Esayr was right. In a pinch, I could just slam my hand against every door on our hall until ours opened for me. It wasn't the most efficient mode of getting back to our room, but it worked. I paced the length of the living room to our suite, trying to quell the panic and the anger that threatened to overflow every time my mind replayed the conversation I'd had with my friends. The shame? I couldn't do much about that.

Embarrassment heated my cheeks. I'd gone into that phone call...almost excited. Maybe even a little giddy. Now I just felt like a fool.

Addy...are you sure you aren't being swayed? We've gotten a different view of the people on the ship than you have. Are you sure he's being honest? They'd asked me carefully after I'd told them how kind Esayr had been to me and how much he seemed to care for me.

"I know. The government has been spewing all kinds of misinformation." I'd answered and they shared a look.

We know they haven't been forthright, but Addy...you have to know...even that girl Cecelia Bird has released news about it? My friends hedged, not sure how they could break the news to me, as if I were some naïve girl who'd fallen for the bad boy that was bound to break her heart.

"Know about what?" Was I fool?

They bought you, Addy. The payment has been made. A sum equivalent to your average yearly income...and the net worth of all bits and pieces of a human woman, down to every organ. Paid directly to the government at the city, state, and federal level. $3,126,472.67. That was how much you cost, Addy and they paid it. They own you. Nat was the one who broke the news to me. Nat was the one to remind me that I was just some naïve girl who'd fallen for the bad boy that was bound to break her heart.

Saying it felt like I'd had ice water splashed on me wasn't enough. It was in my veins creeping up along my arms causing the hairs to stand on end. It leeched any strength I'd felt like I had. Any happiness and joy that I'd come into that meeting to see my friends with, any of the stories I had wanted to tell them of living on this ship for this short time just...disappeared.

"They bought me?"

They bought me. They bought me. They bought me. The thought echoed over and over in my mind, not allowing me one moment of respite. I couldn't go anywhere without hearing it and seeing my friend's pitying gazes as I realized I'd been made a fool.

I grabbed one of the cushions off of the couch and flung it against the far wall. I had never been a violent person, but I needed some kind of release.

The door to our room whooshed open and Esayr nearly tumbled in, in a rush, "Addy! I went to the Comm bay and they'd said you'd lef—"

"Get out," my voice was quiet; deadly.

Esayr seemed to realize something was very wrong, because he halted near immediately, still in the kitchen, where he had been advancing on me, likely to offer some kind of...comfort. "What's happened?"

"Get. Out." I stared at the wall that I'd launched the pillow at. I couldn't look at him. Not when he'd gone ahead and bought me. I was livestock. I would always be livestock. Tagged and traded. It was all the same, wasn't it?

"Look at me, Addy."

My breath came out as a hiss between my teeth, "I don't want to ever look at you again." I felt it like a wound in my chest, but it wasn't mine. "Get out...and don't come back. I don't ever want to see you again. Do you understand me? I'm done. I'll wait out the rest of my time here. You can spend your time elsewhere." That wound hurt a little bit more.

"Addy...please."

"Addison. My name is Addison." That one – that one hurt the worst, I thought. I sucked in a breath with that physical blow. "I'll be in the communications bay tomorrow as early as I can be. You can come and get anything you need here while I'm gone."

"Please," was all he whispered.

"You said you'd give me anything I wanted. I want you out."

There was a beat of silence and then the sounds of footsteps retreating. I'd almost thought myself lucky, but just before Esayr left, he gave me one last declaration, "Addison. I swear to be here for you should you need me. Always remember you are my heart, my soul, and my love. I'm sorry. I don't know what for, but whatever it is that has happened to cause this reaction was done in error." There was a pause, offering me a moment to explain and maybe a should have, but the scent of anger and fear was swirling in the room around us, burning my eyes and choking my throat like smoke, "I love you. Ka'val dornn karanaio (I love you.)"

That one sent me to my knees after he'd left. I don't know how long I cried for, but the room was dark by the time I finally dragged myself to the bedroom to sleep. The bed smelled like us, but I was too tired to bother with moving anywhere again.

He bought me. They bought me as if I were something to be bartered. How can they possibly stand there and insist I'm free and equal in this relationship when they bought me?

The news reporters comment about the fact that the Val'Dornn would eventually come to the conclusion to tag us chased me, making sleep impossible. Would they come to treat us like the purchases we were?

Not you, Addy. You're free after 6 months...But everyone else? That's a problem for everyone else. The thought snaked through my mind quick and vicious. Should I warn them?

*****A/N*****

This chapter isn't as happy as the previous ones. It's been in the plan since the beginning, and I'm loathe to type it up now as I've fallen in love with these two and just want them to "kiss already" so to speak. I'm as invested in them as you are, moreso than I ever thought I would be. Let's see how Esayr can make up for this blunder.

Love always,

Layla