It hurt Brenda to look at Rever. The memory of him touching her haunted her and just made her want to touch him. Her body ached for a man she couldn’t ever be with again and the knowledge that he was sleeping with that bitch Tina just about killed her, never disliking anyone more. It wasn’t just the fact that Tina had Rever, even though that would have been enough, but it was worse because she was such an unpleasant person.

“There you are.” Tina stomped into the room. “I told you that I wanted you to wash my damn back and you never came, Ali.” Tina wore a towel and nothing else. “I had to come looking for you.”

Ali’s mouth tightened into a line as fury burned in her brown eyes, glaring at Tina.

“I am not going to do that and I already told you it is not my job. I fix meals, I keep house, I do the shopping and I serve general needs. Washing your backside like you are a child is not my place. I won’t attend to a female’s personal needs that way.”

“You fuck men that support you for a living. Washing my back should be no problem.”

Brenda went instantly angry at the implied insult toward Ali. “Don’t you dare say those kinds of things to her or treat her that way.” Green eyes narrowed as Tina glared at Brenda. “You stay the hell out of this, you freeloader. If it were up to me you’d be living in a cardboard box. I bet the guy they are giving you to isn’t really on some ship. I think he’s hiding to avoid you as long as possible because he knows what a loser you are. He doesn’t want his brother’s used goods.”

Standing up, Brenda glared at the slightly taller woman. “I’ll wash your back.” Green eyes narrowed. “You’d try to drown me.”

Brenda smiled coldly, her blue eyes narrowing as she glared at Tina, saying nothing.

“Ali,” Tina snapped, jerking her attention from Brenda to glare at the other woman instead. “I want you in the bathroom right now, damn it. Otherwise I’ll tell Rever you’re being mean to me. I’ll cry and I’ll tell him that I want another house helper. You either get your large ass in the bathroom to do what I say or pack your shit.” A growl tore from Ali. “Fine.”

Tina grinned coldly, turned on her heel and sauntered away.

Brenda shook with rage, deciding that Tina was the meanest bitch ever. She reached over to rub Ali’s arm to comfort her.

“Why did you agree to do it? Do you honestly think that Rever will kick you out?

I’ll tell him how bad she is. He wouldn’t get rid of me when she tried to make him and he won’t get rid of you either.”

“I know he won’t make me leave but Argis told me to be extra agreeable to her, his reasoning is she will change if we keep being nice to her.” A grin split Ali’s lips. “I could accidentally hold her under the water until she has no breath left.”

“I could accidentally go in there to help you.”

Both of them laughed.

Ali sighed. “I wish I dared but I gave Argis my word when he ordered me to not get even for any of the mean things she does or says to me.”

“I didn’t make any promises but I was kidding. As tempting as it sounds to go shove her under the water, I couldn’t really do it.” Brenda chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t do it more than a few times but I’d make sure she could breathe between dunking her.” Ali smiled. “I am going to miss you. This is going to turn out badly for Argis. That human has been talking to one of the guards Argis leaves at the door to protect us. She is flirting with more than one of them and this morning when I went outside to remove the trash I saw her there laughing and touching one of them. When she saw me she pulled away but she should never put her hands on another male. Argis will be very angry if he finds out but I am afraid it will hurt him if I tell.” Dread hit Brenda. “Were they too friendly?”

“Not that I saw but Argis would have to kill the male if one took her up on her offer. She is his bound and the guards know it would be death. They are loyal to him but she still flirts. The asshole and Argis have not fought in days so I don’t want to sadden him after he has hope that she will adjust to our way of life. If she is smart she will stop now that I saw what she was doing.”

Brenda doubted Tina had a brain in her head but she held her silence, watching Ali leave the room, rising to her feet to stir the pot filled with a meat stew-like substance that smelled wonderful. Tomorrow she’d be leaving Rever forever when Volder arrived. Brenda’s chest ached at the thought of life without Rever, knowing she’d miss his incredible eyes and the sound of his laugh. Life is so damn unfair.

A bell rang through the house. Turning off the flame, she walked out of the kitchen.

Knowing Ali was busy, she went to the front door to answer it. Rever assigned at least four guards to protect the house while he was at work so if someone came to the door she knew it was safe to open it. It could even be one of the guards delivering something.

Four large Zorn males stood on the other side of the door as Brenda opened it wide.

Their uniforms were black leather and they had weird hard-shell plating across their chests with strange designs in blood red by the shoulder. All four of them were brown haired with dark brown eyes. As she stared at the one closest to her, recognition hit instantly, seeing the uncanny resemblance to the man who had taken her from Earth.

Dark brown eyes similar to Valho’s narrowed when Brenda stared up into them but unlike Valho, this man had a hard, cold look to him, and his eyes weren’t kind. A scary, deep growl tore from his throat while his mouth tightened into a firm line before those lips parted to reveal sharp teeth. He snarled at her again, louder, making Brenda startle at the harsh noise.

“So you are the human.” His furious gaze raked down her.

In shock, Brenda just stared up at the six-foot-three male, taking in the fact that he was big but not quite as big as Rever. Confusion hit her at seeing Volder a day earlier than expected and he was really angry with her for some reason. She’d been told he wanted to bound with her, that he was coming for her eagerly, but this man was obviously not excited to see her. He looked disgusted, put out and super pissed off.

Swallowing, Brenda forced herself to speak. “Volder?” He curled his lip. “Who else would be here to collect you, human?”