Kept by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 5)

Now I see his angle. He should just ask me to mate her if that’s what he wants. I suppose this means he’s not sure what he wants.

“You would take full responsibility for her?”

He bows. “I would, my lord.”

“Bond her to you as her guardian. Provide discipline as necessary?” I watch his pupils dilate at the suggestion of discipline. He’s certainly bewitched by the female.

He swallows with apparent effort. “I will, my lord.”

“And of course, you’ll be fair and just with her? Recognizing human females are sensitive creatures who require a gentle but firm hand and emotional support that may be foreign to you?”

A flush spreads up his neck. “Yes, my lord.”

“I will consider your petition, then. After I meet the female.”

Concern flits over Drayk’s face before he hides it. He bows. “Of course, my l

ord. Thank you, my lord.”

“Please bring her in,” I murmur and he inclines his head and leaves.

As soon as he’s gone, I chuckle to myself over the change in him.

Only because it’s all too painfully familiar.

Taisha

“Taisha, you may approach.”

I nod and step forward, and sweat beads on my brow. I swipe surreptitiously at it with my left arm, blotting the moisture on my bandage. “Thank you.”

The king has the wisest, most discerning eyes I’ve ever seen, next to Leylah, and I can’t look at him long without feeling entirely helpless. He’s surrounded by a small group of Zandians, all of whom have wicked daggers at their waists which gleam in the low light.

“You escaped Romon-3 undetected and stabbed a Zandian star ship captain with a new poison meant for Ocretions.”

I nod. “That was a mistake. I did not intend harm to any Zandian. I was delirious and lashed out, thinking he was an enemy to me.”

“I would doubt that, perhaps, except that you proved your loyalty in the mission to retrieve the discs. That was brave and generous.” He bows his head. “And I thank you, on behalf of myself, my mate, and Zandia.”

My cheeks warm. “I-I don’t know what to say. You’re welcome?” I bite my lip. “I wish to request asylum?”

It’s not a question, but I am confused how to act, what to say. Since Drayk left me on the ship, after I pleasured him, things were a whirlwind. Once on Zandia, I was taken to a med isolation bay for further treatment and questioning, and told I would be able to petition the king once I was deemed well.

Apparently, this is the planet rotation.

My gut twists. I should be excited and eager, but all I can think about is Drayk. How he never came to see me in the med area. How cold he was to me after our intimacy. How could he seem so caring one moment and distant the next?

The room swoops and I draw in a deep breath to fight off a wave of dizziness. “Please, do not send me back to the Ocretions. They will kill me and then will harm many other humans as well. Right now, they do not know I’m gone.” Well, for the most part.

The king regards me. “I hope that is true. One planet rotation they may discover what truly happened.”

I nod. Mother Earth, I hope they don’t.

“I have discussed your case with my advisors. You will receive temporary, provisional asylum, based on your behavior over the next three lunar cycles. If you pass probation, you will receive full asylum.”

“Thank you.” I utter the words automatically, then register the “temporary” part. “Excuse me? What? How does it work? My lord,” I add hastily and bow my head. “I am grateful yet don’t understand.”

“You will be assigned to a temporary guardian. One whom,” and he emphasizes the next part, “will observe and correct your behavior as necessary.” He raises a brow. I think I see the flicker of a smile on his face, but I cannot focus on his expression because all I can think about is the punishment Drayk administered. It was intimate and charged, and I can’t imagine accepting it from any other being. I would hate another master to touch me that way.