His Human Possession (Zandian Masters 8)

When they drew close to the mine, enemy ships appeared out of nowhere, firing on them. “Incoming from every side!”

“I see them. Still trying to line up to drop my bomb,” Lily said, but she was surrounded by three battleships.

“Abort and fly hard,” he warned, ducking and dodging his way around the ships crowding him, trying to keep Lily’s attackers in his sights.

Cambry was spinning and firing indiscriminately, which actually was a perfect tactic, as she took out two of their ships in the process.

And then she went down hard.

“Veck!” He dived for her, turning on his magnetic force to slow her careening fall. He caught her just before she hit, but his ship exploded in flames before they touched down.

Leti watched Lamira where she stood at the window of the Great Hall, staring out into the inky blackness around them. They’d removed the pod from Zandian airspace, moving in cloaking mode at a slow pace toward Aurelia.

From what she could tell, no being wanted to leave Zandia at all. Every heart had been linked to that planet, whether they were human or Zandian. Whether it was to a being fighting for Zandia’s freedom, or whether it was because Zandia was home.

For her part, the unrelenting jaws of fear had snapped down around her throat the moment she heard Paal had flown off on a suicide mission meant to save them all.

Without saying goodbye.

But why would he say goodbye? They had nothing to say to each other. She was done with him. She’d left, and with good reason. He would never trust her, would always believe she was a conniving pussy-trap like his mother.

Still, knowing he might never return changed everything. Every. Damn. Thing. So many thoughts ran through her head. Things she would like him to know before he died. That he’d been the only male to ever get a genuine response from her body. That his kindnesses to her were the only ones she’d ever known from a master. That she’d give anything to be in his arms whirling around the Great Hall one more time.

Tears smarted her eyes, but she blinked them back.

No. She wouldn’t cry for him yet. He still might make it back.

“What do you see?” Leora whispered to Lamira.

Lamira shook her head. “The outcome is still undetermined.”

“Is there nothing we can do to help?” Talia, Mina’s sister, asked.

“Not yet,” Lamira murmured. “Wait—perhaps. The ships above Zandia have nowhere to land when they’re out of fuel. If we signal them and let them know our location, we could become their base.”

“We’re a poor substitute for a galactacarrier,” Eslyn, another Zandian female observed.

“Yes, and it would put us in great danger. I don’t know if we can convince Ronan to take us there.” Lamira tapped her lips with her fingertips.

“Aren’t you the princess?” Leti had to ask. She didn’t know how things worked here, but there seemed to be a disconnect. “Wouldn’t he have to do what you command?”

She lifted her shoulders, uncertainty on her face. “I’m also human. And a female. And I have the sole heir to the royal line on board. He may feel his duty to Zander outweighs obeying me.”

“Well.” Leti stood. “Wouldn’t the first question be whether we can contact the battleships at all? Perhaps we should ask Ronan to try.”

The rest of the females must have been as anxious as she to do something, because they moved as one out of the Great Hall, heading to the flight deck to talk to Ronan.

Ronan appeared somewhat over his head. He was a young, affable warrior with an easy smile. He swallowed at the sight of seven females—three Zandian, four human—spilling into his territory. Lamira, Leora, Bayla, Eslyn, Talia, Mina and Leti crowded into the room.

Mina explained the situation when Lamira hesitated.

“So you want me to send out a communique? That would alert the Finn to our location and make us a target as well?” There was indecision on his face. Poor male was in a terrible position.

“Isn’t there some way to send out a coded message? Something our ships would understand but the Finn wouldn’t?” Leora asked.

“I know,” Talia said. The lovely Zandian was Mina’s sister, so Leti took an instant liking to her. “What if it’s not a message at all? We broadcast something for entertainment, like a hologram theater. And our troops will recognize our voices and understand.”

“That is so stupid it just might work.” Mina grinned at her younger sister who had also only recently found her way back to her species.