Whatever she’d expected, it hadn’t been this. She stared up in surprise.
“But she refuses to tell me how she knew of the planned assassination attempt.”
Goose bumps stood up on her skin as she comprehended the situation.
“There’s nothing special about my daughter,” she clipped, her chin lifted. “It was probably a lucky guess.”
The prince’s eyes narrowed. “A lucky guess,” he spat bitterly. “Yes, I’ve heard that from her before.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Tell me, Leora, what connection do you and Lamira have with the Finn?”
The blood drained from her face, and her hands went clammy. She realized, suddenly what species they must be—Zandians. Ousted from Zandia by the Finn. A homeless species, forced to take refuge on Ocretia. “We have no connection, Your...ah Highness.” She shot a quick glance at Seke.
“He is addressed as my lord or Prince Zander.”
“My lord.” She dropped a curtsy. “Neither Lamira nor I have any connection with other beings. We kept to ourselves on the agrifarm.”
“Except for your connection to the underground human resistance movement.”
She caught her breath, her heart pounding. Her throat worked as she swallowed. The prince had inside knowledge about things the Ocretion government had not yet discovered. About Johan, and the resistance. Perhaps he was not aligned with them. She took a chance, and offered the truth. “They are not connected with your enemies, my lord.”
His eyebrows shot up at her admission. “What sort of information is passed?”
She swayed on her feet, feeling slightly dizzy. “The things you ask could get people killed.”
“I don’t work for the Ocretions.”
Shivers of fear ran through her body. Her gut told her he spoke the truth—that he could be trusted, but she couldn’t risk it. Not until she’d seen Lamira and knew what he wanted with them. “I wish to see my daughter.”
“How did your daughter know about the assassination plan?”
She stared back at him, struggling to piece the situation together. So, the Finn had attempted to kill the prince and Lamira had saved him? She wondered if he meant anything to her.
“So you, too, refuse to answer?”
“She saved your life, my lord.” She spread her palms. “You said so, yourself. Surely you cannot suspect her of treason or doubt her loyalty?”
He shook his head and stood up. “I cannot trust her.”
Was that anguish on his face?
A shock of knowledge rippled through her.
He loved her. This alien cared for her daughter.
Frustration crinkled his forehead. “Take her to Lamira.”
Surprised to be dismissed so easily, she dropped an uneasy curtsy. “Thank you, my lord.”
“Tell your daughter she has one planet rotation to confess or I will separate and sell you both to the worst—” He stopped and pressed his lips together, and she understood. He was bluffing. And it was a lie he couldn’t even finish.
Yes, he loved her.
He turned and stalked out of the room, tension radiating from the set of his shoulders and neck.
The warrior stepped forward and once more placed his hand on her lower back. A shiver ran through her. For the first time in solar cycles, her sex dampened as she thought about those hands touching her in other places.
He applied gentle pressure to turn her toward the door, guiding her forward.
“He loves my daughter.” She took the risk to speak her thoughts.