He was eating now. Project 30YR4YNwatched the beautiful blond man take a bite out of a deep-red, gold-flecked fruit. The sweet scent it gave off made its way beneath Project 30YR4YN’s mask. The man swiped some of the juice off his cheeks with his fingers, but most of it dribbled down his chin before he swiped it with his pink tongue.

Such a beautiful face.

Reaching up, Project 30YR4YN touched the cool silver surface of his mask with the three fingers he had left on his right hand. Project 30YR4YN was so ugly now. He used to be beautiful…like the blond man.

There was a time he’d been grateful for his disfigurement. No one desired him anymore. Any females or males would stumble away from him, horrified and disgusted. The only one who’d taken pity upon him had been Yourko, the owner of Heaven’s Pearly Gates, and that girl…the tiny female called Rayne.

The man stood, drawing Project 30YR4YN out of his musings. The man’s body rippled with thick muscle, his hair slid over his shoulders, a curtain of multicolored blond silk.

He wondered if the man had Fae blood in him too because his ice-blue eyes were up-tilted—or maybe he had feline.

Project 30YR4YN sniffed, but he didn’t get the scent of feline or Fae. He smelled human…and Seraph. A Nephilim then. That would make more sense because of his beauty and the amount of power vibrating around him.

The man had various names. The others sometimes called him Lucien or Luke. The females called him Baby, Honey, Sweetie, and Sexy. The red-haired one called him Mister-Blond-and-Beautiful, Jackass, and other names Project 30YR4YN sometimes suspected weren’t really names at all—at least not the good kind.

The sunlight filtering through the trees in the verdant forest surrounding them lit his hair. The multifaceted strands gleamed like a halo around his body, which was completely bare. They all romped the forest without clothing. Project 30YR4YN had seen them shed their clothing on the various platforms in front of metallic double doors at the furthest limits of the forest.

He sometimes wondered what was behind those doors. He’d caught glimpses of a wide corridor with pearlescent grey walls and glossy black floors…like the inside of a space transport. Were there space ships buried inside the rock barrier that circled this verdant valley?

Lucien sauntered over to a flat-topped rock and put the fruit he’d been eating on it.

Project 30YR4YN felt alarm shoot through him when his eyes rose and stared directly at him.

The man smiled. His lips were smooth, pink, and plump, shiny with the juices of the fruit. Project 30YR4YN licked his own lips, suddenly feeling curious about the flavor of all that juice on those lips.

Strange thought.

He began to back away.

“Boy,” the man called.

And just like that, Project 30YR4YN froze. Boy? Was this his new name?

He frowned. He didn’t like it. He didn’t really want to be a boy…or a girl. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to be yet. So far, he had not enjoyed any of his sexual encounters, being used as a male or female. It had been frightening, and pain-filled. He had both sexes, though his previous master had him forcibly altered to bring his masculinity out more.

“It’s really good. Forbidden fruit. Try some,” the man coaxed stepping back.

Lucien smiled at him. “Don’t be shy, Boy Rayne.”

Project 30YR4YN shook his head, balking at his new name.

“Come on. Look,” the man sat down, resting his back on a tree. He stretched his long legs crossing his feet at the ankles and clasped his hands over his thighs. Beautiful thighs…beautiful legs. “I’ll just stay here, okay? Try the fruit.”

Boy didn’t really want the fruit…well…maybe just a little. He was more curious about the man…Lucien.

Could he trust him? So far, no one had hurt him. No one paid him much attention, really, which was just fine with him. He’d roamed this paradise freely for months now. There was an abundance of natural food growing everywhere, and sunshine, and water. He’d even found a small cave with a thermal pool to sleep in when it rained. He was in heaven…and before him sat the most beautiful angel…coaxing him to taste forbidden fruit.

For-bid-den —he knew this word. He frowned.

Why was it forbidden? And if it was forbidden, why did the—Lucien—why did Lucien want him to take a bite? Lucien ate from it so it couldn’t be that forbidden.

Ice-blue eyes watched him curiously.

“You’re over-thinking this, man.” His eyes narrowed now. “Are you? A man that is?” He bit his lip and his eyes began to glow.

A warm tingling sensation, like hands, touched his chest. It was so light and barely there, but Boy felt…something touching him beneath his tattered gladiator’s suit.

The ghostly hands caressed his chest, making him shiver, traced down his arms.

“Fuck,” Lucien murmured, “You’re a mess.”

His gaze shifted to the stump at the end of Boy’s left arm. He’d allowed the tattered suit to sag at the end, hiding his missing hand, but Lucien somehow knew…somehow saw.

Boy hid the offending appendage behind his back self-consciously, feeling…ashamed and ugly.

The warm tingling spread to his hips, making Boy gasp. His hand automatically shifted to cover his groin, but there was nothing there to push away.

Strange emotions skittered through him as the ghostly fingers slid ever lower to the apex of his thighs. Boy wanted to run away, but the feel of those invisible hands stroking closer to his sexes had a delicious thrill of excitement skittering through him. He could feel himself growing erect.

That was a first. He’d never felt arousal unless his old master had injected him with Liquid X.

The warmth engulfed his shaft, slid down to the root and underneath to the opening that also made him female. Boy’s toes curled when he was touched there too.

“A true Merulian,” Lucien whispered, startling Boy out of his delirious state of arousal.

He realized he wasn’t sure about this…this invisible exploration of his body and bared his teeth at Lucien in warning.

“Easy, baby.”

The endearment surprised Boy. Seemed to surprise Lucien too, who frowned and scratched his head.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice deeper, “I don’t know where the hell that came from either. Let’s pretend it never happened.” He began to rise to his feet, but kept his back pressed against the tree. “Let me see you. Why the mask? I can see you have pointed ears. Are you mixed with Fae?”

Boy panicked. Now would be a good time to bolt.

“No,” Lucien blurted holding up a hand.

Boy felt himself enveloped in warmth. He couldn’t move. It was as though the hands that had been exploring him had grown and were holding him, keeping him from escaping. He was trapped—a stupid doll in the grasp of an invisible giant.

The enormous ghostly hands traced back up his body, engulfed his throat.

“No wonder you can’t talk. Fucking barbarians.”

