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that was difficult to decipher was spoken, and the words were barked as an order.
    She focused on English and muttered, “I am sorry; I don’t understand.”
    They paused and discussed her. One man came over and grabbed her wrists, pulling them gently but firmly away from her face.
    She squinted and blinked into the light, and the masculine laughter took on a distinctly unpleasantly familiar tone. The man who was holding her wrists tied them together and pulled her to her feet. The men were talking amongst each other, and gradually, she could make out enough of what they were saying that she had to fight to keep down her ration bar.
    If Helbri needed his target out in the open, he was going to get it. This little group was looking for any woman or man who possessed any measure of beauty. Tomorrow, beauty would be sacrificed in the forum, and their master would do the honours.
    They congratulated themselves on finding an alien, as the locals were too good at hiding when a sacrifice was announced.
    One member of the group asked at the convenience of finding an alien woman on her own.
    The others told him to shut it. It was obviously a case of the gods providing their own sacrifice.
    Cleo kept her mouth shut and walked along with them. It was a long evening, but when they stumbled into the city, lights flared up in a runway pattern, and her captors hauled her toward the large pool of light at the far end of the path.
    A wide courtyard was filled with smart-looking guards. She tried to look afraid as she was handed over to the military with her original captors getting a bag that clicked and jingled.
    The guard that took her by the bindings on her wrists cut the cord and released her. He spoke in slow Alliance Common. “There is no need for this, is there?”
    She shook her head slowly. “Where am I?”
    “You are on Ytheera, and you are very fortunate. Your arrival at this time makes you a symbol of wealth and beauty. Do you wish to rest and refresh?”
    “I do.” She looked at her grubby hands and the dirt and tears in her clothing. “Please.”
    He smiled kindly, and deep inside, Cleo painted a target on him. He knew what was being planned for her, and yet, he was coaxing her along like a shy little lamb.
    She really wanted to grab his gun and blast her way out, but that wouldn’t stop another woman or man from being raped and slaughtered the following day.
    She knew what was on the agenda for the cult leader, and there was a grim happiness knowing that Helbri was not going to miss. Cleo would have to get herself out of the city, but Helbri was not going to miss.
     
    Quiet women bustled around her and removed her clothing before leading her into a deep bath. Without exception, each of the women had had their faces carved up.
    Cleo didn’t ask why. She didn’t have to. The monster that controlled the area liked to kill those with outward beauty.
    She didn’t want to get anyone into trouble, so she played in the water, finally relaxing on a submerged bench while a woman massaged a heavily lathering substance into her hair. When spots began to appear in front of her vision, Cleo turned to look at the woman washing her hair. Her blood ran cold when she saw the man who was planning a particularly unpleasant end to her tomorrow.
    She shrieked and pushed away from him, splashing back into the wide pool before surfacing with her mind being consumed by a blanket of numbness.
    Hands fished her out of the pool and laid her on a table nearby.
    Cleo fought for personal control as the master stroked her with long fingers and fondled her breasts and belly.
    “Lovely. You will make a fitting sacrifice to the dark lord.”
    She squirmed on the table, and he chuckled.
    “The paralytic you were given will keep you docile for hours. Are you a virgin?” He snaked one hand between her thighs.
    Her brows snapped together, and she jerked violently. He laughed. “It doesn’t matter. The dark lord is not fussy. He will take you as you