Zandian Pet (Zandian Masters 7)

ich created a disquiet in his entire nervous system. Or perhaps that was just being away from her.

After three attempts to reach her, he left a hologram message promising thorough punishment if she did not contact him by the end of the planet rotation. Of course, considering her fantasies, she just might disobey to earn the consequence.

He still hadn’t spoken to Zander or any other being about the galactacarriers. He continued to research Neo Lin, but the more he found out, the more dangerous the being seemed. An Ocretion, Neo’s involvement was suspected in a large number of black market trades, but the authorities never managed to pin anything on him, mostly because all witnesses ended up dead. Whatever connection Mina had with him, he wouldn’t allow her to use it.

“What’s eating you, Erick?”

He startled at the sound of Prince Zander’s voice. “My lord.” He bowed.

Zander stood in the doorway of his war room. Erick had looped past the conference room three times in his restless roaming.

He faced Zander fully. This was the moment. He should tell him about the galactacarriers, let the young sovereign know how he’d failed him and his species.

He opened his mouth.

Say it.

“Something’s been on your mind ever since you returned from Aurelia. What’s going on?”

“I vecked Seke’s daughter.” Holy excrement. Really? This is what he chose to confess?

To Zander’s credit, surprise only flickered for a moment at his blurted confession. “All right. So what’s the problem?” Zander’s brows knit. “Was it consensual?”

“Not exactly.”

Zander shot forward, more of a warrior than four of his guards put together. He shoved Erick up against the wall and put a blade to his throat. “What did you do?”

He closed his eyes, signaling surrender. His loyalty ran far too deep to ever struggle or fight against the younger male, even if he thought him unjust. Which he didn’t.

“I asked you a question.”

“I found her in a brothel in Aurelia.”

Zander’s grip eased, but the intensity of his frown didn’t lessen. “And?”

“And I only meant to speak with her, to get her out of there. But it’s breeding season. I couldn’t stop myself.”

Zander released him with a shove, casting his eyes to the ceiling. “Vecking stars, Erick.” Disgust was evident in his tone. “Seriously? How did she take it?”

He drew in a long breath, images of all the dirty things he’d done to her in that cell rushing back. But he couldn’t summon the guilt he’d felt at the time.

All he saw now was his beautiful female admitting, I wanted to be mastered.

“She liked it,” he murmured. “Stars, we both liked it. But she doesn’t want her father or the beings here to know what she was. And she associates me with that part of her life now. The part she wants to leave behind.”

The fury behind Zander’s gaze extinguished, his fists unclenched. “I see.”

Erick spread his fingers. “What should I do?”

“Zandians don’t lie. I know you dabble in deception in your business dealings, but Seke doesn’t. I don’t see how you can keep this from him, even if Tara doesn’t wish it to be known. You must tell him.”

“It’s not my secret to tell.”

“You were involved. He’ll see your silence as a betrayal.”

“And he’ll see my comportment as abuse,” Erick mumbled.

“Maybe. But not if Tara vouches for you. I’m assuming you’re the reason she’s free?”