Chapter 24

ZAHHN

It takes three days to arrange a video comm call with Officer Brute. I'm pacing my quarters in a heightened state of agitation when his call finally comes through. I rush to the video comm console, sit down, and accept the call.

"Doctor Zahhn," he says. "I received your message a few days ago, but as you might imagine, things have been busy on the Jansonna and I haven't been able to reply until now. Your message indicated you wished to confirm the wellbeing of one of your former patients . A human female named Leona." His eyes gleam with mild curiosity.

I draw in a deep breath. "Yes. What can you tell me about her?"

"She's alive and in good health, however she is currently in the brig. Unfortunately, she was one of the seventy members of The Saviors who stayed behind on the Jansonna during the attack."

No. Despair rips through me, and I abruptly stand and walk to the door, as though I intend to storm the docking bay, steal a shuttle, and head to the Jansonna in search of my female. But I soon freeze in my steps and curse as reason takes over.

Fluxx . I'm not authorized to travel to the human worldship at this time. I'm stationed on the Rorrsa and if I try to travel to the Jansonna , I'll be stopped and questioned.

If I told the truth, would anyone believe me?

Did Leona have a hand in the attack on my people? It's a daunting thought. The Saviors were responsible for the virus that would've killed thousands of my people had it worked. All because they wanted to break the alliance, rescue the thirty human females living aboard the Haxxal , and take possession of the Haxxal and its advanced technology.

Is Leona capable of that level of coldblooded, ruthless deceit? I am still fiercely drawn to her, and I still yearn to keep her as mine. But if she despises my people so much that she would risk her life in order to murder thousands of Darrvasons, I fear any possible mating union between us would be doomed.

Dark thoughts enter my mind. Deliciously tempting dark thoughts. I could force her. I could lock her up until she comes to her senses.

I could claim her over and over, drenching her in my seed until a heartbond finishes forming between us. I could conquer her completely, and I could train her to serve and obey. I could reform her until she forgets about her ill-fated rebellion and her only waking thoughts revolve around how to best please me.

Suppressing a growl, I glance at the video comm screen. Officer Brute is waiting patiently. I summon patience of my own and resume my seat. "What will happen to her?" I'm unable to hide the worry from my voice.

A hint of compassion enters Officer Brute's eyes, making me suspect he's aware of my true motives. Surely he must realize my interest in Leona goes far beyond her status as my former patient. I examined her once , over twenty days ago, and my reasons for doing so certainly weren't to provide medical treatment.

"Captain Warren wanted to execute the remaining seventy members of The Saviors, including the women," Officer Brute says with a frown, "but I made a deal with him to save the ten females who are among the rebels."

Relief suffuses me. "Thank you for arranging that. Females, even those guilty of treason, should not be executed."

"I agree, and I've made arrangements for the women to be released from the brig and taken into Darrvason custody. This will occur when the next wave of females are given to us, after our engineers finish repairs on the Jansonna . It's estimated that will occur in approximately two moon cycles."

"Taken into Darrvason custody?" Foreboding spreads through me. I hope the women aren't being released from the human worldship's brig only to be imprisoned again. Females, even guilty ones, should not be wasted. Jailing them isn't logical when we have a dire need to procreate. Using them for breeding purposes would be the smartest option. I hold my breath as I await Officer Brute's reply.

"As I previously stated, there are ten females from the rebel group in custody. Five are within the nineteen to twenty-five age bracket, and those five will be officially included in the group of one hundred. The other five, the older females, will not be imprisoned, not exactly, though we will attempt to find a use for them. Perhaps they'll make adequate servants." He glances at his wrist comm and releases a low growl. "The emperor would like to speak with me. I must go. I hope I've answered your questions regarding your former patient."

"Wait!" I move to the edge of my seat. "Is Leona being mistreated in the brig? Is she warm enough? Is she being given nutritious food and clean water?"

Officer Brute's eyes widen slightly. He clears his throat and leans forward. "I am personally seeing to the welfare of the females in the brig, Doctor Zahhn. They're being housed together in a heated cell that contains enough beds for everyone. They're also being served nutritious meals three times a day, and there is a water station located within the cell. I promise you, Doctor, the females are faring well. Physically, at least." He glances at his wrist comm again. "I must go."

"Thank you for your assistance, Officer Brute. I am indebted to you."

He gives me a polite nod, then the screen goes blank.

