Mastered by the Zandians (Zandian Brides 3)

I glance toward Archer, but he’s busy with the other slave and her child.

Domm gets up and fetches something from a med container. “Dr. Daneth said to use this in an emergency.” He holds up a narrow glass test tube with some kind of yellow substrate in the bottom.

“What is it?” I frown and reach for it.

“Blood donation kit. We can give some of our blood to Mirelle.”

“I’m no physician, but I know that our blood is incompatible.” I cross my arms. “We’d kill her if we try that.”

Archer swallows. He’s back at our side, after having settled the other humans. “This kit extracts essential Zandian components from our blood, not the whole blood cells and plasma.”

“Like our crystal energy?” Domm tilts his head.

“Yes.” Archer clears his throat and glances at Mirelle. “She’s getting weaker. We need to try it.”

“Can’t we use crystals directly?” Domm glances around the cabin. “Faster and easier?”

“He said this.” Archer shakes his head. “At the last briefing.”

I stick out my arm, angry that I had to miss that update. “Then do it.” I swallow hard. “How does it work?”

“It’s easy.” Archer reads the tag. “Affix it to your arm and the needle will extract some blood. The substrate in the tube will absorb all but the critical nutrients she needs.

“All right.” I take a breath and hold the device to my skin. “I’m ready.”

The pinprick doesn’t hurt, but it startles me for a second, and when I see my blood filling the tube, I’m mesmerized by the color and the way it flashes in the light. It’s rare that I see my blood outside of a battle, and this peaceful flow is strangely enticing.

But then the cylinder beeps and flashes red.

“Did I do it wrong?” My heart quickens.

Archer steps up. “No. But we can’t take much from a single Zandian. We can’t afford to deplete our own energy on a mission.”

“Well, is it enough to help her?” I frown.

“Not yet.” Archer blinks.

“Let me. I can help.” Domm rolls up his sleeve. “Hurry.”

There is just enough to make the tube flash green.

“Hurry. Give it to her.” I’m in a rush, and I don’t care that the other two see my interest in her.

When Archer puts the device to her arm, she doesn’t flinch. And for a few minutes, nothing seems to change.

But then I notice a very subtle change in her skin, a flush of pale pink suffusing the waxy gray, and her breathing evens out just a touch.

“It’s working.” Relief pours through me.

“Good.” Domm’s shoulders drop.

My whole body vibrates with concern for her. I don’t know what it is about her that has me entranced. She nearly got us all killed with her stunt. But veck if I don’t have more interest in this small troublesome human than in any other creature in all of my solar cycles in this universe.

And as we speed back to Zandia, Domm and I sit over her, taking turns talking to her, and by the time we arrive, we’ve come to the agreement—this human is ours now. And nothing is going to take her from us.

* * *

Mirelle