Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Lamira goes still. “What happened?”
“A galactic theft report was filed over the data we took. If they’re able to identify Taisha, the human operative we sent in, there will be warrants out for her arrest. We don’t believe they will be able to trace her to Zandia, but if they do, it could become a diplomatic nightmare,” Seke explains.
“They will trace her to Zandia,” Lamira says.
“How?” I demand.
My mate shakes her head slowly. “I cannot see.”
I steeple my fingers. We’re looking at a possible war, all because my scientific advisor wants to satisfy his human mate. And yet I cannot deny him. The human females have become part of us now. They are our family. They are Zandians. And Zandians protect their own, with honor and courage.
“Tell me how to avoid this war,” I say to Lamira. She has no control over her gifts, although they’ve become stronger since we reclaimed Zandia and she’s near our crystals. But I’ve learned that sometimes it’s just about asking her the right questions.
She sits quietly, staring at nothing. “It is inevitable, my lord. The tides cannot be turned.”
Veck.
Not the answer I wanted.
“But it doesn’t mean we’ll lose. I see Zandia as a strong force with many allies.”
“Then we’ll face it as it comes,” I say.
* * *
Drayk
“So how goes it with your human?” Tarak grins.
“She’s not my human,” I insist, even though my mind rebels as I speak the words. “Don’t speak like that.” I nod my head toward the other room. “Others will overhear and think I’m not acting responsibly as a judge.”
“I think the others will get jealous that you get to live with her and veck her every planet rotation if you want.”
“I don’t veck her!” My voice rises, and of course, it’s then that a few beings look over, curious. I lower my tone. “Because that would not be…”
“Appropriate.” He fills in the word. “Listen, Drayk.” He steps closer and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Perhaps you’re taking this judge thing too seriously. If you have a bond with her, why not just accept that and mate her?”
I’m taken aback. “Because I cannot be attached. I need to stay clear-minded. Besides”—I scowl—“as you so aptly pointed out a while back, King Zander would probably assign her to receive multiple mates. Once she’s free to choose.”
I slam a comm unit down onto the console, surprising both of us. “I’m not the type to share.”
“I was thinking about that.” He nods. “And it’s true. As you once told me, other Zandians are attached as sole mates. Maybe you don’t need to share her.”
“I don’t intend to keep her, so it hardly matters.” I force myself not to react to his words.
He picks up the unit, and turns it in his hands, presses his optical sonar button on his headset. A series of beeps and flashes indicate that electrical signals are being sent directly to his frontal lobe. “Looks like you ruined a cap bridge, so we’ll send this to repair.” He raises an eyebrow. “Remember that Zander also wants us to repopulate. A strong warrior like you could surely be beneficial to our gene pool.”
“Why don’t you add yourself to the gene pool and leave me alone?” I snap.
His face loses all expression. “You know why.” His tone is cool. “My genes are inferior. Blind from birth. I will not risk putting a young Zandian into the same situation.”
“Brother, I am sorry.” I reach out to slap his arm. “I spoke without thinking.”
“I accept my situation.” He turns his head to me, and I swear, his eyes—blind though they may be—seem to be directed right at mine. “And you are lucky to be able to choose your situation, Drayk. Yours is not foredesigned, like mine. So be sure you choose wisely, and pick a life that will benefit Zandia and yourself. From what I have learned, other Zandians only thrive and increase their productivity when they mate with humans. Why would you be any different?”
He picks up the comm unit. “I'll drop this at the shop.”
By the time I arrive at the meeting, I’ve succeeded in putting that conversation from my mind. When King Zander calls us to order, I’m back to my laser focus.
“Tensions with the Ocretion are escalating.” Commander Seke flashes up a holo image. “We unscrambled this transmission from an Ocretion ship. They believe that we have humans on planet that we set free and use for mating, and that many of our humans were stolen from them.”
A murmur rises in the room.
“Do they have any plans?” “How did they find out?” “How serious is this?”
King Zander holds up a hand. “We assume they have learned to intercept our messages, as we do theirs. And there may be rumors started when we rescue and buy humans from slave auctions. Other beings recognize Zandians and there is talk.”