Page 34 of Through Uncharted Space

Keena brushed at her hair. “My master had my womb removed.”

Now Dakota froze. “What?” It took all her control to keep her voice down.

“So I did not accidentally get pregnant. He dislikes children and a woman’s belly full of child.”

“Was this your decision?”

Her pretty eyes looked confused. “I belong to him. I do not get to make decisions.”

Dakota’s jaw clenched until her teeth ached. Fighting back her rage took everything she had. “That is barbaric.”

“Barbaric are the men who force women to have child after child, and deny them any contraception,” Arda said.

“It is the way of things,” Keena said softly. “I am honored to be chosen by a man of Vero’s stature.”

Dakota shoved her hands on her hips, breathing deeply to find some calm. “If he was really a man, he’d take care of you.” She kept her voice low, her anger barely contained. “If the men of this planet weren’t cowards, they’d let you make your own choices.”

Arda tightened her arm around Keena. “I will make sure she gets some rest.” A curious look flowed over the woman’s striking face. “Is it true?”

“Is what true?” Dakota asked.

“That out there—” a jerk of her head into the air “—women make their own choices. Lead their own lives.”

“Yes. It’s true. You belong to no one but yourself. What makes a man any more important than a woman? Nothing. What gives a man the right to have control over you and your body?”

“Here it is the ancient teachings of the prophet,” Keena said.

“Prophet, my ass,” Dakota muttered.

Arda glanced over Dakota’s shoulder. “So you don’t belong to him?”

“Dare? No. I belong to me.”

“You look like you belong,” Keena said.

Dakota pinched the bridge of her nose. “We’re…entangled right now. But it’s my choice.”

“I wouldn’t mind belonging to him,” Keena said. “He is so very pleasing to look at. And the way he watches you…”

“The way he touched you,” Arda said.

Both women sighed, and Dakota felt color flood her cheeks.

Then both women straightened. Dakota turned and saw that the men were no longer leaning over the sphere.

“Here they come,” Arda said. She and Keena bowed their heads.

Dare reached Dakota’s side and leaned down, nuzzling his face into her hair. “I’m sorry, Dakota. We couldn’t find anything. There is no record of a man matching Stock’s description.”

Her shoulders sagged. She’d been so sure they’d find something…now she had nothing.

“There is another library,” Keena whispered.

Dakota glanced her way.

“It’s smaller. Older. It is up on the mountain.” Her eyes shifted. Vero had almost reached them. “No one visits it.”

“Thank you.” Dakota looked at Dare. “Can you ask your friend if we can visit this second library?”