Bought By The Zandians

by Renee Rose

  She stiffens again. “No, Master.” Her voice sounds choked. “My contraceptive hormones were recently discontinued.”

  I push up to lean on my hand instead of elbow. “So you’re capable of breeding?”

  Her gaze is wary, but she gives a single nod.

  I throw a triumphant glance Benn’s way, but he appears as wary as our slave.

  “Humans make good breeders for our species,” I remind him.

  He sits up and scoots off the sleeping platform, as if physical distance from me and the slave will save him from discussing this with me. “I’m well aware,” he says mildly.

  I want to knock his teeth out, but to appease him, I say, “It doesn’t mean we can’t keep looking for a Zandian.” Immediately, I wish I hadn’t spoken in front of Danica. Or had used Zandian, which few in the galaxy understand.

  She’s gone wooden.

  “No offense to you, at all,” I say. “I’m certain you’d make an excellent breeder for us.”

  Her nostrils flare, but she says nothing.

  Benn gives voice to what she’s probably thinking. “She didn’t ask to be our breeder.”

  This is where I should tell her she’s not obligated to breed with either one of us.

  I notice Benn’s not in a hurry to tell her, either.

  Both of us are first class bastards.

  Chapter 4

  Benn

  My comm hums and flashes, awakening me. The human—Danica—sleeps, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. I see her pulse in her neck, the way her chest rises and falls. Is she dreaming, the way we Zandians do?

  The comm flashes again, so I get up, my mind switching fast into military mode. “Captain.” I stride away from the sleeping platform so I don’t wake her.

  Captain Rok’s face flashes in front of me. “I need you and Gorde to divert to Hectan-3. There’s a potential Zandian there.”

  I lean forward. “Female?” My heart pounds with a mixture of excitement and concern. I glance back at Danica. Yesterday, finding a female Zandian for myself was the only thing I wanted in the universe. Today—

  He raises a hand, gives a short bark of laughter. “Male. If you leave now, you can be there in under an hour. Take shield precautions; there are Ocretion ships in the area. Talk to Raxx for on-planet advice.”

  “Understood. Send me the exact coordinates.” I hesitate and my face feels hot. “Ah, we—acquired a female.” I clear my throat. “A human.”

  Now he’s the one who steps forward, raises his voice. “Where?” A muscle tigthens in his jaw. “Safely?”

  “Aurelia Minor. Her owner–former owner,” I correct, “wasn’t aware of her value.” Something twists in my chest at the thought of her pretty eyes, the way they widened in fear at the auction, and I shake my head. “Believe me, we know how to keep a low profile.”

  He presses his lips together. “We can’t delay on the rescue mission. Taking her with you—will it be a problem?”

  “No. We can handle this. We can always sell her off if she gets difficult.” I cross my arms, trying to ignore the tiny stab of guilt in my chest. Of course, I’d make sure to find an owner who would treat her well, and not hurt her—

  “Do what you need to, but get our Zandian home. Top priority.”

  “Understood.” I end the transmission and gesture, excitement leaking into my voice. “Gorde.” He’s by the flight console, studying a digimap with glowing points.

  “Orders? Where to?” He can always read my tone and body language. He flips his fingers and the map of places where we’ve found Zandians dissolves, showing our current location in the universe. “Who is it?”

  “A male.” I don’t need to explain what kind—it’s the only kind we’re after.

  He curses under his breath and stands up, eyes on me. “Captured or free?”

  I shrug, check my comm for info. “Unclear. But there’s a prison there, so it doesn’t look good.”

  He grimaces. “Not the perfect time.” He tilts his head to the sleep area. “But we’ll figure it out. She should be all right, yes? She doesn’t seem…overly traumatized.” The fond look on his face makes me roll my eyes.

  We both fall silent for a few seconds. “She doesn’t,” I agree. “Although I have little experience with humans.” I don’t bring up the possibility of selling her, or getting rid of her to make our mission easier. It’s not because I’m second guessing it. It’s just that Gorde will go orbital if I do, and I need him focused.

