Mastered by the Zandians (Zandian Brides 3)

“They’re more mentally affected than physically. Archer—the other one on our ship, he’s helping them.”

“I need to talk to them.” I make a fist with my hand, helpless rage filling me. “I never even got to learn their names. Or stories.”

“Not yet.”

Surprise wells up in me. “When?” I didn’t expect him to say yes.

“Once they are recovered, and you are...situated.”

“I failed them.”

They stop walking. Domm turns to me, his face solemn, and without thinking, I take a step back, ready to fight. Heart racing already. But no. I’m cuffed, outnumbered. I breathe out.

He blinks, then looks at Lanz, then back to me, and I can’t help tensing up again. I know he can feel it—warriors are in tune with everyone around them.

To my surprise, he leans over to bring his face level with mine, expression curious. “How in the universe did you do that?”

“I—they’re here. Captured. I was supposed to bring them to safety.” Having him lower himself like this makes my tension drain away immediately. My shoulders loosen.

“They’re safe here.” He takes my cuffed hands in his. His hand is large and warm, almost reassuring. But that’s not right. I can’t trust anything they’re selling.

“Not the same. Not free.”

“I think you need to consider,” Domm says, stretching back up to his full height, “exactly what kind of freedom they’d experience on Jesel.” He raises a brow. “Hmm?”

I grind my teeth. “We don’t have masters there. We’re our own masters.”

“The way I see it, you’re at the mercy of the Ocretions, when they want to raid. And isn’t there rampant in-fighting among the humans who live there? I hear it’s little more than a penal colony, lawless.”

“We’re working on it,” I snap, although my blood runs cold. My father—he’s not getting younger. The attacks from the north have been more violent lately and Domm’s not wrong about the Ocretions. Once they discovered humans had a secret outpost, they raided. Took some of the younger males and all the females, the ones who weren’t able to hide in the cave system before they lost interest. I imagine they’ll be back, soon enough, to check for those they left behind. Jesel is one heartbeat away from death. At least for humans.

“How?”

The tone of his voice, filled with both sympathy and disbelief, makes me angry.

“That’s classified,” I snap.

He laughs, then turns and says something in Zandian that I can’t understand. But from the way they both look at me, appreciation in their eyes, I’m pretty sure it was inappropriately sexual.

Although if I’m to be bred by them, I suppose they consider it entirely appropriate.

Chapter 5

Mirelle

* * *

“When you see the king, bow your head and address him as my lord,” Domm instructs, his voice firm. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord,” I simper, and roll my eyes. “Absolutely, my lord and master.”

Both males appear to stifle a smile, which surprises me. I don’t have any experience with masters, but I’m expecting to see a shoc

k stick soon.

Domm puts a hand on my arm. “Mirelle, don’t make me discipline you so soon.”

Ah, there’s the threat I expected. “Discipline?”