Текст книги "Valiant"
Автор книги: Laurann Dohner
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The man jerked his eyes to Justice. He nodded, terrified. “I will. Just get him off me.”
Valiant released him and backed up. He shook with rage. The urge to kill nearly overwhelmed him. This was the human who had taken Tammy to a warehouse to be thrown in with an imprisoned Species for a breeding experiment. It took everything he had not to lunge and tear out his throat.
“Is she still alive?” Tiger inched closer to intimidate.
“She was when I left a little while ago. 927 won’t fuck her and he didn’t kill her.”
Justice moved, blocking Valiant when he took a step toward the human on the floor. Justice shook his head.
“Control.”
“I am.” Valiant growled.
Justice turned his furious glare on the human. “What is your name?”
“Pete.”
Justice blinked. “You are going to take us to this warehouse. What is the security there? How many guards are protecting the site? A re they heavily armed?”
Pete stared at him. “You mean how many men are guarding it? None. It’s just me, Mike and the doctor.”
Tiger growled. “Lie. They would never guard a testing facility with just three men.”
Pete turned his terrified eyes to the cat-eyed man glaring at him. “It’s not one. We just brought the one from the testing facility in Colorado. The doctor wanted to bring more of them but we have to wait until more men are available to build more cells to hold them. Right now it’s just the one we have and just the three of us can handle him.”
“You are going to take us there but first you are going to tell us where this testing facility in Colorado is located.” Justice demanded. “A nd you are going to do it now.”
Valiant roared again. The man on the floor nodded frantically, his terrified gaze locked on Valiant.
“I will. A nything you want. Just stay away from me.”
He rattled off an address.
Justice shot Tiger a look. Tiger nodded, grabbed his back pocket and flipped out his cell phone. He gave the address to the person he spoke to. He paused.
“How many New Species are being kept there? What is the security like?”
The man closed his mouth. “They’ll kill me.”
Justice growled and clapped his hands once. The men from upstairs came down and surrounded the cowering human. Pete stared at the eight New Species closing in on him. The smell of his fear became so strong Valiant could almost taste it.
“You talk or we start at your toes and fingers. It is amazing how many bones can be broken before shock starts to kill a man.” Justice growled, inching closer.
“A nswer my questions.”
“Don’t do it,” Pete rasped. “Fuck. Just stay back.
There should be eighty-two males and six females there unless some of them were moved over the last week when I left there. Security is tight.” He paused.
“Keep talking,” Valiant growled at him. “Where would they be moved to? Where are the other testing facilities?”
“It’s not like that,” the guy hissed. “When the first testing facilities were breached, people panicked. We found an abandoned building and it took us some months to prepare the new location to hold them.
Everyone was scared shitless that our testing facility would be discovered, we wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, but it takes time to build sturdy enough holding cells to keep your kind locked up. We moved them to the address I gave you and sometimes we lend some of them out to a few of the other doctors who weren’t arrested. I don’t have nothing to do with that and I don’t know anything except sometimes a handful of them disappear but are later returned. You’re going to have to talk to the doctor about where they go and who has them. He’s in charge. Nothing gets done without his approval. His name is A dam Zenlelt.”
“How many guards are there? Where are our people?”
“They are being kept underground on the second level. It used to be a parking lot two floors down but they enclosed it to house those bastards. They usually have about twelve guards topside and maybe six downstairs. I don’t know all the doctors and support staff but I’d guess maybe twenty in all onsite during a work shift.”
“Is it rigged with explosives?” Tiger growled.
Pete shrugged. “Hell if I know. I’m not security. I’m just the doctor’s assistant. Me and Mike are the muscle.
That’s all. We take care of 927 and whatever test subjects the doctor personally is working with.”
“What about Tammy?” Valiant moved closer, glaring.
“Tell me everything.”
The man swallowed. “We threw her into the cell with 927. He killed the last two women we put in with him.
He just fucking killed them. He’s crazy. He won’t kill your bitches but he kills regular ones like me.” He slammed his mouth shut. “That came out wrong. You know what I mean. He broke through the partition we have in place to keep him back when we open the cell door. He sniffed her a lot and she was yakking up a storm to him trying to get him not to kill her. He just took her to his bed and lay down with her. When I left he was feeding her, and hell, he tore up the meat for her. It was freaky. If he will use his teeth to make bite-sized chucks she can eat, sleep with her, then you would assume he would fuck her. We think he’s gay.”
