by Renee Rose
“And I only meant to speak with her, to get her out of there. But it’s breeding season. I couldn’t stop myself.”
Zander released him with a shove, casting his eyes to the ceiling. “Vecking stars, Erick.” Disgust was evident in his tone. “Seriously? How did she take it?”
He drew in a long breath, images of all the dirty things he’d done to her in that cell rushing back. But he couldn’t summon the guilt he’d felt at the time.
All he saw now was his beautiful female admitting, I wanted to be mastered.
“She liked it,” he murmured. “Stars, we both liked it. But she doesn’t want her father or the beings here to know what she was. And she associates me with that part of her life now. The part she wants to leave behind.”
The fury behind Zander’s gaze extinguished, his fists unclenched. “I see.”
Erick spread his fingers. “What should I do?”
“Zandians don’t lie. I know you dabble in deception in your business dealings, but Seke doesn’t. I don’t see how you can keep this from him, even if Tara doesn’t wish it to be known. You must tell him.”
“It’s not my secret to tell.”
“You were involved. He’ll see your silence as a betrayal.”
“And he’ll see my comportment as abuse,” Erick mumbled.
“Maybe. But not if Tara vouches for you. I’m assuming you’re the reason she’s free?”
He sighed. “I wish it had been a glamorous rescue, but it wasn’t. I’d planned to buy her, but she used a Zandian crystal of mine to disable her laser cage and escape on her own. I provided cover for her escape, no more. She slipped out of the galaxy before I could catch her and escort her here.”
Zander’s lips twitched. “You’ve finally met your match, haven’t you?”
His hands balled into fists at his side. “What does that mean?”
“A female capable of getting under your skin. I thought it was only human females who made our species lose composure, but it seems the Zandian females have the same effect.”
Damn the prince for his knowing smirk.
“You have my advice. I’m not making it an order, but I won’t keep the truth from Master Seke if it comes up, either.”
He bowed to the prince. “Thank you, my lord.”
“I’m calling a meeting of all the advisors tonight. King Fluut of The Finn sent a warning to the United Galaxies that any planet coming to the aid of the rebels—that’s what the bastard is calling us—will be cut off from all trade.”
“So we reach out privately to every planet—offer repayment in the form of Zandian crystal if they provide assistance in any form—troops, ships, funding, information. You’ve laid the groundwork over the last five solar cycles. Now it’s time to call in all favors. Talia’s rescue drastically pushed up our timeline on war. We’re heading into an emergency, and we need to know who we can count on.”
Zander frowned but nodded. “Yes.”
Erick noticed the hesitation there. Zander hated statesmanship. He would’ve preferred to be a warrior. Or the behind-the-scenes business being. Pomp and flattery annoyed him.
“You want me to take care of it? Communication would be better coming from you. I’d just be your ambassador.”
Zander looked out the window. “Make a list of the most important planets. I’ll take those. You contact the rest.”
He bowed. “As you wish, my lord.”
“What news of the galactacarriers?”
He rubbed his forehead, a sickening plunge twisting behind his solar plexus. “I’m still working on them, my lord.”
Veck. It wasn’t a lie, but it didn’t sit well, either. Fortunately, Lamira appeared holding their young son, and Zander’s entire posture went soft, his eyes warm on his mate.
“Thank you, Erick.”
“My lord.” Erick touched the infant’s feet as he passed Lamira. “I honor your honor, young prince.” He murmured the traditional greeting to their species’ future ruler, the symbol of hope for their upcoming battle.
~.~
Maybe Mina had picked the wrong being to ask for help.
“You wish to bait a thief.” Mierna, the old Venusian who reeked of alcohol, said, phrasing it more a statement than a question, as if she already knew the whole story without being told.
Maybe she did. Venusians were known for mind reading and fortune-telling. Mina had never been sure if it was actual ability, or just a cultural affinity for speaking in riddles.
