Satan's Forge (Star Sojourner Book 5) by Jean Kilczer Page A

them.”
    She wiped blood off my lips with the back of her hand and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “I couldn't watch. I would have taken it in your place.”
    “I wouldn't wish it on you, kid. Can you get me some water? There's a lousy taste in my mouth.”
    She went into the bathroom and returned with a glass of water. “Here.” She helped me hold up my head and sip the water. “What're we going to do?”
    “I'm working on it.”
    She glanced at my back with a question in her raised brows. “Jules, when you feel better I think we should talk.”
    “I'm listening, Dannie. You've got a captive audience.”
    Well." She brushed her hand through my hair. “I think we should have sex.”
    Oh, Jesus.
“What brought that on?”
    “I thought about it when I saw them whip you. If we don't obey them, sooner or later they'll kill you and send me to another Terran man.”
    “Suppose we just pretend to have sex?”
    She frowned. “How do you do that?”
    “I'll figure out something.” I lifted my hand to her wet cheek. “You're too young to become pregnant, kid. Having a baby could kill you, and the baby too. These crotes would let you give birth right here on the cell floor. So forget it, OK?”
    She twirled her finger through my hair. “Someday, if I live long enough, I want to marry a man just like you.”
    Against the pain, I forced a smile.
    She kissed my cheek. “Will you wait for me?”
    “No.”
    She drew back. “But you said someday I'll become a beautiful woman!”
    “You will.” I slid my hand to her neck. “And someday you'll meet a tag who's closer to your age.”
    “I don't care about age!”
    “You should, Dannie. You and he will have a lot in common. You'll be friends. I'd end up being your father.”
    “But I think I'm in love with you, Jules. I want to…to –”
    I closed my eyes and moaned. If only this fire would go out in my back.
    “I want you to be my first man!” she blurted.
    “Puppy love, Dan.” I squeezed in a breath. “Can we talk about this some other time?”
    “I wish I could make your back better.”
    “Me too. Just stay close and hold my hand. It's comforting, you know?”
    “I'm not going anyplace, hon.”
    Hon
? When did I become
hon
?
    I was so worn down from the pain and the trauma. “I wish I could sleep,” I whispered.
    She brushed my hair off my neck. “You need a haircut.”
    “You think?” I drew in a breath. “I need more than a haircut. Maybe a couple of aspirin.” I forced another smile.
    “Shhh,” she whispered and kissed me lightly on the lips. “Go to sleep.”
    “Would that I could.”
    “Lullaby, and goodnight,” she sang.
    Give me a break.
    Dannie fell asleep with her head on the side of my cot. Her hand slid from mine.
    My cheek stuck to the sheet. “Huff,” I mumbled. My Vegan friend had always been there for me. “Where are you now?” I whispered. “Back on your homeworld, Kresthaven?”
    Dannie stirred.
    I rested my hand on her shoulder.
    I can't remember a worse night than that one. The hours grew tails that stretched them out like taut violin strings. If Boss Slade thought he'd beaten the defiance out of me, he was mistaken. A seething hatred sprang upon my soul like a vulture that dug in claws. I pictured the Altairian overlord dying in agonizing ways, and conjured ever more brutal methods to shuffle him off this mortal coil. For what he did to me, and worse, to so many others, I knew the red throat of Hell that awaited his kwaii when he died. I knew the Black Pit that Great Mind would hurl him into. I'd seen it happen to the vicious BEM All Mother on Denebria, who ate children alive. I hoped I'd live long enough to see it happen to this greedy Altairian demigod.
    With dawn, the pain finally began to subside and I fell into a fitful sleep. Every few minutes I would start and open my eyes, afraid that if I kept them closed I'd be in danger.
    I was thirsty again and I had to pee, but getting up was not worth the effort. I wiped