into each cell to see each man for herself. The ones who’d been there some time always recognized her. They always nodded. They knew their life could be much worse, and Zaer liked to think that they appreciated her generosity and compassion. Sometimes the new ones would cause a ruckus. Flail against the bars of the cell or yell and scream obscenities at her. They would soon learn that such behavior was unacceptable. In all her time below decks, Zaer had had every kind of insult thrown at her and it only caused her to pause and smile.
“Where are the newest ones?” she asked, turning to look at the nurse behind her.
“Still in holding, ma’am. Would you like to see them?”
“I think I would,” Zaer replied and began walking toward the holding cells in the back.
“I’ll fetch a baton,” the nurse said, hurrying toward the office where they kept the correctional implements. The guards all carried them. It was easy to shock even the largest specimens into submission.
“That won’t be necessary,” Zaer called after the woman and continued walking toward the cells in the back. The nurse finally caught up with her.
“But ma’am, I have to tell you, some of the new ones are… well, they’re quite rugged,” the nurse said, somewhat out of breath from running back and forth.
Zaer couldn’t help but smile. The women always got more than a little nervous when she would enter the cages herself, unarmed and unescorted. If they only knew what she did when she came down alone at night.
“That’s not your concern. You’ll be perfectly safe, I assure you,” Zaer comforted, arriving at the first cell. As Zaer peered inside, she couldn’t help but smile. The nurse had not been telling stories. ‘Rugged’ was something of an understatement. The eyes that looked back at her almost glowed with fury. Though he was sitting down, the man was easily almost seven feet in height. His massive, broad chest was covered in hair, as were his arms and legs—thick, curly black hair that made his olive skin seem even darker than it was.
Zaer felt a swell of something start in her middle and move between her legs. If the others were anything like this one, she would be kept more than suitably amused until the next crop arrived. “Open the cell.”
The nurse gasped at the request.
“Ma’am, I must insist…” the nurse spluttered. But Zaer turned to look at her immediately, stopping her in midsentence with a scowl. Concern was one thing but to question a direct order? She couldn’t have that.
“Young woman,” Zaer shot, tired of all the mollycoddling she’d been doing all day, “you’ll do as you’re told or you’ll be suspended without pay. Now if you want you can lock the door to the gatekeeper’s room and stay in there while I go inside but you will open this door and you will do so at once.”
The look on the young woman’s face made Zaer immediately regret the tone she’d taken. She didn’t like speaking to anyone that way and she knew the girls were all just scared and worried for her more than anything. But their helplessness was so tiresome sometimes. Zaer looked after her as the woman scuttled away and made a note to apologize to her later. As the door to the gatekeeper’s room closed and locked, Zaer turned back just in time to hear the familiar click of the cell door opening. She watched it swing open slightly.
As Zaer entered the space, the man inside eyed her closely, but didn’t move. Zaer moved slowly, keeping her eyes on him at all times and making sure she had a gentle smile on her
Similar Books
It's All About Him
Denise Jackson
Letters of Love (Green Division Series Book #3)
Ashley Monahan
Love and Gravity
Olivia Connery
Alchymist
Ian Irvine
Witch’s Concubine
Cara Carnes
Her Dark Lord
Mel Teshco
I Need You
Jane Lark
Down from the Cross
Joyce Livingston
Girls Who Travel
Nicole Trilivas