When those hands reached his face, Boy began to struggle. No. Not his face. Not his horrendously ravaged face.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” Lucien snarled out.

He began to stomp closer, looking furious. All Boy could do was bare his teeth and hiss a warning. He wouldn’t hurt Lucien, but he didn’t want him coming any closer.

“Easy, baby. I’m not going to hurt you,” he pleaded.

Baby again? He was no baby. He was fully adult.

Boy shook his head. He wanted to run away, but was being held in place…by something. What was this strange force wrapped around him?

Lucien came right up to him. His hand rose, eyes riveted to Boy’s chest. He hesitated.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Lucien whispered. His eyes rose to gaze into Boy’s mask. He couldn’t see Boy’s eyes because the mask was sealed over them. It was the only way to protect eyes without eyelids.

“I have a problem. I can’t willingly touch another man. Makes my skin crawl.” He grimaced a second before obviously schooling his features to show no emotion.

Boy wanted to hunch into himself, and cursed the day his master had made him more male than female. He’d been a beautiful it, not he or she, but both Maybe Lucien would have appreciated Boy that way better…wouldn’t have name him Boy Rayne.

What was a Rayne anyway? It’s what they called that tiny girl who always tried to befriend him.

Lucien swallowed audibly. His hand hovered over Boy’s chest. Slowly it descended until the warmth of it permeated the flesh right over Boy’s two hearts.

Lucien’s gaze snapped back up to Boy’s face, almond-shaped eyes wide. His hand stayed on his chest and his breathing was a little agitated.

“There, you see that wasn’t so bad.”

Boy frowned. Was he saying that to himself?

The breeze blew some of his white hair forward, drawing Lucien’s fascinated stare. He caught the strands and rubbed them between his fingers. The sunlight picked up the pinkish, lavender, and bluish hues within the white.

“We can fix you.” He murmured, sliding his fingers down the lock of hair he held until he released it. Looking back into Boy’s metal-covered face with a slight frown, he continued in his silky deep voice. “Remi’s the best healer. What he can’t fix, Doc Quinn can repair.”

Fix. Boy was familiar with that word. It meant pain, like the time Master had fixed his broken tail by chopping it off.

No.

Still unable to move, he just stared at Lucien’s face, but bared his teeth again to show his displeasure. However, Lucien’s gaze had already moved back down to his chest again. He studied Boy closely and Boy took the opportunity to study him too.

Lucien was tall. Boy only came up to his nose, which would put the man at almost seven feet. His skin was golden and he was muscular, but at the same time, his bones were very pronounced. He’d refused to nourish himself until recently. Scars covered his flesh almost everywhere. Had he also fought in arenas? Lucien looked more like he’d been used as a chew toy for a horde of rabid monguras. Pity, because despite being slightly emaciated the man had the body of god.

Boy’s musing’s were brought to an abrupt halt when Lucien began undoing the closures to his gladiator’s suit. He held still as the man opened the ruined armored suit. The breeze was warm, but his nipples pebbled anyway.

The suit fell away from his torso until it hung from his wrists and waist. Lucien’s hand settled on his shoulder. Lucien watched, transfixed, as his hand slid slowly over a pectoral until it rested on his ribs.

His lips pulled into a slight grin but grew somber when they looked back at Boy’s mask.

Boy knew he wanted to pull it off. That was not going to happen.

Boy hissed again.

Lucien grinned, showing his strangely flat teeth. He had fangs but the front four teeth on top and bottom were flat, not pointed like Boy’s.

“I’m not big on physiology or anatomy, but…” He freed Boy’s hand from the suit’s sleeve and lifted it. Pressing his open palm against Boy’s he said, “this seems simple enough.”

Lucien let his power manifest, exploring what made up his own hand. He felt the flesh, bones, veins, blood, and tendons that made it up. He projected the power into Boy Rayne’s hand. It traced every contour, every atom. Boy Rayne had scars between the fingers he had left. Webbing. He’d had webbing between his fingers like a Mer, a race of aquatic humanoids.

Lucien focused his power on their hands, keeping the image of how Boy Rayne’s hand should look in his mind.

Narrowing his eyes, he allowed his other sight to manifest.

Boy Rayne’s aura took his breath away. It flowed around him strong and bright. Colors swirled within it, showing he’d been used sexually many times, but Boy Rayne’s color was bright, glowing, golden. The horrors he’d been through had not darkened his soul…the way Lucien’s had been darkened.

Lucien felt many emotions fill him; awe, admiration, respect, but more than anything, he felt humbled by the battle pet standing before him.

I could have been this way— he thought in shame. Everything this creature has endured and he still fights for himself, still finds joy in the freedom he’s been given.

Lucien pondered his own state of being. Only a few weeks ago he’d been purposefully starving himself because he’d wanted to die…like a fucking loser.

It had actually been Zak who’d come into the envirolevel and pretty much cussed him out. It had been a rant taking maybe twenty minutes or more. The golden weredragon had tossed every expletive and even made a few of his own. At the end, Goliath had simply broken down, hung his head in silence for a few seconds before saying, “I wish I could hate you, but I can’t. I’ll admire the man I once thought you were…not the sorry piece of shit you’ve become now.”

Lucien stared at Boy Rayne. This was everything he should be…like this brave, noble battle pet snarling silently in front of him, holding his ground.

More than ever, Lucien felt determined to help Boy Rayne…and it would start with restoring him physically.

Light burst forth as the missing fingers began to form. He didn’t know if he’d be able to reproduce the other missing hand, but two fingers seemed easy enough.

Boy Rayne gasped, soft lips opening in wonder. His teeth were very white and sharp looking. How sharp were they? Lucien was almost tempted to poke a finger into his mouth to find out.

His…her? Like Rayne, he tended to think of Boy Rayne as male. His upper body was lithe and sinewy. As a battle-pet, Boy Rayne was on the light side with a delicately muscled body. The flesh was pale. Most likely from being covered up by the gladiator’s suit.

As Boy Rayne flexed his new fingers, mouth in a little O of shock, Lucien fingered a strand of his iridescent hair again. Soft, silky, fucking gorgeous. He’d never known Merulian hair could be so pretty…never noticed before.

Boy Rayne’s arms slipping around his neck caught him by surprise. The body that pressed against his did not stir up the familiar mind-numbing terror he always felt when male flesh came in contact with his body. Nor did the kiss that followed make him recoil instantaneously. It just shocked him.

