His Human Possession (Zandian Masters 8)

Leti walked around Paal’s chamber. It was spacious but simple, constructed of the finest materials, like the rest of the palatial pod she’d seen. The walls were a rich plaster with color mixed in—pale yellow and a deep teal. The shelving units were made of exotic hardwood or perhaps bone. Despite the fact that they were on a lower level of the pod, Paal had an outer room with a window and a small faceted crystal suspended in the middle of it sent prisms of bright light dancing around the room.

Hands down, the room—and the pod overall—presented the most lovely and cheerful surroundings she’d ever been in. Neither Dorhock’s Aurelian home nor the Jujo palace compared.

She tried the door even though she knew it would be locked. She wished she had a bit of wire to play with. She’d learned the art as a child, when she’d been kept in a cell with twenty other girls until they were old enough for sex slavery. They were kept in a portion of the industrial factory where they’d been born and taken from their parents. They were let out once a day for exercise and all the girls would pick up little scraps of wire from the ground to bring to her.

She taught herself to weave the wires into complex, three dimensional shapes, which became toys for the children.

Well, she might suffer from boredom here, but it sure beat the factory cell. She wouldn’t be uncomfortable in Paal’s chamber. She pulled off the high heeled boots which were too small and had left her feet a blistered mess and sank onto the floating oval-shaped bed in the center of the room.

Pure bliss. The mattress was firm, but the finely woven fabric of the coverlet was like a dream against her skin. She could barely believe she was in a place so comfortable.

When was the last time she’d had a good night’s rest? Not since Dorhock’s death. The Jujo Emperor had kept her busy entertaining his guests until days and nights bled together. She grabbed snatches of sleep when she could, but had only made the mistake of falling asleep while entertaining a male once.

She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself at the memory of the punishment, but she pushed it away fast. She simply couldn't allow herself the luxury of self-pity — it made her weak. She needed all her wits about h

er to navigate this strange new existence and make sure she was never, ever taken advantage of again.

That kind of punishment wouldn’t happen here. Mina wouldn’t have tried to connect her with Paal if she thought him cruel.

And what he’d done in the ship? That hadn’t been mean.

It had been hot.

Though her body ached from his use, she couldn’t wait to get him that aroused again. Because even if she’d been reduced to nothing but an object—his possession—in the moment, having a male that aroused by her, that passionate, couldn’t be a bad thing. And the sweet mother earth knew she’d enjoyed it. Far better than she’d ever enjoyed any male, or female for that matter.

Paal liked sexual control.

So... did that mean he wanted her to submit? Did he need a meek female who did everything he asked? Or was it the act of wresting control he loved? Should she keep goading him into punishment?

She rather thought the latter, although maybe it was her own preference tainting the issue.

She curled up on her side, not bothering to reach for a pillow or climb under the blankets. The crystal amplified light cast sparkles on her bare skin. She sighed and closed her eyes. Finally safe to sleep, for the first time since Dorhock’s death.

Master Seke’s blue-violet gaze bore into Paal, probably seeing far more than he wanted to show. Paal had gone straight to his superior to debrief on the mission, and had to confess his abduction and new guardianship of Leti.

“Humans are not to be kept as slaves, per Prince Zander’s decree,” Master Seke said, watching him far too carefully.

He drew a measured breath. “I understand, Master.”

“Do you? It’s a rather complicated situation.” Like Prince Zander, Master Seke had a human mate. “To keep human slaves dishonors the prince’s mate and disrespects the hundred-fold humans who have pledged their lives to our cause. They have been promised freedom on Zandia when we reclaim her. And yet they must be subject to Zandian rule. Trained to function in our society. As such, it is best if they are bonded to a master— one or more Zandians willing to serve as the human’s sponsor or guardian. One who will be responsible for their behavior.”

His chest went rigid. He didn’t want to be locked into a lifetime of responsibility for the little feline of a human who he didn’t even trust.

“In a sense, that leaves the human in a subjugated position, similar to that of a slave, because they must conform and obey or they will lose the right to remain with us. Yet they should have the freedom to change guardians or masters to prevent abuse and give them the opportunity to find contentment with us.”

And now again, that sense of panic swam through him. The same one he’d felt when Lady Taramina said warriors would fight over Leti. He may not want responsibility for her, but he didn’t want any other males having access to that beautiful body and vibrant personality, either.

“So they can just...pick a new master? Anytime?” Paal’s hands fisted at his sides.

“I expect they would petition the prince to approve any change. Prince Zander has not made any formal decrees yet, but once Zandia is won, he will need to put a policy in place for handling and integrating the humans.”

Paal forced himself to swallow over the band around his throat. “I see.”

Seke cocked his head. “The emotional nature of human females can bring out long-dormant… desires in Zandian males. Perhaps you are experiencing this?”

He forced himself to release his breath. “Something like that. Yes, Master.”

“Creating a bond between yourself and the human is the key to winning her obedience. It’s not a difficult process.”