His Human Slave (Zandian Masters 1)

Her legs trembled when he swiveled his dark-eyed gaze on her. For a long, nerve-wracking moment, he said nothing, simply gazed at her speculatively. “What were you doing?”

It wasn’t only her legs trembling. Her whole body shook. She didn’t like Zander’s dissatisfaction. She opened her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

Right. I’m sorry wasn’t exactly an answer to his question, was it? For once, she tried for the truth. “I just wanted to understand you better.”

He cocked an eyebrow. Once more, he made her suffer with a moment of silence. At last, he said, “Do not touch my things without permission.”

She held her breath and waited to hear what the punishment would be. Her poor bottom couldn’t take another thrashing, but the cage was almost worse.

He scrolled back to the Zandian invasion and zoomed in. His brow furrowed. “I’ve never seen this footage.” His voice sounded hollow. She sensed the trauma beneath the words.

An image of him as a teenager, being hustled out to an airship flashed in her mind.

“How did you get away?”

He swallowed and rotated the rolling pictures, narrowing in on what must be the palace—his former home. “Master Seke evacuated the palace. He brought most of the servants...and me.”

“The servants who are still here?”

“Yes.”

She reached out to touch his arm. “I’m sure you wanted to stay and fight.”

He turned his amethyst eyes on her, wide with wonder. “Exactly. My parents stayed to fight—both of them. I wanted to stay and fight, too, but they made me go with Seke—” He stopped speaking, his voice choked. “Everyone left on Zandia died that day.”

“How many ships got away?”

He shook his head. “Only mine. The rest of the Zandians still alive today were away from the planet for the invasion. Lium and Erick. They were both offplanet.”

“You’re planning to take it back.” She shouldn’t have spoken. That was her claircognizance feeding her information she shouldn’t know.

But Zander answered. “I will win it back.” His jaw tightened with determination. “Release cuffs.” The locks on her binds snapped open and the cuffs dropped to the floor. He jerked his head toward the washroom. “Go and wash. I have things to do.”

She dipped into a curtsy, her heart aching for him. It was a huge responsibility he carried on his shoulders— the liberation of his people, the rightful return of his planet. No wonder he didn’t have time for her.

She scooted off to the washroom and stepped into the washtube. The glorious washtube, which she’d come to love. She’d wash three times a day if she thought Zander would allow it. She stood under the warm spray and closed her eyes, allowing it to clean her. The water felt too warm on her still-sore bottom, but she didn’t mind. Standing in that tube felt luxurious, indulgent, decadent. She held her breath as the water filled to the top then drained away and the warm air dried her.

She stepped out and combed her hair.

When she emerged from the washroom, Zander snapped her cuffs back in place. “Get in your cage. Today is the pod’s recharge day.”

She stared at him blankly.

“Once every ten planet rotations, Zandians must bathe in the light and eat a meal to maintain strength. On visitor’s day, we open the light bath for outside Zandians. Today is the day those living here recharge. I’m going to the light bath now.”

“Can’t I come?” It wasn’t only desperation at not being left in the cage—well, perhaps it was. But she also wanted to see the light baths and how they worked. She remembered the vision she’d had of the rainbow light and the joy spreading through her.

His dark gaze was unfathomable. Once more he stared at her a long time without speaking. Although she’d never been one to beg, she adopted a hopeful, expectant look.

He sighed and lifted his arm with the gold band. “Call Daneth.” When Daneth’s head popped up, he asked, “Is it safe for Lamira to enter the light bath?”

Daneth blinked a few times.

She stepped behind Zander to hide her nudity and peeked around his shoulder.

“I honestly cannot say for certain, my lord. I would think yes, so long as she wore protective eyewear. I do not know how well human eyes would withstand the light.”