Claimed by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 6)

I should let her go now. We’re out of the planet’s lower airspace, heading out of Ocretion territory completely. The ship won’t lurch again.

And yet my arm remains firmly around her. “We’re Zandian.” My voice sounds deeper than normal.

Now she seems to come to her senses and pushes at me to be set free. I comply.

“Come, human,” Captain Drayk orders, catching the female’s arm.

I almost growl my irritation at the brusque way he handles her. But he’s the captain and I know he won’t harm them. I give a shake of my head to clear my senses.

It’s strange for me to be so affected by a female—human or any species.

“How are they?” All of my senses are on alert as I guide our ship past a gleaming nebula toward home, Zandia.

> “Stable. Are we in safe airspace?”

“Yes. Jumped to hyper as soon as we cleared the upper airspace. No tails.” I scan the area. “No ships in our vicinity.”

“Good.” Captain Drayk’s voice is filled with relief. “Call Master Seke. I want to give him the news immediately.”

“Yes, Captain.” I establish the comm line. “Ship A4 with urgent message for Master Seke.”

“What is it?”

I enable the holo form-fill so my shipmates can see him.

“We have the young and she appears unharmed.” Captain Drayk speaks quickly, as if to allay any fears. “She’s… intact.” He swallows. “Mentally strained and suffering extreme anxiety, but… she’ll be all right.”

“Excellent news.” Master Seke, usually reticent, has a tinge of jubilance in his tone. “I will inform Dr. Daneth. When do you arrive?”

“In half a planet rotation.”

We disconnect and I consider the mission. We were sent at considerable political risk and expense, not for official Zandian business, but rather, on a personal mission for a human. The mate of one of the king’s top advisors. Zandians are known for honor and logic, but the emotions of the humans we’ve taken in have affected us all. Even for me, the satisfaction of this personal mission is just as great as any battle for Zandia. Perhaps greater.

“Do you suppose Dr. Daneth will tell his mate, Bayla, right now?” I imagine what is happening back on our planet. “How many solar cycles since she’s seen her daughter?” In my mind, a digital array of asteroids appears, and I adjust course to steer clear of them.

Drayk shakes his head. “I believe she was raised to be a breeder. Her babies were taken from her at birth. She never even knew them. I think he will tell her now, to mitigate anxiety and prepare her.”

I use my sensors to scan the area, and locate the two humans huddled together near the med pod. “The adult female is injured? I smelled her blood.”

“The female suffered a broken rib and punch to the face. They both have a healing pack. The grown female has an older leg injury that would require special attention from Dr. Daneth, if it were to be repaired.” Drayk chuckles. “I’m not laughing at their injuries,” he adds. “But your sense of smell just gets better all the time.

“Maybe one planet rotation I’ll be ready for battle.”

But I know that’s not true. Master Seke has told me more than once, in no uncertain terms, that I will never see battle. That my skills are invaluable elsewhere.

Drayk touches my shoulder. “We couldn’t have done this mission without you at the helm.” I know he means it. Still, I want to be beside him, going on-planet, fighting like a warrior, not just a pilot with special navigation skills. Not always the one waiting on board.

“Why are there two humans?” Something about the grown female intrigues me. The effect of her scent on my physiology is highly unusual. I put the ship on auto as we head into clear skies, then stand.

“They were together—the older one was protecting the child. The offspring refused to leave without her, so we took them both.”

“She’s upset.” I step closer to the humans, a frown on my face. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to her. “More upset than the young one. Why is that?”

“They’re both in shock. From auction to rescue. I don’t know exactly how to comfort them.”

“You should be familiar with human females, since you took a mate,” I point out.

His face changes from 400 to 420 nm; the wavelength information feeds into my sensors. I chuckle because I can’t see the blush with my eyes, but I know he’s embarrassed. “It could be said that you know quite a bit about human behavior,” I tease.