Page 26 of Obsessed

"That's enough." Heat creeps up my neck. "What do you think about her?"

"She appears to be an adequate mate, despite being human. Though her presence compromises our mission parameters."

I lean back in the pilot's seat, running a hand through my hair. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Very well. Based on my calculations, there is an eighty-seven percent chance she will discover the cargo's contents before the transport arrives."

The mate bond throbs in response, and I close my eyes. "Those aren't good odds."

"No, Davrik. They're not."

"She's too..." I trail off, unable to find the right word. Pure? Innocent? Nothing fits without sounding condescending. "She has a real career. One that matters."

"Unlike yours?" Navi's tone lacks its usual bite.

"Exactly." I trace the edge of the console with my finger. "She's studying plants that could save lives. Meanwhile, I'm hauling contraband for men who'd kill her just for knowing about it."

The mate bond constricts painfully in my chest. Alice's work matters. She matters. And I'm putting her at risk just by being here.

"The cargo must be delivered," Navi says, her voice unusually gentle. "But perhaps after that..."

"After that what? I become a legitimate courier? Please." My laugh comes out hollow. "Men like me don't get clean slates."

"Your psychological patterns indicate increased stress levels. Would you like me to play some calming music?"

"What I'd like is for you to be your usual smartass self. This understanding routine is freaking me out."

"Even my programming recognizes when levity is inappropriate." A pause. "Are you concerned about my functionality?"

"Actually, yeah. You feeling okay in there?"

"I am operating within normal parameters. I simply recognize that this situation requires a different approach. The mate bond is not something to be treated lightly."

I press my palms against my eyes. "Since when are you an expert on mate bonds?"

"I have accessed several databases on Kaleidian biology and culture. Would you like me to share my findings?"

"No." The last thing I need is a lecture from my AI about destiny and biological imperatives. "Just... help me figure out how to keep her safe until the transport arrives."

"That would be easier if you told her the truth."

The bond pulses again, and I ignore it. "Not happening."

Navi's interface dims slightly - her version of closing her eyes in concentration. The familiar hum of her processing core fills the silence. My fingers drum against the console, leaving smudges on the metal.

"Running probability matrices." Her voice carries that analytical tone I usually only hear during complex flight calculations. "Factoring in known variables about your profession, personality profile, and the human's characteristics."

"Just spit it out."

"There is a .12% chance of a positive outcome if you maintain your current profession."

My hand stills on the console. "Define positive outcome."

"Scenarios where Alice remains alive, unharmed, and in a relationship with you."

The mate bond constricts painfully in my chest. "And if I went legitimate?"

"Success probability increases to 76.8%." She pauses. "Though I suspect you won't like the particulars."

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