Claimed by the Zandian by Renee Rose & Rebel West

Author:Renee Rose & Rebel West [Rose, Renee & West, Rebel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Burning Desires
Published: 2019-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Zina

I’m walking back from a visit to Kara and her son when I see him. My whole body tingles.

“Tarek.” My breath quickens. “Hi.”

“Zina.” For a split second his face lights up, then his expression snaps closed. He hoists his satchel on his shoulder.

Before I get a chance to say anything, we’re joined by his captain. “Tarek, a word?”

I step away and nod, showing my respect for his command and need for privacy.

Abbi sees me standing there, glassy-eyed and small, and grabs my hand. She pulls me to the outdoor cafe and finds me a seat with her, and I’m grateful that she had enough sense to pull me away.

I try not to stare at Tarek, who still stands in the cross-path a few dozen paces away, talking with some peers. He isn’t looking at me, as far as I can tell—with his sensors, who knows. But certainly he’s given me no sign that he knows—or cares—that I’m here.

“Excuse me, are you Zina?” A human male with lean muscles and a shock of red hair stands over me. Compared to Tarek he looks like a child.

“Yes?” I raise my brows and hastily wipe my eye with a soft napkin, because it feels moist.

“My name is Tal. I’m Cambry’s brother.” He looks uncomfortable.

“Hi. I’m Zina.”

“Yes, I know.” He smiles.

“Oh right.” My face grows warm. He’s good-looking and friendly, but all I can think about is Tarek, who definitely seems to be paying attention to me now.

I stand, too, because I feel weird sitting and looking up at him. “Are you…” I’m not sure what to ask. “Coming from or going to some kind of mission?” I toss the napkin at the table.

“Just training. I, uh, heard you’re interested in navigation.”

“Um, yes.” Actually, a certain navigator.

“Would you like to study together?”

Oh.

I check to see if Tarek is looking. He is looking! He immediately turns his head when I look over. Is it wrong to make him jealous?

“Sure, why not?” I give Tal a forced smile.

“Okay, follow me.”

“Oh, right now?”

He inclines his head.

“Um, okay. I can do that.” Oops. I don’t actually want to go with him. I only wanted to get Tarek’s attention.

I grab my cloth napkin and tuck it into my satchel. I’ll wash it later, back at the dorms.

Tarek turns his head toward us again, and I wave. Whether I want him to register it as a hello or goodbye, I’m not sure. I don’t even think Zandians wave. They have some other gesture of holding a fist up at a right angle.

Tarek frowns. Tal follows my gaze and stiffens when Tarek comes toward us.

We both wait for our master to arrive. “He looks mad,” Tal, says. “Does he look mad?”

“Um… maybe?” I’m all a-flutter, although unlike Tal, I’m secretly excited by Tarek’s anger.

“Shit.” Tal uses an old human curse word. “Tell me Tarek doesn’t have a thing for you. Did I just step in a pile of it?”

“Yeah, maybe.” I’m breathless with anticipation.

Tarek towers over both of us, his hands resting on his hips, the powerful muscles of his arms bulging.

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