Bought By The Zandians (Zandian Brides 2)

She touches my hand. “Your young is fine, Danica. She’s in an incubator because she’s having breathing issues, but nobody is going to hurt her.”

“But Zandians kill violent species. None are allowed on the planet. I need…to protect her.” I’m out of breath and the room spins.

“King Zander said that nobody is to touch her, Danica. Until he’s able to talk to you and your mates.”

“Nobody will touch her ever.” I try to sit up again.

“Danica, stop! You’re making yourself ill. Please, relax.” Bayla gestures to the vitals comm, which flashes up my pulse and blood pressure. Both high.

“I need to see her.” It’s the only thing I care about right now. Her, and my mates. Except I won’t get to see them again, most likely. Such a deception? They won’t forgive me. They’re probably already talking to King Zander to dissolve our mating. They’ll choose someone else. Maybe they’ll find their mythical Zandian woman they originally wanted, or a better human. A female who can bear them full Zandian young.

Tears prick my eyes, because it will kill me to see that. Well, if I even get to see it, before I’m sent away.

“Drink the fluids and I’ll bring you to see her,” Bayla says, so I drink it and toss the container aside.

She puts me into a hover chair and takes me across the room, and there, I lose my heart all over again. Because in the pod, which resembles the med pod on the shuttle, with lights flashing green and red, lies the most beautiful little creature I’ve ever seen. When I approach, she opens her eyes and smiles, and I start to cry.

“Baby girl,” I whisper, and I feel her listening to me, intent on my words. “I love you,” I say.

Love you too, comes back, even though I’m not sure I hear her. But I know she feels it.

“Can I touch her?”

Bayla hesitates. “I suppose so? Her vitals are stable, although the levels are different from any other being I’ve worked with. Her pulse and blood pressure are entirely unique from Zandian/human babies.”

She pushes a button and the pneuo lid hisses open.

The baby calmly lifts up her small hands, six perfect fingers on each one, and looks at them. She sticks out her claws, retracts them, then smiles. She pulls the oxygen mask from her face and takes a deep breath. Then she touches her head, brushing away her long silky hair, blonde like mine.

To my utter surprise, she has purple eyes, like a Zandian!

“What?” Dumbfounded, I turn to Bayla, but she’s as stunned as I am.

“How can this be?” I reach down to touch my daughter, and at the first contact of my skin to hers, I begin to cry with emotion. I reach down and pick her up, and she nestles into my arms making little happy sounds.

“She’s not Zandian. How can she have purple eyes?” I blink at Bayla.

“I don’t know. Look she’s trying to nurse.” Bayla touches the child. “Apparently she no longer needs the supp-ox.”

Bayla adjusts my gown and helps the baby latch onto my nipple, where she’s soon sucking furiously.

“I didn’t tell anyone.” I’m filled with guilt and sham

e. “But I was a sex slave.” I shudder with disgust, because being forcibly taken by Akron was nothing like the loving passion I have with my Zandians. Had.

“To an Akronian. I escaped because their species kills the female breeder after she gives birth. I had to get away. Give my baby and myself at least a chance.” I look down at the being in my arms, feeling overwhelming love for her. “I know no being can understand it, and I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused by accepting mates here. I know I’ll have to leave. We’ll leave.” The baby mewls, pulling away from my body, at my sudden tension.

“No, Danica. You won’t go anywhere.” Bayla puts her hand on my arm.

“Are they going to put me into prison?” My heart accelerates. “Just send me away, all right? It will be cheaper and easier, in the long run. I can go to Jesel, where humans are free. I’ll take my child and make a life there.”

“Danica.” Bayla sits down and looks me in the eye. “We understand more than you know.” Her voice is full of emotion. “Every human woman on this planet has been in an impossible situation. I’m not judging you. The lives we’ve led, the places we’ve been? Well, they lead us to decisions that are all too easy to second guess.”

“I’d do it again.” My voice is soft but firm. “Even knowing they’re going to leave me. I had to do it, for her. She deserves the chance to be more than I am. Than her…father was.” I hate calling Akron father, but like it or not, he did provide half of her DNA.

At least, to start.

I glance down at my daughter. Oddly, the green scales on her arms are shining purple. “I don’t know how this is happening.”