His Human Vessel (Zandian Masters 5)

“It still is.” She didn’t know why Lamira used the past tense, but the female paled when Bayla corrected her.

They arrived outside the kitchen, but Lamira slowed to a stop before they entered, facing Bayla. “Are you unwilling to serve as Daneth’s vessel?”

Her pulse fluttered, knots forming in every muscle of her body. Something about the female made her want to be honest, but she knew better than to trust a stranger. “I will do as is expected of me,” she said stiffly and started to enter the open door to the kitchen.

“Wait.” Lamira caught her arm and pulled her back. “If you’re unwilling, I’ll talk to Zander. You shouldn’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

But if she didn’t, what then? Be sent back to the fertility farm for more of the same in a far less comfortable environment? No. At least, here, she’d have nine months of luxury. Even if it did end in another broken heart. “I’ll do as I’m told.” She shook off Lamira’s hold and entered the kitchen.

Master Barr beamed when Lamira pulled out a chair at the counter and sat down. He waved at the empty one for Bayla. Before she’d settled, he swept a dish piled high with raw vegetables, cut into disks, and some kind of blue sauce for dipping in front of them. Fresh fruit and vegetables were a luxury she’d never enjoyed, even while pregnant and fed the best foods, so she leaped to partake.

“This vegetable comes from the planet Jesel, a planet with similar terrain to Earth that still retains some natural resources,” Lamira said. “I’m growing several varieties here.”

Bayla blinked, her brain slow to process this new information. “You’re a...farmer?”

Lamira nodded. “Yes. Daneth purchased me from an agrifarm.” She popped a vegetable into her mouth with as much alacrity as Bayla.

Bayla stiffened at hearing Daneth had purchased her. Had he examined Lamira as he’d examined her? Had he given her pleasure? She accidentally bit her cheek as she chewed the vegetable. “Daneth purchased you for farming?”

“No.” She rubbed her tummy. “For breeding.”

Hot and cold flushed over Bayla’s skin.

“He has a program that runs the DNA of all registered beings in Ocretia. It can select for the best possible gene-match for breeding. I came up as the best match for Prince Zander.”

For Prince Zander. Relief swept over her, and her stomach unknotted. She reached for another vegetable disk and dipped it into the exquisitely flavorful sauce—a creamy herbed concoction so delectable she would have picked up the bowl and drunk from it if Lamira hadn’t been there.

“I thought you said you said you were grateful you hadn’t been selected for breeding.” She shouldn’t have said anything, but Lamira seemed so open, she couldn’t help herself.

Lamira nodded, licking a bit of dip from the corner of her mouth. “By the Ocretions, yes. I was devastated when I was first brought here. But it was the best thing that ever happened to me.” She studied Bayla. “I hope it will be for you, too.”

Something about the way Lamira looked at Bayla made her flush. It was as if the female gazed right into her head and saw her irrational attachment to the sexy doctor who wanted to implant her with another female’s young.

“The Zandians on this pod aren’t used to humans. They’ve remained quite isolated since they lost their planet. You may find it takes a while for Daneth to understand and develop empathy for human emotions, but Zander did, and so did Master Seke, my mother’s mate.”

Her face grew warmer. Was Lamira suggesting Daneth might become her mate? “I don’t require the doctor’s empathy,” she said stiffly.

“Of course not,” Lamira murmured, and Bayla kicked herself for being rude.

Bayla stuffed another vegetable into her mouth and chewed to keep herself from showing her hand and pumping Lamira for every bit of information she would share about Daneth.

~.~

Daneth waited for the prince to speak. Zander had obviously sent Bayla away so they might discuss her, and Daneth found his shoulders rising toward his ears with each passing breath.

When the women had disappeared down the hall, Zander said, “You cannot keep her as a slave.”

The blood drained from Daneth’s face. “I beg your pardon?” Somehow, he forced the words past his numb lips. Zander couldn’t take Bayla from him now—not when he’d already authorized her purchase. Not when the protocol was planned for tomorrow.

Not when he’d discovered Bayla to be perfect in more ways than his gene-matching program had shown him. Perfect in every way imaginable.

“There was an incident on the training pod. Captain Lundric killed a human male who threatened his chosen female. Things came to a head. Master Seke believes it important that we not keep slaves on this pod or ever again. Zandians do not keep slaves. We never have. If we expect the humans on the training pod to fight with us for Zandia, we must offer them sovereignty. It is only right.”

Daneth gulped air. “What do you wish me to do with her, my lord?”

Zander folded his arms across his chest. “You must give her a choice. She may stay or go. If she stays, she will still answer to you as her superior. She will participate in your experiment and give you her complete obedience. You may still discipline her as you would if she were your slave. Once she is pregnant, she will lose her freedom, as the young will belong to us, but after the birth, she may once again choose to leave, as she will be a free being on this pod.”

“But if she chooses to leave, where will she go? Humans are not free anywhere on Ocretia.”