Page 53 of Zahhn's Mate
“Ah, just the two of us,” I say with a grin.
Emperor Radakk gives me a pointed look. “Are you aware that Doctor Ammdox requested a specific female from today’s batch to become his mate?”
I tense. “No, I was not aware. I haven’t spoken to Doctor Ammdox in some time. We have differing interests.”
The emperor stands and faces the viewscreen that overlooks the fleet. “Yes, he requested a former patient of yours, as it happens. A human female named Leona Zimmerman.”
Fury consumes me, a searing rush of violence. I quickly rise to my feet. “That is very interesting,” I force out, but there’s no hiding the anger in my voice.
Emperor Radakk turns to me. “Unfortunately, Doctor Ammdox’s contributions to the Darrvason Empire are not quite grand enough to warrant the reward of a mate. Not from this batch of females, anyway.”
My rage cools somewhat, and I exhale a long breath. Thank the Star Gods. The prospect of Doctor Ammdox or any other male touching Leona—my mate by all rights—is enough to make me murderous.
“The ten females who were part of The Saviors have presented us with a dilemma,” the emperor says. “It’s my hope that the five who are between the ages of nineteen and twenty-five will be quickly tamed and bred by their new mates. As for the five older females, well, I have decided it would be best to assign each of them to an older male. Males who I think could use the companionship and perhaps the challenge of a rebellious female.”
My pulse accelerates as Emperor Radakk’s meaning sets in. I swallow past the dryness in my mouth, hopeful and terrified of what he will say next.
“Doctor Zahhn,” he says in a severe tone, “I am assigning Leona Zimmerman to you. You will become her mate, and you will ensure she adheres to our customs.”
Disbelief cascades over me, and for a long moment all I can do is stare at the leader of the Darrvason Empire. “How-how did you know?” I finally ask.
Amusement flickers in his eyes, warring with the serious set of his jaw. He is trying to be the high and mighty emperor he’s supposed to be, but there are times his demeanor slips. He blinks and the humor fades. “I didn’t. Not for certain until just now. But I heard that you nearly pushed Doctor Ammdox out ofthe way just to claim Leona as your patient. After I realized you’d astral projected to the cell block where Leona was being housed, I started to become suspicious.”
I straighten. “I will claim the mate assigned to me, emperor, and I will make sure she stays out of trouble and adheres to our customs. I give you my word.”
“Go and claim your bride, Zahhn,” he says, using my name without a title preceding it, and I marvel at the friendship he’s once again showing me. He nods toward the door. “The shuttles depart soon.”
Though I’ve never dared to address him by anything but his title, I say, “Thank you,Radakk,” in an earnest tone.
His lips turn up in a thoughtful smile, and he gives me a nod of thanks in return, clearly approving of my use of his name.
I depart the command room and nearly break into a run once I reach the main corridor. I hurry to the docking bay and find the guard team. There are four additional males waiting, and I soon realize they too have been assigned one of the five females.
We board the shuttle and wait for takeoff. The one hundred brides are being split among the fifteen ships in our fleet, and several shuttles are traveling to theJansonnato retrieve those brides. At last, we zip away from theHaxxal. Moments later, we land inJansonna’sdocking bay.
I hurry to open the hatch, eager to claim the mate who’s been assigned to me.Leona.
Chapter 33
LEONA
A stern-faced humansecurity officer enters the cell. I lift my chin, trying to be brave, but inside I’m trembling. Today is the day we’ll be handed over to the Darrvasons. Prisoners for life. At least that’s how I view it.
The officer holds up a tablet and starts reading off the names of the younger women, those who will be included in the group of one hundred. Those who will be claimed as mates. My heart goes out to them. God, I hope they’ll be okay.
“If you just heard your name,” the officer says, “exit the cell and you’ll be escorted to the docking bay.”
The young women reluctantly file out of the cell. A group of guards is waiting in the corridor to provide an escort. Once they’re gone, the security officer peers at us intently. “The five of you have each been assigned to a Darrvason male.”
“As slaves?” a woman asks in a fearful tone.
“Asmates,” the security officer clarifies. “Apparently, Emperor Radakk himself made the assignments. From what I hear, he wished to reward some of the older Darrvason males hebelieves are deserving of a mate.” He steps toward the cell door. “Follow me.”
Shock fills me. I’ve been assigned a mate. And the emperor made the assignments to reward specific Darrvason males who live on theHaxxal. I don’t dare let myself hope I’ll be assigned to Zahhn. Oh God, what will happen? Will I be forced to mate with a strange alien I don’t know despite the intimacies I’ve shared with Zahhn?
With a heavy heart, I follow the security officer outside the cell. A second group of guards escorts us toJansonna’sdocking bay. As we step into the huge area, which I’ve never visited before, I almost back away. I consider running. Then I look at the empty shuttles and wonder if I could possibly steal one. Not that I have any idea how to pilot one…
I glance around the docking bay. This is it. One hundred human women are being given to the Darrvasons in exchange for their assistance in repairing theJansonna. One hundred plus five, that is.
