“Yes.”
Damon scanned the crowd, his jaw flexing with tension. Who had the prince selected as her guardians? He didn’t see any warriors standing by.
To his shock, Zander met his gaze. “Damon, Granit, Laake. Step forward, please.”
His pulse went into hyperdrive. Could it be? Not waiting for his friends to gather their wits, he advanced, taking a position behind Eslyn. The female darted a nervous glance over her shoulder at him. Granit and Laake arrived to flank him. The three bowed.
“Damon, Granit and Laake, you will take responsibility for Eslyn’s punishment and reconditioning. Keep her supervised at all times until you deem her ready for Zandian society.”
Holy Zandian star! Yes.
He kept his face composed, as befit a warrior and member of the royal guard. “Yes, my lord. Thank you.” Damon bowed. “What is her punishment to be?”
“I leave that up to you.”
His head swam as a kick of lust rushed through him. Every fantasy he’d entertained the past two planet rotations involving their beautiful prisoner was about to come true. Eslyn naked and on her knees, at their mercy for punishment and pleasure. Eslyn bound to the bed, her legs spread wide, pussy glistening with readiness. And beyond sex, Eslyn safely tucked on his lap while Laake and Granit entertained her young. And he had imagined Laake and Granit a part of it. Because they were brothers to him and with the scarcity of females, he would never keep the honor and luxury of a female to himself.
“Is she ours?” Laake asked, his eyes gleaming.
“This is not a permanent placement. That determination is yet to be made. I will reevaluate when her reconditioning is complete.”
A niggle of foreboding interrupted Damon’s internal celebration. What in the hell did that mean? Would the prince take her away from them when they finished? Give her back to her former mates? Veck that. Whatever they had to do to prove to Prince Zander they were worthy of caring for and rehabilitating this female, they’d do it.
Laake bowed. “Thank you, my lord.”
Granit handed Eslyn her infant and took her elbow, turning her around to face the exit.
Damon didn’t move, blocking her passage with his body. She lifted her beautiful face, eyes wide. A visible shiver ran through her at whatever promise she saw in his eyes.
He cupped her chin. Excitement radiated from his brothers, amplified by the jealous tension of nearly every male in the room. He didn’t know how he and his brothers got so lucky—so honored—for this task, but he thanked every star in the galaxy. He traced his thumb over her lower lip. “Ready, little flower?”
She blinked up at him, her thick lashes achingly feminine. “Yes, master,” she whispered.
His cock thickened at her submissive words. Master. They were her masters now. “Follow me.”