Chapter 27

LEONA

I lie awake, anticipating Zahhn's arrival. It's the middle of the night and I'm fairly certain my cellmates are fast asleep. We'll have a little privacy, though we'll have to remain quiet. Of course, we can simply communicate telepathically.

Nerves flitter in my stomach, and my breaths become shallow and fast. When I heard Zahhn's voice in my head earlier, he didn't sound pleased. He sounded stern and authoritative.

Your obedience training begins tonight.

A shiver rushes through me. What did he mean by that?

Given my status as a prisoner, and the fact that I'm older than twenty-five, I don't think he'll be able to rightfully claim me as his mate. Never mind that we already copulated once.

I sigh, wishing I knew more about Darrvason laws and customs.

The truth is, I don't know what to expect when I'm handed over to the aliens. All I know is that I won't be free. I'll never be free again. I'll spend the rest of my life in captivity.

My nervousness increases.

Does Zahhn intend to keep me as his… slave?

In our recent communications, he mentioned retribution. He mentioned training me to be obedient. Neither of those things sound very pleasant.

Oh, how I wish I could escape.

If I could somehow reach a bustling trading outpost, I could disappear into the crowd. I could change my name, take a menial job on a departing vessel, and simply vanish. If only.

But there's no escaping the brig. There's only one way out and it remains heavily guarded. And it's not like I could steal a shuttle. The docking bay is as heavily guarded as the brig.

My breath catches as awareness skitters through me. I sense Zahhn's masculine presence, though I don't see him yet. I sit up and glance around the cell. A few minutes pass, and then…

He appears out of thin air.

I blink fast a few times, astonished by what I just witnessed. He steps closer and delves a hand into my hair.

A look of reverence fills his eyes as he caresses his long fingers through my locks.

But his visage soon becomes stern, causing nerves to clench in my stomach.

I focus on the tether between us, which feels strongest when he's near. I'm not a rebel , I send down the bond. I had nothing to do with The Saviors' attack on your people.

He looks skeptical. I read the investigators' reports. Your father was one of the most involved members of the rebel group.

Annoyance flares within me. And what did the investigators' reports say about me? If I'm as guilty as you seem to believe, what specific role did I play in the attack?

The hand that's stroking my hair suddenly tightens in my tresses, and I wince at the pain. According to the investigators , he sends down the bond, you were fully aware of your father's plotting. You were also present in your quarters when a final meeting to plan the attack was held in that very location. And let's not forget that you founded Leona's Speakeasy, an illegal meeting place that's been used by rebels for clandestine operations for years.

I was horrified by my father's scheming, especially his plans to kill Darrvasons! The thought erupts from me before I can stop it. So much for convincing Zahhn of my innocence. Once I learned about the virus, which I only found out days before the attack, I wanted to warn someone. But I wasn't able to contact you at the time. I tried but received no reply. I considered warning Officer Brute, but I couldn't find him. Then the attack happened, and I've had over two months in the brig to regret my actions.

And do you regret your actions ? he asks. Or rather, your lack of action?

Is that what you want to hear? That I regret not trying to warn someone? Well, I'm not sure if I do. Because what difference would it have made? If I warned someone, the worldship's command team would've tracked down The Saviors and executed every last one of them. No matter what choice I made, people would've still died. But I never imagined they might use strange technology to disable your ships and attack the Haxxal . The plan… the virus… I didn't truly comprehend what was happening until it was too late.

His eyes darken, and his grip remains tight in my hair. Were you truly horrified by your father's plans to kill Darrvasons?

Of course I was. I inhale a shaky breath, wishing he would release my hair. My scalp is really starting to hurt. Just because your people got the better end of the alliance doesn't mean I want you dead.

The better end of the alliance? He scoffs. Is that honestly what you believe? We are saving humankind. Without us, you would all be dead. Jansonna's systems would've completely shut down. No more water. No more breathable air. No artificial gravity. You should consider yourselves lucky that we struck a deal with you rather than storm your ship and steal all your females. We could've easily just taken what we wanted without giving you anything in return.

My throat burns with emotion, and frustration singes what's left of my patience. I don't like fighting with Zahhn. Partly because, goddammit, his argument is well-founded.

Two thousand one hundred and thirty is a big fucking number, I send down the bond. Plus five, apparently. Do you have any idea what such a loss will do to my people? Families are going to be torn apart. People will lose their daughters, sisters, and friends.

We're all settling on planet 58-Zallnanis. I am certain visitation between our people will take place, even if we live on different continents. He lets go of my hair, then sinks down on the bed next to me. His thigh touches mine. Despite myself, his nearness sends a quiver of desire through me. The huge alien doctor infuriates me, and yet I cannot help but crave him.

