"Master, wait," Leti jogged after him.
No. He didn't want to talk to her. Not now. Especially not with his mother watching. It wasn't her fault, but seeing his mother scraped his every nerve raw. He didn't turn, just waved his hand to shoo her away.
It was strange, but without turning, without her saying a word, he knew his dismissiveness hurt his little female.
Great, now he was turning into his mother—abandoning those he should be caring for.
But even being able to see his folly, he couldn't make himself undo it. Couldn't stop, and call her back. Couldn't change his emotional state to want to be around a female in that moment.
All he could do was walk away. And the faster the better.
All the air whooshed out of Leti.
Had Paal found her so inferior he didn’t wish his mother to know about their relationship? She’d been careful to call him Master—so he could’ve introduced her as his slave. But maybe even taking a human slave was considered beneath Zandian warriors—what did she know?
Well, fuck him.
Two could play at this game. And she knew how fast he’d crumble if she turned her attentions to the other warriors in the pod. How convenient that the very three she’d flirted with were the ones chosen to remain behind.
Except flirting with them felt about as enticing as dropping a brick on her bare foot. She wanted Paal. Wanted things to be the way they’d been since the attack. She’d let down her guard and he’d met her there. It had been soft and easy. She’d felt honored by him and honored to be at his side.
Damn. She should’ve known heartache was the only consequence to getting emotionally involved.
Zander walked through the galactacarrier where warriors—human and Zandian alike— stood alert, prepared for battle. He cleared his throat. “I am grateful to each and every being on this carrier, and to those with Master Rok. So much is at stake for us now. For the Zandians—our home planet. The only source of Zandian crystal in the galaxy. The only place our bodies receive the full nourishment they require. That planet is our birthright. The Finn took it from us unjustly. They killed our families and wiped out most of our species and tomorrow—” he paused, looking around at all of them. “Tomorrow we make them pay.”
A cheer went up.
“I have waited, as most of you have, for this planet rotation. Our time to exact revenge. To take back what belongs to us. Our numbers may be small, but we are fierce! We have trained, and invested. We have the best fleet currency can buy. And we have the aid of the bravest humans in the galaxy!”
A slightly less enthusiastic shout went around.
“Tomorrow you fight by our side, and for that, I will ensure you have a safe place on Zandia. I will provide you protection against Ocretion slave traders. On Zandia, you will be able to settle, make a home. You will never have your children or parents or family ripped from your arms again. You will be treated fairly, with the decency and honor Zandians are known for.”
A few humans nodded their heads.
/> “We must put our trust in each other now. Never lose your focus on the prize. We must win back Zandia.”
Another cheer.
“Thank you. Get some rest, all of you. I need you at your best tomorrow.”
Paal kept himself in the control room of the pod for most of the following planet rotation. He’d sent a coded communique to Prince Zander saying that they were safely docked, but otherwise communication with the troops had been cut off for everyone’s safety.
He waited until long after dark to return to his chamber. If he was honest, he'd admit he was avoiding Leti, but it was easier to tell himself his job required him to work through the night.
He opened the door to his chamber and walked softly in the dark. Leti sat up and peered in his direction. Apparently humans couldn't see in the dark. "Paal?"
"Yes, it's me. Go back to sleep."
She laid back down but didn't close her eyes. When he shucked his clothes and joined her in the sleepdisk, she ducked her head under the covers, crawling down over his shaft.
Even though his cock instantly turned harder than Zandian crystal, he grasped her hair and pulled her head back before she could apply that temptress mouth to his malehood.
"Did I say you could suck it, female?"
"May I, Master?" she purred.
It annoyed him. He wanted a genuine reaction from her like he’d had the night before. Why was she always trying to seduce him?