His Human Possession (Zandian Masters 8)

But he’d also been distant and angry. He’d rejected the idea of mating her and hadn’t claimed her in any way in front of his mother.

If she were smart, she’d squelch that flicker of yearning that flared in her chest when she found out she’d be having his baby. He didn’t want to mate her. She should find another male. An easier conquest. A Zandian who wanted to mate with a human and have a family. He didn’t have to know the young was Paal’s.

But that thought made her nauseous.

She didn’t want a “conquest.” She wanted the real thing.

What she had with Paal.

They stood up from the table to allow the servants to clear. She fully expected Paal to disappear immediately—he’d been eyeing the door from the moment he came to the meal, but instead he held out his hand to her, the same way his mother’s suiter had.

“Would you care to dance?”

She reached for his hand, breath catching in her throat. Why should the simple invitation make the room spin and her knees wobble?

Because she was a slave and he was a beautiful, noble warrior. Becaus

e he’d been playing hot and cold since the moment she met him and she never knew where she stood. Because maybe she’d wanted this moment to arrive far too much for comfort.

He led her to the side of the room and gathered her hands in his. She didn’t know the dance—had never partnered with another being before—but he made it easy. His confident, sure movements guided her. She glided around with him, turning to and fro, circling the room.

He leaned his head down. “I’m sorry about my mother.”

She flashed a smile up at him. “She doesn’t bother me, Paal. I’ve met far worse. I wish you wouldn’t let her get to you.”

His eyes followed her across the room. “Look at her now—throwing herself at a new male.”

“I know.” She made her face sympathetic. “But your father is already gone. Her betrayal no longer hurts him. Stop letting it hurt you.”

Surprise flitted over his face. He looked over her head, still gracefully guiding her about the room. He remained silent long enough she was certain she’d offended him. But finally he said, “You think I should excuse her? Forgive her?”

Leti shrugged. “The grudge only hurts you. Your mother is a limited being. She probably didn’t offer you enough as a parent. She certainly did your father wrong. But she is who she is. Resisting her only makes you tense.”

Paal eyed her. “Great wisdom from a slave.” He released one of her hands and spun her around beneath his other. When he stopped, she fell into his arms, dizzy. He held her quiet against him, not dancing. “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean that to sound derogatory.”

The edges of her lips kicked up in a smile. “Takes more than calling me a slave to offend.”

Paal guided her back into the steps, circling the room.

“How do you think I became so wise? I learned at a very young age what I could control and what I couldn’t. Most of it I couldn’t, so I had a choice. Either live in misery, or figure out how to flow.”

Paal was looking at her as if she were the most interesting being in the galaxy and she didn’t want it to ever stop.

“Mina and I used to play games to make it easier. We’d take bets on silly things, or give stupid names to things. Anything to lighten the droll.”

His look hadn’t wavered. It sent a warmth right down to the white slippers she’d borrowed from Mina for the night. “All right, little female.” He glanced over at his mother. “What will you bet my mother has that male in her chamber by the end of the night?”

She giggled. “Are you going to bet against it?”

He gave her a chagrined smile. “No. I fear it’s inevitable.”

“So let’s bet on how long it takes her.”

Paal threw back his head and laughed—a rich hearty sound that sent pleasure winging through every part of her. All the while, he kept perfect time with his feet—their feet, since he guided her steps, too. “Two more songs.”

She shot a glance over at his mother to gauge how much physical contact she had going with her suitor. “I give it three. But I’m not sure I can keep dancing long enough to find out. I’m getting dizzy.”

Paal laughed again and led her to a hoverchair where he sat down and pulled her into his lap. “We’ll watch from here, then.”