“Better than that. He can give you the same abilities that I have – instant comprehension and knowledge of any language, be it human or Krinar.”
Mia gasped in shock, her heart beating faster from excitement. “How?”
“By giving you a tiny implant that will influence a specific region of your brain and act as a highly advanced translation device.”
“A brain implant?” Her excitement immediately turned to dread as everything inside Mia violently rejected the idea. He had already embedded tracking devices in her palms; the last thing she needed was alien technology influencing her brain. The ability he had described was incredible, and she desperately wanted it – but not at that price.
“The device is not really what you’re picturing,” Korum said. “It’s going to be tiny, the size of a cell, and you will not feel discomfort at any point – either during insertion or afterwards.”
“And if I say no, that I don’t want it?” Mia asked quietly, alarmed at the idea that Korum already had the mind expert on the way here.
“Why not?” He looked at her with a small frown.
“Do you really need to ask?” she said incredulously. “You shined me – you put tracking devices in me under the pretext of healing my palms. Did you really think I would be okay with you putting something in my brain?”
Korum’s frown deepened. “This doesn’t have any extra functionality, Mia.” He didn’t seem the least bit repentant about shining her in the first place.
“Really?” she asked him acerbically. “It doesn’t do anything extra? Doesn’t influence my thoughts or feelings in any way?”
“No, my darling, it doesn’t.” He looked vaguely amused at the thought.
“I don’t want a brain implant,” Mia said firmly, looking at him with a mutinous expression on her face.
He stared back at her. “Mia,” he said softly, “if I had truly wanted to put something nefarious in your brain, I could’ve done it in a million different ways. I can implant anything in your body at an
y time, and you wouldn’t have a clue. The only reason why I’m offering you this ability is because I want you to be comfortable here, to be able to communicate with everyone on your own. If you don’t want this, then that’s your choice. I won’t force it on you. But very few humans get this opportunity, so I would advise you to think really hard before you turn it down.”
Mia looked away, struck by the realization that he was right. He didn’t need to inform her or get her consent for anything he wanted to do to her. The panic that she thought she had under control threatened to bubble up again, and she squelched it with effort.
Something didn’t quite make sense to her. Taking a deep breath, Mia turned her gaze to his face again, studying his inscrutable expression. It bothered her that she still understood him so little, that the person who had so much power over her was still such a big unknown.
“Korum . . .” She wasn’t sure if she should bring this up, but she couldn’t resist. The question had tormented her for weeks. “Why did you shine me? I hadn’t even met the Resistance at that point, so it’s not like you needed to keep tabs on me for your big plan . . .”
“Because I wanted to make sure I can always find you,” he said, and there was a possessive note in his voice that frightened her. “I held you in my arms that day, and I knew I wanted more. I wanted everything, Mia. You were mine from that moment on, and I had no intention of losing you, not even for a moment.”
Not even for a moment? Did he realize how crazy that sounded? He had seen a girl he wanted, and he’d made sure her location would always be known to him.
The fact that he thought he had the right to do this was terrifying. How could she deal with someone like that? He had no concept of boundaries when it came to her, no respect for her freedom of will. He had just casually admitted to a horrible and high-handed act, and she had no idea what she could say to him now.
At her silence, Korum took a deep breath and got up. “You should get dressed,” he said quietly. “Saret will be here in a minute.”
Mia nodded and sat up, holding the sheets to her chest. Now was not the time to analyze the complexities of their relationship. Taking a deep breath of her own, she pushed aside her fear. There was no way she could change her situation right now, and focusing on the negative would only make things worse. She needed to find a way to get along with her lover and figure out how to better manage his domineering nature.
“What should I wear?” Mia asked. “I didn’t bring any clothes . . .”
“Do you want your usual jeans and T-shirts, or do you want to dress like everyone else here?” Korum asked, a smile appearing on his face. Some of the tension in the room dissipated.
“Um, like everyone else, I guess.” She didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb.
“Okay, then.” Korum made a small gesture with his hand and handed her a light-colored piece of material that hadn’t been there only a second ago.
Wide-eyed, Mia stared at the piece of clothing he just gave her. “More instant fabrication?” she asked, trying to act like it wasn’t still a huge shock to her to see things materializing out of nothing.
He grinned. “That’s right. If you don’t like this, I can get you something else. Go ahead, try it on.”
Mia let go of the sheet and climbed out of bed, feeling comfortable with her nakedness. For all his faults, Korum had done wonders for her body image and self-confidence. Because he repeatedly told her how beautiful he found her to be, she no longer worried about being too skinny or having frizzy hair and pale skin. He would’ve been a boon during her insecure teenage years.
No, scratch that thought. No teenager should be subjected to someone so overwhelming.