Kept by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 5)

In a few moments, her mate arrives, walking quickly. He redoes our equations and nods. “It is right.”

I hold my breath as Bayla puts on her gloves and goggles and mixes the ingredients over the heat, a pure white flame that burns from compressed gas that is piped into the lab from deep underground.

As I watch, the color shifts and suddenly matches the solution in the vials I brought with me. “Stop. It’s ready.”

Bayla removes the beaker with metal tongs. “Here it is, then.”

“See if it matches.” Dr. Daneth leans forward.

Bayla puts a drop of the liquid into the GC machine, and it whirs. “The data.” She points. “It’s a perfect fit. Look, the chemical signature is identical to the one she brought.”

“We’ve done it!” Dr. Daneth records all of the information on his wrist comm. “I will notify King Zander immediately. He will determine whether and when to engage in mass production.”

Bayla carefully caps and stows all of the containers, discards her gloves, and cleans her hands.

Her face shines as she turns to me. “Taisha, we did it!”

I’m shaky with happiness. “We did. It’s a miracle.”

“No. It’s humanity and Zandian ingenuity.” She hugs me. “You remembered. I created, using your instructions. Dr. Daneth provided the background chemistry and knowledge to make it possible. It was a team effort.”

I squeeze her back. “Go with him. I will finish up here and go back to my domicile.”

“You are sure?” But she wants to go with him. Her whole body is leaning in that direction.

“I promise I’ll go straight home. I won’t do anything Drayk would disapprove of. He has recently allowed me to walk all on my own. I’m like a young growing up.” I grin and wink.

Her face wrinkles, like she wants to say something, but then she just nods. “I trust you. Thank you.”

She hurries out.

Alone, I’m still elated. Then, a sick feeling fills me. Why couldn’t I remember sooner? It was such an obvious part of the process. How could I possibly have forgotten that? Well, at least I got it eventually… that has to matter!

I sigh out a long breath. Maybe this is enough proof for King Zander that I’m a safe bet for Zandia. Stars willing, he’ll decide I’m safe for this planet, because at this point, I don’t think there’s any more I can do to prove my worthiness.

A rattling sound startles me, and I glance around.

It’s just the gas valve. Rattling.

But valves like this one really shouldn’t vibrate. They especially shouldn’t shake, like they’re trying to hold back a force too powerful. I reach out to shut it. I’ll tell Bayla and Dr. Daneth that it needs to be checked tomorrow—

There is a huge sound, like a bomb, and my vision goes pure white, like snow, like looking into a sun. Rockets scream around me and then red flows and flashes. I scream too, over and over, and then everything goes dark.

Chapter 17

Drayk

“What was that?” The boom sounds almost sonic. “There is no munitions training this planet rotation.” I glance toward the palace window. “That is concerning.”

King Zander steps to join me. “It sounded like an explosion.”

“That’s odd.” Bayla’s brow furls. She was just telling us, with Dr. Daneth, about the toxin. How she and Taisha finally replicated Leylah’s formula. “It sounds…” Her face pales. “Oh, Mother Earth, was that the lab?” A beat. “Taisha’s still in there.”

“The gas valve.” Dr. Daneth’s voice is urgent. “It must have given way. That’s the only thing in there that could cause a boom that loud.”

“You mean the lab exploded?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Taisha!” I bellow her name, racing out of the hall.

When I reach the lab, only a few hundred yards away from the palace proper, beings are already swarming. A fire prevention crew is there, but I only care for one human.