“He slept on her?” Valiant growled.
“He slept on her?” Valiant growled.
The man winced. “Well, it is kind of cold at night and we don’t give him blankets.”
“Calm,” Justice ordered Valiant. “He did not breed her.” His gaze fixed on Pete. “Right?”
The man shook his head. “I told you. We think he’s gay.”
“What does that mean?” Tiger frowned.
The man on the floor hesitated. “We think he likes men. She isn’t a man. He won’t do her.”
Tiger laughed. “You think because he won’t breed her that he is physically attracted to men?” He shook his head. “Did you ever think he might not be into forcing women?” His smile died and he growled. “That is your sickness to want to rape them, not ours.”
“Well, I never grabbed a woman and snapped her neck but he did it,” Pete ground out. “Two of them and trust me, they were smoking hot. I would have done them in a heartbeat if someone had tossed them at me.
He didn’t even talk before he killed them.” Pete snapped his fingers. “Just like that.”
Justice frowned, his gaze pausing on each man inside the room.
Tiger softly cursed. “He’s either gone over the edge or he had a good reason for killing helpless females. We will find out.”
Justice nodded grimly. He turned his full attention to the prisoner. “Pete? We are going on a road trip. You will lead us to where you took Tammy.”
“I’ll do it. I have no choice. Just back off.”
Justice motioned his men back with a wave of his hand. Pete crawled to his feet on shaky legs. He glanced at Justice, who obviously was in charge.
“I want immunity against being prosecuted in a court of law for kidnapping and anything else the cops want to tack on. You promise me that and I will drive you there myself and take you right to 927.”
Justice blinked a few times before a slow smile spread across his face. “I swear I will give you immunity from your law. It is a deal. Take us to the woman and the New Species now.”
The man stared at Justice. “You can do that, right?
Give me immunity?”
Justice’s smile died and his eyes narrowed. “I am New Species law. I am Justice. I can give you anything I wish. This is a Species matter that does not involve your law unless I say it does. I give you my word as Justice North that your cops will not send you to prison if you help us. Now let’s go.”
The man nodded. “Sure. I don’t want to go to prison.
It’s just a good-paying job. I’m going to need some money too, just to get me a started. I want a hundred grand.”
Justice was grim. He jerked his head in a nod. “You got it. You will get the money after we get the woman back, verify that the testing facility in Colorado is where you say it is and our people are there.”
Pete smiled, looking less frightened. “I understand.
Let’s go. It’s not too far from here.”
* * * * *
Tammy laughed. “No. I’m not defective. There are a lot of women my size.”
927 nodded. “I did not mean to offend you if I implied you have physical imperfections.”
“None taken. I’ve seen a few of your women and they are really tall. I understand how you could think that way. I am short for the average woman. I—”
927 suddenly moved, cutting off her words. He lifted to his feet in a heartbeat and reached for Tammy. She gasped as his hands gripped her arms and she was yanked to her feet. She ended up behind the large man.
He tensed and growled toward the cell door.
The older man and Mike walked up to the cell door.
Tammy got a glimpse of them before 927 shoved her back and used one hand to keep her in place behind him.
He was too wide to see around and far too tall. A nother deep and vicious growl tore from his throat.
“I see you like her.” The older man chuckled. “You need to breed her, 927.” The man’s voice hardened. “I’m going to have Mike pull out his gun and kill her if you don’t.”
Fear tore through Tammy. Why would they do that?
“Yeah,” Mike laughed. “See this gun? Boom! The doctor is tired of waiting while you court the bitch. Just bend her over and find the right hole. It shouldn’t be too hard. I know you like men but just pretend.”
“Enough!” The older man sighed. “I keep telling you boys that he’s not a homosexual. He’s bred with his females in the past. It is unaltered females he has issues with.”
“Maybe he realized he’s attracted to men. It happens.
I had a cousin who came out of the closet in his thirties.
He married someone and they had four kids before he told his wife.”
The older man sighed louder. “927? Either breed her or step out of the way and allow Mike to put her down.
It’s that simple. You seem to like her and I’m sure you’ll breed her. You are doing this just to piss me off. I understand that but my patience is at an end. I have wasted enough time.”
