Shady

“Definitely!” Pratik nodded vehemently. “Took me years to get accustomed to bouncing between them so often.”

Ky tried for a ‘yes’m’ but it came out a squeak. She nodded weakly and settled back against the pillows. That was disappointing. She wanted to curl up and die, ...

“I guess.” Pratik shrugged too. “It’s a bizarre concept to me, though.”

“N-“ she couldn’t even finish the syllable before she threw up again. This one ended in a little whimper that she couldn’t stop anymore than she could the vomiting itself. ...

“Fascinating.” What was the point in having a family if you didn’t want one?

Ky nodded and obediently took a sip of the water. Her stomach pitched again. She let out a sharp breath. She wasn’t going to throw up again. There wasn’t even ...

“Valid.” Questions were dangerous for slaves. “Does the spouse and children stay together? Or separate houses for each?”

“Fascinating. Do you know why?”

Ky took a deep breath in an attempt to obey. But that split her focus from her goal, and now she lost her battle. She vomited the poppy and tea ...

Pratik nodded. “The family stays separate?”

The poppy had had exactly the opposite effect on Tadaaki. He felt warmth wash across him instantly and relaxed suddenly, though now he tensed again as he looked over at ...

“Are the buildings divided by use?” Pratik asked. “Bedrooms in one, kitchen and dining room in another, et cetera?”

“Thank you, ma’am,” they both murmured as she handed each of them their cups. They dipped their heads and obediently took the poppy. It made Ky’s stomach turn itself over ...

“Oh.” Pratik almost asked who he was under, then remembered he’d offered to off them for him, and didn’t want to send Rickard into a needless panic when he was ...

Ky looked at Tadaaki a moment longer, then back at Ms. Miller. Decision. She needed to make the decision. If it was just her, she’d probably just grin and bear ...