Page 54 of Alien Protector's Mate

His expression tightened as he looked at Z’yan.

“I found old scars and breaks. Whoever she’s running from,” he said, his voice low and intense. “They abused her for years and years.”

Fire flashed in the big security chief’s eyes, and he reached out a hand to squeeze S’aad’s shoulder. “We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

He nodded, feeling the weight of exhaustion and this new burden settling on his shoulders. “What do we do now?”

Z’yan’s expression softened slightly. “For now, we wait. She needs to recover. When she’s well enough, we’ll question her. Gently,” he added as S’aad whipped his head up. “But thoroughly. We need answers, S’aad.”

“I know,” S’aad whispered, his heart heavy. He thought of Jay—or whoever she truly was—lying vulnerable in the medical bay. The door behind them slid open as the healers moved Jay through to recovery. One look at her pale face, and he knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Find out what you can and keep me updated,” he ordered and turned to follow Jay into recovery, tucked away in a private room at the back of the main medical bay.

He settled into a chair beside her bed and studied her face. Without the baggy clothes and careful posture, it was glaringly obvious she was female. Her features, soft in sleep, were so delicate and beautiful that they tugged at something deep in his chest. The pull he’d felt toward Jay was just as strong now that he knew she was female, and he suddenly realized it wouldn’t have mattered what gender she was. He’d fallen for the person Jay was… whoever she might turn out to be.

He reached out, his hand hovering just above hers. He wanted to touch her, to offer comfort, but he hesitated. Did he have that right? After all, he’d failed to protect her. He’d been blind to her true identity, to the danger she was in. He might as well have thrown her across that reception hall himself.

A soft whimper escaped Jay’s lips, her brow furrowing in pain or fear. Without thinking, he took her hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin.

“I’m here,” he murmured. “You’re safe now. I promise.”

As if she’d heard him, her expression relaxed, and her breathing evened out. A lump formed in his throat. He didn’t know who she really was or what secrets she held. But one thing he was sure of. She was his, and he would keep her safe…

No matter the cost.

17

Jade drifted lazily through layers of warmth, feeling safe and protected. Since she’d rarely felt either in her life, part of her brain knew she was asleep. But she didn’t care. She was warm, comfortable… she wanted to stay exactly where she was. Especially as, for long blissful moments, she was back in that tiny bed she’d shared with Jared as children, her brother’s arms wrapped around her in a fierce hug.

Her breath caught in her throat. It felt so real. From the musty smell of their shared pillow to the scratchiness of the old blanket and right through to Jared’s hair tickling against her cheek. He’d always been sickly, smaller than her, but she hadn’t cared. He was her twin. Her brother. He was all she had in the world.

Her heart ached with longing as she became more aware, new noises breaking into the sanctuary of her dream, and she tried desperately to hold on to it. To hold on to the memory of Jared’s ragged breathing as he leaned against her in sleep.

She squeezed her eyes shut as the dream faded. She was still warm and comfortable, but the weight of Jared leaning against her was gone.

It had been so long since she’d felt any kind of love or care. The Morgans had seen to that. They’d crushed any spark of joy or self-worth she had in the years after Jared had died. They’d even refused to talk about him, banned her from mentioning his name. In her darkest moments, she’d even wondered if she’d imagined having a brother… if perhaps her memories had been colored by desperation and loneliness.

A deep voice cut through her thoughts, rich and amused. “You look like a little mouse, all burrowed into your nest.”

Her eyes snapped open, her heart leaping into her throat as the events of the past days came crashing back.

Devan Station.

S’aad.

The confrontation with M’lak in the LMP offices.

She bolted upright, sheets tangling around her legs as she gasped, “Ohmygod, S’aad! M’lak… Did you stop him? He was trying to drag Stacey away!”

S’aad sat in a chair beside the bed. His lips curved into a gentle smile as he inclined his head, the beads in his hair clicking together. “Yes,kelarris, we stopped him. He’s been arrested. He won’t hurt any other females.”

Relief flooded through her, and she sagged back against the pillows. But when she looked at Saad again, he was watching her like a hawk, his expression serious and intent.

“We need to talk, Jay,” he rumbled, sitting forward in his chair. “You have some explaining to do.”

Her throat went dry. She nodded jerkily, dropping her gaze to where she was twisting her hands in her lap. The silence stretched out into long seconds. When she gathered the courage to sneak a glance at him again, she found his gaze was still locked on her.

She resisted the need to squirm, feeling exposed without her baggy clothes… and hyperaware of every curve and bit of softness.

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