  “You mean no experience,” Gorde snorts. “Apart from talking once or twice to King Zander’s mate.”

  I roll my eyes. “Like you’re any better?”

  “She loved my experience last planet rotation.” He chuckles.

  “She tolerated yours. It was mine that drove her crazy.” I punch his shoulder.

  He laughs, then turns back to the map, where a soft ping highlights a flashing blue light. “That’s their loc?”

  I nod. “What do you know about Hectan-3?” I glance over at Danica—still asleep, although now she’s shifted, and has one long, graceful arm over her head, covering her eyes. I smile and feel arousal grow, remembering those arms, and her gorgeous legs, wrapped around me.

  If a human feels so good, I can’t even imagine how amazing it could be with an actual Zandian female. Although it’s interesting, because Zandian females, the few I’ve seen, don’t appear to have those luscious breasts and curvy hips—

  “It’s not back there, I know that much.” Gorde’s voice interrupts my reverie. “Basic way station. Refueling for most common craft. Uninhabited, except for vendors, and miners—it can’t sustain civilization, but has lots of tin deposits. And the prison.” He raises his eyebrows, reading from the comm device. “Recently bought by the Ocretions from the Ta’ab for a sum not made public, but reputed to be 1.2 billion stein.”

  I whistle. “Stars. Why do they want a prison on a barren outpost?”

  He shrugs. “Smuggling would be my guess. In addition to acquiring prisoners and collecting bounty.”

  “What is our Zandian doing there?” Unease makes me stand tense and clench my fists.

  “Probably stuck in the prison. We’ll find out soon.”

  “When we arrive, she’ll need to stay on the craft.” My blood boils at the thought of our vulnerable slave in the hands of the Ocretions. Not that she’s ours. And I still want a Zandian female. But I’m no monster. Veck, after one night of enjoying her body, watching her eyes light up with passion and pleasure, there’s no way I’m letting any other being hurt her.

  “Without a doubt.” Gorde frowns. “Can we trust her?”

  I shrug. “She needs a compelling reason to stay.” I frown, part of me wishing she’d stay simply because she wanted to. Because she wanted us. Just because it would make things easier, of course.

  Gorde crosses his arms. “It’s best if she thinks, at least for a while longer…that she’s our slave.”

  “Agreed. It’s the best way to keep her safe.”

  He nods, his face taut. “I think…”

  Whatever he was about to say is cut off as our human appears behind him, smelling of our mixed essences, an aroma that is as vecking enticing as anything I’ve ever experienced.

  She blinks up at us, her long pale hair tousled around her perfect face, and I want to grab a handful of that silky heaven and tug her to my mouth, push her down to my cock, which is already straining at my flight pants.

  I swallow hard. “Did you sleep?”

  Her face grows pink. She blinks and her long lashes, pale like her hair, make me think of soft things. “It’s the first time I’ve ever slept for over six hours in a row, since I was…” her face shutters. “In a long time.” She crosses her arms, glances at the two of us. “What now?”

  I admire her blunt approach, almost as much as I’m intrigued by her bare toes, her delicate feet, and the way her sleep shirt—a large one of Gorde’s—does nothing to hide her luscious form.

  I shoot a glance at G
orde. “Right now, you’re going to eat. I understand humans require thrice-daily sustenance.”

  Gorde nods. “The rations in the stock bay should sustain you. In the silver and white containers. I’ve unlocked them for you.”

  She swallows. “Thank you. I meant, though”—she waves her hand—“after that. Where—what—are you going to do with me?” She curls up the toes on one foot and I see her clench and unclench the long muscle at the front of her thigh.

  “Whatever we want.” My voice comes out harsher than I intended, and she tenses, shrinking back a few inches. I amend it with, “You’re ours now, and you’ll do what we say. Here and on Zandia.”

  “Yes, Master,” she answers immediately, as if by rote. But now she’s clenching her fingers together. Then she puts one hand briefly over her belly, and I wonder if we were too rough with her last night. I hope we didn’t veck her too hard. Is she sore?

