His Human Possession (Zandian Masters 8)

"The Finn. They must know we plan to attack soon and are taking preemptive strikes."

"Is this it, then?" Bayla asked, twisting a lock of dark hair around her finger. "The war?"

Lamira's eyes went unfocused. "Yes. This is it."

"Have they called in the troops from the training pod?"

Lamira shook her head. "No. I don't know. They're chasing the battleship that attacked, but it was only one small craft. The hit was strategic to take down our life support systems."

Bayla's big eyes grew even bigger, her pale skin paler. "Will we survive?" she whispered.

Lamira again took on an unfocused look.

"She's clairvoyant," Bayla whispered. "Like the Venusians."

Leti couldn't imagine how a human with any kind of special gift or gene mutation had managed to survive Ocretion slavery, but it explained why she might be a valuable mate for the prince. Not that her beauty and gentle bearing weren't enough.

Lamira turned her green eyes on Leti. "Your help will be needed to fix the systems."

Her hand fluttered to her chest. "My help?" She shook her head. "I'm sure you have me confused with another being. I have no training in en

gineering or electronics. I've been used as a sex pet since my adolescence."

A commotion at the door brought their attention there. Granit assisted another being in, shoving it to the side, then helped an older version of Lamira through the opening. Paal stood on the other side, his gaze landing on her.

Lamira pushed her forward and called out to him, "Bring your mate to Lium. Her help is needed to restore oxygen."

Confusion clouded Paal's face. Good—at least she wasn't the only one who thought the princess had lost her mind. "Forgive me, my lady?"

"Take Leti to Lium. She will be the being who fixes the problem."

"I'm sorry—"

"I don't know how she’ll do it," Lamira snapped, anticipating whatever protest Paal might give. "Just take her." Despite the order, there was an imploring look in Lamira's eyes, telling Leti she hadn't been in a position of power so very long. She didn't have the confidence of having her every order obeyed.

But Paal bowed. "Yes, my lady." He stepped through the opening and offered his hand to Leti.

She wanted to refuse. She already knew Lamira had mixed up her messages. There was nothing Leti could offer to solve an engineering problem. But she didn't dare refuse. Besides, she preferred to be at Paal's side if she was going to die.

He hustled her out of the chamber and they jogged through the corridor.

The air smelled horrible and burned her lungs. She coughed. "You know I have no idea what she meant—"

Paal held up his hand. "I know. Don't speak unless you have to—conserve your breath."

She nodded and followed his lead to a far end of the pod, where the smoke was thicker. He pushed her forward, toward an older, grizzled Zandian covered in soot and oil. "Master Lium, the princess says Leti can be of help. She has seen it."

She met his irritated glance with a small curtsy.

He waved her back. "Out of the way."

Right. That would've been her preference, too. Unfortunately, Lamira seemed to think differently. She backed up against a nearby wall to wait.

"I'm going to get you a helmet with oxygen.” Paal’s brows were low with concern. “I’ll return shortly. Remember—conserve your breath."

She nodded again as warriors swarmed around discussing technical problems far beyond her understanding.

The prince arrived on the scene. “The hole is nearly patched—what’s the progress on the generators?” He glanced her way, then did a double-take. "What is she doing here?"