Lucien gripped Boy Rayne’s waist to push him away…and froze. Warmth spread down his groin, pleasure made his heart speed up. His tongue had a will of its own because it slid and twined around the uninvited intruder intent on seducing him. He was more than seduced. His cock began to harden.

Lucien’s hand stole around the slim waist in his grasp to slip into the edges of the gladiator’s suit. He gripped a tight pert ass, skin cool and supple. His cock grew harder. He turned his head to deepen the kiss, but his nose bumped the cold hard metal of the silver mask…and then he remembered.

“Shit-wait,” he panted gripping Boy Rayne’s arms. What the hell was he doing? Just because he was able to touch the Merulian mixed battle pet without breaking out in a cold sweat didn’t mean he was going to fuck the little bastard. Great. He’d discovered he could touch Merulians without wanting run away screaming.

“Listen, buddy, you can thank me later.” Lucien tried to ignore the sense of loss when he untangled Boy Rayne’s arms from his neck. What the fuck was that about anyway?

Boy Rayne. He didn’t like that name now. Maybe he should change it. Something feminine…something androgynous?

His eyes were irrevocably drawn down the battle pet’s torso again. The pectorals bulged slightly with the pale rose nipples drawn to barely there points. He’d seen young subs with breasts like that. Muscles delineated the abdomen between a cinched waist and gently flared hips. The dirty old gladiator’s suit hid everything else from there down. Temptation to see what lay hidden beneath the material had him fisting his hands.

He looked back up into Boy Rayne’s silver-clad face.

The silver mask reflected his own face back at him making him scowl. Lucien’s cheeks were flushed, lips reddened from the kiss, and his eyes…his pupils were dilated. He looked stupidly horny.

Keep your head in the game, Lukey-boy— he chastised himself

Good thing he’d blocked himself off completely from the others. He wasn’t ready to admit he’d kissed a Merulian… and liked it.

“We need to get your face back, and your voice.” He looked at Boy Rayne’s left arm. “And your other hand. Are you going to be afraid of Remi? I know the conceited prick is loud and obnoxious, but he’s the only one who can restore you.”

Boy Rayne cocked his head to the side.

Lucien took a deep breath and let his eyes drift down to where the filthy gladiator’s suit hung precariously off Boy Rayne’s hips. “First things first. I don’t want anything from your past on you, and it’s going to start with this.” He gestured to the suit. “Rule number one in the envirolevel; we go sky clad, so take this off.”

He backed away a few steps watching Boy Rayne for signs of imminent escape. He’d released him completely from his power hold and held his breath now. Having pretty much tasted the Merulian’s essence, no matter where he took off to, Lucien would be able to find him.

He hesitated at first, but eventually began to do as he’d been told. As Boy Rayne slowly bent over to push the tattered remains of his suit off, Lucien wondered how he was going to feel when the little Merulian bared himself completely. He was more male than female. Lucien swallowed hard wondering if he’d puke his guts when he took a good look at Boy Rayne’s boy parts, knowing that only moments before they’d practically had their tongues down each other’s throats. Lucien was still half erect…surprisingly, and curious about the Merulian.

Boy Rayne straightened. Lucien’s eyes remained focused at the apex of his milky thighs. The Merulian sported an impressive erection. No half-rager like Lucien. It should have revolted him, made him run fast and far, but he was…spellbound.

“Well, shit,” he said in a rush of breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

The cock wasn’t very long or thick, not like Lucien’s. He’d inherited his father’s Seraphian traits in that department and usually scared off the less than brave females with his twelve inches. Hence why he drifted more toward females with penchants for pain in the lovely world of BDSM.

Yes. He was an all-around freak. He needed to remember that.

Blinking rapidly and snapping his gaze back to the Merulian’s mask-clad face, he took a cleansing breath and pushed all thoughts of dicks and fucking right out of his mind. “Don’t run.”

Remi— he called out telepathically, opening up his mind to link to the red weredragon.

He appeared in a flash of red-gold fire sitting on the rock where Lucien had left the half-eaten forbidden fruit.

Long legs crossed Indian style, he lifted the fruit to his mouth and took an enormous bite, bright green eyes flashing momentarily. His blood-red hair stuck up around his head in all directions like the corona of a sun with the longer bulk streaming over his shoulders to his waist, thick and glossy.

“You called?” he asked chewing.

His lip piercings glinted in the sunlight, making Lucien hope he didn’t scare Boy Rayne off with his ridiculous flamboyance.

Remi’s nipples were pierced with little silver hoops, his bellybutton had five silver studs around it with a small chain woven into a five-peaked star. Around that was black ink depicting a sun. Tattoos covered his arms, as well as his back, chest, groin hips, legs and left foot. Hell, the asshole even had Rowie’s Toy inked up the entire underside of his cock. Talk about being pathetically pussy whipped.

Remi scowled at that thought, throwing the forbidden fruit’s gnawed core to the ground. “She’s my mistress, jackass.”

Ah. That’s right. Remi was bottom in that relationship.

“Look, man,” Remi huffed clasping his hands, elbows resting on his knees. “Did you call me here to ponder my sexual relationship with my girl?”

Lucien screwed his face in distaste. “Hardly.” He turned to look at Boy Rayne. “Come with me.”

Slowly, he made his way to where Remi sat. Boy Rayne followed, but reluctantly.

Lucien dipped his head to bring his eyes level with Boy Rayne’s. The silver mask had two openings covered in opaque black glass. He figured they covered whatever remained of the Merulian’s eyes. “He’s going to help you. Do you understand?”

Remi wiped his mouth with the back of his forearm and slowly slid his feet down to the ground in front of Boy Rayne.

Lucien winced when the sunlight made the red weredragon’s Prince Albert glint. Boy Rayne must’ve seen it too because he began to back pedal away, flashing his sharp teeth with a fierce hiss.

“Easy,” Lucien said in his most gentle voice, one hand coming up to the dip just above Boy Rayne’s backside.

Boy Rayne stopped, but his breathing was agitated and his lips still curled to show his fangs. Remi frowned slightly, his eyes locked on where Lucien touched the Merulian.