From what she’d heard, Mierna was a pilot, part of Rok’s original crew before he’d been reunited with the Zandians. Mina had climbed aboard the old ship where Mierna and the rest of the crew slept. Mina chose Mierna for two reasons: 1) She wasn’t a Zandian, and Mina needed a different species for her plan, and 2) Mierna was female.
But maybe the female part hadn’t been so important, though. As she eyed the being doubtfully, she wished she’d asked one of Rok’s Stornigian brothers, or his giant one-legged friend from Elau.
Choosing a female had only been to keep Erick from getting his horns twisted over another being seeing her naked. Which was utterly stupid considering a) she’d been a sex pet for the past five years. which meant hundreds of beings had seen her naked, and b) Erick already knew that.
But he’d been possessive, even though she’d given him no reason to believe he had a claim on her.
I won’t share. I can’t.
And, for whatever reason, she cared about his reaction.
But she’d probably wasted too much brain space on the issue. The very reason this plan was possible was because he knew and understood her prior occupation.
As the Venusian stared at her with her giant, protuberant eyes, Mina shivered. She had the sense Mierna saw every vecking thought in her head.
“Yes, bait a thief. You call him, offer him a rare pet-trained Zandian female—the only one in all the galaxies. Tell him I belonged to Dorhock. He will remember me. Tell him you want to meet to discuss terms.”
The old Venusian nodded once. “I will make the call and set up the meeting. But we cannot go alone. It will take an entire team to steal the carriers.”
Relief flowed down her limbs. The Venusian did understand the plan.
“I know. Just get the meeting. Then we’ll tell the others.”
The Venusian took a swig of the foul-smelling liquid in her jar. “All right. Put on your collar, showcat.”
Tingles raced up and down her spine. So. Venusians were the real deal. No being knew that nickname her human friend Leti had coined for Dorhock’s pets. No beings except the other pets.
She stripped out of her clothing. She didn’t have a collar and leash, but she’d found a rope that would work to tie around her neck. She sure as hell hoped this Venusian could be trusted. She knotted it loosely and held the other end out to Mierna. “Can they trace the transmission?”
“No, we’ll record it and send it on a scrambled frequency. You know where to send it?”
“Yes. Well, not exactly. Erick said he can’t find a way to communicate with Neo Lin, but I know a friend of his. And he should be easy enough to contact.”
Mierna brought her jar to her lips and drank, guzzling until she drained it. It made Mina’s stomach turn just watching.
The Venusian gave her a critical up and down sweep of her eyes. “Too tall. You look ready to kick my ass. Squat down. Hands and knees, or make a little ball.”
Mina almost laughed at Mierna’s directions, but she dropped to her knees, placing her hands palm up on her thighs as she’d been trained to do.
“Good.” Mierna nodded. She flicked a button and faced a recording device. “This message is for Neo Lin. I have a very rare item for sale. I think you’ll like it.” The old female tugged on Mina’s rope, shocking her with her strength. Mina flew forward onto her hands and knees, wincing. “Zandian female—one of only three left in the galaxy. This one has been trained as a sex pet by your friend Dorhock. Want her? Reply to my transmission with a meetin
g time and place.” She smacked a button on the console, and the device light went off.
“Ow.” Mina complained, rubbing the grit off her hands from the dirty floor as she stood up.
“Had to make it look real,” Mierna said.
“Well, you didn’t have to break my neck to do it,” she complained as she worked the knot at her throat, but a reluctant smile tugged at her lips. This salty old female knew her stuff. She had chosen wisely.
“Now, you tell me where to send it, and we wait for the reply.”
“Great.” She pulled on her clothing and plunked down beside the Venusian at the control panel.
This crazy plan of hers just might work.
~.~
He’d officially lost his mind over Mina.
The female hadn’t answered his calls or sent him any messages until that morning’s, which had been cryptic at best.
She’d sent a hologram of herself, looking rumpled and beautiful and more than a little bit rushed. I have a meeting with Neo Lin. Can you come to Zandian Freedom to talk about it?
