Hunger by Harmony Raines Read Free Book Online Page A

showed her a bathroom, which kind of looked self-explanatory, and then he turned to face her. “Remember, do not leave the house.”
    “Don’t worry. I think I only have enough strength in me to get to the bed.”
    “Then rest until I return.”
    He left her alone. She stood waiting for him to leave the house, feeling awkward to be in his bedroom. However, as soon as the door closed and she heard the cruiser start up, she limped to the bed, lay down, still fully clothed, and although she needed the bathroom, she couldn’t face getting up and walking the short distance. Her hunger satisfied, warm and safe, her eyes closed and she slept properly for the first time in five years.
     

Chapter Eleven – Ishk
    Thoughts of her were still in his head as he drove back to the tower. He planned to speak to one of the other council members and find out what news there was for support to have the human females all sent to the breeding house. Before he left for Earth there had been a small but strong following who did not want the females from Earth to pollute Karal.
    In their minds, the females should be shut away and only used for mating purposes. Which was still his intention towards Evie. He sighed. He must not think of her by name. She was no more than a vessel for breeding the next generation of Karalians. He must never forget that.
    Parking his cruiser, he went in to the tower, passing the guards who knew better than to challenge him. He was heading to the lower chambers when a voice called his name.
    “Hier Ruler. I did not expect to see you here so late.” Ishk turned back to greet his superior.
    “I could say the same about you, Ishk. Don’t tell me you have tired of your female already.”
    “No. She is sleeping.”
    “You have already performed the mating with her?” Lytril, Hier Ruler of Karal, asked.
    As if it was his business.
    Ishk shook his head. “No, Hier Ruler. As Okil has presumably already informed you, she is a little beaten up.”
    “In what way?” Lytril was either very good at this game or truly had no clue.
    “She had been taken by two humans and held captive. They planned to ransom her to us. As the lottery winner they believed she would be of value. They subdued her forcefully, for want of a better phrase.”
    Lytril came closer. “I have not read Okil’s report yet, or seen him; I was in a meeting with the Hier Commander when you returned. Was it dealt with?”
    “Okil terminated one of the persons involved; the other was framed for the murder. We believe he has since been terminated by the Earth police.”
    “Good,” Lytril said, looking hard at Ishk. “ The female . You have not softened, then, Ishk?”
    “No. Hier Ruler, the female is not to my taste. I will mate with her as is my duty, and then she will be sent to the breeding house. There she will remain until the child is born. What you do with her after that is up to you.”
    “I thought your time on Earth might have given you some insight into humans.”
    “It did, which is why she will be going to the breeding house. They are vermin, Hier Ruler. She has given me her word she will not leave my house. When she goes to the breeding house she, along with any others, must be detained. I will insist they are not given free run of our planet.”
    “I understand that you do not look on them favourably. She will go to the breeding house if she conceives in the next few weeks. After that the females are to be allowed to live on the island of Grenvet. You know I have given my word on that.”
    “I know,” Ishk said, keeping the anger from his voice. “It is I who am tasked with relocating any of our people who do not wish to live with the females in such close proximity.”
    The Hier Ruler bowed. “Then I will let you get on with your work.”
    Ishk smiled, his thoughts on the Hier Ruler under control so that the colours did not race across his skin. But he knew that there needed to be a change in the way things worked on Karal. He