“It’s Lily. I have some equipment for you.”
She pressed her hand to the door and it slid open. She blinked against the lights in corridor.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you sleeping?”
She flushed. “Ah, not yet. I’d just laid down.”
“Master Erick left these for you.” She handed her several items, including what seemed to be an animal hide belt.
“What are they? Oh!” A dagger slid out of a hand-stitched sheath. The hilt glittered with Zandian crystal; the blade appeared razor sharp. “Master Erick left this? For me?”
Lily’s lips twisted in a knowing smile. “He seemed reluctant to leave you here, but I don’t think he could justify staying. His job doesn’t require much time here. But he left this so you can communicate with him.” Lily held out a wrist cuff. She’d seen them on many Zandian males. They must serve as communication devices.
“How does it work?”
“He said he programmed it to call him if you press this button.” Lily pointed at a small blue button on the inside of the cuff.
She smiled deliriously. “Wonderful. Thank you.”
Lily winked. “Don’t thank me. Thank him. I’m sure that’s what he’s hoping for.” And with that, she withdrew and walked away, her hips swaying with a confident swing.
Mina grinned. She liked Lily. She looked so similar to Lamira and Leora but had a fire all her own. One Mina hoped to match. She closed the door and turned on the light.
Should she press the button?
Oh, who was she kidding? As if she could wait even another minute to call him. She sank onto the bed and pressed the blue disk on the cuff.
A light beeped several times before a hologram sprang open. She caught her breath as Erick’s image leaped into her tiny chamber. He lay in bed, head and back propped on a fleet of expensive pillows. A broad grin lit his face.
It sent tingles of awareness racing down her inner thighs, curling her toes.
“Erick,” she breathed.
“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t call.”
“Lily just brought me your gifts now. Thank you.”
“Where are you?”
“In my room.” She flashed the cuff around to show him the tiny closet. “They gave me my own space, on my father’s orders.”
“Good,” he growled. “Is the door locked?”
She smiled. “You sound just like him. Yes, it’s locked.”
“Did you like the dagger?”
“I love it. It’s beautiful. Is it yours?”
“It was mine. Now it’s yours. I want you armed at all times, all right, pet?”
“You’re awfully protective for someone who thinks I’d make a good warrior.”
“Just because I know you’d be good at something doesn’t mean I want you at risk. If I hadn’t known how important it was to you to get out and be of use, I never would’ve brought you there.”
Her brows drew together. “How did you know how important it was to me?”
“Mina…” He took a breath, as if gearing up to tell her something he’d rehearsed. “I’m paying attention. I’m trying to show you that you’re more to me than a good veck, but I always end up losing control around you.”