Stolen by the Zandian - Renee Rose Page 0,44

waterfalls, diving under them and then reappearing, smiling.

I’m not as skilled. I spent half my life in space, training on King Zander’s palatial pod after we lost our planet. We had no opportunities for swimming there, but my body still remembers how to stay afloat and how to propel myself around. I follow Kailani’s sleek form under the waterfalls. She swims beneath them and discovers the secret moss-covered ledge behind them.

“So you didn’t lie about the waterfall,” she says grudgingly, pulling herself out of the water to examine the crystal wall. My horns stiffen at the sight of her fully naked and out of the water, but I shove my lust down.

“I didn’t lie about anything. Zandians don’t lie.” I climb out of the water and sit on a soft patch of moss.

She whirls, hurt and anger marring her lovely face. “What did you omit, then?”

I try to swallow against the tight band around my throat. “A Z4-A virus has affected the planet. Not the Zandians, but the weaker humans. Many of the young—the halflings we’re relying on keeping our species alive, including the king’s own daughter, Kaylar. Some have died already.”

She’s gone still and tense. “I see.”

“When I saw your dossier, I hoped your engineered resistance to illness might provide some answers. To save the children.”

“And you thought you’d be a hero and save your species by bringing me here.”

I rub my face. “Veck, Kailani. That was my plan, yes. Before I knew you. And then I realized how traumatized you were. How much you hated needles and doctors, and I held back my purpose. I didn’t want you to be afraid. But I should have told you everything. And I’m sorry—I’m so vecking sorry about the way they took you. I never meant for that to happen. I want to rip all their heads off their vecking necks.”

She comes over to sit beside me. Some of the tension has left Kailani’s face. I doubt I’m forgiven, but maybe she’s not as angry as she was before.

“They took me into custody because I hadn’t requested permission to go on the mission. I should have accounted for that. I was a fool. I guess I imagined a much more celebratory landing. Me the hero—you the heroine. Instead we were both dragged in like prisoners.”

She studies me. “So, what happens now?”

I lift my shoulders. “You don’t have to do anything. I won’t let them touch you, all right? If you want me to go steal another airship and fly you somewhere else, I will. But I beg you to just give Zandia a chance. Not me—you don’t have to ever speak to or see me again if you don’t want to. But I didn’t lie when I said Zandia was a safe place for humans. You could make friends here. Make a life.”

She blinks at me. Her golden skin flushes a bit. “You called me your mate—back in the med bay.”

My horns thicken and lean in her direction. I try again to swallow. “I want you as my mate, yes. If you’d have me.”

She doesn’t answer.

“But matings must be approved by the king. I don’t know if I’d be granted the privilege.” I pick up one of the tiny crystals on the edge and roll it around between my fingers.

“Especially if I don’t help the doctors, right?”

“I’m not certain,” I admit.

“Did you just get in more trouble by taking me away from there?”

I shrug. “Possibly. I don’t care. You were frightened and alone, and I wasn’t going to sit around obeying orders when you were suffering.”

“You’re an idiot,” she says, climbing to her feet.

A stone sinks in my belly. “Yes,” I agree.

She loops a leg over me and straddles my lap. “Thank you.”

My breath catches. Horns go rock hard. I fill my hands with her ass and yank her hips over my erection as I claim her mouth.

“Veck, Kailani.”

She rubs her slick pussy over my erection, writhing in my lap. When she reaches down to grip my cock and guide it inside her, I don’t hold in my growl of satisfaction. I nip her neck, suck on her nipple. Then I grip her ass and lift and lower her hips over mine. Her glorious breasts bounce in front of my face. She loops her slender arms around my neck and puts her mouth over one of my horns.

I roar with the pleasure of it, yanking her hips in snug against mine, nearly coming. “Stars, Kailani. If you do that again, this