Lucien scowled, snatching his hand back. “What are you waiting for, Rem? Get on with it.”

Remi’s wide gaze flicked up to Lucien’s face a second before he looked at Boy Rayne.

He began to glow, until one could see that blue-white fire lapped around his entire body.

“I promise, this won’t hurt a bit, kiddo,” Remi said in a soothing voice. His eyes roved the Merulian’s body. “Where do I start? Don’t want to scare him…er, it…whatever.”

“The hand. He’s missing his left hand,” Lucien prodded.

- - - - - 

Master Zak stood before her…frowning. Rayne wanted to hunch her shoulders protectively, but he didn’t like that. Instead, she kept her back ramrod stiff, with her hands clasped together on her thighs. She sat in a chair in the living area of the quarters he shared with his submissive, Alluna.

The girl, at the moment, was in their sleeping area tending his daughters. They had three. All three girls had waving golden hair, a few shades blonder than their father.

Rayne kept her eyes on an imaginary spot between his chest and navel as he continued to scowl down at her.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. He was really mad. Letting her gaze flick over his impressive body, she shivered. He was huge; tall, with massive muscles softened only by the spill of dark gold hair that rippled in shimmering waves to his hips.

“What have I always told you?”

His deep voice made her wince.

“Sir, to never kneel before anyone, Sir.”

Her cheeks heated and she could not help lowering her gaze to the floor.

“And what did I catch you doing?” He spoke slowly, softly. That was never good.

“I-I was kneeling before a group of reapers.”

She’d walked around the space station aimlessly and stumbled upon their eating lounge. Four reapers sat at one of the tables. They’d all gawked at her when she walked in. Nervous, she’d fallen to her knees in submission under their intense stares.

“And what else did you do?”

Rayne bit her lower lip as her cheeks heated even more. She’d felt their lusty stares like a weight on her. She couldn’t breathe. Was suffocating…until she opened her dress, baring her body to their hungry gazes and she spreading her thighs to expose her sex—just as she’d been taught to do.

Why couldn’t Master Zak understand? She was a lowly slave, a receptacle for the pleasure of a male…or males.

The black-winged death angels had practically pounced.

“Reiven was rubbing his cock all over your face. They all would’ve fucked you and I don’t think they would’ve taken turns. Is that what you wanted, Rayne?”

What she wanted?

Master Lucien’s image burned through her mind, making her ache. She hadn’t ached when the reapers were touching her. She’d felt empty, bereft.

“Answer me, Rayne,” he said gently.

“Sir, I was trained to please, Sir.”

His finger slid beneath her chin, tipping her head up so that she could not avoid the piercing intensity of his sapphire blue eyes. “Who do you want to please? Anyone? Everyone?”

She thought of Master Lucien again.

“You want Luke and only Luke.” His brows drew together, making her hold her breath.

“Sir, I’m a whore, meant to be used. What I want is irrelevant, Sir.”

Master Zak huffed out a harsh breath, scowling now. “I wish I could have just a few minutes with your father. How the fuck can any man let his own daughter be trained this way?”

Rayne ducked her head again. “Sir. It is our culture, Sir.”

“It’s wrong,” he snapped making her jump.

“Master?” a soft feminine voice queried.

Rayne glanced up to see Master Zak’s female looking up at him with a concerned pout. He wrapped his arms around her and took her mouth without preamble.

Alluna pushed up on her toes, her arms snaking around his thick neck as he practically bent her back to kiss her fervently, mouths sawing back and forth. One of Master Zak’s hands cupped her ass, pulling her harder into his groin.

They were panting when their mouths separated. He continued to clutch her to him as he buried his face in the bend of her neck and shoulder. Alluna’s luminous golden eyes settled on Rayne.

These were not the eyes of a slave. They had strength, determination…love? Yes. Alluna loved her Master, as much as he obviously loved her.

It was known to happen. Slaves fell in love with their Masters. Some were lucky enough to have their Masters love them back.

Pain gripped her hard. That would never happen for her. No one wanted her. She wasn’t even fully human anymore.

Master Zak straightened, his eyes on her again. He shook his head, lips pressed into a thin line and turned. She heard his heavy steps lead to the entrance to the rooms, the soft hiss of the door opening and then closing.

Alluna’s gaze went from following her master, back to Rayne again.

The girl clasped her hands nervously in front of her.

Rayne wanted desperately to ask her how she managed to make her Master fall in love with her…but that would be inappropriate. Slaves did not plot and plan to steal their Master’s heart.

One of the baby girls called out and Alluna turned away. As she entered the sleeping quarters, Rayne heard Master Zak return. Someone else accompanied him.

It was the cyborg angel, Cyneolle.

“Can she be reprogrammed?” Master Zak asked the cyborg.

Cyneolle remained somber. “It would require an entire deletion of her memories. She would lose all humanity.”

He looked at Master Zak as alarm raced through Rayne.

Erase her memories? Lose her humanity? That was like…dying. Dead slaves were put in little boxes and buried in the ground…forever.

In panic, she fell to her knees, clutching at Master Zak’s linen drawstring pants. “Please,” she wailed. “I’ll do whatever you want. I don’t want to go back into the glass box.”

Eyes wide, he hauled her up from the floor. “Easy. No one’s putting you in stasis.”

“I don’t want to die,” she sobbed in terror, gripping his meaty arms.

He folded them around her, his hand cupping the entire back of her head as he pressed her face to his chest. “Calm down, little one,” he crooned rocking her slowly now. “You’re not going to die. What silly nonsense are you crying out about?”

“If I delete her memories, in a sense she will die,” Cyneolle stated making Rayne’s wails of desolation rise in pitch.

Master Zak growled. “Would you zip it already, Cyn?”

“You are the one who asked if the female’s mind could be wiped. I was only—“

“Let’s just drop it already. Not another word,” he snapped.

Rayne trembled in Master Zak’s arms. Her knees felt weak and her head spun as she clutched him hard enough to know she’d leave his flesh marked.

“Listen to me.” He struggled to remove her clinging form from him. With a little shake he demanded, “Look at me.”

Rayne raised her eyes to his face, doing her best to control her frantic panting.

“Breathe with me. In,” he said slowly, taking a deep breath. Rayne struggled to obey. He nodded. “Out.” Pursing her lips to mimic him, she let her breath out slowly. “In…out…that’s right. Good girl. In…out…”

Her breathing slowed, but she still clutched him hard.

