Mastered by the Zandians (Zandian Brides 3)

* * *

“I kind of wish you’d waited to send the males to Fi.” I stare at the junk pile, assessing what we have. And don’t have.

“I didn’t think y

ou’d be back.” My father puts his hand on my shoulder. “The craft was best used for their future.”

“I don’t disagree. But it would sure be helpful to have it right around now.”

“Anything useful here?”

“I’ll need to check. They’re so close and so far at the same time. Maddening.”

He knows I’m talking about Mandy and Tess. “Patience and planning, Mirelle.”

“I know.” I laugh. “I’ve missed hearing you say that.”

I smile at him, and for a second it’s like old times, when my sister was alive, when our community here—although rough and primitive, was thriving and primed for the future.

“When do you want to reach out to Zandia?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. Not until I have the women. And a working communication device that can actually reach that far.” I scoff.

“If you ask for help, you could use their fortifications for the rescue. A Zandian ship could get to the north camp in seconds, destroy the necessary areas, and capture the women.”

“They wouldn’t send it.”

“But they want human women. This would be two additional ones.”

“They surely wouldn’t trust me. Besides, they’re still not venturing into this territory. The king is concerned about Ocretion pirates trying to steal a Zandian ship.”

“Fair worry.” My father coughs, but luckily it doesn’t evolve into the whole body racking fit that plagues him lately. “Although you made it in an unarmed craft.” He raises a brow. “I think they could do all right.”

“If they felt it worth their while.” I sigh. “I don’t want to risk it. If they say no…”

“Make them say yes. Give them something they can’t resist.”

“So I’d like to get the women, then go to their planet.” I think about it. “I believe they’ll grant us all asylum. Then, even if they turn me away because I’m too untrustworthy, Mandy and Tess can still have a safe home. A future.”

“How can you show them you’re not untrustworthy?”

I tap my lips. “Perhaps I could bring them something they need. Something they can’t do without.” An idea starts to form in my mind.

“And that would be?”

I take a breath. “I need to get an Ocretion pirate ship.”

“That’s a tall order.” He widens his eyes. “Impossible.”

I nod. “Indeed.” I look at my own craft, which flies well when it’s functional, but has no weapons of any kind. Not to mention that it’s damaged; at the moment, inoperable. “If I could surprise them…” I shake my head.

“We don’t have weapons here,” my father reminds me. “Or enough men to plan any ambush. And their craft are some of the most well and fiercely guarded in the galaxy.”

“I’ll sleep on it. Sometimes my best ideas come in dreams.”

My father smiles, but his eyes are sad. “Just like your mother.”

“Tell me more about her?”