Spider Bight [Deep Space Mission Corps 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Tymber Dalton Page A

don’t understand the question.”
    “Commander Ren’yawlkin told me they are allowed to wear clothing and are not restrained or collared in any way. I am very interested in learning how you control them.”
    Emi wasn’t sure what Mauri wanted to hear. “Control?”
    “How do you correct them? Train them? Keep them in line?”
    “Our society is set up differently from yours. We are equal partners.”
    Mauri frowned. “Impossible. Males are not capable of that. They become violent and unmanageable when left to their own devices. I can see perhaps keeping one in line, but when they bond together as a pack, they are wont to get unruly.”
    Emi tried again. “We love each other. We don’t have a social structure like you do. I love them, and they love me.”
    She arched an eyebrow in apparent amusement. “Of course a well-trained male should love its owner.”
    “I’m not their owner. And they don’t own me, either. We’re equals.”
    Both of Mauri’s eyebrows launched skyward as Emi felt a wave of disbelief from the leader.
    Emi tread carefully. “Our societies are different, that’s all.”
    “Apparently quite different. I had never given much thought to the human male social structure before. The few I have encountered have come here with their female owners and were very docile and well-behaved. I do not have much contact with males from other races.”
    Emi chose to ignore the part about “owners” and hopefully change the subject. “You all speak English standard very well, it seems.”
    “Language courses. And we hired a tutor who spoke standard to come in and give our teachers lessons. But I have never been off the planet, personally. I could never leave my people without a leader.”
    The servant returned with a gold tray on which he carried an ornate crystal pitcher and two cups. He poured them and offered them with a low bow.
    Mauri and Emi took the offered cups, and then Mauri dismissed the man. She held her cup up. “To differences, Doctor Hypatia,” Mauri toasted.
    Emi smiled and held her cup up as well. “To differences.”
     
    * * * *
     
    After chatting a few more minutes, the Moran leader wanted to take Emi on a personal tour of some of the Imperial Home’s facilities. Mauri called Baltin back into the room and the three of them set off through another vast series of corridors. They emerged at a different entrance to the Imperial Home than Baltin had brought Emi through.
    “I never pass up an opportunity to show off our facilities to others,” Mauri told Emi. “I would consider it an honor to take you on this tour personally.”
    Emi thought about her men sitting back in the “kennel” in the greeting center. “I’m not trying to rush you, but I really can’t spend a lot of time down here. I need to get back to our ship.”
    “Oh, this will not take long, Doctor Hypatia.”
    With four guards falling in line behind them, Mauri led Emi down perfectly manicured and shaded pathways that wound under lush trees. “I am very proud of the Imperial Stables,” Mauri said.
    “Stables?”
    “Yes. It is where we house the best of the breeders and feral males. Also, it is our largest training facility to break in males when they reach the proper age. We house our young males in separate dormitories on the other end of the Imperial grounds.”
    Emi was still a little confused, but let the leader speak without interruption. I can get out of here faster if I ask fewer questions.
    “We have a total of ten such stable and dormitory configurations around the city. We have five feral maintenance facilities as well.”
    She couldn’t help herself. “Why don’t you have other cities?”
    The leader frowned, confused. “Other cities?”
    “Yes. Besides this one.”
    “Oh, we would not have other cities. There is no need. We have some approved settlers and developers who are allowed to take up residence outside the city walls if need requires it, but they must go through extensive training