Page 59 of Legend

He returned the salute and motioned for me to sit as he drew closer. “At ease, Commander.”

Despite his request, I waited until he took the chair across from me until I sat. “Did we have a meeting, Admiral?”

He shook his head, glancing briefly at the weapons hanging on my walls. “We did not, but I wanted to speak briefly about the envoy from Earth.”

I stiffened. We had already spoken about my actions the day before, and I had thought the matter was settled.

“I was pleased that you warmed up to Captain Gorman,” Zoran continued, unaware or unconcerned by my bristling. “I wanted to thank you for welcoming him so warmly at the reception.”

I tried to hide my surprise. It was not common for the Academy Master to make office visits for something so trivial, so I knew this was not the true reason for his visit. But I played along, inclining my head solemnly. “You are welcome, Admiral. It was my pleasure.”

“It is crucial that this human captain return to Earth with a positive report. Too much effort has gone into the human exchange for it to be ruined now.”

I nodded, knowing this already.

“It is also important that we control what he sees,” Zoran continued.

“If this is about the creatures in the dungeons, they are already gone.” I did not mention that we owed this to Fiona and her insistent outburst.

His brows lifted, and it occurred to me that he might not have known they had remained. “I am glad to hear it. That would be hard to explain. But what I am talking about is the long-term goals of the program. The Drexian long-term goals for the human exchange program.”

This gave me pause. “I do not believe I know the long-term goals for the human exchange program. I thought this was an experiment that only concerned a small group of humans here and Drexians on Earth.”

“Originally, it was, but both exchanges have been more successful in more ways than we anticipated.”

I frowned at the Academy Master. “I do not think I understand.”

“Within a short amount of time, we already have two mated couples in the Academy, not counting me and my bride. Three of the Drexians who have been stationed on Earth have formed mating bonds with humans. Human women who are also military officers.”

“This is a good thing?”

“The entire reason we signed a treaty with Earth all those years ago was because we needed females so we could continue our species. The Tribute Bride program has been a success, and it has been an even bigger success since we started taking volunteers. But this exchange is proving to be an excellent way ofmaking compatible matches.”

An instinctive protest rippled through me. “You are saying that the long-term goal of the exchange is now to encourage mating at the academy?”

Zoran leveled his gaze at me. “I am saying that the long-term goal of the exchange is to bring more human females as instructors and cadets—and not return them.”

I had heard whispers of how the Admiral had brought his own bride to the school. He had used a loophole in the tribute bride contract to bind her to him and force her to come with him to Drex. She had come to love him and marry him willingly, but it had not started with her agreement. “You wish to abduct them?”

He shifted from one foot to the other. “Drexians have never abducted females. Every tribute was part of our agreement, and no bride was ever forced into a marriage. But the fact remains that we need more females on Drex and more in our academy. Too many of our instructors are not mated. If they do take tributes, they usually leave their posts.”

“So, the exchange will become more of an acquisition program?”

Zoran gave me a curt nod. “In a way, yes, but only in the sense that our goal will be to provide such a beneficial experience at the Academy to the humans that they will not wish to leave. Most importantly, the captain cannot know. If Earth knew that our objective was to lure their best female officers, they may not be as willing to send them.”

“Why would he know this?” I did not add that if I had not known, I doubted the human would findout.

“Because he requested to return with Captain Douglas, and we cannot let that happen.”

He had requested to take Fiona back with him? My stomach tightened as I fisted my hands by my sides. “No, we cannot.”

Chapter

Forty-Six

Fiona

Iwasn’t trying to avoid the captain, but I did not see him the next morning at breakfast or in the corridors. By the afternoon, curiosity was eating at me.

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