“No one,” he began in a soft tone, “is going to hurt you. No one is going to kill you, or put you in the glass box. Do you understand?”

“Sir, yes, Sir,” she said in a whisper.

“Good,” he replied, but huffed out an exasperated breath letting her know that, no, it wasn’t good.

She felt so lost, so confused. “Please,” she pleaded, “please, Sir.” Her body was still trembling.

Master Zak’s eyes softened. “What, Rayne?”

She let her head drop so her chin touched her chest. She needed some order back in her life. Everything felt chaotic, out of control. It was horribly frightening. She was scared. So-so scared. She needed…she wanted…

Master Zak gripped her arm and began leading her out of his quarters. They left Alluna, the babies, and Cyneolle behind as they made their way down the softly lit corridor.

Almost at the end of the corridor, he turned right and placed his hand on a glowing panel by one of the round doors.

It was dark and cool inside. She recognized the scent of wood and leather. Rayne gasped when he ordered the lights to come on.

It was a dungeon. The walls were deep dark red and the floor was made of cold stones instead of the glossy black the rest of the space station had. There were various pieces of furniture and a wall filled with canes, another with floggers, crops, and paddles. She shuddered with pleasure when she saw an array of nipple clamps and other toys arranged on a gleaming, dark, wooden table beneath the wall of canes.

He stopped and looked at her, eyes gauging. Releasing her arm, he walked over to the table and grabbed a pair of clamps linked with a thin chain.

He strode back to her, eyes hard now. “Remove your dress.”

Rayne bowed her head and obeyed, shedding the white dress she’d been given when she’d been rescued from Rhylos.

“Good. Now, touch your breasts.”

Rayne made sure her shoulders where back as she took her little breasts in her hands. Staring into his eyes, she squeezed hard.

“Your nipples. Pinch them. I want to see them tight, and erect.”

She began tweaking her nipples, pulling on them, pinching hard until they were dark pink and standing at attention. It felt nice, but not as satisfying as when it was done by a male.

Like Master Lucien— she thought secretly. She was instantly wet and felt guilty because she was not concentrating on the man standing before her. He was very beautiful too, though his size made her wary.

“Enough,” he said.

She dropped her hands to her sides and stood still as he placed the clamps on her nipples. He tightened them until she hissed.

She stared intently at his face, wondering if her responses were arousing him, but that beautiful face was an emotionless mask, sapphire eyes boring into hers.

“Now put your hands behind your back and keep them there,” he instructed.

Rayne stared up at him from beneath her lashes as she obeyed, beginning to feel self-conscious. The position made her thrust her breasts higher. The result was she could feel the weight of the chain more. She wanted to please, but at the same time she felt miserable.

His cold demeanor shifted, his eyes softening slightly. “Good girl,” he told her, one hand stroking her cheek.

The praise warmed her heart a little. It was something.

He turned again and went to the table full of toys. This time he came back with cuffs and more chains.

He fastened thick leather cuffs around her wrists, connected a long chain to both, and then attached the chain on a hook from the ceiling.

Rayne was stretched up on her toes now and stared at him wide-eyed, wondering what he intended to do to her.

Fear and excitement curled through her. Now her back was to the table so she couldn’t see what he was doing.

After a few moments, she heard his footsteps approach her from behind again. A piece of black silk fell over her eyes, making her gasp. Master Zak proceeded to tie the blindfold tightly at the back of her head. Taking advantage of her open mouth, he strapped a ball gag across it.

Rayne panted around the ball, her hands curling into fists above her head. She couldn’t see, she couldn’t speak, and her hands were chained—pulled tight and high. She strained to hear what he was doing and gave a little squeak of surprise when he gripped her ankle. A thick cuff was strapped around it. He made her spread her legs before strapping another cuff to the other ankle.

A spreader bar. Her toes just barely touched the rough floor now, allowing her to feel the strain in her wrists.

An arm circled her waist to caress her tummy gently.

“Too much?” his velvety deep voice crooned in her ear.

She was chained, blindfolded and gagged—totally at his mercy, but he hadn’t hurt her. She really didn’t believe he would. Rayne saw the way he treated Alluna and his babies, and knew she could trust him.

Rayne shook her head, and he stepped away from her.

Heart racing, she wondered what he’d do to her now. Would he flog her? Use a whip or cane? Would he penetrate her? Use her ass or pussy? She’d never been used before, was still a virgin even though she’d been holografically trained to please a man every way possible.

Her skin prickled with anticipation, her prior panic dissipating. She wondered about her hair. It tumbled down her back and would surely be in the way.

As if in answer, fingers slipped within the heavy mass. She sighed in contentment when it was gripped tightly, bringing her head back slowly. A sharp tug on the chain connected to her nipples made her cry out in surprise again. She grew wetter. She only wished Master Zak hadn’t covered her eyes. She felt so guilty trying to picture him, but kept seeing her beautiful Master Lucien instead.

The hand that had jerked the chain smoothed across her belly and ribs until she felt it release her body to stroke through her hair.

Her scalp tingled as she felt him braid her hair. When done, he gripped the long braid and hit her hip with it. Rayne contorted her body in a way she hoped pleased him. He was so quiet now.

Her braid was tugged, arching her neck as he stepped into her from behind. Rayne’s throat was gripped hard, not enough to hurt her or keep her from being able to breathe, but hard enough to make her shiver and feel helpless.

Strong hips pushed against her ass, letting her feel an impressive erection. Even though she was blindfolded, she squeezed her eyes tight, thinking only of Master Lucien as she tried to tilt her ass into the cock pressing against the seam of her ass.

His breath was heavy near her ear as he continued to rub against her.

Rayne moaned around the ball in her mouth. He left her shaking and suddenly cold when he released her. She could hear him walking around to stand in front of her. He took the chain connected to her nipple clamps and she tensed when he tugged more gently on it this time. Hands cupped her hips and a hot, wet mouth engulfed one clamped nipple.

The chains rattled over her head as she whimpered and trembled while he devoured her nipple, clamp and all. He used his teeth and tongue to drive her wild. He gave the other one the same treatment. When done, he pulled on the chain, short little tugs that had her crying out in pleasure.

