His Human Slave (Zandian Masters 1)

“Cut away,” Seke barked, unbuckling his harness.

He flicked the switch for the engines to fire back to life at the same time he wrenched the steering arm to the left. The craft banked, flying into flames.

For a moment, he thought the entire ship would explode—he’d flown too close to the source of the fire. But then the smoke and flames cleared and the craft circled away.

The moment they were free of the flames, Seke ran back to man the weaponry, barking orders at the guards. “Check for incoming.”

“We have three on our tail, Master,” one of the guards shouted back.

“Fire at will.”

Laser fire lit up the windows.

Zander dodged the cluster of airships in his way, dropping down to lure the attacking ships into open territory where his crew could get a clear shot. It must be a Finnian attack.

A flash of light glared behind them as one ship exploded.

“Target one, destroyed,” his guard reported.

“Target two acquired,” Seke said, his voice still calm, even while the rest of the crew yelled.

Another explosion.

“Target two destroyed.”

“Third target has fallen back.”

He whipped the craft around. No way he was letting his enemy get away. Chasing the retreating fighter craft, he wove in and out of traffic, keeping his gaze locked on target three.”

“A little closer, my lord.”

He shoved the throttle open, hurtling forward through space.

“Target three acquired. And…”

Another ship darted into their path, and Zander yanked up to avoid a crash. Veck. He swung back around, but the fighter craft had disappeared.

“Where is it?” he shouted.

The area was too congested. Aircraft flew all around. The vecking enemy had slipped through their fingers.

Seke returned to the co-pilot’s chair and sat down.

“I’m going back to the UG.”

“Not advised. That was a trap, laid precisely for you. We must get you back to the pod and tighten security.”

“I’m not running to hide like a terrified animal!”

“This is not the war. It was not even a battle. It was a plot to assassinate you before you have a chance to assemble your warriors. Do not give them an additional chance to kill you. Your species need you alive.”

He gritted his teeth, but turned the craft and recharted for his pod.

“The bomb must have been set on a timer. If you had been on time, we all would have died.”

Ice washed over his skin.

He remembered Lamira’s wild eyes as she yanked at his arm. My lord—you can’t go. She’d seemed desperate to stop him. “She knew.” He glanced over at Seke, to see if the master warrior had arrived at the same conclusion.