Perfect Specimen by Kate Donovan Page B

kneel so that her view of his face was even more direct. “You need us. And I need you . You’re everything to me. Can’t we just go to Ra-ahl now? I’m your servant. Let’s sever all ties with this place and go. Now.”
    “Or I could take the new girl.”
    Confused, Sara bit her blood-coated lip. “Pardon?”
    “She would make an excellent substitute. A willing specimen. Not like you, with your craving for Earth men.”
    Sara stared.
    “Finally you are speechless? No more lies?”
    “I don’t lie to you,” she whispered. “There’s no point. You always know the truth.”
    “Then tell me the truth. Do you love Clay Ryerson?”
    “No. I love my babies.”
    “And me?”
    She braced herself. “No. I hate you.”
    “Well then . . .” Ga’rag chuckled as he hung the whip on his belt. “We’re agreed? Our daughters may live, but the Ryersons—and the strange girl named Lizzie—will die.”
    Sara struggled to her feet. “You think I care about them? Don’t fool yourself. I only care about our children. But I don’t want the Ryersons’ blood on my hands. And I don’t understand why you’re so afraid of them—”
    “Afraid?”
    She cocked her head to the side, surprised by his defensive reaction. Maybe he was more like an Earth male than she’d realized. Not jealous, certainly, but there was definitely something going on here.
    So she adopted a soothing tone. “They can’t hurt you, Ga’rag. You may not be as physically strong as them, but you’re smarter. More advanced. Right?”
    His gills vibrated but he didn’t respond.
    “They’re no threat to you. Compared to you, they’re insects. So let’s just leave this stupid planet. Right now—today. I’m sick of this place. And I promise to be your servant forever.”
    Ga’rag’s black eyes narrowed. “There was a time when I thought you were the perfect specimen. The perfect mother for a revitalized Ra-ahl. But your failure to end your love affair—”
    “It’s over!”
    “It is not. You did not have the strength to end it face-to-face, or the cunning to find another way. I’m disappointed in you, Sara. To think how I bragged to my brothers about you—”
    “I can end it,” she assured him with a confident smile. “I miscalculated before, but now? It’s a piece of cake.”
    “Oh?”
    She nodded as she struggled for something—anything—convincing to say.
    Then suddenly she knew. “I thought he was infatuated with me, Ga’rag. But I also thought his pride would be so wounded when he heard I was married, he’d walk away in disgust.”
    “But he did not.”
    “Right. Because it isn’t just infatuation.” Her voice started to crack, but she couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not now of all times. “Clay’s in love with me. True love. The kind that inspires men to slay dragons. And you’re the dragon.”
    Ga’rag seemed intrigued. “And so?”
    “And so I need a better tactic. He wants to spend the rest of his life with me, right? Build a family together. Rescue me from an abusive husband.”
    “Yes. That’s why you are not able to discourage him.”
    “Are you kidding? All I need to do is convince him I’m crazy—certifiably crazy, just like his brother thinks, or at least damaged beyond hope—and he’ll let me go. Do you know why?”
    Her captor stared in unmistakable fascination. “Tell me.”
    “Because he can’t build a family with a crazy woman. With a wounded or abused one? Sure. It’s not ideal, but there’s treatment. Counseling. And he gets to be the knight in shining armor. But batshit crazy? With a history of it in my family?” She smiled despite the sorrow forming in her heart. “He’ll make sure I find a great facility, then he’ll head for the hills. And then”—she eyed the overlord coolly—“I’ll have passed every test. Right?”
    Ga’rag hesitated, but only for a moment. “Yes, Sara. If you can accomplish that, the experiment will be over.” Stepping closer he added slyly,