  Gorde adds, his voice smooth, “And as long as you’re obedient, you have nothing to fear from us. Understand?” He reaches out and tips up her chin with one long finger, his eyes trained on hers.

  She breathes out, a shaky little sound and nods, wordless, her pretty head bobbing. The way it bobbed when she was sucking my cock.

  I force myself to concentrate. “There will be no reason for us to give you a real punishment, or do anything…more drastic, as long as you obey us. Tell me yes.”

  Her voice is low and cracks. “Of course, Master.”

  She’s scared but trying to hide it. It’s wrong, but my cock stirs to life again.

  I turn away to mask my arousal. “I need to check the flight path. We’re going to stop at a planet and you’re going to stay onboard the craft while we pursue business.”

  “Yes, Master.” This time her voice is more fluent, and she leans forward, eyes alert. “Ah…which planet?” She blinks rapidly.

  “There’s no need for you to know that.” My voice is harsh again, but I don’t want her to have that info. “It’s hostile, inhospitable, especially for your species. That’s all you need to know.”

  “I see.” She bites her lip.

  “Then go eat something.” I gesture. “It should be self-explanatory, easy to find the rations in that pod. And…clean yourself. If you want.” How often do humans bathe? I know next to nothing about their species.

  Gorde touches her arm. “Don’t be afraid,” he encourages. “As long as you’re loyal to us…” he raises a brow. I hold back a smirk. He’s the master of passive aggressive threats. Not something I ever thought I’d see him use on our female. I mean, the human.

  I turn back to the console as she walks to the supply area, forcing myself not to make more eye contact. When she’s out of earshot, I turn to my partner. “Updated tracking shows his location inside the prison.”

  “Veck.” He blows out a breath. “This will be tricky.”

  “That’s a max security unit. With just the two of us…” I keep an eye on Danica to make sure she’s not eavesdropping. Far across the craft, she tentatively opens a silver and white container, glances at me as if unsure. I nod to her and smile. She puts a hand to her mouth, drops it, smiles at me, then takes out a silver packet and examines it.

  He wrinkles his nose. “How do you want to play it?”

  Danica’s got her brow pursed and I wonder if she had any idea what kind of food she’s looking at.

  “Can she read?”

  “What?” Gorde frowns.

  “Danica. I know most ag slaves can’t, but I don’t know about sex slaves.”

  “I have no idea. Probably depends on who she served before us.” He gives me an irritable head shake. “What’s our entry plan for the planet?”

  I see her rip the packet and take a small piece of the dried fruit inside. She tilts her head, takes another bite. I breathe out. “Bounty hunters looking for an escaped convict?”

  “Could work. Returning property to its rightful owner.” Gorde nods. “Everyone respects that.”

  Across the room, I see Danica stiffen. It was almost as if she is able to hear Gorde’s words. My belief that she’s a runaway is no longer the only suspicion I have about this human.

  No, we’re not returning you, little slave.

  I keep my eyes on her as I speak. “The prison will be hectic if they’re transitioning ownership to the Ocretions. We can play that to our advantage.”

  He taps his wrist and contacts our operations specialist back on Zandia. “Raxx. If I needed to get into an Ocretion prison on Hectan-3 as a bounty hunter, what would I need?”

  Danica

  They think I can’t hear them, but I’m listening intently as I eat the dessicated apples and prunes, the walnuts. Human food to match my body, things that originated on a long-dead planet.

  “Thank Mother Earth,” I whisper, touching my belly. I need the sustenance now more than ever, and my appetite seems endless as I finish one packet, then another.

  I sneak glances at them. Both are strong, tall, well-muscled, and handsome. I’ve seen my share of males from around the universe, and these two appeal to me on a visceral level.

  But I can’t stay with them. They want a breeder, someone to carry on their own genes. Oh, they may not mind mixing their DNA with those of a typical human, but what I carry inside me is something they could never accept. Not all of me.

  The taller one, Gorde, approaches me, and his dark purple eyes search me, starting a slow burn in my body. “Danica.” I sense a gentleness from him under the rough exterior, something sweet. I’m drawn to him with an impossible pull. How can I like him this much, so fast?

