Kept by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 5)

not think he is a bad being. He made mistakes.”

“Which you said you’d never forgive, as long as you live.”

“Don’t remind me.” I want to vomit. She doesn’t need to bring it up, because the words live in my head. I hear myself shouting them, over and over. “And now he probably hates me in return. I was so unkind to him.”

“Oh, Taisha.” Mirelle hugs me, and I let her. “It’s not easy.”

“No. It’s not.” I’m not sure if she means my life specifically, or all humans, or all beings who exist anywhere; it doesn’t matter—they’re all difficult.

“But I’m sure he still—” she breaks off as her comm flashes. “Uh oh. That’s the emergency signal.”

“The what?” Usually when her comm flashes, it’s important. But even when she’s been summoned to leave for a mission, she’s never reacted with this level of urgency. A spire of anxiety grows in my belly.

“I need to take this.” She jumps to her feet and touches her ear. “Master Seke? Yes. Yes, she’s here with me now. They said what? Oh, Mother Earth.” Her face grows pale and she looks at me, eyes widening. “I understand.”

She can’t stop staring at me.

I stand up and put my hand over my mouth, then squeeze my palms together. “What is it?”

She doesn’t answer. Just keeps looking at me, and her eyes well up with tears. “Yes, Master. I will be right there. And I will… bring her.”

She taps her comm and blinks hard. “Taisha… I don’t know how to say this.” She clears her throat. Takes my hand. “But it’s Master Seke. The Ocretions? They know you’re here. They’re demanding we give you back.”

Drayk

“Veck, veck, veck.” I punch the wall of my domicile hard enough to crack the smooth viridian stone. The pain in my flesh is a welcome distraction from the way my heart is tearing apart.

I reach out to attack the structure once more, then sink onto the hoverdisk. It still smells of her—Taisha. I growl and grab the soft blanket, twisting it in my fists.

“It was stupid to deny our bond.”

No one replies as I am alone. But the answer comes to me anyway. “I’m the stupid one.” I mutter it aloud.

It burns me to admit such a thing. A fighter, a soldier, a judicial expert… and an idiot.

Yes, that’s what I am.

I just wanted… I wanted to have it both ways: To be seen as impartial, to keep myself apart, isolated. To stay away from the emotions that I always thought would weaken me. And at the same time, to enjoy the body and spirit of the amazing human, Taisha. To allow myself the pleasures of bonding with another being. To use those very emotions I feared to make my life richer.

And now I’ve vecked up both things. Surely King Zander sees that I’m no match for the judicial system. And Taisha? Well, she said everything she needed to.

The hurt in her eyes, the way she looked at me? I’d do anything to turn back time. Change the way I handled everything.

The door alert chimes and Tarak steps in, making his way to me without hesitation. He clears his throat. “Something serious has happened, and you need to know.”

“Know what?” I glance at him and his expression gives me pause. “Tarak?” When he is still silent, I demand, “Speak!”

He crosses his arms. “There is surveillance video from the planet Fonquin. The Ocretions have discovered that Taisha escaped Romon-3 and was engaged in a mission. They have demanded her return and are threatening aggressions if we do not comply, and also demanding a bounty as apology.”

I jump to my feet and roar. “No!”

He raises his hands. “The king has called his council. But it is a diplomatic nightmare, and one that needs to be addressed immediately. He’s sent for Taisha and you are required…” He breaks off, as I’m already grabbing my satchel and touching the door console.

“Hurry,” I snap.” There is no time to waste. We must speak to the king.”

There is no way I will let them send Taisha back. Stars, I’ll fight them all myself if I need to, but there is no way I’m sending that precious human back to the monsters she’s worked so hard to defeat.

Drayk