Bought By The Zandians (Zandian Brides 2)

I swallow. “She didn’t say anything to us. Surely she knows?” A wave of unease hits me. Danica still has secrets. She won’t talk about her past master, and sometimes she gets this look in her eyes—a distant stare, and closes up entirely.

He shrugs. “She must. If we can see it…”

I frown. “Are they supposed to grow that fast? It’s only so recent.”

He shrugs. “I think each human is different. We need to take her to Dr. Daneth, make sure everything is progressing correctly.”

“As soon as we get back.” My pulse pounds. “Do you think it’s yours, or mine?”

“I don’t know. Whoever is first, we’ll make sure the other is second.” He crosses his arms. “That’s fair, right?”

I nod. “Yes.” I push back my competitive urges. “Either way, as long as it’s healthy.”

“A Zandian.” He stands up and beams. “It’s what we planned, and it’s happening. By the stars.”

I nod. “We’re doing what’s right for the planet.” I’ve never felt like this before. The pride that swells inside my chest is larger than anything I’ve felt.

My comm beeps with new information on our latest mission and I sigh, then turn my attention back to work. “Now sit down and focus, because if we find another one like Taxx, we’re going to need to have all of our energy.”

Gorde groans and sits down hard into the nearest console chair. “That excrement. Has he said yet why he did it?”

I shake my head. “He’s in detention and isn’t talking. It’s a vecking shame.”

“I have no sympathy.” He snaps the words, and his eyes narrow. “He almost hurt Danica, and he’s a traitor to Zandia.” He curls his fists. “I’d like to rip him apart myself.”

I nod. “Wonder what happened to him to make him turn like that.”

“Not every Zandian is worthy.” His words are clipped. “Do you think King Zander should enable the death penalty?” The king has long refused to spill Zandian blood on account of our population’s near extinction.

The idea turns me cold inside. “He’s still our brother, on some level. I don’t know. Let’s go over our recon plans.”

He nods. “Agreed.” Then he turns to me, after a pause. “During the struggle. Did it seem like…”

“Like what?” Something in his tone makes me peer more closely at his face.

“I don’t know.” He makes a low growl. “When Taxx had the stunner to her neck. She needed to duck down, and he needed to stop moving. And then it happened, both things, right at the exact time. Then you and I disabled him in an instant.”

I frown, replaying it in my mind, even though the images are jarring, unwanted. “It’s our bond. How well we work together.” I shrug.

He shakes his head and his brow wrinkles. “It was like Danica was working with us, too.”

I consider this, and remember Taxx groaning, as if he were stuck under a heavy slab of metal, and how I knew without hesitation that this was the moment to strike. “Perhaps it just means that the three of us are fated to be together. We work well as a team.” It certainly felt right to save her, and it was in that moment I knew I needed her as mine, forever.

“I suppose that’s true.” He smiles.

I roll my eyes. “Now please, can we focus on the mission?”

I’m frustrated—our trip came up empty, and all we got for our troubles was a narrow escape from Ocretion airspace with our cover intact. But as soon as I see Danica, my anger and irritation at the day melts away.

“You look beautiful.” I lean in to kiss her soft pink lips, lingering to taste the flavor that bursts onto my tongue. “And you’re delicious.” I lick my tongue along her mouth and slap her ass.

She giggles. “It’s grapes.” She flushes. “I’m still trying out so many new foods.” We have new Earth-based foods delivered to her almost every planet rotation.

“I’d almost eat every planet rotation too, if I could taste it from your mouth.” I tug her in for another kiss.

Beside me, Gorde growls. “Don’t be greedy, brother.”

She moves easily into his arms, and presses both hands to his cheeks, looking up into his eyes. “I missed you.” She smiles, and he melts, his dour look transforming into one of fascination.