His large body relaxed. “Go. I will guard the door to not let anyone in.” She used the bathroom quickly and retied her belt. “Ral? I’m done.” He came back into the room and walked to a mini waterfall. He unfastened his pants. She watched him. He turned his head to grin at her as he used the wall. He looked amused that she was curious. He fastened his pants and walked toward her. He took her hand, leading her to a washbowl, so both of them could clean their hands.

He led her down corridors that twisted and turned. She smelled something good that made her stomach growl loudly. Ral turned his head to eye her.

“You hunger greatly?”

She nodded. “I haven’t eaten in a long time. I’m starving.”

“They did not feed you since they took you from your planet?”

“They gave me food once when they first grabbed me. It has been days.” Rage hardened his face. “I hate them.”

She understood hating the Anzons too. They walked into a large room. Tables had been set up and she saw about fifty men but only two women. She couldn’t help but stare at the women. Their features revealed them as Zorn. She could tell what they were by their wide, flat noses. They had breasts and smaller facial features than the men.

They were attractive. The women eyed her back. Ariel gave them a smile. Both Zorn women looked away from her. Ariel sighed. It didn’t look like she would be making friends with them.

A buffet-style table had been laid out. A Zorn man was serving. He stared openly at Ariel. Her hand tightened on Ral’s. He smiled at her.

“They are curious. We have never seen a homin before.”

“Human.”

He chuckled. “Human.”

She smiled up at him. “Right.”

“From the planet Earth.”

“Yes. You remembered.”

He stopped at the table, studying it. “Do you recognize anything you can eat?” She studied the food too and shook her head. “No.”

“This.” He pointed. “Is very sweet. This is bitter. This is strongly hot to your mouth.” He kept pointing out things to her and explaining their taste. She settled on a few things to try. Ral loaded down two plates and walked to a table where no one else sat.

“Sit. I will get us drinks.”

She sat down with both plates. She waited. Ral returned in moments. He placed water-filled mugs by their plates. He smiled. “Eat, Ariel.” She loved the way he said her name. It sounded like “Ori All”. She tasted the food and gave Ral a smile. It was delicious. He looked relieved as he dug into his own food.

Sometimes he’d pick up something from his plate for her to taste. She decided she didn’t like the red banana-looking thing. It set her mouth on fire and made her choke.

She drank water.

When they finished their food Ral led her to a wide hallway. He paused. “Stay with me. Do not leave my side. It is dangerous.”

She nodded and felt a little fear. “What is dangerous?”

“My people were taken by force from our hunt planet. We are strong and we are hardy. Do you understand? There were few women taken with us. A woman is rare and much wanted here. Some will be angry that they lost yesterday when we fought for you. They will want to touch you. If a fight breaks out just get behind me. I will not lose.

I am very tough. I will win.”

She nodded. He reached up to caress her cheek.

“Some Zorn will think I only won you to mount, to quench my need for a woman.

They might think I won’t shed their blood for an alien. In time they will realize I am bound to you and not dare challenge me for your body.”

“Bound to you?”

He grinned. “In love.”

She smiled back. “Okay.”

“They will offer me things to have you. I will not sell you for anything so do not worry if you hear them make offers. You are mine. You will remain mine.” Ariel put her hand on his naked hairy chest. The men didn’t wear shirts but he obviously owned them since she wore his. “I trust you.” He smiled. “Good. We should go. Stay close to me.” The mines were a large cavernous area where men were chipping away at the rock-lined walls to enlarge the space. Some men hung by their waists from ropes along the walls using tools to break large pieces loose. Ral sat Ariel on a large boulder, gave her a nod and then went to work. He picked up the broken pieces from the floor to load them into machines that wheeled away from sight when Ral pushed a button to tell the cart it was full, an empty one appearing in its place.

After a while Ariel got up to stand closer to Ral. She picked up the small pieces and started to work with him. Ral looked over at her with a surprised smile. She smiled back. They worked together for hours. She noticed three Zorn women in the cavern.

They all sat by men but didn’t help their men. She caught many eyes watching her.

A buzz went through the room. Ral dumped a basketball-sized rock in the cart. He turned. “We are done. Our shift is over. Thank you for helping me.”

“I can’t lift the big ones like you do but I’m good with the small chunks.” He laughed. “Hungry?”

“Yes. I’m starving.”

He led her back to the large eating room. It was packed now. Ral gripped her arm pulling her tightly against his side. She knew she was in danger. She could see it in the alert way Ral watched every man around them. They moved up the line to the buffet table. Ral filled both plates for each of them, handed them to Ariel and got water with her this time. He led her to table. It was crowded. He put down the water and sat. He spread his thighs.

“Sit on my lap.”

She eased onto his lap after placing the food down. He scooted back so she had room between his thighs to sit on the bench. A man who sat down next to them sniffed loudly and turned his head. Ariel met his bright green gaze. The man sniffed again and growled. Ariel jerked her eyes from his. She could feel Ral tense as he snarled.

“Mine.”

The man next to them inched away about a foot. Ral leaned into Ariel so his lips pressed to her ear. He said something in soft growls. She frowned, realizing he was talking in the wrong ear. She turned her head so she could look up at him. She pointed to her other ear.