3013: Renegade by Susan Hayes

on Colin’s face as he stared at her. Longing. She had expected anger, condemnation or even a gleam of greed. Instead he was looking at her as if she was the most incredible thing in existence. For the first time in her life, words failed her.
    He reached for her slowly and she was surprised to see his hands were shaking. His fingertips danced over the surface of her skin, tracing the scrollwork tattoo that few people had ever seen.
    “Is she?” Nikolai asked, his tone almost reverent.
    “She is. We found her, Griz.” Colin’s gaze met hers and he spoke the words that Alayna had hoped she’d never hear. “We chose you, Alayna.”
    “No!” This wasn’t happening. The universe wasn’t so fucking cruel that it would take away her freedom over a night’s pleasure and a few stolen hours of sleep.
    “Yes.” Both men spoke at once.
    “You know the law, Alayna. You’re not allowed to deny a claim,” Colin added.
    “Like hell I’m not. I don’t want this. I don’t want you! Either of you. If you don’t let me go I swear I’ll make your life a living hell, and the first time you turn your back I’m going to be gone. I’m not going to give up my life to be your sex slave! I have people who depend on me. You can’t do this!”
    “We can. We will. And if you run from us, we’ll come find you and bring you home again. Hold her still, Griz.” Colin reached for something beyond her range of vision and Alayna knew she was running out of time. Fear and fury fueled her actions and she fought Nikolai’s hold with everything she had.
    “I’m trying. Our minx is stronger than she looks.” Nikolai grunted in pain as she managed to dig an elbow into his ribs.
    Colin held up a small device, letting her see it clearly. She’d never seen one before, but there was no mistaking what it was. They were going to mark her right here and now, and once it was done there would be no escape. She would wear their initials on the left side of her face for the rest of her life, branded as property just like they once marked livestock. It would mean the end of everything.
    Alayna found herself begging. “Please, don’t do this. You don’t want me. I hate the Alliance. I was raised in the badlands. I have lousy manners, I swear. Fuck, I ran away less than a week after they tested me. I haven’t even had the full array of enhancements. You two can do better.”
    “Alayna, stop it,” Nikolai growled in her ear. “Please stop. We do want you. I know you’re not going to believe that yet, but you will, in time. We’ll prove it to you. You’re perfect for us.”
    “One night of good sex does not mean we’re meant to be together forever,” she argued and Colin laughed.
    “Princess, that wasn’t good sex. That was incredible, mind-blowing sex. And we’re going to have lots more of it. But that’s not the reason we’re claiming you. We want someone we actually like. Someone who can laugh with us and not be afraid to tell us what they’re feeling. We actually want a pain in the ass with a smart mouth.” He tapped a finger to the tip of her nose. “That sound like someone you know?”
    “But I have people who need me. They’ll wonder where I am!”
    “You can tell them tomorrow, and they’ll be welcome to come see you whenever they want. With any luck I’ll like your family more than I like mine.” Nikolai said.
    There was no point in fighting any longer. Nikolai was far stronger than she was, and they were not going to be dissuaded from their plan. She stopped struggling and went still. “If you do this, I’ll hate you.”
    “I hope not,” Colin murmured and touched the device to the left side of her face. He moved so quickly that it was done before she had time to do more than blink. A brief tingle was all she felt. It seemed wrong somehow that something so life altering could happen so fast. She was theirs, from now until their deaths.
    Right now she was very tempted to shorten their life spans herself.