“You will have to shoot through me,” 927 warned, his voice dropping to a scary growl.
There was silence. The older man finally spoke. “I’ll gas your cell and when you are out, we will get her. I’d hate to do that because I’d have to order the gas but I can get it by the end of the day. Breed her or move out of the way.”
“Gas us,” 927 growled.
Tammy’s terror was instant. “Gas us?” She gasped.
927 turned his head and stared at her. “Do you want to breed with me? They will take you from me afterward and you will be alive until he decides he has learned what he wants. They will strap you down and hurt you. They did this to our females. They cried and screamed.
Sometimes they would take our females to other males to breed with and it would start again. Is this the life you wish?”
She shook her head. Definitely not.
He nodded. “Do you want me to move to allow him to shoot you? Is all of your hope gone now?”
She shook her head again. “I’m not ready to die.”
“They will have to gas us. It will take time,” he whispered.
Tammy stared into his eyes and nodded. “Gas us.”
927 flashed her a smile and turned. His smile gone, he said, “Order your gas. It is the only way you will get her from me.”
“Fuck,” Mike growled. “Let me shoot through him, Doc. I’m pretty sure I can miss all the vital organs. He’ll recover.”
“It was just a ruse to get him to breed with her. We’ll drug his food. He’ll have to eat or drink at some point.
Turn off the water to his cell. Once he takes the drugs he’ll be forced to breed her. I didn’t want to cloud this experiment but he’s too stubborn. We’ll have to use the breeding drugs. Perhaps if it doesn’t take the first time we can get him to breed her without the drugs after he’s had her once.”
“Why don’t we just gas their asses, force him to give up his goodies, and inject them into the bitch if you want to see if she can get a doggy in her oven?”
“I tried to explain this to you already.” The older man sighed. “We’ve been testing them for years. Their sperm is different than ours. We discovered that during intercourse their sperm load is high but only if they are aroused. When it is manipulated manually, if we force their sperm, their count is substantially lower. It also has a very short lifespan. It dies quickly, almost within a minute, and until we can figure out if it’s because of being exposed to oxygen or if it’s a temperature issue, we can’t effectively resolve the problem. We lost a lot of our equipment when we abandoned our facility. I need him to breed her naturally for there to even be a chance of success.”
“Why didn’t it work with the animal bitches?”
“The females aren’t producing any viable eggs. It is only the males who have the ability to reproduce. I need to make a few calls to order the drugs I need and see where we are on the transfers. The men are coming tomorrow to enclose more space and add in four more cells. If this one won’t breed her, maybe the other males will.”
Mike laughed. “Wow, you are going to have her doing five of them? Think she’ll survive that?”
“I don’t know. It depends on if the other four kill her or not. This is important work.”
“Who gives a shit if they can breed?”
The older man hesitated. “We lost the ability to make more of them a long time ago. We haven’t been able to replicate what the doctor who created them did. Every attempt has failed. It is faster to deal with their reproductive issues than to start from scratch to try to replicate how they were created. We tried that for years and couldn’t do it. If you enjoy getting paid we have to figure this out. When Mercile got busted, all their assets were frozen. We’ve nearly run out of the money we transferred out before that happened. We’ve had to turn to more creative ways to make money off them and figuring this out is a priority.”
“Wouldn’t they be weaker if you breed them with regular bitches?”
“No. They have very aggressive and dominant, engineered genes. They will come out fully engineered just the way we made them to be if we can breed them with humans.”
“Cool.”
“Cool is if we can work out the problem and get this one to impregnate her. We’ll be able to breed our remaining males to regular woman and have hundreds of products within the first year. Think of the profit margin and how quickly we can replace the ones lost. We’ve learned a lot over the years and won’t make the same mistakes with the younger ones. The newborns will be trained from birth to take orders.”
“Way cool.”
“It’s more about survival. We’re probably all wanted by the police and unless you want to flee to some third-world country to sell trinkets to tourists, you better get on board fast to make this work. This is going to keep a paycheck coming your way.”
“Damn.” Mike looked grim. “I didn’t know things were that desperate.”
“Let’s leave them while I make those phone calls.
Maybe he’ll breed her soon. He hasn’t had use of a female in a long time. It was another reason I wanted him. His resistance has to be down.”
Tammy listened but she didn’t hear them anymore.
She watched 927 carefully. His body finally relaxed and he released her arm, turning to look down at her.