But it was Master Zak. He had his own slave, even though he called her his mate. Rayne wasn’t sure what that meant, but it was clear Alluna was the only female he wanted. She slept with him, ate, and bathed with him too.

She wasn’t jealous of Alluna over Master Zak. She desperately wanted…Master Lucien.

The flogger’s sharp sting made her scream in surprise.

A few seconds passed, the sound of her agitated breathing the only thing she could hear in the room.

Why was he so quiet now?

The second strike also caught her unprepared, but she didn’t scream. He struck her again, first one buttock then the other.

She pushed out her ass, arching her back and relaxed her muscles, allowing her buttocks to absorb the blows. The flogging was gentle, really, only warming her flesh after the initial sting subsided. It was rhythmic, the sound loud, sharp. Slowly the intensity grew. The fiery sting became hot. She relaxed into it, let it roll through her body. He changed positions almost imperceptibly, the sharp strikes of the flogger going higher sometimes, other times lower, until her entire backside was hot and throbbing.

By now, each strike was delivered hard, making her pant and moan wildly around the ball gag.

He stopped.

Her heart pounded and she whimpered when she felt his hand caress her flaming backside. This time she only grunted when the flogger snapped against the top of her pussy. Warmth bloomed there. Her teeth clamped down hard on the rubber ball as she absorbed the sweet pain. Her clit became unbearably engorged.

He switched spots and hit her right breast, and then her left.

Right, left, right, left, right, left…on and on, until all she could feel was her ass, her pussy and her breasts blazing and throbbing. He hit her pussy again, switched to her hip…her other hip, her breasts again. Her head dropped back, her arms almost numb because she no longer held herself up on her toes. She just hung there while he played her body like an instrument. She felt like she was floating, hot wetness anointing her thighs.

He suddenly stopped, leaving her hanging there like a limp rag-doll. Rayne kept her eyes closed when he removed her blindfold and gag.

“Look at me,” a deep voice rasped.

It took superhuman effort to pry her eyes open, but when she did, her tears overflowed. It wasn’t Master Zak standing before her. It was Master Lucien.

She tried to call him Master, but it came out a garbled mess.

When he shoved his hand between her legs, she cried out in bliss. Just one stroke of his demanding fingers against her throbbing clit had her coming apart in a soul shattering orgasm. Her entire body bowed and shook uncontrollably until she feared she would pass out.

“Shhh,” he hushed, stroking her softer now.

Jolts of pleasure had her convulsing, the pleasure too much to take anymore.

“Master, please, Master,” she wailed.

He pulled her against him, kissed her, and caressed one breast. Rayne hissed when he removed a clamp. Fire bloomed in her poor abused nipple. He stopped kissing her to take it into his mouth. Rayne wrapped her numb fingers around the chain, gritting her teeth as he licked and suckled it gently. She moaned sharply when he released the other nipple as well, treating it to the same soothing with his mouth.

Rayne closed her eyes again when he bent and removed the spreader bar. She couldn’t help her whimpers when her legs closed, making her feel the throbbing of her clit more intensely. He wrapped one arm around her.

“I’ve got you.”

It was the only warning she received before her arms dropped. She moaned at the ache in her shoulders. He swept her up into his arms. She curled her trembling spent form against him as he walked a few steps before sitting with her in his lap. She felt when an electric-like force emanated from him.

Subspace. She had to be in subspace because a warm, thick blanket materialized around her.

“You’re safe, baby,” he said pressing her tighter against his chest.

Safe. She had never felt so safe, so cherished. Her tears continued to flow unchecked now. She never wanted to leave this man’s arms. He’d given her exactly what she needed…what she’d wanted.

Contentment filled her as he covered her face with soft, gentle kisses. Peace lulled her into sleep.

Thick, black lashes rested against damp, flushed cheeks. Her little mouth was plump, her nose delicate.

“She looks like a doll,” Zak said in a low voice from where he sat across the room.

Lucien’s throat still throbbed from having had the misfortune of running right into the arm Zak had thrown out to stop him in his tracks. Remi and he had been chasing down Boy Rayne in the envirolevel. They’d managed to restore him almost completely, but he’d bolted when Rem tried to take his mask off.

Stubborn battle pet.

Rayne made a little sound, like a tiny kitten, and burrowed closer. Her teeth were still chattering and she was trembling in convulsive little jolts now and then.

Fucking hell. The girl was the most perfect submissive he’d ever had the pleasure of flogging. She’d taken the flogger, writhing in orgasmic ecstasy, arching into each strike eagerly. When he’d struck her pussy, he’d actually wanted her to recoil. He’d wanted her to want him to stop, but she’d tilted her hips forward, silently begging for more.

Hell—he’d been so hard, his dick hurt. Watching her come all over his hand almost made him blow his load in his own pants.

She’d probably be a dream to fuck. He could almost imagine her creamy little pussy squeezing around his dick as he drove in deep. Shit. She was so petite. Would she even be able to take him?

“So while you’re doing the math on that one, what the fuck are you planning on doing about this situation?” Zak growled.

Lucien glared at him. “What situation? You interrupted what I was doing because you said she was craving punishment and you didn’t have the balls to take care of it.”

“Fuck you,” Zak snapped jumping to his feet. “I have a woman. She wouldn’t understand me relieving Rayne.”

Lucien didn’t really want him relieving her either, but didn’t mention that troubling little thought out loud.

“I know what you’re plotting. You want to play Cupid and hook that battle pet and Rayne together. It’s not going to work. He won’t give her what you just did. She’s a natural submissive, Luke. Fuck the whole training thing and her fucked up culture. No training or brainwashing is going to make a woman react the way she did,” he stated vehemently. “She was not faking it, man.”

Lucien risked a grin. “I’m just good at what I do, Zak-o.”

Zak just scowled down at him, crossing his arms over his chest.

Lucien snorted. “Yeah. I taught you that hard stare. You still haven’t quite mastered it.”

“Eat me, asshole.”

“Not particular to dragon meat, but thanks for the offer.”

Zak’s eyes narrowed. Usually mentioning he was a weredragon got him seething. Looks like that no longer pressed his pissed button.

Lucien sighed, suddenly missing the good-old days.