  “Thank you.” I hold up the empty packet in my hand. “It was delicious.” I find it hard to look away from his eyes. A tingle starts in my core. Mother Earth, again? My body is ready for him.

  His shoulders loosen. “Good. I was worried it wouldn’t…suit you.” He holds out both hands. “I’m not familiar with what humans eat.”

  “Even though you have human slaves on your planet?”

  He swallows and a tendon moves in his neck. “I am not currently mated.” His voice is stiff. “The Zandians who have human mates are far more knowledgeable about their traits.”

  Mated.

  Interesting choice of words. One generally doesn’t mate a slave. Akron certainly never considered me a “mate”. I was a sex slave, a servant, a breeder. Never a mate. What kind of society do they have on their newly recaptured planet?

  “So you are generally kind slave owners. Moderate.” I try to imagine life there.

  He tilts his head and looks away from me. “We are not unkind.” When he looks back, he smiles. “You will be treated well, Danica.”

  “But all females are breeders.” My stomach clenches. I’ve had my share of breeding. That’s why I’m gunning for freedom.

  “So are the males, if you think about it that way.”

  I tilt my head. “What way?” He seems so earnest, I get lost in his amethyst eyes.

  “Our population was greatly diminished. Zandians, all of us who are left, must do everything we can to ensure that our society survives and thrives. We’re needed to provide young who can carry forward our genes.”

  “But you don’t want human males. Or any other species, right?”

  “No.” He shakes his head. “Well, we have some human males—the ones who pledged their fealty and fought by our side to regain our planet. They will forever have a place on Zandia. But we won’t accept new male immigrants. We can’t have them, Danica. We have few enough females to go around as it is.”

  “And if one…came to Zandia, somehow? What would happen?” I’m not planning on sticking around to find out, but I guess I should know, in case I don’t escape before we arrive.

  “Enemies are killed. Neutral beings are sent away, somewhere else.”

  “Where? I mean, where would you send a human male?” I have to stop the urge to cover my abdomen protectively.

  He blinks. “There’s a planet across the galaxy where it’s safe for
humans. Well, as safe as they can be. Jesel. But they can’t stay on Zandia.”

  Jesel, yes. That’s what I’d heard, too. A planet where humans are actually free.

  “What about non-humans? Say, a being from the galaxy who may not be your enemy, not specifically, but is known as a violent, cruel species? Would you ever try to rehabilitate them?”

  “Why are you asking?” He touches my shoulder. “You will be safe, Danica. We have excellent defenses. Any cruel species are absolutely not welcome, I can promise you that. We will never welcome them to Zandia. We’d drop them in their tracks as soon as we know they’re here. No exceptions. Understand?”

  “I do.” I shiver. I understand I have to get myself to Jesel, because sticking with these males is not a viable option.

  Benn comes up. “What are you talking about?” He scowls at Gorde, but when he touches my hand, the tenderness on his face makes me smile. These two warriors, these fierce creatures, both want me.

  “I was telling her how she will be safe on Zandia.” Gorde touches my other hand, and for a second, I feel like the three of us are a circuit, all connected, in a way that feeds a hunger in my soul. I close my eyes, and grab both of their strong hands, their powerful fingers pressing into my smaller ones. I like how they automatically adjust their touch already to my body, more exposed and fragile than theirs.

  But I can’t get used to this. Their planet is not for me, and I need to remember that my goal is not to end up as their breeder on an outflung rock at the edge of the galaxy. I need to make it to that planet where the humans go.

  Gorde

  Danica takes a breath and looks up at me. “I’m cold. Are there more clothes I can wear?” She touches the sleep shirt. “Something warmer and more protective?”

  “Of course.” I move to the side of the craft and use my wrist comm to open a locked cabinet. “Here are spare garments we have on hand. See if anything fits you.” I don’t know if the trousers and boots will work but they look warm.

  Her face breaks out into a huge smile and she gasps, her whole expression lightening. “This is perfect.”