Zandian Pet (Zandian Masters 7)
He sighed. “I wish it had been a glamorous rescue, but it wasn’t. I’d planned to buy her, but she used a Zandian crystal of mine to disable her laser cage and escape on her own. I provided cover for her escape, no more. She slipped out of the galaxy before I could catch her and escort her here.”
Zander’s lips twitched. “You’ve finally met your match, haven’t you?”
His hands balled into fists at his side. “What does that mean?”
“A female capable of getting under your skin. I thought it was only human females who made our species lose composure, but it seems the Zandian females have the same effect.”
Damn the prince for his knowing smirk.
“You have my advice. I’m not making it an order, but I won’t keep the truth from Master Seke if it comes up, either.”
He bowed to the prince. “Thank you, my lord.”
“I’m calling a meeting of all the advisors tonight. King Fluut of The Finn sent a warning to the United Galaxies that any planet coming to the aid of the rebels—that’s what the bastard is calling us—will be cut off from all trade.”
“So we reach out privately to every planet—offer repayment in the form of Zandian crystal if they provide assistance in any form—troops, ships, funding, information. You’ve laid the groundwork over the last five solar cycles. Now it’s time to call in all favors. Talia’s rescue drastically pushed up our timeline on war. We’re heading into an emergency, and we need to know who we can count on.”
Zander frowned but nodded. “Yes.”
Erick noticed the hesitation there. Zander hated statesmanship. He would’ve preferred to be a warrior. Or the behind-the-scenes business being. Pomp and flattery annoyed him.
“You want me to take care of it? Communication would be better coming from you. I’d just be your ambassador.”
Zander looked out the window. “Make a list of the most important planets. I’ll take those. You contact the rest.”
He bowed. “As you wish, my lord.”
“What news of the galactacarriers?”
He rubbed his forehead, a sickening plunge twisting behind his solar plexus. “I’m still working on them, my lord.”
Veck. It wasn’t a lie, but it didn’t sit well, either. Fortunately, Lamira appeared holding their young son, and Zander’s entire posture went soft, his eyes warm on his mate.
“Thank you, Erick.”
“My lord.” Erick touched the infant’s feet as he passed Lamira. “I honor your honor, young prince.” He murmured the traditional greeting to their species’ future ruler, the symbol of hope for their upcoming battle.
~.~
Maybe Mina had picked the wrong being to ask for help.
“You wish to bait a thief.” Mierna, the old Venusian who reeked of alcohol, said, phrasing it more a statement than a question, as if she already knew the whole story without being told.
Maybe she did. Venusians were known for mind reading and fortune-telling. Mina had never been sure if it was actual ability, or just a cultural affinity for speaking in riddles.
From what she’d heard, Mierna was a pilot, part of Rok’s original crew before he’d been reunited with the Zandians. Mina had climbed aboard the old ship where Mierna and the rest of the crew slept. Mina chose Mierna for two reasons: 1) She wasn’t a Zandian, and Mina needed a different species for her plan, and 2) Mierna was female.
But maybe the female part hadn’t been so important, though. As she eyed the being doubtfully, she wished she’d asked one of Rok’s Stornigian brothers, or his giant one-legged friend from Elau.
Choosing a female had only been to keep Erick from getting his horns twisted over another being seeing her naked. Which was utterly stupid considering a) she’d been a sex pet for the past five years. which meant hundreds of beings had seen her naked, and b) Erick already knew that.
But he’d been possessive, even though she’d given him no reason to believe he had a claim on her.
I won’t share. I can’t.
And, for whatever reason, she cared about his reaction.
But she’d probably wasted too much brain space on the issue. The very reason this plan was possible was because he knew and understood her prior occupation.