Page 11 of Primal Bond

Chapter five

Zanik sat in the bridge of the Ironclad, the ship's controls and screens casting a dim, cold light. The hum of the engines thrummed around him, a constant purr to ground him.

His thoughts, however, were far from the mechanical precision of his vessel.

They were fixated on the human boy locked in his quarters.

Finn had been a thorn in his side since he arrived, all defiance and rebellious fire. Every glance from those expressive brown eyes had been a challenge, every movement an act of resistance. But after his strange request, something had shifted. Zanik couldn't shake the unease that had settled over him like a dark cloud.

After begging to stay, the human had suddenly become obedient, eager even. He followed orders without a word of protest, his defiant gaze replaced by one of strange determination. It was as if the fire had been replaced by something cold — but that still burned.

Zanik's eyes narrowed. What had changed? The boy had spent so long trying to escape, failing in ways that should have sapped his spirit, but never did.

Yet now, he begged to stay.

Zanik leaned back in his seat, his fingers drumming on the armrest. Finn had refused to say why he wanted to stay. He'd looked cagey, preoccupied. The sudden shift had left Zanik both annoyed and confused. Why would someone who had been so desperate to leave suddenly choose to stay?

His mind wandered back to the conversation with Kelara. He had mentioned sending Finn away, a casual comment that had clearly not been as casual to the boy. Could it be that the mention of selling him had triggered this change?

Well, that didn't matter. Journey 5 was approaching. Soon, Finn would be someone else's problem.

Zanik pushed himself up from the bridge chair, his muscles stiff from piloting the craft. He navigated through the narrow corridors of the Ironclad, his boots echoing softly against the metal floors.

The familiar scent of steel filled his nostrils, grounding him in the present. Despite the ship’s sprawling layout, every corner felt like an extension of his being, every creak and hum a part of his existence.

His thoughts, however, kept drifting back to his quarters — or rather, the quarters that now housed Finn. He had never cared much for personal space, treating his room as just a place to rest his head. Yet, the fact that he had to give it up for the human grated on him more than he anticipated. Each step closer to the room deepened his annoyance, the idea of Finn in his bed gnawing at him.

It felt… wrong. There was something unsettling about it.

Too close. Too personal.

Zanik stopped outside the door, taking a moment to compose himself. He drew a deep breath, then pressed the panel to open it. The door slid aside, revealing Finn sprawled on the bed, looking surprisingly at ease. The sight jarred Zanik. The boy was always trying to escape, always scheming. But now, he lay there, quiet, not even a hint of rebellion in his posture.

“Still here, I see.”

Finn glanced up, his eyes meeting Zanik’s icy stare. “Yeah. No plans to run tonight.”

Zanik’s eyes narrowed. “Convenient.”

Finn sat up, crossing his legs. “Look, I told you. I want to stay.”

“And why should I believe you?”

Finn shrugged, a casual motion that set Zanik’s teeth on edge. “Because it's true.”

Humans, Zanik thought.They're so untrustworthy.

His gaze fixed on Finn, sprawled on the bed —hisbed — appearing compliant. The human’s slender frame and tousled sandy brown hair contrasted sharply with the muscular, golden-skinned Borraq. Where Borraq had horns and a rugged physique, Finn was all lean lines and soft skin.

Small, slender — it was attractive in a strange, alien way.

Finn's eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, Zanik saw a mix of challenge and something deeper — something he couldn't quite place. Finn’s brown eyes held a depth and warmth that was foreign to Zanik. It was a warmth that could disarm and deceive, he reminded himself.

Was this Finn's scheme? To seduce him? The thought seemed ludicrous, yet Zanik couldn't entirely dismiss it. It was more subtle than he would expect from someone who had tried to escape so blatantly.

Zanik couldn't shake the memory of his final escape attempt. They'd been navigating the corridors of the Ironclad when Finnhad made his move. The boy had lunged with surprising speed, fingers outstretched towards the blade strapped to Zanik's hip.

Instinct had kicked in. Zanik had grabbed Finn, twisting his arm and pinning him against the cold metal wall in one fluid motion. Their faces had been inches apart, and for a brief moment, despite his genetic modification, Zanik had caught the human's scent.

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