Honour Read Free

choice.
    It was not the most rational idea she had ever had, but if she had a chance at avoiding permanent incarceration on this world, she needed to take herself out of the running. That meant stopping the part of the seduction where he could jump her subconscious.
    He was going to have to take his pick of the women who enjoyed beauty rest.

Chapter Three
     
     
    Honour jumped at every sound. Three days with no sleep and she was brittle, bug-eyed and aggressive. She certainly was no catch.
    Each day she left her room and there were fewer women. She was getting curious looks from the guards, but no one was sending her home.
    She grabbed at the plate and headed for the corner of the garden she had staked out as her own. The Liriani leaves were a strange combination of caffeine and cocaine. She was jittery and psycho but sleep was not an option. Two a day were enough to cause all sorts of physiological twists and turns.
    She finished her meal, and the attendant came up to her carefully, easing the plate away as if dealing with a wild animal. “Are you feeling all right, lady?”
    “I am fine.”
    “You look tired.” The attendant spoke softly, her eyes and brows wrinkled in concern.
    “Really?” Honour looked at her and watched the image of her swim in her vision. “I feel fine.”
    The attendant bobbed a bow and withdrew.
    Honour curled up next to the roses and took turns stabbing her fingers with the thorns. When shadows crossed over her, she looked up. “Yes?”
    “Lady, please come with us.” The guards inclined their heads in unison.
    Honour squinted. “Why?”
    “You are not well.”
    “I am fine.”
    “We do not believe so. Please come with us.”
    “No.” She scowled and grabbed the roses. “I don’t want to go with you.”
    She felt a cool pressure on her neck, and she went limp.
    One of the guards lifted her in his arms, and he carried her out of the garden and down through the security gate, returning her to medical.
    The physician didn’t ask what the problem was; he ran scans over her and began a series of hypos that were jabbed into every available inch of skin.
    “I am fine.” It was a sing-song chant that she couldn’t stop.
    “I know, you are just very tired. What have you been taking?”
    “Stuff. Food.” She smirked.
    “I see. Why are you filled with the residue of the Liriani leaves?”
    “Um. I put them in my salad?” She bit her lip and giggled. Damn, whatever he had given her was working on her feral mood. She felt goofy.
    “Not at this low dose. You are avoiding sleep. Very clever.” His eyes showed his amusement.
    “Thanks. So, you will leave me alone?”
    “No, your self-medicating is having an effect on your health. Your body is stressed, and one more day without sleep might cause an incident between you and the other ladies.”
    She scowled at him. “What happened to the other ladies?”
    “They were removed, and once their health was verified, they were sent home again. While the species were physically compatible, their psychic compatibility was not quite up to the standards of your host.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “He didn’t give up on me.”
    “No. You made a strong first impression.” The doctor smiled and slipped his fingers into her cincher. He brought out the four leaves that she had with her. “No more of these. You will be stripped at the end of the day before you sleep and your quarters checked in the morning. You must sleep, lady.”
    Honour sat up. “I am not in control when I sleep.”
    “That is the purpose of this exercise. Now, return to the women’s quarters and have a bath. Your body reeks of sweat. I will prescribe a massage as well. You are far too tense.”
    “Flatterer. I have been avoiding the groomers. They are looking at me with far too much intensity. I get the feeling that they have plans for me.”
    The doctor put his hand on her shoulder. “They probably do, but you will not come to harm here. Everyone is here to make you