Page 28 of Alien Knight Teddy Bear Troubles

That was it. The last straw.Shewas keeping secrets? She angrily shoved his hand away and took a step backward. His scowl clearly indicated his disapproval.

She scowled right back. “Like you have room to talk. Whoareyou people? These ships don’t look like the rest of the crap I saw scattered around Mora Five. These are war ships. You’ve got weapons and provisions and you all act like a well trained military unit. I know one when I see one. You’re all special ops or a strike team hiding out on this shithole of a planet. You can zap yourselves onto that prison ship, but I’ve spent hours watching some of you walk out of here with dirty cloaks and dirt on your faces to go to town and trade for scraps of food and junk. You are obviously not from Mora Five. You look Caldorian, but you already told me you’re not Caldorian. I didn’t press you about it earlier, but I need to know now. Who, exactly, are you?”

Taeger’s stare made her pulse leap and her lungs fight for air. Still, she stiffened her spine and stared right back. Waited.

Taeger sighed. “There are things I cannot tell you.”

Hands on her hips, she scoffed at his lies. “Can’t or won’t? You don’t trust me, I don’t trust you. So, I guess that’s that.” Heart aching, she wiped her palms together and braced herself for the next phase of her mission, whatever that might be. She absolutely refused to let him see her cry. Clearing her throat of the sudden constriction, she continued, “Since you are evacuating, I’ll need a ship. I’ll take Charlie and Smith and the Black Star and get out of your hair.”

Taeger widened his stance, braced for an argument. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he couldn’t let her walk away like this. He reached for her but the stubborn woman pulled away. He crossed his arms, his mouth set. “No.”

She pointed to a small craft that looked deadly. Loaded with weapons and wicked fast. Fast was more important. Although how the hell one could determine speed in space based on shape, she had no clue. But itlookedfast, operational, and well maintained. That was good enough for her. “I’ll take that one.”

“Cassie, stop.”

His hoarse tone made her swallow hard, her throat swelling closed and her chest aching. Why did she have to care about him? What a mess. She was a mess and she had a job to do, a mission to complete. She would honor her word and her people. They were counting on her to get things done. “I can’t.”

Without warning, Taeger reached out and pulled her into his arms. This time she went willingly, despite her frustration, and sank into his heat, listened to his strong, steady heart beat as her body melted into his.

He placed a kiss on the top of her head and she closed her eyes against the scalding tears she barely held in check. This was horrible. Everything about this mission was horror after nightmare after debacle. Except this. Him. Taeger.

“Come with me, mate.”

There was that word again, and damn her traitorous little heart for leaping at the wordmatecoming from his lips.

Hand in his, she followed as he led her past the ship she’d been eyeing. He passed several ships, finally stopping at another, slightly smaller craft. He opened the door with his palm then settled hers against it. The ship scanned her hand and Taeger pulled her onboard behind him.

The interior was so small, they could not stand shoulder to shoulder along the path that led to the pilot and co-pilot’s chairs. Strapped to the wall behind the co-pilot’s seat was the case containing the Black Star weapon.

She had followed Taeger inside. He now turned to her and she waited, confused. “What is this?”

Taeger flipped a few switches and the ship began to hum in preflight. “Transfer ship command to Captain Cassandra Davis of Earth.”

The ship’s artificial intelligence system was oddly neither masculine nor feminine, but the words were distinct and clear. And in English. “Acknowledged. Welcome aboard, Captain.”

Cassie looked around the controls, pulse pounding, her heart still aching, afraid to hope. To believe what was happening. She’d been preparing herself to steal one if he wouldn’t let her have one. This was so much better. A gift without equal. A tear finally slipped out. “Ship command? What?”

“This, love, is nowyourship. Charlie is already loaded on the evac ship under Marcano’s command. Smith is with him. Marcano is leaving first, taking Prince Ion and my best Knights. I’m sorry, but I don’t trust Smith with the Black Star, Cassie. It’s a weapon of tremendous power, and they obviously think they’ll be able to use it. I trust you to do what’s best for everyone involved. Only you.”

She nodded, her heart overflowing with emotion. Love. Hope. Fear. Determination. “Wait.PrinceIon?”

Teager moved close and put his hands on her hips. They faced one another and she knew the time had come for a reckoning. For both of them. “Ion is the last of his bloodline, a royal prince of Lumeria.”

“Lumeria? I’ve never heard of it. Are you saying that’s where you’re from?”

“Yes. Two thousand years ago, our planet was destroyed. We scattered across the universe, hunted and in hiding. I was tasked by Ion’s father with keeping his son and heir safe. Ion was placed in a cryogenic sleep state for as long as I deemed necessary to ensure his safety. He’s been here, awake, with us for two of your Earth years, but his memories of the old world are fresh. He misses his parents and our world.”

“Wait. Two thousand years?” Cassie couldn’t control her expression. She tried. She really did, but some things defied the imagination. Her brows shot up in surprise. Fascination. Awe.

“Yes.” He leaned down, kissed her gently on the lips. “I am not what I appear to be. I am very old, Cassie. An ancient among my own people.”

Mind spinning, she stared up at him as he continued.

“There is another like me on Earth. He is a Lumerian Knight tasked with protecting another of our royal bloodlines. His name is Falden Corshival, and he and his people have been hiding with King Dagan of Caldor for almost as long as I’ve been protecting Ion.”

“There are Lumerians on Earth? Not just Caldorians?”

“Yes. Our technology is more advanced than what King Dagan possesses. Our Knights move about unseen. Our weapons are more powerful. Our duty is to protect the royal bloodlines. We have no interest in Earth, other than as a place to hide.”

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