Her Mate and Master (Zandian Masters 6)

She needed to put some starch in her backbone and get over this male. Today.

The animal-skin curtain hanging in the door separating the sleeping area from the rest of the hovel pulled to the side and Sankro, Banf, and Elit entered.

She sat up, pulling the animal skin to cover her body, though she still wore Tomis’ shirt.

In a flash, Sankro arrived at her side, clapping a huge hand over her mouth and putting a dagger to her throat. “We don’t want to hurt you or the warrior. All you have to do is tell him you’ve decided to stay here with us and send him on his way.”

Veck that. All she had to do was scream, and Tomis would rip the three of them apart.

“If you don’t, we’ll kill your warrior and eat him for dinner. Understand?” He held up the laser gun Tomis had stolen from the guard back at the dungeon.

Ice sluiced through her veins, chilling the very center of her bones.

“Nod if you understand,” Sankro said.

She nodded. He eased his hand off her mouth. “I-if you use that, the Finn will be able to locate us all.” Her words came out shaky and weak. She darted a glance at Eslyn, but the female didn’t look nearly as shocked or outraged as Talia had hoped. Stars, had she been a part of her mates’ devious plan all along?

Tomis’ booming voice carried through the hovel.

“Go and tell him now,” Banf hissed, yanking her off the mattress and up to her feet.

“Remember, if he doesn’t leave, he’s dead,” Sankro murmured against her ear. They both propelled her forward, out of the sleeping quarters.

“G-good morning.” She cleared her throat. Veck. She had to make this convincing or Tomis would never leave her. She squared her shoulders and lifted her breastbone. “I’m not leaving with you.”

Tomis went still, his dark gaze steady on her face. “Talia.”

She held up her hand. “I want to stay here. You can send a ship for me when the battle begins, if you’re worried about that, but I’m not. I’ve been away from the crystals my entire life. I need to stay here.”

“Prince Zander has crystals—”

“I want to stay with them,” she said firmly, knowing her words would strike a blow.

The pain that flickered across Tomis’ face rent her in two, but she steeled herself against her sorrow. Tomis’ life depended on her making him leave.

“You should go.”

He took a step toward her, but she lifted her hand in warning.

“Don’t. It’s better if you don’t. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but I’ve made my decision. I need you to honor it, as you promised you would.”

Tomis stepped back, his face turning to stone. “I see.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“I don’t.”

She couldn’t breathe. An enormous boulder pressed down on her chest, keeping the air from rushing in.

Tomis. She closed her lips against the plea. She hated wounding him, hated them parting this way, but she had no choice.

He took another step back then stumbled to avoid stepping on little Teena. “I’m sorry,” he said gruffly, righting the child. “I’ll be back for you all, when the battle starts.” His gaze swept over the crowd of them, solidifying his promise.

“I’ll count on it,” she choked out, throat so tight the words barely came out.

He lifted his fist in the traditional Zandian gesture then bowed and backed out the door.

She rushed forward to stand in the doorway, watching as he jogged swiftly away. As if the sooner he put distance between them, the sooner her refusal would stop stinging.