Stolen by the Zandian (Zandian Brides 7)

“I could never walk freely on the planet.” I shake my head. “I spent most of my time in a lab or sometimes in a small outdoor barred yard with the other humans for a little exercise.”

He looks pained, so I add, “But that’s behind me now.”

“Yes.” He looks away. “We need to be careful. Seke sent, —ah, I looked up all the information I could find on Dentron.” He clears his throat. “Like you mentioned, the locals are not advanced—they’re feral and kill strangers on sight. They use poisoned arrows that can travel over half a mile. But I’ve found a field far from their listed habitations. Hopefully it has the flowers.”

“Okay.” I’m about to ask who or what a Seke is, when pale streaks of light begin to wind across the alien sky, fingers of cerulean and pink against the inky black. Without warning, several suns radiate light, as if turned on by an invisible giant.

“Oh!” I gasp. “It’s beautiful—I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“You’re going to love Zandia.” His face breaks out into a smile, and it seems like he’s focusing on something very distant. “We have gorgeous sunsets. And there’s a waterfall with a crystal grotto. When the lights shine, it’s just…” he shakes his head, seemingly at a loss for words. “The crystals are powerful and healing—at least to my species. But I think certain humans also find them so.”

“I’d like to see a waterfall.”

“You will.”

“Beings can just go there, to see it? Do you need permission?” I’m trying to understand.

“It’s open to all Zandians.”

“Could I go with you? Will you take me there when we arrive? I would love to see it.”

His smile dips. “I will take you there as soon as I can. Right now let’s focus on the mission.” He gets up and retrieves something from a cabinet. Rips open a packet.

My senses are on high alert as I scent the tang of medicinal alcohol, the refined blend that is used to ensure human inoculation kits are germ-free. Before I recognize my actions, I’ve snarled out a low growl and stand in attack mode, heart pounding.

“What are you doing?” My voice is fierce even as adrenaline makes me sick with anxiety. “What’s in your hand?”

The thing, long and slim, glints in the light. I back up.

“Stars, Kailani.” He looks at me with concern. I note that he, too, now stands at attention, ready to parry or attack. “It’s an inoculation for you. To protect against bacterial infections you could get on the planet. There’s a kind of insect here that carried a bacterium which—” He breaks off when I start to hyperventilate.

“No.” I shake my head vigorously. I may be enhanced, but my capability for fear seems to only be heightened. The last needle that slid under my skin was to prepare me for a procedure that comes back to me in nightmares. I breathe faster.

“Veck.” He puts the needle down.

The clink it makes on the surface of his console makes me shudder in fresh horror as the memories of the Kraa flash up in full color. A strange, staccato sound fills the space ship. I realize it’s me—hiccuping for air. I sit and wrap my arms around myself, my chest heaving.

Khrys appears in front of me. “Kailani!” He lifts me and pulls me into his arms. “Easy, little warrior.” He touches my pulse, my neck, my face. “You’re okay. Everything is all right.”

I can’t stop the violent shaking in my limbs. “No,” I contradict him.

“Speak to me. What’s wrong?”

I suck in air. The world is full of static. The feel of his warm hands grounds me, and I swim back to reality. I tremble and lean into his body, trying to forget every last image in my mind.

After a few seconds, I force myself to take a slow breath. “I’m fine now.” Although the feel of his body is fortifying, I sit up straight. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“We can’t get those flowers until you do.” His voice is kind but firm. “I lost you for a moment. I need to understand what happened.”

His arms are gentle around me as I process my emotions. I need those flowers; therefore, I must comply with his request. If I think of it in a dispassionate way I can tell him.

“Every inoculation I’ve ever received was a muscular numbing agent.” I don’t look at his face. Instead, I stare out at the flickers of color outside the port window. “The Kraa often did enhancements on me while I was paraylzed but not asleep. They didn't care if I felt pain because they needed me to be alert, so they could check my brain activity to see if their procedures were successful. If I’d been a good slave recently, they might add a bit of a numbing agent, but not much.”

I bite my lip. “When I saw the needle, it brought me right back there. My mind knew it was different, but my body didn’t.” My voice breaks. The panic grows again, so I take a deep breath, then another.

“I did not know.” His voice seems full of pain. “I am sorry.”