“Dr. Daneth said she was born green. Now she’s purple.” He leans in closer. “She has purple eyes, too. By the stars.” He trails off and blinks. “It’s incredible.”
I swallow and nod. “She is. Yes.” My voice sounds choked.
“He said she has hardly any Akronain DNA left, and the gene segment for violence is entirely missing.”
“I could tell.” I’m eager to explain. “I knew it, my lord. She told me that she was good and nice. She asked me to keep her safe.”
“Yet you didn’t tell any being.”
“How could I? Who would believe such a thing? I barely understood it myself.” I cuddle her in my arms. “But as time went on, I believed she was going to be kind and gentle. I just needed her to have a chance. I was scared to say the truth, because…”
He meets my eyes with a shrewd regard. “Because you served an Akronian master. One of the most violent, feared, unstable species in the entire galaxy.”
“I escaped to save my life and that of my unborn child.”
“You didn’t tell my warriors you were already with young when they accepted you as a mate.”
“I did not.”
He waits, so I continue. “I’m sorry for the deception, but at the time, it seemed like my best chance for survival. And hers.” I nod at my child. “It will always hurt my heart that I deceived them and you, but I will not lie. I’d do it all over again if the situation were the same.”
I stand. “I understand if you wish to send me away. I request that I be delivered to Jesel or another neutral territory. Please don’t sell me and my young as slaves.” I shudder, a cold trail runs down my spine.
He frowns. “Your mates have forsaken you?”
I bow my head. “Yes, my lord. I don’t think they will forgive me.”
He regards me for a long moment. “They may not,” he agrees, and it seems that there is some compassion in his face. “You will need to ask them.”
“I cannot.” I look down at my child. “They were not present for her birth. They do not wish to see me. They said as much.”
The king stands from his great throne and paces away. “They are on a rescue mission, Danica. They didn’t know you were birthing the young.”
“Oh.” Relief for a second, then my despair returns. “Even if they did know, our last words—they were not kind ones.” A tear comes to my eyes. “So, is it Jesel, then?”
One time, it was all I wanted. Now, the idea of leaving Zandia tears me in pieces. But it’s my only option.
“Is that your desire?” He turns to look at me.
Surprise that he’s asking what I desire spikes. It’s definitely not what I desire, but it’s the only option I see. Why would I stay on Zandia if Benn and Gorde didn’t want me?
“I’ll arrange a transport ship for you both, then, as soon as you’re cleared by Dr. Daneth for travel.
“Dr. Daneth said I’m clear,” I lie. Because I can’t stand to stay here one more planet rotation.
King Zander’s eyes narrow, like he knows I’m lying, but before I can bluster out more story, something flashes in my mind. A sound.
I put a hand to my head, and grimace.
“Danica?” The king steps closer, concern on his face. He waves a hand and one of the servants rushes forward to scoot the hoverchair beneath me.
“No.” I shake my head, adjusting my baby with the other hand. She squirms, and suddenly she’s focusing along with me, the two of us. Listening. With her at my side, the noise is amplified and all at once I know what it is.
“Gorde and Benn. Their ship? It’s in trouble. I can hear it.” I suck in my breath.
“Danica, they’re still in the Ramban territory,” he says with a frown. “They won’t be back for hours yet. There’s no way you could hear anything. And,” he adds, “last check in, they were fine.”
Bayla enters and he gestures her over. “Danica may be having some post-partum issues,” he says in an undertone. “Please, help her get back to the med bay for a check up and have Dr. Daneth notify me when she’s cleared for travel.”