“Your mother, Leora. And a younger sister, Lamira, mate to Zander, exiled prince of Zandia.”
Lily’s knees buckled, and he snapped her up against his side to keep her from falling.
“I understand it’s a shock. And I know if I would’ve told you, you might not have tried to escape me. I will forever bear the guilt of losing you.”
“Mother?” Lily whispered, confusion still etched on her face.
“And sister.”
Lamira stepped forward beside her mother, after casting a worried glance at Zander.
Leora’s eyes shone with tears. “I feared we’d never find you,” she choked and opened her arms.
A bewildered Lily stepped into them but didn’t return the embrace. When Leora released her, Lamira stepped forward, but Lily accepted only a cursory embrace before turning back and staring up at him.
“You knew?” she rasped.
He tried to swallow, but the knot in his throat made it impossible. “Forgive me, Lily. I met them before I bought you on Jesel.”
“So...so you never intended to turn me over to the Ocretions?”
Regret stabbed him. “I shouldn’t have let you think that.”
To his shock, a slow smile spread across her face and then a manic laugh bubbled out of her. “You were going to surprise me?” She threw her arms around his neck, jumping to reach. He caught her under her seat and boosted her legs around his waist.
“You’re not mad?”
“You did intend to keep me.” Triumph and joy bubbled up with more laughter.
“You’re mine,” he said gruffly into her neck.
A few tears dripped down Lily’s face, but she was still laughing. Lamira and Leora wore faint, curious smiles.
Zander cleared his throat. “You are welcome on my pod with your mother and sister, Lily.”
It was everything he could do to keep from growling “Mine!” at the prince.
Lily twisted, and he reluctantly placed her on the ground, turning her around so her back pressed against his front with his arms wrapped around her. “What will happen to the other prisoners? They can’t go back to Ocretia. Where will they go?”
When Zander’s expression showed nothing, she turned pleading eyes on Rok.
She wanted his help. Trusted him to solve her problem. She believed in him. His heart swelled too big for his chest. He suddenly owned his destiny—the complete one Mierna had always predicted. The one Lamira, too, had promised.
Your destiny is woven with ours. You were born to lead armies.
Rok cleared his throat. “I will train them as soldiers and pilots. They can help us take back Zandia.”
A tiny jerk of Zander’s head showed his surprise.
Lamira’s face broke into a broad smile. “I knew you would be the one.”
But Lily frowned. “And what then? They will be slaves of Zandia?”
Zander stiffened. “Zandians do not keep slaves.”
Both Rok and Lily’s eyes traveled to Lamira’s collar, but they kept their mouths shut. She was obviously far more than a slave to Zander, whatever their situation may be.
“Any human who fights for Zandia will be considered a full and free citizen,” Zander declared, though it appeared to cost him.