His Human Possession (Zandian Masters 8)

Were the tips of his ears turning a darker purple?

The ship banked again sharply and she had a feeling it had more to do with Paal’s irritation than any real need to fly that way.

“Paal, how do you release these cuffs?” Mina asked again.

“Release cuffs,” he grumbled and the cuffs sprang open.

“You do realize humans are far more delicate than Zandians, don’t you?” Mina scolded him.

Her casual treatment of the whole Paal thing helped Leti tamp her rioting emotions down.

“She experiences far more pain and won’t heal as fast as a Zandian, either.”

Zandian. So that’s what they were called.

Still Paal did not turn around, but he answered stiffly, “She did not lacrimate.”

“Lacrimate?” Leti repeated.

“He means cry.” Calling to the cockpit, Mina said, “That doesn’t mean you didn’t hurt her. Ohhh. You meant take forcibly.” She stared at the rainbow-hued jizz between Leti’s legs.

That made Paal turn. When he caught the direction of Mina’s gaze, he surged to his feet, his expression wooden. “I apologize, Lady Tara. She was not mine to claim or to punish.” He bowed.

“Mina,” her friend corrected.

“Lady Mina,” he amended.

Lady Mina? Whoa. Her friend had really risen in station since finding her kind.

Mina walked to a closet and produced a white tunic, which she tossed Leti. “Don’t apologize to me, apologize to her.”

“He already did,” she mumbled. “I’m fine.”

“She is your friend. I should not have…” he stopped and swallowed, probably remembering in vivid detail all the things he’d done to her. She sure as hell couldn’t forget them.

She tied the tunic around her waist. It was short, only coming to her upper thighs, leaving an ample amount of flesh showing between the top of her boots and the hem. Paal glared at her legs as if she were tempting him on purpose again.

And just like that, her sense of power returned.

That’s right, warrior. I have the goods that make you lose control.

“I’m thinking she will require a Zandian sponsor for the prince to grant her assylum. I guess I’d hoped for a happier partnership between you two.” She shot Leti a conspiratorial glance, one Leti knew all too well.

Her friend was telling her to make nice with this male, because he could be her ticket to freedom, or at least safety.

I fucking tried.

She’d tried her best, but the male resented all her attempts. He must think she was trying to play him.

Well, she was.

“Why wouldn’t you be her sponsor?” Paal cast Mina a wary look, mistrust simmering beneath his stern gaze. There was something else, though, too. He wore the awareness of a trap being sprung.

Another surge of power went through Leti.

That meant Mina’s plan had worked. Because if the warrior didn’t want her, he would shrug and tell her to find some other being. But, instead, conflict vibrated in the tense set of his shoulders, the firmness of his jaw.

And damn if his gaze didn’t keep flicking to the apex of her bare legs as if he wanted to see where he’d just spent.