“You are frightened.” He inhaled. “I would not allow them to take you.”
“It is because of what they were saying.” She stared up at him in horror. “They want us to have children they can train to obey them? A nd what does product mean?”
She knew the answer, but it was so horrible to contemplate, she just needed it confirmed.
“We are products. I have heard this before. First we were to help them create drugs that they tested on our bodies. Now they always talk about needing money and wanted to force us to fight for them and I’ve even overheard them say they want to sell us. I listen often and heard their plot to create more of us, younger ones, who do not know of their cruel ways. The think they can fool the young ones into becoming what we refused to be.”
“That’s horrible.” A nd evil. Vile. Sick. Heartless. She stopped before she started cussing.
“That’s why I had no choice in what I did to the women. I saw what they did to our women for years, trying to force their bodies to breed. You could not survive inside your mind and your weaker body would break. Our females are stronger.”
“That part was true? That you killed the other women they brought? I thought they were trying to scare me.”
He hesitated. “They were screaming when they saw me and terrified. They were crying and weeping. They fell apart at the sight of me. I knew they would not last through breeding or be strong enough to face the testing. They would be passed from cell to cell the way our women have been during their breeding tests. It got worse recently and they focused on breeding tests. They would make our females breed with eight or nine of us.
We refused, if they refused. Most of our women grew very sad but we tried to keep them strong. It was at least contact, and we treated each other well. Our females have very difficult lives. It was a mercy I killed the humans painlessly. Their suffering would have been greater by far, every moment they lived. Our women have shared what was done to them during the testing the doctors did to their bodies away from us.” He shivered. “They would have killed the women anyway, if they had managed to survive the breeding and tests. I would prefer to die. It was fast and painless. It was kinder to kill them before they were tortured to the point of insanity.”
“That’s what is in store for me?”
He nodded grimly. “You are stronger. You didn’t scream and cry loudly when they brought you. You put yourself into a corner and talked to me. You said things that made me know you might be strong enough to survive and I realized you were honest. You must survive and give your Valiant time to find you. I will not harm you and will treat you as well as my own females if they make us breed. You must survive the testing when they torture you. You must do what you have done with me if they take you to other males. You need to talk to them and do not scream. They will scent me on you. You must keep your mind strong. Our females survive it because we comfort them. I will comfort you, Tammy.”
Tammy wanted to cry but fought tears. The man was so calm about telling her what kind of hell she might have to endure. 927 slowly moved closer. Tammy didn’t protest when he lifted her into his arms, walked to the bed, and sat with her on his lap. His arms hugged her tightly to his warm body.
“I will protect you in weakness. You cry, little one with pretty eyes. You have been very brave. I will hold you and you know I am here.”
“Thank you.” Tammy let go of the small bit of control she had left. She clung to the man holding her and cried softly against his chest.
They were going to make him breed her and planned to bring more New Species and toss her at them too.
They’d take her baby away as if it were a puppy or a kitten if they succeeded. They would probably keep breeding her until she wasn’t of any use anymore before they killed her. How many babies will they steal from my arms before it ends?
Tammy made a decision while she cried. She’d be strong, she’d do whatever it took, but she’d fight to live.
Valiant would find her. Maybe not soon but eventually.
She just needed to pray she didn’t get pregnant if the worst happened. She didn’t want to give those assholes a helpless baby to torment.
Chapter Fifteen
The building was an old warehouse. There was one car in the parking area, no other businesses or homes nearby, and two metal doors seemed to be the only way in unless they climbed high to windows near the roof. On the back side of the building an old docking ramp sat against a thick metal garage door. Their team had parked a mile back and made the human walk with them. Pete had complained every step of the way. Valiant was ready to kill him but Justice wouldn’t allow him the pleasure.
“There are only two ways in or out and they have alarms,” the human explained softly. “There aren’t any outside cameras. I told you that. I don’t know why you sneaked up on the place.”
Justice shot him a glare. “Be quiet unless we tell you to open your mouth.”
“Fine,” the human said. “Be that way. I’m helping you.”
Tiger motioned to the team and they surged forward to the front of the warehouse while a few broke off to approach from the back. They didn’t want to be seen until they breached the building. Valiant feared the two men inside would kill Tammy and the Species male they held captive if given the chance.