Perhaps we should agree to disagree. I peer up at him, lost in the depths of his glowing purple eyes. I don't believe your arrogance would allow you to lose an argument.

I hear him chuckle inside my head, and there's something about our telepathic communication that feels special. Intimate.

Since our argument appears to be over, human female, and it would seem I have emerged the victor, I believe it is time to begin.

My heart races. Time to begin what?

He places a hand on my thigh and squeezes. Your obedience training.

I don't need obedience training. I try to pull away, but he tightens his hold on my leg, digging his fingers into my flesh. A whimper leaves my throat, and I quickly glance around to make sure everyone's still sleeping. Only deep, steady breathing and soft snores greet me. No one appears restless or on the verge of waking up. I exhale with relief.

You are too rebellious, Leona. Too proud. You must be humbled. You must be made to surrender. He suddenly covers my mouth with his hand and guides me back on the pillows. It takes all my self-control not to whimper or make a noise of protest. Finally, he retracts his hand from my mouth.

What's going to happen to me when I'm handed over to your people? Tremors jolt my body, a mix of fear and quaking arousal. I wish I could shut him out. I wish I didn't find him so handsome and captivating despite his domineering ways.

He hovers over me and leans down to take a long inhale of my hair. The warmth of his body soaks into mine, and his closeness sends a wave of longing to the depths of my soul. I want to ask if he still considers me his mate, but I'm terrified of the answer. But maybe if he reveals what will happen after I'm given to his people, my question will be answered in a roundabout way.

He pulls back to stare down at me, and heat flares in his eyes. His lips twist in a somewhat cruel expression, and I feel very much at his mercy. He strokes a hand lazily down my stomach, then delves inside my prison-issue pajama pants. Oh God. His fingers immediately seek out my clit, and it's agony to endure the bliss in silence.

What's going to happen to me when I'm handed over to your people? I send down the bond again, unable to keep the impatience from my tone.

His eyes glitter in the dim light of the brig, and a mocking smile dances over his features. You'll get what you deserve , he finally replies, then he abandons my clit to shove three thick fingers in my core. Or maybe it's his whole goddamn hand. All I know is that it's huge and unexpected and I'm trying very hard not to scream.

You'll get what you deserve , he repeats. He commences pounding me with his massive fingers, driving in and out as I tremble and writhe on the bed. His dark chuckle reverberates in my head.

I was already wet for him when he shoved inside, but as he thrusts faster and deeper, I practically gush moisture. I feel the slickness coating my inner thighs.

He takes a long inhale, and I hear him growl with pleasure. Telepathically, of course. He hasn't made an audible sound since his appearance in the brig. I imagine he's a vengeful phantom come to seek retribution.

Without warning, he pulls his fingers from my core. He holds them in front of my face, and I flush when I notice the gleam of my arousal coating his digits.

You will suck your arousal off my fingers, human female . His voice is a sharp command, and though I don't understand why, I'm compelled to obey. There's a softness that flows through me, a boundless yearning to please him.

I part my lips on a gasp, and he drives his fingers into my mouth, creating a slow sensual plunging motion. The taste of my essence surprises me, sweet and tangy, and I flush when I remember how much Zahhn enjoyed licking me down there on the night he appeared in my bedroom.

Then I recall the way he tastes. My temperature rises, the ache in my core deepens, and I become so breathless that dark spots swirl in my vision. His essence is sweet, like an iced pastry, and a whimper builds in my throat as I visualize the act of kneeling to take him in my mouth.

His breath hisses inward, the only real sound he's made since his arrival, and a knowing look enters his eyes. He withdraws his fingers from between my lips and smirks. I saw that , he sends down the tether that links our minds. That naughty thought you just had. What a vivid imagination you possess, human female.

I almost retort that if he can catch glimpses of carnal thoughts, perhaps he should search my mind for the truth about my involvement, or non-involvement, with The Saviors. But I don't want to start another argument, and the pleasure quaking in my core is making it difficult to think clearly, so I push the idea aside.

Later. Perhaps later he can search my mind for the truth, though my stomach flips when I consider what else he might find.

Knowing that he can pick up stray thoughts and images from my consciousness even when I'm not intentionally sending him the thought makes me curious. Perhaps I can do the same to him. But before I get the chance, he guides me off the bed and forces me to kneel on the floor. He arranges me between his spread thighs, and I can't help but glance at the enormous bulge in his pants.

He places a finger beneath my chin, forcing my gaze to his. His eyes blaze with heat and a bit of sternness, and before he even speaks, I know he's about to give me another order. He unfastens the front of his pants, moves a strip of leathery fabric aside, and his dual appendages spring out, long and thick and massively erect. To my great mortification, my mouth waters as I anticipate tasting him.

Get to work, Leona. He drops his hand from my chin and leans back. Suck, swallow, and repeat.