Claimed by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 6)

“I’m not hiding anything…” she begins, her voice high and tight. I smell her sweat.

“She’s scared,” I interrupt, standing and placing my body between hers and the captain’s. I don’t know why the veck, but I’m on my feet before I realize it. “Keep your voice neutral.”

I track him crossing his arms.

“—Captain,” I add, bowing my head. On this ship, he’s my superior. “A suggestion to put our human at ease.” I put up my hands. I don’t know why I feel the need to protect her. “As we know, they prefer low tones and soft voices when being asked questions.”

He tilts his head, although I know he’s going to follow up with me later. “Agreed. Zina, we are not going to harm you. We need to learn about you and Enya. This,” he gestures to the holo, “is one of our respected Zandians back on planet. He will listen and ask questions as well.”

She exhales. “Okay.” Her voice is still a bit shaky, but the tone of terror is gone. “What do you want to know?”

“How many solar cycles is the young you care for?”

“Nine.”

“Where did she live? What was her daily life like?”

She tenses. “Why the interest in Enya?”

“We are interested in you both,” the captain says smoothly. But the young will be more difficult to care for. We want to understand what she requires.”

Zina still appears wary.

“Has the child been assaulted in any way? Injured?”

“We all have been assaulted,” she says stiffly. “She bears no permanent injury.” I sense her tension rising. She directs her focus to Dr. Daneth. “Are you inquiring whether she’s a virgin?”

“Is she?” he asks.

She doesn’t answer.

“We do not auction or sell virgins on Zandia. Is that what you fear?” I say gently.

She turns her head in my direction. “Why the questions, then?”

“What does she know about her origins—her mother?” Daneth asks.

Zina appears surprised by this line of questioning. “Nothing. How could she? She’s from a slave breeding facility. None of us know our mothers.”

Dr. Daneth nods like he expected this answer.

“I’m her family now. And you’re asking a lot of questions.” She sounds suspicious. Like she’s trying to figure something out.

“We’re bringing you to our planet, and it behooves us to understand your medical and life history,” the captain cuts in, voice smooth.

“Yeeesss…” She bites her lip; my sensors tell me. “But you’ve asked nearly nothing about me. Lots about Enya.” She glances from him to me. “And back at the auction,” her voice grows stronger, “you weren’t looking for random humans. You checked her barcode.” Now her voice is loud. Full strength. “You wanted her, specifically. Why?”

She’s breathing rapidly. She stands and clenches her fists. “Tell me right now. What do you want with her? Are you planning to sell her? Hurt he

r? Use her for... something? Experiments? Trade bargains?”

“Sit down,” the captain snaps, just as I say, “None of that.”

Zina launches herself at me, perhaps because I’m closest, and hammers me with her fists. Kicks me with her good leg, then cries out in pain and collapses. Automatically I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. “Stop, Zina,” I command. “No one is going to hurt you or Enya, so don’t make me bind you.”

Us. I meant don’t make us bind you. Except I know it would be me. I wouldn’t allow anyone else to touch her. Not when she’s like this.

“I’ll die before I let you do anything with that young,” she snarls and wriggles in my arms, like an electric eel.