That was all.
No explanation of how she got a meeting. Or what she planned. And as relieved as he was to know she’d made contact, he still didn’t like her being involved. Not if it meant she had to use her connections from the world she wanted to leave behind.
Worse, he apparently was incapable of not responding to a summons for her immediately, because staying at the palatial pod had become an impossibility—despite the fact that he hadn’t finished contacting all the ambassadors in the galaxy to request support and assistance.
But getting the galactacarriers was just as important. Wasn’t it? He couldn’t even trust his perspective. Where Mina was concerned, he thought with his cock. He’d already proven that time and time again.
It didn’t matter. He was getting on his ship just as soon as he finished sending the last transmission requesting a meeting. He could tend to the replies just as easily from Zandian Freedom as he could from the pod.
He wouldn’t even consider the significance of his not choosing to tell any being why he was leaving or where he was going. If Zander needed him, he’d hail him on his comms unit. He wore the same arm cuff all the trusted advisors wore.
There. He’d finished the transmission. He tossed a few items into his travel case and stalked to the loading dock. The moment he got his ship into the atmosphere, his body started to relax. He hadn’t even realized how tense his muscles had grown from being apart from Mina. Not hearing enough from her, not knowing what went on in that beautiful mind of hers.
Soon, he’d see her again.
His cells began to come alive, a low hum that grew louder the closer he drew to Freedom.
He’d punish her, of course.
She hadn’t obeyed his request for her fantasies. And she’d involved herself in his problem when he’d told her not to. Of course, he’d have to be careful with how he scolded her for that one. His female hated being kept back from any kind of action. He’d have to explain to her first, that it wasn’t because he didn’t think her capable of protecting or taking care of herself, but because he wished to honor her desire to leave her past behind her.
But that was a laugh. He honored that desire only when it suited him. But when his body got anywhere near hers, he had no compunction in degrading her like the pet she’d been.
But she liked it. He had to remember that.
Except if this was a facet of herself she hadn’t or couldn’t accept, he’d never win. Unless she resolved her own internal struggle with shame and desire, she would dump him and Mina without a backward glance.
Veck.
“Master Erick, you’re cleared for docking.” The transmission sounded over the ship’s comms. Warriors from Freedom had identified his ship and opened the hatch. He maneuvered the ship in and landed then put his helmet on to walk inside.
“Twice in one week. I can’t imagine what could be drawing you here,” one of the guards teased when he entered.
He wanted to punch him in the teeth, but he dug deeper to find a glimmer of humor. Or humility. “I’m sure there’s not much competition on this pod.”
Both guards laughed—way too heartily for his comfort. “Yes, they’re lining up just to see her. But don’t worry. She’s stayed close to the human females for the most part.”
Thank the one true Zandian star for that.
“Where is she?” he snapped.
“Training room. Where she always goes.”
He forced himself to mutter his thanks and stalked to the training room. The moment he caught sight of his beautiful female, his pulse went wild. At the same time, something at the very center of his being quieted. Something he hadn’t realized had been amiss, but it had. Ever since he’d parted from Mina.
She practiced with Cambry, and the red-haired human had her pinned to the floor, an arm twisted behind her back.
If Cambry had been a male, or even a Zandian female, his ever-present instinct to protect her would have surged to the foreground. But these two were well-matched. As he watched, Mina flipped Cambry onto her back and mimed a crushing blow to the larynx.
Both females smiled as they sprang to their feet and started circling each other. His cock swelled against his flight pants at the idea of taking Cambry’s place. Tussling with his female on the mats. Throwing her to the floor and covering her body with his own. Pinning her wrists above her head as he positioned his—
Get your horns straight, Erick.
He didn’t come to veck Mina. He came to find out about Neo Lin and the galactacarriers.
And Mina.
She looked over and caught sight of him, but her moment of distraction cost her a kick to the solar plexus. She flew back and landed on her ass.
