Even if it means defying my king.
Veck.
Could I do that? I’m not sure. I owe everything to King Zander. His fortitude and determination are the reason we won back our planet and have this opportunity to return home.
Still, my need to have Riya by my side eclipses all else.
We step forward. King Zander has taken a seat where he is listening to the petitions of his subjects one by one.
Jax steps forward first and I’m grateful for my cousin’s silver tongue. His ability to smooth any situation over. “King Zander, my cousins and I have claimed and pierced our mate. We are ready for your assignment to a homestead.” He says it with utter confidence, even though I know he’s as worried as the rest of us. That’s his gift—presenting things in a way that makes beings fall into his plans.
Zander nods. “Who is your mate?”
Jax clears his throat. “Her name is Riya.”
Zander activates his voice amplifier. “Riya.”
I scan the crowd of humans, searching for her. She emerges, face pale and pinched. My fists squeeze tighter. I want to do battle for her. Kill any being who’s ever frightened her, but I can’t comfort her yet. Not until we win this bid for our future.
“Come forward,” orders Zander, and she moves as if traveling through a thick mud. Her every step seems to take forever. No, that must be my perception—I want to get this over with faster.
She turns to look over her shoulder at the human, Lily, who gives her a human gesture I don’t understand. The thumb of one hand is lifted in the air.
Riya looks back at me and touches her earlobe, as if checking to see if the proof of our claiming is still there. The crystals sparkle in the light, sending a surge of possessive pride through me. I lift my chest.
Ours.
She’s ours like no other could ever be.
And no others will ever take her from us.
When she approaches the king, we flank her, Ronan and Jax on either side of her, me behind.
King Zander looks at all of us in that thoughtful way of his. “Riya.”
She curtsies. “My lord.” Her voice wobbles a little. It’s probably her first time meeting the king, which only compounds her stress.
“Have you willingly mated these three males?”
She appears as surprised by the question as we are, but nods without hesitation. “Yes, my lord.”
He lets his gaze travel over each of us again. “And you are all willing to serve Zandia through this rehabitation project? You vow to defend the land, provide your labor toward rebuilding and re-vegetation and remain there for at least five solars, after which the land will belong to you.”
“We do, my lord,” Jax answers. Ronan and I bow our agreement.
He turns to the warrior beside him. “Do we have Riya’s slave data?”
Riya stiffens. I’m not the only one who notices. Jax sends her a speculative look. Ronan catches her hand and squeezes it.
Zander’s assistant shakes his head. “I don’t have it here, my lord. I can locate it and send it to your data cuff.”
Zander waves a dismissive hand. “Send it to her mates when you find it.” He turns to Riya. “What purpose did you serve for the Ocretions?”
She swallows audibly. “I worked on an agrifarm, my lord.”
Zander’s expression brightens. “That will serve your team well. Your skills will be in high demand on the Egantian Mine site. And what were you sentenced to death for?”
Riya shifts on her feet. Her face has gone pale. “I killed a guard, my lord.” Her voice cracks.