Tarak
I am commander Tarak of the scourges.
When I order my crew to storm a ship, the air stinks of death and disease. The ship is filled with thin and sickly creatures that are barely capable of survival, let alone space flight. Jettisoning them all from the airlock would be merciful.
That is until a pitiful creature approaches me. Grime coats her hair and skin, and liquid leaks from her eyes. She must be infested with a disease.
There's a flash of defiance in her bright green eyes as they lock with mine, and she whispers one word that changes everything.
"Pet."
Kayla
I am Kayla, a xenobiologist on a starship from Earth. We encounter a series of mishaps—the destruction of our food supply, falling into a wormhole, and then encountering aliens, scourges, who threaten the lives of my crew.
There’s a myth; invoke an ancient word, and they may spare us. I approach the scourge commander and utter the word.
His pupils dilate into black pools, and a shiver races up my spine.
He flings a collar at me, and it clatters at my feet.
That collar represents everything I am against but wearing it could save my people.
I make a vow; I will accept the collar, but he will never own my soul.
—-
The Human Pet: A Sci-Fi Romance is a full novel of 74,920 words that includes slow burn, language barriers, forced proximity, and fated mates. It also includes fish-out-of-water and "touch her and die” elements.
This story was first serialized on Kindle Vella in 2022.
