Zandian Pet (Zandian Masters 7)

He didn’t allow himself to absorb Mina’s grateful gaze because, if he did, nothing would stop him from pulling her against his side and presenting them as the united front he wished they were. Instead, he met Seke’s angry one, holding steady under it. He believed what he said, even if the thought of Mina ever putting herself in danger made him physically sick.

Seke pursed his lips for a long moment. “Very well. Train. No sense in withholding knowledge or skill from those we wish to protect.”

All three females beamed at Seke for that pronouncement, and he had the irrational desire to one-up the Master Warrior just to earn the same grateful smile from his female.

But he needed to earn far more than a smile from Mina. He’d meant to earn her trust, to prove he respected her as Tara as much as he wanted to possess Mina. But, instead, he’d acted like an animal again. Stars, had he really shoved her to her knees and held her captive as he plowed her poor pussy into oblivion?

Yes. Yes, he had.

Sigh.

He needed to leave the Zandian Freedom until he got a grip on his base desires. Except, leaving Mina here—surrounded by virile young Zandian warriors—was an impossibility.

Still, what reason could he give for remaining? What business of Zander’s could he conducted here? Especially when he needed to be out recovering their much-needed galactacarriers.

Excrement. He needed to face the sovereign and tell him the truth about the galactacarriers. The longer he waited, the more his guilt and shame ate at him.

That’s what he would do—return to the palatial pod to explain to Zander. Then find an excuse to get back to Freedom. In the meantime, Mina would be happier here, at least, even if he couldn’t be with her. That should count for something.

And she’d wait for him. Wouldn’t she?

Veck, he didn’t know. Did she recognize their true connection, or did she believe it was just about sex and breeding season?

Seke had always taught them to master their worst fears by leaning into them. So he’d just have to leave Mina here, around all the other warriors, and trust that he’d made enough of an impression on her that she’d wait.

And if she picked another?

I’ll vecking kill him.

No. He’d fight for her, but he had to respect any decision she made. He owed her that much after the way he’d pushed himself on her three times now.

Chapter Six

Mina lay on a rickety cot in a tiny closet of a room, every muscle aching from her first planet rotation of training. She missed Erick’s presence. He’d left her in the training room, and then she found he’d left the training pod altogether—without saying goodbye.

She shouldn’t be so offended. This should be what she wanted. She’d pushed him away, refusing to let him make any claim on her other than their sexual encounters.

And yet she craved his presence at nearly every turn. As much as she enjoyed her training—loved absorbing every bit of knowledge the warriors gave her—she somehow felt Erick should be there to witness it.

After all, he’d been the one to help establish her there. He’d brought her and argued with her father. She had to believe his opinion meant a great deal to her father, or he wouldn’t have given in.

But then, that’s what made Erick such a fine negotiator for Prince Zander. He had the silver-tongued power of persuasion. What would they be like, as a couple? What could she bring to complement his business prowess?

The image of her father’s and Zander’s docile mates floated before her mind, and she shoved it away. If that was being mated, she had no interest. Looking pretty and speaking demurely wasn’t her thing. Not after being forced into a subservient role for so long.

No, she wanted to be out changing the galaxy. She wanted to be at Erick’s side on his next mission. Helping him negotiate or strategize. What skills or traits would she need to join his efforts?

She couldn’t think of any she possessed.

Too bad.

What had he been working on? A shipment of galactacarriers? Something had gone wrong. She remembered his tension when speaking of it. What caused her master stress?

Yes, she liked to think of him as her master. Not in the literal sense. But in the way he held her down and took her roughly. Every time. It was like he couldn’t stop it—his passion for her took over and he couldn’t help but abuse her body until his delicious needs were met.

She brought her fingers between her legs and stroked, not surprised to find her folds plump and wet.

A tap sounded on the door, and she jerked upright, straightening her clothes. “Yes?”