Kept by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 5)

“I have bore two human slaves as a breeder. Before Dr. Daneth bought me for his Zandian breeding project. They were taken from me at birth. It kills me to know they are somewhere…” her voice trembles. “Out there. Dr. Daneth and King Zander have said we will find them if we can. But first we need to get their slave records from—”

“From where?” my heart starts to pound. I already love Bayla and it hurts me to think about her children, alone out there. Her suffering, not knowing their location.

“The records are said to be in a compound on a planet called Fonquin. My mate does not wish me to worry about it too much. He said it will not be healthy. But in truth, it is sometimes all I can think about.”

I get that strange feeling and see a small flash of purple, like when I held the coin with Leylah back on Romon-3. I feel like I need to talk. “I was on Fonquin.” I speak automatically. “I snuck into a building and got two discs called BAY1 and BAY2. Drayk and his team have them.”

“What?” She leans in and grabs me. “Are you telling the truth? What do you mean?”

Oh, Mother Earth. I wasn’t supposed to say anything! My heart sinks. But when I see the look on her face—such pain and desperation—mixed with hope, I have to continue.

“I don’t know! Yes, the truth. Yes. After I snuck onto Drayk’s ship and accidentally poisoned him, I then offered to help with a secret mission. They needed a human, and I needed to prove my loyalty.”

Her eyes are wide and wild. “Are they mine? My children?” She shakes me. “Speak!”

“I don’t know. Bayla, please!” Her hands are digging into my arms.

Mirelle gently extracts Bayla’s fingers from my clothing. “Bayla, it will be all right. Sit down. Let’s figure this out.”

“Why would they not tell me?” Bayla’s voice rises. “Is this some kind of joke? Please, do not toy with me.”

“I would never do such a thing.” I put my hand on my heart and look into her eyes. “I swear, that is what happened.” I take a breath. “I think I was not supposed to tell anyone, though.” I bite my lip. “Drayk might have actually forbidden it.”

“But are they mine?” She grabs my hands again and squeezes. The way her fingernails dig into the undersides of my hands and the obvious desperate love for her children suddenly reminds me of how that coin felt—

“I… ow.” I flinch and close my eyes as a blinding pain strikes my temples. “Oh…”

She’s l

et go of me, possibly in alarm, and I grab my head with both hands. “Oh, Mother Earth…”

A flash of purple, of blue. Two little human faces swim in front of me. The only one I can see clearly looks a lot like Bayla. “Yes. Yours.” Again, I speak without thinking.

But then the vision is gone, just as quickly as it came, and I can’t remember any details. I’m horrified. Why did I tell her yes, when I’m far from sure? “I mean, yes, I hope so. Mother Earth, let it be so.”

Bayla deflates. “Yes, let us hope so.”

“What happened to you just now?” Mirelle stares at me, intent.

“Nothing. Just a sudden pain. I am fine.” I touch my temple again, but the agony has vanished as quickly as it came on.

“Were you remembering something?” Mirelle doesn’t blink.

“No, why?” It’s not really a lie. After all, it was just a flash—not a memory.

She shrugs. “It’s just the look of concentration on your face. I have a talent for helping people concentrate. It’s a way of breathing and letting your mind relax.”

“I don’t need to relax.”

She touches my arm. “You’re as tense as a vipn.” But her glance turns to Bayla who’s crying silently.

“I can’t do it. I can’t bear waiting.” Her voice is so low and sad that my heart breaks for her. “Every planet rotation it should get easier, but instead it gets harder. I love my mate and our two young, and I love Zandia, and my work is fascinating. But I’m breaking inside, piece by piece. I either need my other children back, or I need to know… that they’re gone.” She sniffs and wipes her eyes. “It’s torture.”

“I’m so sorry.” I put one arm around her, and Mirelle hugs her from the other side, so we’re a triumvirate of females, linked together.

“If we can get the poison created,” Bayla’s voice is soft, “we have an advantage over the Ocretions. And every little thing we can do that gives us more power, is a step closer to Zandia re-gaining our rightful power in the galaxy, second to no species. And that brings me closer to getting—finding out, learning about—my children. It’s all tied together.”

“I wish I could do more.” I hold her tightly. “I will try to concentrate harder, I really will, to see if there is any little thing I can remember that Leylah did, or said, that might shed light on how to make the toxin.”