Kept by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 5)

I step back and point to the storage areas. “You may investigate the nutrition station at your leisure, and part of your protocol here is that you must eat three meals a planet rotation, as that is considered the most healthy thing for humans—”

She starts laughing, a delightful sound. Like bells, or water.

I stare, enchanted. “Did I say something humorous?”

She stops immediately. “It’s just—I must eat three times a planet rotation, as if that were a chore. Do you even understand how we humans would love that…” She trails off, her smile fading. Her eyes go distant, and she looks out the window, but I’d bet any amount of stein she’s not seeing the bustling city center or the hover cars going by.

She looks at me again, her face somber. “I welcome the chance to eat three meals a planet rotation,” she says formally. “That will absolutely not be a problem.”

I step closer and touch her arm. “You will never go hungry here, little human.” She lifts those dark eyes to mine and the air charges between us. I drop my hand and step back, clearing my throat. “You will obey all the rules I set out. You will rise and retire for sleep when I schedule you to do so. You will accompany me on city visits and behave in public. As you prove your worth, you will earn more freedoms to interact with other humans.”

She stiffens and turns away. “I understand,” she offers finally. “May I have my pack?”

“You mean your poison syringes?” I raise my eyebrows. “No, you may not. That is in safekeeping with Dr. Daneth and his scientists. They will be working on ways to reverse engineer it and understand the chemical makeup. When I deem you a safe risk, you may”—he emphasizes the may—“be allowed to watch and offer help.”

Taisha

“My other things in the pack.” My pulse pounds. What has happened to the coin? It was in my pack, and now it’s gone. I’ve lost it. How could Leylah have expected me to keep it on my person through all I’ve encountered? Mother Earth, even if I’d tried to stuff it in a body cavity, stars forbid, they’d have found it during my med exam.

Leylah’s gone now, and I’m millions of light years away, but I know in my bones that I need to do what she told me. It’s critical—I don’t yet know how, but I sense it. Once again, I get a tiny flicker of light, of voices. I shut my eyes and touch my temple, and it’s gone. Nothing.

I look back at Drayk.

“Your pack is in my keeping.” He eyes me. “You may earn it back with good behavior.”

King Zander said this is a master / trainee relationship only. But I suddenly wonder what Drayk means by good behavior.

I step closer. “Good behavior?” I lower my voice unintentionally, as I think of the delights of hi

s body. Of mine. I lift my palms to his wide, muscled chest.

His horns shoot out, twitching in my direction. The irises of his eyes change from brown to a brilliant amethyst.

He draws in a sharp breath. “Taisha.” He covers my hands with his own, roughly. “I-I can’t. You heard what King Zander said. I should never have taken advantage of you on the ship. I apologize.”

Oh.

With apparent effort, he drops his hands and steps back, away from me. “I’m your superior.” He draws his chest up. “I’m responsible for you.”

“Right.” I try to hide my humiliation, the rejection cutting deeper than I could’ve imagined.

He tilts his head. “Besides, I’m not sure you’ve told me everything I need to know. That Zandia needs to know.” He frowns. “You’re holding something back, something important. Until you tell me what it is, I won’t be able to fully trust you.”

“I see.” My voice is dangerously wobbly.

“I must be impartial.” He sounds almost beseeching. “King Zander is relying on me to do the right thing for all of Zandia.”

I blink rapidly. So it meant nothing. “As you wish, Master.” I can’t keep a touch of scorn from my voice.

He hears it and raises his brows. Steps closer. “I will not tolerate insubordination,” his voice is soft and dangerous.

My body registers his nearness with prickles and heat. My breath catches at the memory of the way he punished me before. The intimacy of the act. How it aroused me.

I can’t stop myself from pushing him into it again. I want those walls back down. Want to see his hunger again, feel his touch.

“Stars forbid.” I roll my eyes. “You are clearly a being of import and stature. Everything you say must be listened to with intense concentration and approval, certainly.”

It’s a dangerous game. I don’t truly wish to enrage him, especially if I am to prove my worthiness to him.