“I won’t stay with her. I can’t,” he said all joking aside. “She’s clingy. She wants a Master who will own her and you know I never do that.” He shouldn’t. couldn’t, wouldn’t was more like it. Not with demons hunting for him. Let Goliath think he was a bastard.

Zak lowered his gaze and shook his head. “You’re such a dirt bag.” When the golden weredragon looked back up, his eyes blazed in anger. “You wanted Annie, tried to seduce Angel into being your woman, stole mine from me—“

“I tried to save her life, you ungrateful bastard,” Lucien hissed.

Zak pressed his lips into a tight line, eyes still ablaze with fury.

Lucien took a few calming breaths. He didn’t dare look down at the tiny beauty in his arms, fearing he’d lose this battle over what he should do and what he desired.

“Rayne is really pretty. Yeah, I’d love to fuck her, scene again with her, but I can’t keep her. I’m not what she needs. She needs a Dom who can take care and protect her. I go to sleep terrified of being found, and dragged back down to Hell. Having her by my side will only amplify that terror because I know they’d torture and probably kill her right before my eyes just for kicks.” He hated to admit his fears to Zak, but felt he owed him. After all, back on Arboria Luke had made his girl, Alluna, jack him off once, and then proceeded to jizz all over her face and boobs. Some of it even got in her mouth.

Yeah. He was a dirt bag.

Zak would kill him if he knew.

“Why did you suddenly block off your thoughts?” Zak asked suspiciously.

“I can’t keep her,” Lucien said avoiding the question.

“Seth said you have the power of two Dominatio’s surrounding you.

Anger burned inside Lucien. His eyes snapped back up to Zak’s. “I am not becoming an archangel.”

The golden weredragon shook his head in confusion. “Why not? That’s a fucking honor.”

Lucien sneered in disgust, remembering seeing the little cherubic fuckers around him as he was tortured. They never lifted a fucking finger to help him. “I think I hate those fuckers more than I hate Devon.”

Zak’s expression grew thunderous. “Why do you hate him so much, man? What happened to you wasn’t his fault.”

“Wasn’t it?” Lucien snapped completely infuriated now. Rayne stirred in his arms and it was like throwing cold water over his face.

She was going to wake up any minute. As her temporary Dom, he needed to tend to her…and they needed to talk.

No longer feeling Devon’s power blocking him from moving around outside the envirolevel, he concentrated on his old rooms and teleported there, ignoring Zak’s expletive.

- - - - - 

She awakened with a jolt. Her heart was racing, her head swimming as darkness threatened to pull her back down. She didn’t want to die. They’d lock her back in the box and she’d never see the light of day again. It would be cold and she’d be alone…forever.

Arms tightened around her. “Easy, baby. It’s okay. I have you,” Master Lucien’s voice drifted through the darkness.

Rayne blinked, focusing on the river of shimmering blond running between her cheek and the bulge of his pectoral. She rubbed her face against his silky hair before pressing her nose against his warm flesh to breathe him in. Her body shivered almost uncontrollably.

“Here. Drink this,” he said.

He held a silver bottle close to her face. Opening her lips, she accepted the drink from Master Lucien. It was cool water. Rayne drank heavily, some of it running down her throat to her breasts and belly. He only chuckled, kissed her forehead and coaxed her to relax.

Once she’d had her fill of water, she clutched him again, covering his chest with little kisses. He just held her, one arm wrapped tight around her back, the other pressed up the middle of her back as his fingers massaged the back of her skull.

She laid her cheek in the middle of his chest and let out a sigh of contentment.

Her head continued to feel floaty, darkness tugging at the edges of her vision making her anxious. With a whimper of fear, she gripped handfuls of his hair and burrowed tighter against his chest.

“Easy. Let go. Let it take you.” He rubbed her back in circles. “Just your endorphins kicking in. You’ll be fine. You’re safe. I’m here. Trust me, Rayne.”

She couldn’t help herself when the tears flowed. Her vision went black as she floated in a dark void with nothing but the feel of his hands and the sound of his voice to anchor her. She felt him rise and move her. Softness cushioned the entire front of her body. Something warm and liquid poured onto her back and upturned ass. She groaned in pleasure when strong hands began kneading and massaging her.

Light burst in warm colors in her mind. In the center of it all was a bright sun…no…it was an angel, light emanating from it like the rays of a blinding sun. It was Master Lucien, his eyes glowing like pale blue diamonds. He had wings of fire and behind his head, to either side of his shoulders, she saw the hilts of two gold-hilted swords, crossed at his back.

The colors swirled, blinding her momentarily as she felt herself turned over. After blinking a few times, his beautiful face came into focus again.

Rayne groaned and pressed up into his hands when he caressed her breasts.

“Oh, yes, Master,” she exclaimed arching her back. “You’re so beautiful. I want you so, Master.”

He smirked. “Easy there, little girl.”

Frustration welled up inside her. She spread her legs in wanton display. “Please, Master. Just take me, please, Master.”

With a grin, he moved up over her and took her mouth. Rayne opened her lips and welcomed him, stroking her tongue boldly against his. Her thighs clamped around his hips and bucked insistently against him.

He chuckled. “You’re killing me, baby.”

She clenched her teeth in desperation. “Fuck me,” she panted.

His grin grew broader. “What? No more please, Master?”

“Master, please,” she said on a long whine when he began to nip her neck.

“No,” he growled in her ear, making her pout. Her feelings of rejection were soon altered, however, when he slid his hand between her legs and began stroking her erect nub. She almost jumped out of her skin. “No cock for demanding little subs who forget to beg properly.”

“Please, Master, please,” she pleaded, her arousal skyrocketing at having to beg coupled with him spreading her wetness all over the lips of her sex.

When he pushed a finger into her, she stiffened with a sharp gasp. It was the first time something had invaded her pussy. She stared at him open-mouthed. Was she still a virgin? Had he taken her most precious gift? She wanted him to. She wanted Master Lucien to take her virginity, feel him break her maidenhead.

A shudder wracked her body and she rolled her hips, panting and sighing, hoping to entice him into sinking his cock into her as well.

He stared down at her intensely. “You’re so sweet,” he whispered, his face solemn now.

His finger continued to work its way in and out, making her toes curl.

