Series: Zandian Brides Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I nearly got us all killed by believing one last time.
“What she said on the ship–she does know something,” Axe says. “It’s critical that you find it out.”
“I will,” I pledge–not just to him, but to myself. To my king. To my planet.
“If she finds you attractive, she’ll surely bond to you with proper training and punishment. You can use that.”
I hate him even talking about her. “I’ll do what I need to do.”
“Just don’t mate her. Not until you know she can be trusted.”
“Of course not.” I step to the side. “I’m going to the med bay right now to see if she’ll talk to me.”
“Don’t mate her,” he repeats. Then he looks toward the med bay with a scowl. “I’ll go, too. To make sure Flora isn’t a threat to Zandia.”
Interesting. Flora is the human he referred to–the one with the tattoos, shorned head. Axe may not trust humans, but something tells me he’s interested, just the same.
“Perhaps I could be of assistance in questioning her. We all need to do what we can.”
“Right.” It’s obvious what he’s saying, and it has nothing to do with intel. “If you want to be assigned as her master, you should have requested it.”
“I don’t,” he snaps. “I’m just concerned, that’s all.”
Right. Concerned.
“Fine. Let’s go see them.”
As I walk toward the building, my body vibrates with anticipation. When I’m on task, I always work at one hundred percent capacity, ready to do my best for my fellow Zandians. But this is something else. This is something…physical. Yet also more. Seeing the little human again creates a tidal wave of sensations in my body.
I can’t wait to see what happens after I’ve fully claimed her as my own.
Not as a mate–not until I can trust her–but her body belongs to me now, and I can’t wait to use it.
Chapter Three
Sia
Panic frays my nerves, making my headache return, despite the meds the Zandian doctor gave me. Not remembering who I am or where I came from makes everything worse.
I recognized the human females I was brought in with, but how I know them is unclear. We were slaves together, obviously. But I remember nothing of the planet where they picked us up. Nor how we got there. Nor what happened before that.
And while they should be a comfort to me, instead I crave the presence of the warrior who rescued me.
I don’t know why, but I have some sense that he will clear everything up for me.
Which is irrational because I don’t think I knew him before the last planet rotation.
He comes into the clinic where I’ve been held since we landed, and my pulse picks up speed.
I slide off the examination table. “Master,” I say, then stop in confusion. “I’m sorry, you’re not my master, are you?” Then I’m befuddled again. Why did I even think that?
The warrior’s lips twitch, his horns thicken and lean in my direction. “Would you like me to be your master?” His voice is a low, deep rumble. I can’t decide if there’s a trace of sexual suggestiveness in it.
I can’t decide if I want there to be.
“Yes,” I answer honestly.
Again, it’s irrational, but this male’s quiet authority grounds me where every other being here makes me nervous. I don’t know what’s happening, but I want him to be the one I answer to. The one who commands me. He feels safe.
He walks up to me, places his large hands around my waist and lifts me easily back up on the table. “Did you have permission to get down?” There’s a trace of sternness to his tone, but for some reason, it feels teasing.
But masters don’t tease, do they? I wrack my brain, trying to remember my last master. For some reason, even thinking about him frightens me.
Heat flushes across my skin--I can’t tell if it’s because I’m ashamed of being scolded or because his large hands still rest at my waist, their gentle weight warming my skin through the thin medical gown. “I-I’m not sure. Do I?”
His lips twitch. “I’ll find out.” He turns to the physician, keeping one hand lightly resting on me. “Doctor Daneth? Is Sia required to stay here?”
I’m absurdly pleased to hear my name from his lips. Like I belong to him. He’s the familiar thing in a place where everything is new and different.
The doctor, who I found to be cool and professional but not unkind turns. “I am finished with her for now. You may bring her to the holding bay where they are keeping the slaves she came in with. Then come speak to me about her placement.”
The warrior bows to the doctor, who must be his superior and turns back to me. He picks me up by the waist and lowers me to my feet as if I weigh nothing. When my knees buckle, he catches my elbow to steady me.