Justice glanced at the human. “We will move quickly.
You are in front. You get those doors open fast and stay silent. If you try anything, I will kill you or allow him to do it.” He pointed to Valiant. “I’d be kinder.”
A soft growl instantly tore from Valiant’s throat. He wanted to hurt the human badly for touching Tammy and helping to bring her to this place in the woods. Not even Justice or the entire team of males would save Pete if she was dead. He’d go through them to kill him.
“I understand.” Pete reeked of fear. “I want that money you promised and you don’t have to keep threatening me. I’m doing what you want. Immunity, right? A nd I get the hundred grand?”
“Yes,” Justice nodded. “Get us inside. Let’s go.”
They moved as one. The team crept up to the front doors. Pete punched in the code, the alarm beeped, and he swung open one of the metal doors. Eight heavily armed New Species and the human inched inside. He’d given Justice, Valiant, and Tiger the inside layout and they knew what to expect. One of the New Species grabbed Pete the second they entered the building and put a knife to his throat.
“Do not move or make a sound,” the man growled softly at him.
Pete blinked and froze. He kept his mouth firmly closed.
Valiant had to refrain from rushing forward to a dividing wall that blocked his view of where Tammy should be. He sniffed the air and Justice suddenly grabbed his arm, flashing him a warning look. He nodded, understood they needed to proceed cautiously.
Tiger waved his fingers in the air, dividing the men to spread out to find the humans. Valiant could pick up two scents, both of which seemed to be coming from a room near them. A s soon as the team with Tiger closed in, Valiant moved. Tammy!
Valiant’s heart rate increased when he inhaled a faint trace of her scent. The sweet smell of her fear nearly drove him insane. It tore at him that he hadn’t been there to protect her. A s he and Justice silently moved through the warehouse the scent grew stronger. They passed the dividing wall and Valiant got his first glimpse of the bars and the front of the cell. Justice suddenly reached out and grabbed him.
“Do not spook him. Go slow and remain calm. We do not know what condition he is in. We do not want him to harm her.”
Valiant forced his instincts back, knew how unstable a captured Species could be, and had to keep it together for Tammy’s sake. “I know.”
The body against Tammy tensed. 927’s hand froze on her back and suddenly he lifted her up. The man was strong. He went from sitting position to standing with her held inside his arms in an instant. She sniffed and wiped at her tears. Her gaze flew to his.
“What is it?”
He inhaled. She saw shock in his eyes. He looked at her. “I smell them.”
“Who?”
His gaze jerked to the cell doors. “Valiant and another of my kind.”
Tammy’s head twisted to stare through the bars toward the divider where they’d have to enter. Her heart pounded and she wiggled inside his arms.
“Put me down! You smell Valiant? A re you sure?”
He nodded as he bent, placing her on her feet.
Tammy saw movement and Valiant stepped into her sight. Justice was to his immediate right, gripping his arm, and both men were dressed in all black outfits.
Their hair had been pulled back from their faces. Justice held a gun in his hand while Valiant gripped a deadly-looking knife in his. Tammy lunged toward the wall of the cage.
“Valiant!”
She hit the bars and reached her arms out through them. Valiant rushed forward to grasp her hands in his.
The knife clattered to the floor and he reached for her.
He leaned against the cage, lowered his head, pressed his face to the bars until their skin touched forehead to forehead in the small space. His golden eyes looked suspiciously wet as their gazes held.
“I found you.” His voice came out raspy, choked with emotion.
Tears flowed down her cheeks but she didn’t try to rein them in. “I knew you would.”
He released her hands and reached through the bars to cup her face. His thumb brushed away her tears. His other hand reached in and gripped her hip. She wished the bars didn’t separate them. She wanted him to hold her but he couldn’t.
“A re you hurt?”
“I’m fine. I was just scared.” She suddenly remembered they weren’t alone. She turned her head enough to glance back into the cell but not enough to break contact with Valiant.
927 remained standing where she’d left him. He stared at Valiant and Justice with open curiosity and wonder. He remained utterly quiet and motionless.
Tammy glanced at Valiant and then Justice, who stood nearby in a relaxed stance, staring back at 927.
“This is 927,” Tammy said softly. “927, this is Valiant and that is Justice North. He’s the one I told you about who leads your people. I told you they would find us if there was a chance.”
