Claimed by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 6)

“I have many issues.” To my utter surprise, I think I detect the wryness of human humor. “But right now, you’re not one of them.”

“Do these issues require medication?” I squeeze her fingers. “Can I help?” I’m about to summon the medic when she speaks.

“Only if there is a medication that can erase the past twenty-five solar cycles of my life, or fix my leg, or plug the screaming holes in my mind. That can free all humans from slavery.”

I have no answer for this. I blink a few times.

“You have the most interesting eyes.”

I flinch. “What do you mean?”

“The color. I like it.”

I hate my eyes. I despise not seeing like other beings.

“I’m blind.” My voice is flat. I stand and touch my headset implant at my temple. “I cannot see you, not the traditional way that beings do.”

What was I thinking, crouching close to her, touching her, smelling her body? Injured leg or no, this human is clearly strong and clever, and will make some Zandian a good mate. A Zandian who’s approved for mating. Which I am not. Never will be.

“Blind?” Her shock needles me. “But you… do things.” The air moves when she waves her hand. “Lots of things. How…”

“I have tech. And I’ve trained.”

“I really can’t tell. Wow.” I assume she’s looking at me, because her posture hasn’t changed and her head is pointed right at my face. “I swear, you don’t seem blind when you move. And sometimes it’s like you’re looking right into… my soul.” She clears her throat. “I mean—Never mind that last part.”

I’ve heard this before, at least the first part of it, usually with a touch of sympathy, which enrages me. From this human, I just hear interest.

“Maybe later I’d like to ask you questions about it,” she says, but then she yawns and her whole body slumps.

Our med tech, Jass, comes up to me. “I put a sedative into their packs,” he murmurs to me in Zandian. “Just to help them rest. They’re both so anxious they can’t settle down, and their bodies need time to regenerate. Humans heal much slower than we do.”

“Understood.” I stand and wait as their breaths even out, and I can tell they are both asleep.

I want to reach out and touch Zina again, but I can’t, with Jass here. It would look inappropriate. And it would be imprudent, given that I could never have her, anyway.

But before I head back to the bridge to my nav station, I stand there for a long moment, listening to her breathe. I barely know her and already I’d almost do anything to protect her and make her happy.

But that’s foolish. A blind warrior is useless to a female, even with tech upgrades.

Chapter 4

Zina

I wake to Enya’s screams again, and my body tenses. For a moment, I think we’re back on Ocretia. I leap to my feet, only to sink back down, my head dizzy and my mouth cottony dry.

The past planet rotation comes crashing back and I remember where we are. On a Zandian ship. Captured for breeding. Consensual breeding, if I’m to understand what Tarek told me.

Not that it makes any sense.

“Rrrg. It’s all right.” I grab Enya; she’s shaking so hard I hear her teeth clatter. Mother Earth forbid that she shatter them in her fear. “Enya, we’re safe.”

I say the words before I think, but when I blink, I realize it may be true. We’re on the Zandian ship. Unbound. With beings who, so far, have neither hurt us nor promised to do so.

Her eyes are wide and I know she doesn’t see me, so I pull her tight and hum, rocking back and forth, the song I’ve sung to her every night for solar cycles. Like it usually does, the music calms her, and after a minute, she relaxes into my arms and coughs.

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes are full of tears. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” I wipe her cheek. “We’re going to be all right. We escaped the slave auction.” I shake my head in wonder. “Of all the things.”