Stolen by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 7)

Reminded of my own concerns, I take a deep breath, check that Kailani is deeply asleep, and do the thing I dread. I put in a holo-call to my commander. I’d turned the comms off the moment I left Zandia to avoid communication, and I know I may face more serious consequences than a demotion for this.

“Master Seke, this is Captain Khrys.” I keep my voice even. “Checking in from Starship A-25X, currently in Galaxy Ambi.”

“Captain Khrys, you were not authorized for any mission.” He doesn’t waste words. He’s seated at his workstation in the royal palace. Behind him stands his assistant and sergeant at arms, my friend Gabin.

“Forgive me, Master Seke, but I’m on my way back to Zandia. I secured a human bounty that will serve our planet well. Someone whose DNA may provide the answers to the Z4-A epidemic.”

I glance toward the bunkroom. A feeling of guilt pierces me, but I push it away. This is necessary. For Zandia. And to restore my honor. “I rescued a human female, Kailani. The engineered one who is stronger than normal and can fight off any human virus. She is intact. I will bring her back to King Zander and Dr. Daneth, so they may use her to understand human improvement and help our young.”

“I have heard of no such human.”

“She’s very real. You can verify her stats. She made an escape before she went to auction, and I provided assistance.”

“I see.” Master Seke frowns.

“I’ve seen her strengths with my own eyes. She’s better than her dossier suggests.” I pause. “I have no doubts that everything reported about her is true.”

Gabin pulls up Kailani’s dossier and shares it with him. Master Seke’s eyebrows rise into his smooth purple forehead. “If that’s true, Dr. Daneth will be very interested in studying her. Is it true she has enhanced anti-viral properties?”

“I have no way of verifying such a thing, but yes, that is what her former masters claimed.”

I haven’t asked her yet if it’s true. My chest tightens, but I continue: “If she offers her unique attributes to benefit Zandia, I assume she will be granted a safe place to live?”

If I’d been able to buy her as I planned, this would be easier, but I didn’t. Now she’s an escaped slave, probably with an enormous bounty on her head. If she’s caught by any being in the galaxy, her life could be forfeit. Probably not, considering her worth, but her fate likely would not be a life worth living.

“Where is she now?” Master Seke looks behind me, into the holo, as if seeking her. “I would like to hear her speak.”

I stand and gesture toward the bunk room. “Sleeping with the aid of a med patch. She is relatively uninjured but has minor wounds and extreme exhaustion.” I go and open the door, so he may observe her. I stare, too.

She’s so lovely and small, huddled into herself in sleep. Her long black curls sprawl across the mattress. Her eyelids flutter—is she dreaming? She stirs and mumbles, readjusts her body, and falls back into deeper slumber.

I close the door and turn my attention back to my holo, where Seke is silent. “I’m sure she will be willing to speak to you once she is awake and healed.”

Zandians don’t lie, and those words—while I want to believe them—taste like ash in my mouth. Kailani may not present well to King Zander or Master Seke.

Even though I can’t keep her, I may need to ensure she properly bonds to me as her master before we arrive. I can’t risk her attacking another Zandian or acting wild. Nothing would be worse than if King Zander chose to return her to her owners instead of providing her with asylum.

Master Seke examines me over the holo.

I have no idea what he’s about to say. He may tell me that I’m going to prison for life as soon as I return. He might tell me I’m banished. I hold my breath.

“Stand by.” His voice is impersonal. “I will consult with the king.”

It’s only minutes, but it feels like hours before he blinks back into view. “I have reviewed the situation with King Zander. You are cleared to return with the human. As soon as you land, she will be taken into custody, as will you. At that time, King Zander will determine what comes next. Bringing her, of course, will help him tend to leniency.”

I bow my head. “That is my hope, Master.” Relief floods my body: So far, it’s not automatic bad news for me.

Seke checks his wrist holo. “Excuse me.” He moves away once again and leaves the room.

While Seke is conferring out of my earshot, Gabin looks left and right then steps into the holo. “You really got her?” His voice holds eager curiosity. “I remember you showing me the holo, and I thought you were out of your mind. Wasn’t she at a high-security auction? Going for untold amounts of stein?” He’s probably not supposed to speak to me, and I’m beyond glad to hear his voice. I still have one friend in this galaxy.

Pride swells in my chest. “Yes. I’d planned on offering Zandian crystal in exchange for her, but she made an escape attempt, and I went with it. Together we got out. That’s how good her skills are.” I think of how we worked together seamlessly.

“You took incredible risks.” He shakes his head. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

I nod. “It paid off. How angry is the king with my disappearance?”

“Incandescent, but surely trending to forgiveness if you actually return with this human. You know he’s a fair ruler. And some of the young are getting sicker.” His face grows