She thrust her hips, making little mewling sounds of pleasure as he fingered her. Already she could smell the scent of her musk in the air, hear the sound of how wet she was when he quickened his thrusts.

He pushed in another finger, making her gasp at the stretching sensation she felt. Her fingers curled around his bulging biceps and she fought the instinct to stiffen against the unfamiliar intrusion.

His expression darkened, but his voice was gentle when he said, “That’s just two fingers, Rayne. I’m at least four fingers thick and almost twice as long as you are deep.”

She opened her mouth to implore him to take her anyway, but he kissed her again, hot, wet, demanding, almost angry. His fingers continued to stroke into her, faster now. She felt when he curled them, and instead of thrusting them in and out, he began to rub a spot deep within her that had her arching into him desperately.

He stopped kissing her to nip her neck sharply.

“That’s it, baby. Fuck yourself on my fingers.”

She panted and moaned loudly, “Oh, Master.”

“You like that, eh?”

Of course she did. She’d been trained to be the sublime slut. Right now, she wanted to be only his.

“Fuck, you’re so wet, baby. Here.” His fingers jerked from her pussy and shoved into her mouth. “Taste that. Taste that sweet virgin pussy.”

Rayne licked and sucked hungrily at the fingers plunged deep into her mouth.

He pulled his fingers out with a growl and kissed her again, his tongue tasting and exploring everywhere as he thrust his fingers deep within her quivering slit again.

He rubbed her harder, rhythmically. Rayne’s legs could not have been more spread, her body anymore tense. She had stopped breathing, feeling on the edge of some deep chasm she knew would shatter her completely once she went over the edge.

“Come for me, Rayne,” he growled in her ear.

She exploded, her rapture a fountain of release as her wail of completion echoed around them. Her entire body convulsed and shook, her energy completely obliterated. Master Lucien kissed her face, her neck, her breasts, speaking words of praise and encouragement. She held onto him, riding her free-fall into ecstasy while her body shuddered with the intense pleasure he gave her. Her beautiful Master.

Her body became hypersensitive to the roughness of his face in the bend of her neck and shoulder, his fingers petting her sex gently now, the strength of his sinewy thighs against the softer inner flesh of hers.

Rayne sighed, closing her eyes.

For the first time in her life, she felt cherished and completely safe.

- - - - - 

As if he didn’t already have enough problems, Remi came around knocking on the door to his rooms.

“What?” Lucien snapped after slapping his hand on the edge of the doorframe to keep him from walking in.

Remi frowned at him.

Lucien was appreciative of the fact he’d bothered to put on a pair of drawstring pants and didn’t teleport right from the envirolevel butt-assed naked, the way he usually did.

Remi planted his hands on his hips and snorted. “What do you mean, what? Did you forget you left me running after Tarzan in the envirolevel?”

Right. Boy Rayne—damn.

Lucien ran his fingers through his hair. Remi’s nostrils flared and the annoying bastard grinned from ear to ear.

Lucien realized belatedly Rayne’s scent lingered all over him. He stabbed a finger into the grinning red weredragon’s face. “It’s not what you think.”

Remi’s nostrils flared as he sniffed. “Smells like pussy to me.”

Lucien swung…at air. It pissed him off more when he realized the asshole had teleported behind him.

“Easy, man,” Remi exclaimed raising both hands when Lucien swung around, fist ready again. “I didn’t come here to discuss you boinking Rayne.”

“I didn’t boink Rayne,” Lucien snapped.

“Right,” Remi deadpanned.

“I didn’t…I—“ Lucien closed his eyes and counted to five. “Look, what the hell do you want?”

“Me? Not me.” Remi shook his head and then pointed.

Lucien frowned and turned to where he pointed…and then froze.

Peering around the corner of the corridor was Boy Rayne. His hair covered his face, but Lucien could clearly see a pair of exotic violet eyes peering through the iridescent strands of white.

“He’s a bit wild, but I finally convinced him to trust me, at least enough to follow me up here,” Remi said behind Lucien. “I didn’t want to freak him out by teleporting us up so we used the emergency stairs. It was good exercise. Gotta try it sometime.”

Lucien cleared his throat and called out, “Hey, kiddo. Are you gonna stay all the way over there?”

Boy Rayne drew back until only one eye peered from around the wall, making Lucien frown.

“He can talk now, but he won’t,” Remi stated.

“Why?” Lucien asked, unable to take his eyes off the intriguing creature at the end of the corridor. He was dying to see what he looked like, but was afraid of approaching him, fearing he’d bolt.

“You ask him. He only growls at me,” Remi said behind him.

“Growls?”

“Yeah. Like Seth when I piss him off.”

Lucien turned to look at Remi. The red weredragon rolled his eyes. “Watch.” Stepping forward, he leaned down a bit, snapping his fingers repeatedly. “Here-kitty-kitty-kitty.”

Deep snarling came from the end of the corridor. The fact that he was making sound at all, made Lucien grin.

“You’re an asshole, Fyre,” Seth said suddenly appearing next to them. He leaned against the doorframe, arms folded over his chest and ankles crossed casually. Stark white hair fell over into sky-blue eyes, fringed with dark lashes. Seth had grown, filled out into a man, tall and sure of himself.

“Let’s see you try to get him over here,” Remi challenged the weretigri.

Seth took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Boy Rayne. “He only trusts Lucien for now.” Seth turned his head to look at Lucien. “You’re his new Master.”

Lucien stood straighter and snorted. “I’m no one’s Master…least of all a male—“

“But that battle pet isn’t really—“

“I don’t care,” Lucien snapped. “He—she—Merulian. I don’t keep slaves or submissives.”

Remi and Seth just stared at him for a few seconds.

They were talking to each other, but had him blocked out. He could almost hear their telepathic murmuring.

Clenching his jaw, he took a deep breath, ready to tell them off when Remi suddenly straightened and declared, “Well, my work is done here. See you later.”

He was gone in a flash of red-gold fire.

“What-the fff—“

Seth disappeared in a shimmer of sparkling energy leaving Lucien mid-expletive. The fucker had grinned mischievously at Luke before teleporting out. Seth had grinned. Lucien remained rooted to the spot where he stood, mouth gaping. Seth rarely smiled, but Lucien was sure he’d seen the brief flash of feline fangs before he zapped out.