Zandian Pet (Zandian Masters 7)

Rok rubbed his forehead. “Lily, I’d rather you stay, but you’re part of my team. So, if you want to come, you’re in.”

“I’m in,” she said firmly. She glanced over at Mina. “I’ll go in a collar and leash, as well. I put my years in as a sex slave. I know the part.”

It was subtle, but something in Mina’s chest relaxed, as if she’d just exhaled, or dropped a piece of armor she’d been holding there. She smiled gratefully at Lily. “That would be great.”

“I can go as a slave, too,” Tal said. “It’d be hard to explain why you have a human along otherwise.

Rok nodded. “You’ll go as Mierna’s handslave. Guardo and Depri will be her crewmembers. Erick, Jano, Jasu, and I will be recon. We’ll find the galactacarriers and fly them out of there. We’ll need some kind of distraction to give the rest of you time to get out of there as well.”

“An explosion near his collectibles will send Neo Lin into madness.” Mierna used a singsong voice.

Erick was grateful for Rok’s cool command because he couldn’t think beyond Mina will be in danger, Mina will be in danger, Mina will be in mothervecking danger.

“I was thinking we could rig the slave cage with some kind of sleeping gas. In case I need a quick escape.”

“Yes.” He grasped the thin strand of safety that option provided. “Good idea. I know where to find a cage.”

Mina’s brow furrowed. “You do?”

He almost laughed. Was that jealousy behind her voice? Did she really think he’d kept pets before her?

Lily echoed it, tossing her hands onto her hips. “You do?”

“Yes, and neither of you want to know where I’m getting it.”

Mina’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

“Because it involves both your parents.”

“Ew.” Mina wrinkled her nose.

“Double ew.” Lily concurred. “Yes, please leave us in the dark.”

“Well, there’s a lot of work to be done before tomorrow. Erick, you get the cage. I’ll have the warrior Pal outfit it with a sleeping gas. He has one that’s toxic to those who haven’t been inoculated so you won’t need masks. Lundric, outfit the group and my ship with all the hidden weapons you can come up with. Any questions?”

“No, Captain,” they murmured as the group broke up.

Veck, he needed to be inside Mina. Everything could wait until he’d split those long legs of hers and wrapped them around his waist. And there was the matter of her punishment. He stood and grasped her elbow, directing her out of the office with a firm hand.

“Show me to your chamber.”

She darted a glance at him, her cheeks coloring. After they entered her tiny room—which must have been a closet in a previous incarnation—she pressed her back against the door.

“Clothing off,” he ordered. He’d meant to talk to her. To sit down and explain all his whip-tight emotions, but this was all he could manage. Punishment. Release for both of them.

Then, maybe they could talk.

When she didn’t move, he advanced on her, caging her against the door with his hands propped on either side of her. “You heard me, pet. I need you naked. Now.”

Anger and indignation seemed to war with lust in her eyes. She put her hands on his chest and attempted to shove him away.

He didn’t move.

“You have no claim on me.”

He fell back like she’d punched him in the gut.

And then he smashed his fist through the wall.