Claimed by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 6)

“No, just take me to Enya. She’s my family. I need to be with her.”

“Um… that won’t be possible, right now.” She puts the packets down. “I’m so sorry.”

I stand up and touch her shoulder. “You said she was doing fine.” I twist my hands together.

“Oh, she is! Zina, this is great news. You’re going to be so happy. Enya is meeting her mother.” A beat. “Her birth mother.”

Now the rooms really spins. My voice is weak. “Her birth mother? Here? On Zandia?” I sit down abruptly.

“Yes. Bayla’s been waiting for this moment for many solar cycles. No one ever thought it would happen.”

This was the thing they weren’t telling me on the ship. The reason they were searching for her specifically.

It should be great news. It is great news. But for some reason, my body reacts with panic. I squeeze my hands together and my body is hot and cold at once.

“I can’t believe this. It’s real?”

“Yes. Her mother is mated with Dr. Daneth, the king’s royal physician, and she’s hoped for a reunion with her young for so long. Now that it’s happening, it’s a miracle!”

“And they don’t want me there while she meets… her m-mother?” The word is hard to get out past the lump in my throat. Emotions swirl through me and I can’t focus. “Did Enya… not want me there?”

Abbi looks away. “Um, it’s just that you were in med and then you needed your sleep and rest, and the delegation decided, well, that it might be easier for her to do the initial transition without you. Just so

she could meet her mother as soon as possible, you know?”

“But I’ve—we’ve—never been apart. She’s like my own young, or a little sister.” I stand up and gesture. “Abbi, please. She might be scared, or in shock, or…” My heart pounds. “She needs me.”

Abbi turns back and hesitates, maybe the sight of my expression is alarming her. “I’m so sorry, but I have instructions to, ah, not bring you to her.” She adds, “Not yet. Until we get approval.”

I sit down, breathing heavily, head spinning. “No.”

She touches my arm. “I’m told she’s doing fine. This is just temporary, until she gets over the first hurdle. You’ll see her again. And I know they’re all grateful to you for taking such good care of her. It’s obvious that she probably wouldn’t be alive, even, if not for you.” Abbi squeezes my fingers. “You’re like a hero.”

I shiver, suddenly cold. “I’m not a hero, Abbi. I’m just a human who tried to survive in galactic slavery, like any other.”

“Sometimes that’s true heroism.” She smiles at me, but I can’t respond in kind. Frankly, I don’t know what’s going on inside me right now. I should be happy for Enya, and her mother. But I can’t help but feel useless—like they’ve discarded me like trash that’s no longer necessary. I touch my leg.

“You just need to rest some more, then we’ll start the process of getting you used to Zandia.” She grabs a luxurious spider-silk blanket—the kind only used by my former Ocretion master—and wraps it around my shoulders. I realize my clothing—a form-fitting gown—is also soft and luxurious. I’ve never felt such fabric against my skin before. Surely a species that shows me such kindness and welcome wouldn’t be lying about Enya. Would they?

She pats my arm. “I know you’re used to bad things happening. But this place is good. We’re as good as free here. The Zandians are kind and benevolent. I promise you that.” She lowers her tone. “Every human female here has been through the initial adjustment, and we’ll help you.”

Despite my panic at being separated from Enya, I can tell she means well. That she’s earnest.

I nod. “Thank you.”

There is much to be grateful for here—my life, my safety, being on a planet where I will have some semblance of freedom—for the first time in my life.

Yet without Enya in my arms, I feel so empty.

What does her mother look like? Will Enya forget me immediately?

I’m sure she won’t. She can’t!

What if she never needs me again? How can she be doing this big thing without me at her side? My life feels suddenly meaningless. All those years as a slave, I was strong to protect the younger ones. To help them stay alive, stay safe. One by one, the younger ones were taken from my care, but I still had Enya. She was my family. My everything.

Tears drip down my face.

To make matters worse, the image of the strong blind Zandian comes to mind… the wonderful ways he touched me. I don’t know why I feel like I need him, in particular, but I do.