Their Zandian Mate (Zandian Masters 9)

Which one of these veckers did their female care about? Which one had she gone down to see?

Damon had wanted to punch Laake in the mouth for taking her down there, but Laake had his reasons. He said if Eslyn cared about her ex-mates they’d be veck-offs to keep her from them. Especially considering they’d sired her young. And had bonded during the shared trauma of being the only Zandians left alive on their planet for fifteen years.

Zander questioned them about their kidnapping of Talia and attempted assault of Tomis. They both played innocent, blaming Sankro, the mate who hadn’t been brought up for questioning yet. Their story didn’t ring true to him. How would Sankro force two males to do his bidding? All they had to do was bond together and they could have overpowered him.

No, their defense sounded rehearsed and implausible.

“Eslyn, step forward,” Prince Zander ordered.

Granit refrained from the urge to pat her ass as they escorted her forward. She may not be theirs for much longer.

“Are you in agreement that the malice toward Talia and Tomis came mainly from Sankro?”

“Yes, my lord.” She answered immediately, which should reassure him that the males told the truth, but it didn’t.

“Do you believe they can contribute to Zandian society if set free?”

“Yes, my lord.” Again, no hesitation.

Zander considered the males for a moment. “Elit and Banf, I sentence you to time served. You’ll be sent to the training pod to train as members of my army on a trial basis. If there’s any trouble with you at all, you’ll go back to the dungeons.”

“With our mate and young.” Banf had the nerve to say it as a statement, not a question.

Eslyn started, her mouth dropping open, eyes riveted on Prince Zander.

Granit’s hands clenched into fists at the thought of her leaving with those males.

Zander lifted a brow. “Excuse me?”

Elit straightened. “Forgive him, my lord. But we would both very much like to be reunited with our family. We’ve been parted from our mate and young for several planet rotations now.”

Eslyn shifted on her feet.

“The training pod is not a suitable environment for young. The children will remain here with their mother. You will be granted visitation before you leave,” Zander proclaimed.

The two males bowed, but Granit didn’t feel the slightest bit resolved by Zander’s decree. Too many questions remained unanswered. Would Eslyn eventually be returned to her mates? And did she want to be?

Guilt at their use of her rumbled through him. She’d seemed willing—eager even. She’d enjoyed it—he knew that without a doubt. But if she’d be returned to the other three, would she regret her time with them? Had they managed to complicate her life and tangle her emotions? The idea of her suffering any more as result of their actions killed him.

“You are dismissed. All of you.” Zander stood from the throne, not waiting for the group gathered to disperse.

Granit and Laake both looked at Damon, waiting for him to figure out how to fix their broken situation. “Take her back to her chamber,” Damon muttered to them, “then meet me in ours.”

He nodded and followed Laake and Eslyn. Each step he took, his limp became more pronounced; the pain resulting from scar tissue that was always there now became knife-like.

They may have to give her up.

He hadn’t wanted to look at that dark truth before, but now it hung before him, as obvious as a hologram.

The worst part was the longer they ignored it, the more they’d hurt Eslyn, which was unforgivable.

They needed to cut her loose right away. He just hoped the other two agreed.

Eslyn paced around her chamber. Her prison. Laake and Granit had left her there with nary a word and Damon had refused to look at her during the hearing.

And Elit! That vecker had double-crossed her. She’d done her part and he hadn’t renounced any claim on her or the young. She hated him as much as Sankro. Hated all three of them.

She would ask to speak with Zander again—recant her testimony.