Claimed by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 6)

“But you saved me first.” She grabs my hand. “Before they did. You cut my ropes and stole me away, and killed that guard.”

“I killed him?” I draw back. I actually don’t know if I did or not. Wouldn’t mind if I did—it’s just that in the fray, I had only escape on my mind.

“Well, I hope so.” She gives me a wan smile and makes a “duh” face, and suddenly the two of us burst into uncontrollable laughter, so hard that I go dizzy and slouch back onto the hover table.

Our mirth is loud enough to raise alarm. The medic hurries over, brow wrinkled. “Are you all right?” He leans down to check our packs, deft fingers pushing buttons and checking screens. “I will help.” He speaks into his comm as well, and in a second, the blind warrior rushes in.

My pulse picks up when I see him.

“Zina. Enya.” Tarek sounds alarmed. “What is it?” He turns to the medic. “Are they unwell?”

“We’re fine,” I manage to say. “It’s just… a joke.”

“A joke?” Tarek’s brows go way up into his smooth, unlined purple forehead.

“Do Zandians know about jokes?” I stop laughing, faced with the enormity of what lies ahead: adjusting to a new culture. A new species of beings. Where once again we will be the powerless beings. The outsiders.

“Of course.” His voice is almost prim. “But we reserve laughter for very serious things.” I think he doesn’t understand me at all, until I see his lips twitch. A joke.

I burst into giggles. Oh, Mother Earth. I can’t even control my peals of laughter. Tears leak from my eyes.

Finally, I compose myself. “This is a serious moment.”

"Clearly." His mouth twitches as if he wants to smile but isn’t sure if he should. “Please tell me if you have discomfort.”

“My ribs…” I start automatically

, then twist. “Don’t hurt. Anymore.” I twist again, then slide Enya gently away so I can stand. “What did you do?” I touch my body, then prod it harder. “It’s fixed.”

The med tech gives a genuine smile. “We have advanced medical technology.” His smile fades as he glances at my leg. My breeches were torn in the escape, and my old injuries are clearly visible. “But it does have… limits.” He glances at Tarek.

Tarek is silent for a moment. “On planet, we have a doctor who can investigate.” But his tone tells me he doesn’t think much can be done.

I’m used to my leg by now, and never expected it to be made whole again. “I understand. I’m grateful for this.” I gesture to my ribcage. “And my face. That’s better, too.” I touch my lip, my eye. “So fast.”

I turn to Enya. “She needs to eat.” I love this girl more than life. She’s my daughter, really, in my heart. I need to make sure she’s taken care of.

The tech hands her a few foil packages and she tears into them, eating like an animal, a starving beast.

The med tech moves a few paces away and beckons me. I notice Tarek seems to follow the movement, because he also joins us. “I heard the young screaming,” the med tech says. “Does she require further sedation?”

“No,” I say immediately, without even considering the offer. Even though I’m much better this planet rotation, I’m still wary of any drugs they want to give us.

“If I sedate her again, I can administer an anti-anxiety medication through the pack. Together with more sleep, it may help calm her.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Nothing like that would help. Not unless you have something that will actually remove the memories that make her scream.” I should be talking to the medic, but I look at Tarek when I talk. His eyes are trained on me, and I swear, he sees me. How can he be blind?

Maybe I’m just curious about his disability. My eyes stray down to his tight breeches and the way his body bulges out at the juncture of his thighs, and my face gets hot. I clear my throat. Can he tell where I’m looking? Mother Earth, what am I thinking? I’ve never been interested in males before.

“No.” Tarek’s tone is regretful. “We have no way to take away bad memories, I’m afraid.”

I consider the beings for a moment. Do I trust them to medicate Enya? I do feel much better after the care they gave me. “All right, yes. Go ahead and give her something.”

“Would you like a sedative?” The tech raises his brow at me, and I start to giggle again.

“Sweet Mother Earth, what kind attention and service I’m getting. May I also have a cloak of the finest spider silk as well, and ox-leather boots, if you’re asking? You’re like a personal galaxy shopper.”

I only know about such beings because Master had a shopper on staff who obtained anything he wanted.