It's late in the evening, and after preparing for bed, I resume my mental exercises in hopes that I can contact Leona. Though I still haven't managed to find any information in the Darrvason database about Project Xeera, I recently tracked down a former assassin from the days of the war. The elderly male divulged several mind tricks he once used to achieve astral projection, and I'm determined to continue practicing until I find myself on the Jansonna at Leona's side.

I imagine her scent first, and I take slow, deep breaths. Next, I picture her face and the contours of her body, painting a picture in my mind. Step one is visualizing something—a person or place—that you desire to reach. Once I'm certain I've fulfilled the first step, I move beyond Leona and imagine her surroundings. A cell in the brig that contains ten beds, a water station, and nine females in addition to her.

Then I clear my mind and hum deep in my throat, a vibration that spreads outward and fills the air. Initially, I don't believe it's working, but I suddenly feel weightless and cold.

Star Gods, please let this work.

Falling. Now, I'm falling. But I don't impact upon a hard surface. My descent slows and I eventually find myself seated on a bed in a dark room. I blink as my vision adjusts to the dim lighting, and when I glance down at the bed, I notice a small form huddled beneath the covers.

Dark wavy hair obscures the female's face, and I reach down to tuck the locks behind her ear. My pulse skitters. It's Leona. My female. My little rebel who may or may not have wished me dead along with thousands more of my people.

A quick glance around the cell shows the other women are sleeping, tucked in their beds. The cell is warm, just as Officer Brute promised, and I'm relieved when I notice the water station as well as the beginnings of a small kitchen. Leona might be a prisoner, but she's not languishing in a cold cell. She's not being starved or mistreated, and for that I am thankful.

I continue stroking her hair. She turns over on her back and peers at me with wide eyes.

"Zahhn? Is that you?" she whispers. Her gaze brims with moisture and she starts blinking fast.

I caress the side of her face. "Yes, human female. It's me."

She glances at the cell's locked door. "How did you get here? It's the middle of the night, and even so, we aren't allowed visitors."

"I am projecting my soul here, and my body, in a way. But I am not certain how long I'll be able to remain with you." I assist her as she sits up, and I cannot resist leaning down to smell her hair. Her familiarity washes over me, and some of the tension drains from my body.

"I don't understand." She places a hand on my chest, and for the first time in days, my ancestral markings begin to tingle.

"I'm projecting myself here, temporarily, so I might visit you. It's a trait that apparently runs in families. It's a skill my father possessed, and it would appear I'm capable of astral projection too." I stroke her hair and delight in the softness of her dark locks. "Why did you do it?" I ask, and I cannot keep the biting accusation from my voice. "Why did you participate in a plot against my people? Did you truly wish to kill thousands of Darrvasons?"

She shakes her head. "It's not what you think. I-I shouldn't be here. Well, maybe I should, but I'm not part of The Saviors, I swear it."

I want to believe her. I truly do. But I know virtually nothing about her life. All that exists—or existed—between us is sexual attraction. Well, perhaps more than sexual attraction. At least on my end. Beyond my burning desire for her, I harbor a fervent need to protect her. To keep her as my possession, my mate, until she's coated in my scent. Until she's wearing my ancestral markings on her arms.

A heartbond. If a heartbond finishes forming between us, I'll be able to read her thoughts with ease. I'll know the truth about her involvement with The Saviors, or non-involvement as she claims.

But what if I don't like what I find?

What if we become heartbonded and I feel her hatred?

"My people assisted in the investigation into The Saviors' activities. I doubt you were arrested without cause." It's impossible to fight back my agitation. How dare she deny her part in the attack?

After days of yearning to be reunited with the female I've technically claimed as my mate, I'm taken aback by how furious I am with her. I suppress the urge to grab her and shake her hard.

Fluxx . I'm tempted to turn her over my knee and thrash her until she makes a full confession. Until she sinks to her knees and begs for forgiveness. But we aren't alone. If I punish her, the commotion would wake her fellow prisoners and alert the guards to my presence.

She shakes her head and says something, but her image is fading, and I can no longer hear her voice. I blink, and suddenly I'm back in my temporary quarters aboard the Rorrsa .

But I did it. I intentionally transported myself to the Haxxal's brig to visit Leona, and I'm confident that with more practice, I'll manage to do it again and stay for a longer visit next time.

Lee-oon-ahh. I will find you again.

Though I don't hear her reply in my head, I sense her presence, and my ancestral markings are still tingling. When I inhale deeply, I swear I catch a hint of her arousal in the air. I place a hand on my chest and touch the markings. Lee-oon-ahh. I will make you pay for what you've done.