Justice finally spoke. “I am Justice, formerly known as 152. We will get you both out of the cage as soon as our men secure the two humans who’ve kept you captive and bring the keys.” Justice straightened. His gaze never left 927. “You are free now. We are here to take you home to our people. You will be a part of a loving and caring family we’ve established and you will never know imprisonment again. You are a man now and no longer to be known just as a number. You’ll have a real name once you decide on one.”
Tammy glanced at 927 to see his reaction. He blinked rapidly when his eyes seemed to grow watery and lowered his head until his dark hair hid his features.
A few deep breaths later he seemed to get his emotions under control. His head lifted and he stared at Justice.
“I would be very happy to have a home and a name.”
Justice smiled. “Having a home is a wonderful thing.
You’ll be happy with us and I’m sure you’ll pick a perfect name.”
Tammy fought back tears while watching a miracle take place—for 927, after a lifetime of being a prisoner.
He would finally know freedom. Tammy smiled and stared at Valiant. She reached up and touched his face.
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too, sexy.” Valiant darted a look at the man behind Tammy. His eyes lowered to hers and his features tensed. “Did he harm you in any way?”
“No.”
Valiant relaxed but he kept touching Tammy and she understood why. They were both grateful to be back together. Tiger rushed into the back of the warehouse, jingling as he ran.
“Both of the assholes are alive and secure. I have keys to his cage.” He pulled a ring of them out from a pocket in his vest. He peered at 927 before glancing at Justice. “Is he stable? Should I call for backup with a package?”
“No need.” Justice accepted the keys. “He’s fine.” He moved to the door. “I’m going to let you out now.”
The second the door swung open, Valiant entered the cell and grabbed Tammy. He scooped her off her feet and almost squeezed her to death in a bear hug while he backed them out of her prison. She didn’t mind at all, just hugging him tightly back, and rested her head against his shoulder to watch what would happen next.
Tiger chuckled. “He’s happy to see her.”
Justice smiled. “Yes.” He turned his attention on 927.
The man stood motionless inside his cell. Justice slowly entered the room, an expression of dread on his features.
“I hate entering these cages. They bring back so many bad memories.” He paused just inside the door.
“A re you ready to leave here and start your new life?”
927 hesitated. “I’m really free from this, from all of it?”
“Yes. There are more of us outside waiting to greet you. We will help you learn how to live beyond these bars. We all had to do it and it is frightening at first.
Humans had to help us adjust to our new way of life but it will be easier for you now that we’re in charge. We will take you home now.”
927 took one step and then another until he walked out of his cage. He stopped next to Tammy. Valiant swung her down to stand on her feet at her silent urging.
She stared up at the New Species who could have hurt her but hadn’t. She smiled when he spoke softly.
“You did tell me the truth.”
“I did. You’re free,” Tammy said softly.
Valiant studied him intently and held out his hand.
“Thank you for not harming her. She is everything to me.
My heart and soul. The reason I breathe.”
927 glanced at the offered hand with confusion.
“Shaking hands is a custom we picked up from humans,” Justice explained. He moved forward and shook Valiant’s hand. “We shake the hands of males as a sign of respect.”
927 shook Valiant’s hand. “You are welcome. I treated her as I wished another would treat a female I cared for. You must be very happy to be loved so greatly by her.”
Valiant pulled Tammy closer against his body. “I have never been happier in my life.”
“I’m Tiger.” He stepped closer. “I’m head of security at Reservation. It’s where your home will be while you adjust to freedom. You’re going to love it there. There are miles to run and all the deer you can take down.”
Tiger grinned. “No more bars and there are trees as far as your eyes can see. The sky is beautiful. We’ll have some disgusting-tasting beers and watch the sun rise and set. You will hate the taste of the human drink but you’ll do it because it’s an experience.” He grinned. “You’ll see.”
927 blinked hard. Tammy saw his tears though before he could get control of his emotions. She fought the urge to cry too. Had the guy ever seen the sun rise or set? Ever seen no walls surrounding him or trees as far as the eye could see? She knew the answer and it just about broke her heart.
Two more New Species slowly entered the room, almost seeming fearful of spooking 927. They each said their name and introduced themselves to him. He seemed a little overwhelmed at seeing so many New Species males or it could have just still been the shock of being freed. Tammy understood. She squeezed Valiant’s hand and eased out of his hold.