He charged forward, but she was already scrambling to her feet, a broad smile on her face.
Thank veck.
She said something to Cambry and sauntered toward him, hips swaying in a seductive pattern. Every male—every last male in the entire room—watched, tongues lolling.
“You received my message.”
He wanted to grasp her elbow and march her to her room where he could take out his frustration on the soft curves of her ass. Instead, he managed a polite smile, mostly for the benefit of their audience. “I did.”
She hooked her hand around his elbow. “Good. Come on—let’s gather the others.”
The others. Right.
Spanking could wait.
At least another few minutes.
~.~
Mina worried her lower lip between her teeth. She hadn’t told any being but Mierna her plan, but she had told everyone she hoped to involve that she’d need their input on a matter when Erick arrived.
“Is it time for the meeting?” Cambry asked, jogging up to them.
“Yes. Will you get Lundric and Rok? We’ll meet in Rok’s office.”
Erick’s gaze didn’t waver from her face, and it held something she couldn’t decipher. “What?” she asked when they headed down the corridor.
“You’re more like yourself here.”
Surprise popped like a bubble in her chest. “Am I? How would you know?”
She might have missed the flash of hurt on Erick’s face before he masked it, if she hadn’t fallen into his violet gaze. She pulled him to a stop. “I just mean… I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
Stubbornness streaked across his expression. “This is you. The female giving orders. Getting thrown to the floor and bouncing back up with a smile. The one so full of life she’s bursting. I’m half-fascinated, half-jealous.”
“Jealous of what?”
“Jealous of your time here. Disappointed that I had nothing to do with your new happiness.”
Stars. Something fluttered loose in her chest. Did he really say that? “But you did. You brought me here. And argued with my dad to let me stay. He’s not here, by the way. He left for the palatial pod just before you arrived.”
Which had been a hu
ge relief, because her plan would never execute if her father knew. She was still more than a little worried about Erick’s reaction.
She squeezed into Rok’s small office along with Rok’s original crew: his two foster brothers, Jano and Jaso, Guardo, Depri, and Mierna. Lily and Rok, Lundric and Cambry, and Cambry’s brother, Tal, all joined them as well.
“So?” Rok said. “What’s the big mystery about?”
“First, let me say what I’m about to reveal is private information. No matter what we decide to do, none of this can leave this office. Not even to my father, understood?”
Only Lundric shifted uncomfortably, which didn’t surprise her. His loyalties were with her father, his master.
“Lundric?”
“Zandians don’t lie,” he muttered.
“So don’t lie,” she snapped back. “Just don’t tell him.”
Lundric tightened his lip, but nodded.
She dared a glance at Erick, but he only appeared encouraging. Apparently, as dominant as he was, he didn’t mind a female taking charge of a meeting room. Another point in his favor. “Yesterday, Mierna sent this communication to a trader named Neo Lin, the being who stole the galactacarriers meant for Master Erick.”
She waited until the jerks of surprise and inquisitive looks at Erick had passed before nodding to Mierna, who launched the short communique showing Mina naked and on her knees behind the wizened Venusian.
Erick gave a strangled growl of anger.
Damn her face for heating. She was a warrior. She’d done what she had to do. Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“We’ve received a response with his coordinates. He’s invited Mierna to visit tomorrow. With her pet.”
“No.” Erick spoke before any other being had a chance to voice an opinion.
She slapped her hand down on Rok’s desk. “You don’t get to say no before you’ve even heard my plan.” Now that she had fire in her gut, she matched his gaze.
A muscle in his jaw jumped. “Fine. Tells us your plan.”
“Mierna brings me in. Preferably in a cage where we can hide weapons. The rest of you come along, either as additional prisoners—she glanced at Cambry and Lily—or as Mierna’s guards. A backup team will hide in our ship and sneak out to search the premises. Once the galactacarriers are located, the pilots take charge of them, and we all fly away.”