Mastered by the Zandians (Zandian Brides 3)

I swipe back to the picture of the craft. “This is fantastic. She actually works on it?”

“Of course. She’s known on our planet as one of the smartest beings around.”

Jealousy and competition swirl in my gut. “I could do that. Stars, you let me behind that for one planet rotation and I could.” I shake my head. “I could do amazing things. I know it.” For a second, I see myself in that craft, helping improve it. A vision of me and Lanz and Domm in the craft, fighting and working together, rescuing—I shake my head. What in the stars? Where did that ridiculous notion come from?

“You’d have to earn trust, first.” She taps her fingers on the table top.

“And how would one do that?” I remember that I need to fake interest in doing just that. The problem is that I’m not sure it’s entirely fake. Seeing those humans and their accomplishments? It makes me want to gnaw off my own arm if needed to get access to that kind of tech. Work together that way for a common goal.

She doesn’t answer right away. She sits across from me. Looks at me. Then she says, “We like it here. We’ve chosen this as our home. Our future.”

“But, and I’m sorry to say this, but you probably have nowhere else to go, right? So it was easier for you to acclimate.” I think of Jesel. “You had no commitments to a place you loved. Just a bad situation to escape.” It’s okay to say this, because not only is it true, but it would be suspicious to everyone if I accepted life here in the blink of an eye. I need to draw it out. Show my initial reluctance.

“That’s what you have, too.”

“Not at all. I have a home I helped build with my own hands and blood. Just like you have, here. And my primary oath of loyalty is to that place.”

Unease pricks at me, because this isn’t precisely true. At least, my dedication isn’t as strong as I’d like to have her think. Jesel is a dangerous, strange place, as horrifying as it is familiar. All my life I’ve dreamed of something more. And while I didn’t think it looked like this life, something in me has relaxed here. Feels right.

But I’ve spent my whole life fighting to make it better there, to help the humans still living there, and I’m not about to give up that dream now.

“Sometimes life has a twisted path, but you end up in a place that fulfills your destiny,” Kristine says.

“That I agree with.” Only problem is that I’m currently in the wrong place.

She stands up. “I’ve been asked to take you around to visit a few other places on the planet.”

“With the guard, of course.” I look at him.

She flushes. “He’s authorized to use force if I, I mean, you, disobey.”

Interesting. I think this human woman has some kind of feelings for the powerful warrior. Although I can’t argue that these Zandians aren’t wickedly attractive. Just thinking about last night makes my body thrum with desire.

I clear my throat. “I will do nothing that requires the use of force. I will be the very model of propriety.”

“That’s good.” She looks at me and her face is serious. “Because living here is pretty amazing, Mirelle. Don’t lose the opportunity before you even realize how badly you need it.”

I’m not so satisfied with her answer to come up with a glib reply. And I need to conserve my energy for information acquisition.

Chapter 9

Domm

* * *

“Are you ready?” I glance at Mirelle. As usual, just looking at her makes me crave her. I growl and adjust myself.

“Yes.” She’s acting confident, but I can see her anxiety in the way she grips the edge of the table tightly. The way she bites her lower lip. “And it’s about time you let me out of here.”

Lanz takes her hand. “Let me examine your cuff.”

She glowers but allows him to take her arm. He touches the shiny silver side and a green light flashes briefly.

Lanz looks at me. “Domm, is yours activated?”

“Already tested it. She’s set up to be released only at either of our command, and the cuffs will deny access to sensitive areas of the city.” I turn to her. “Mirelle. The cuffs will flash yellow when you are approaching a forbidden area. They’ll blink blue when we are near, so you can know that your masters approach.” I smile.

Mirelle crosses her arms and scowls, and I wince. “I’m sorry, little warrior. You’re an exceptional fighter and a crafty adversary. We’d be fools to allow you around without a security system.”