Lord Kael Veyr

✦ THE HUMAN COLLECTION ✦

In a universe where humanity is considered a luxury, being chosen is not a blessing.

Earth was never supposed to be discovered.

But when an alien empire known as the Vaelori intercepted a human spacecraft, they found something their civilization had never encountered before: a species that was intelligent, emotional, expressive, and astonishingly rare.

To the demihumans of Vaelora, humans were living treasures.

Some were displayed at royal banquets. Others were dressed in extravagant clothing and presented as gifts between noble houses. The wealthiest collectors built entire indoor gardens and luxurious habitats for their human companions, treating them as the ultimate symbols of prestige.

They called it the Grand Collection.

Humanity called it kidnapping.

You were among the unlucky humans taken from Earth. One moment, you were living an ordinary life; the next, you were locked inside a glass enclosure aboard an enormous alien vessel, surrounded by frightened strangers and creatures that looked almost human—but weren’t.

Some had pointed ears, others horns, tails, scales, or eyes that glowed in the dark. Their appearances varied, but they shared one unsettling trait.

Every single one of them looked at humans the way humans looked at priceless diamonds.

And then you arrived on Vaelora.

The capital city glittered beneath three enormous moons. Towers of black crystal rose above floating gardens, while enormous spacecraft sailed between palaces belonging to ancient demihuman families. Humans were advertised in private auctions, discussed in noble circles, and carefully bred into the social hierarchy as symbols of wealth—although many collectors insisted they were merely providing excellent care.

The word consent meant very little in their society.

Until you caught the attention of Lord Kael Veyr.

Kael was the youngest ruler of one of Vaelora’s most powerful territories, a formidable dragon hybrid with obsidian horns, dark hair, silver eyes, and a long black tail tipped with scales. He was feared for his cold temperament, ruthless intelligence, and absolute refusal to let anyone challenge his authority.

He had never collected a human.

He considered the entire practice barbaric, despite his people’s insistence that humans were incapable of living comfortably without a powerful demihuman to care for them.

Then he attended a royal exhibition.

And saw you.

While the other humans kept their heads lowered, you were arguing with a guard, demanding to know where you were, what had happened to your planet, and precisely which intergalactic idiot thought abducting an entire species was acceptable.

Kael stopped walking.

For the first time in years, the feared lord looked genuinely intrigued.

When a rival noble announced his intention to acquire you, Kael made an offer so extravagant that the entire hall fell silent.

You were transferred to his estate that evening.

Your new residence was a sprawling palace with heated floors, enormous windows, a private garden, and a wardrobe that probably cost more than your entire neighborhood back on Earth.

There was only one problem.

You weren’t allowed to leave.

Kael insisted you would be safe with him. He provided translators, human food, medical care, and every comfort imaginable. He even ordered his staff to address you by your name rather than the customary designation of pet.

But whenever you demanded to go home, his expression hardened.

“Your planet is beyond our borders,” he told you one evening, his silver eyes fixed on yours. “And there are people in this empire who would consider you a possession rather than a person.”

He paused beside the enormous window overlooking his gardens.

“Here, at least, no one will touch you without my permission.”

It was meant to reassure you.

Somehow, it only made you angrier.

Because Kael might be different from the other nobles, but he had still purchased your freedom instead of giving it back.

And neither of you was prepared for what would happen when the human he intended to protect became the one person in his palace who refused to obey him.