Chapter 32

ZAHHN

I'm standing in the command room where Emperor Radakk and his advisors hold their classified meetings, trying to maintain my composure. It's the morning of the handover, and I am anxious to meet the group of guards I will accompany to the Haxxal . I have no wish to join whatever meeting is about to occur, and I cannot imagine why my presence would be required. The fleeting idea that perhaps the emperor plans to ask me to become an advisor dances through my mind, but I quickly dash it away. No, that would not make sense.

When a familiar Darrvason engineer enters the room, I narrow my eyes and glare at the male. I suddenly have a very good idea why I've been summoned. Unfortunately, I didn't disappear from Jannsonna's brig before I was spotted by one of my own people, and it would appear he's a snitch. I hold back a growl as all the muscles in my body tense. The urge to pummel this male in the face grows stronger by the moment.

Several advisors file into the room, along with Admiral Tornn and Emperor Radakk. I feel as though I'm about to be put on trial, though I keep telling myself I didn't do anything wrong. As far as I'm concerned, they ought to be thanking me. Not only did I protect the human females in the worldship's brig, but I slaughtered a Grozznolan mercenary.

"Doctor Zahhn, please have a seat," Admiral Tornn says as he exchanges a look with the emperor.

I sink into a chair and peer from face to face, waiting for the verbal lashing to commence. I'm ready to argue my case, of course, but I resolve not to speak until I obtain a better understanding of their version of events. Whether they know about my obsession with Leona, I am uncertain.

I remind myself that Officer Brute and Chief Kameer are likely the only males who are aware of my interest in Leona, but they aren't present in the command room. I silently commend them for not being snitches like this other male.

"I am sure you're wondering why you've been summoned to the command room, Doctor Zahhn," the emperor says, "so I will get straight to the point." He glances at the engineer. "We have reason to believe you astral projected aboard the Jansonna during the Grozznolan attack. More specifically, you transported yourself to the worldship's brig."

I shrug. "Well, I am a very talented individual."

Admiral Tornn grunts. "Doctor Zahhn, we did not summon you to the command room to charge you with a crime. I highly suggest you are more forthcoming during this meeting. Now, answer the emperor's question."

I lift my eyebrows. "Technically, Emperor Radakk didn't ask me a question. However, if you insist, Admiral Tornn, I will tell you what happened." My gaze sweeps around the table as I attempt to stall. What the fluxx should I say? I draw in a long breath. "As soon as I realized there was danger aboard the Jansonna , I strapped on some weapons that I happened to have lying around my quarters, then I astral projected to the worldship's brig, risked my life to protect the female prisoners, chivalrous male that I am, and single-handedly brought down a Grozznolan mercenary." I display a wide grin as I take particular enjoyment in the stunned silence that falls.

Advisor Bemment clears his throat. "Doctor Zahhn's father possessed the ability to astral project, so we should've seen this coming. We need to compile a thorough list of all the descendants of the assassins who were part of Project Xeera. Under stable leadership," he says with a nod at Emperor Radakk, "such abilities should be encouraged, if for no other reason than to keep the empire strong. The doctor's skills would be very useful in a battle."

The advisors converse for a while, and I lean back in my chair, feigning a look of boredom. Eventually, they vote and agree that Project Xeera should be reinstated. The snitching engineer is dismissed from the command room, and eventually the advisors are as well, leaving me alone with Emperor Radakk and Admiral Tornn.

"I suspect there is more to the story you told us, Doctor Zahhn," the admiral says, "however we are due to collect the next batch of human females soon, so a full explanation will have to wait." He rises to his feet, nods at the emperor, and departs the command room.

"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 of the 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 the Jansonna to retrieve those brides. At last, we zip away from the Haxxal . Moments later, we land in Jansonna's docking bay.

I hurry to open the hatch, eager to claim the mate who's been assigned to me. Leona .