RK Munin - Loving Captivity: Human Pets of Talin, Book 1

Loving Captivity

Human Pets of Talin, Book 1

By RK Munin

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved:

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author.

Copyright: RK Munin, 2021

Cover Illustration by RK Munin, 2021

Warning: Author is dyslexic as hell.

So much appreciation to: Martha Collin who did the first read-through and put up with my whining, my constant questions, and my anxiety! Youre a Rockstar and a good friend.

And special thanks to: Lauren Meghoo who was kind enough to read my work, see all the mistakes and contact me to offer help. You have a big heart and a kind soul.

Feel free to contact me with questions, requests, or comments on any of my social media sites (all basic rules of human decency apply):

Instagram: @rkmunin

Facebook: RK Munin

Twitter: @muninRK

Blog on WordPress: rkmunin

Email: rk.munin@gmail.com

And, as with many writers, your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or Kindle help immeasurably, even if its just clicking on the stars.

Thank you to all my readers!

Found a typo/mistake? Help a dyslexic out and send me an email: rk.munin@gmail.com

SYNOPSIS

Sold into slavery at the age of sixteen, Sora serves an abusive master for ten years. Then, to deal with his debts, she finds herself at auction again. Without her youth or any sought-after skills to make her valuable, her future looks bleak. Slaves like her rarely survive long, and she expects to suffer and die soon after shes bought, either as a mine slave or in a meat bordello.

Searin, Prime Son of Talin and one of two potential next Monarchs, is suffering the early effects of the Fading; losing his appetite. The next step will be to lose interest in working, then lying down and waiting to die. Those afflicted with the Fading are treated as if suffering from a shameful, self-inflicted disease. Theyre considered weak among the Talin, where love and bonding are strictly prohibited for the good of the species.

Searin is desperate enough to borrow his good friends pet human for quick cuddles to stave off the Fading. Humans are popular pets among the Talin. Perceived as weak, needy, and fragile, theyre almost rarely sold, even when they become old and infirm. Theyre prized possessions among his species.

Because humans need so much affection, according to Talin doctrine, to stay healthy and happy, theres no shame in cuddling or comforting a human pet. Finally, Searin decides he needs one of his own and considers himself fortunate when he finds Sora at the auction house. With the human home world Earth long ago destroyed, humans are rare and scattered across the galaxy in small communities. This little female is a prize, and he hopes shell come to trust him despite her previous experiences.

Sora isnt sure about this new master. Hes kind and gentle and wants to hold and carry her. It doesnt take long for her to come to trust him and realize that her new role is that of a pet, not a slave. Shes never lived in such comfort and finds herself feeling genuine affection for her new master.

Everything changes while Searins away and his sister manipulates the situation. Soon, secrets are revealed and consequences need to be faced. Can Searin figure out a way to be a good Prime Son but keep Sora and himself safe?

This is a standalone 90K word novel with an HEA. There will be a hot alien man, cuddling, and a heroine ready to face down the odds to keep the most important secret of her life safe. This novel is intended for 18+ audiences.

Trigger warning: There is talk about sexual assault.

DEDICATION

Thanks, Mom, for all the extra and frustrating hours you had to put in to teach my dyslexic butt how to read and write. You never once told me I couldnt do it. You never once discouraged me. When a high school English teacher told me I probably shouldnt waste time with college, you laughed in her face.

No matter how defeated I felt, you picked me up, brushed me off, and kept me going. I wish everyone could be as lucky as Im to have someone like you as their parent.

CHAPTER 1

For the second time in her life, Sora is waiting to be sold. The first time was at sixteen, when her uncle sold her to a wealthy man in the Orimax system. As a human is a bit of an oddity in that system, the alien that bought her thought it would be fun to have an unusual slave to show off when he traveled. She never had a specific job except to scuttle after him. Holding items, picking up things he discarded, and being ready to fetch and carry.

It wasnt hard work, but it was dangerous. When Master De got annoyed, he lashed out at anything close by, and she was often close by. Shed acquired a dozen scars over the years from his temper and had learned the hard way to drop to the floor and cover her face, waiting for his temper to expend itself.

Whimpering and softly crying helped, but pleading for him to stop only made it worse.

Now, after ten years, he's selling his slaves and fired most of his staff. The rumors are he gambled too much and now owes money to several powerful houses. She, along with the rest of his dozen slaves, were shipped off to a nearby auction house. Because she arrived covered in bruises and welts from his last temper tantrum, she was held back from the others so she could heal a little and increase her value.

Shes the last slave waiting to be sold that belonged to Master De.

It's a slow day at the auction house. Only a handful have stopped to look at her and inquire if she has any special skills. Master De never had her trained for any skilled tasks, but she tries to showcase her ability to learn. No potential buyer seems interested in what she can learn, only what she knows.

She worries as the days pass and only low offers are made on her. Low offers are for disposable slaves. Theres a good chance shell end up as a slave in a mine or bought by one of the cheap brothels. Both those options are a quick death sentence because half the time being sold to a cheap brothel ends up making you food for a species that accidentally kills when they mate because of frenzy or instinct.

Can you cook? a large insect-like alien called a Nimon asks her. Do you know anything about Seffi food requirements?

I assisted my masters cook many times, she tells him, stretching the truth so far that if it was a string, it would have broken. I have quick and nimble hands, good for preparing delicate cuisine.

But do you know how to cook Seffi foods? I need a cook that knows how to kill and prepare Oniron.

She doesn't even know what an Oniron is. I can learn quickly. If you give me access to a UniBase, I can do anything you request. She can tell by the way the Nimon strokes his palps together that he isn't pleased with her answer.

I need a skilled cook now, he grumbles. Your price is good, but I can't risk my house being poisoned by a cook that doesn't know how to prepare Oniron. He tucks his palps against his mouth and moves on.

Sora tries not to let her shoulders slump. Already the slaver who contracted to sell her was annoyed by the delay while she healed. He finally gave up on having her fully healed. He grumbled at how weak humans are and put her out to auction still bruised and wounded.

She tries to stand tall and pretend her back isnt in agony and her vision doesnt swim when she moves her head too fast, but without any special skills, no ones interested in buying her. With every day that passes, she's more likely to be sold off cheaply to a cut-rate pleasure house, often referred to as meat bordellos.