Page 30 of Alien Knight Teddy Bear Troubles

“I do not know. My Knights and I have not seen a Lumerian female in nearly two thousand years. I believe there are a few with Falden.”

Wow. And she thoughtherdating life back on Earth was tough. “I’m sorry.”

“The universe is neither kind nor forgiving, Cassie. But I serve those I love with no regrets.”

“So do I.”

“We are warriors, mate. Your heart and mine honor the same vows. Your duty and mine are to serve different masters. I understand this now. Take this ship and go. We will cover your escape as well as make sure Ion and your companions make it to safety. Marcano is taking a decoy route, but they should arrive on Earth a few days after your return.”

She shoved theactivation crystalinto her pocket and zipped the small compartment closed so there would be no mistakes. “Thank you, Taeger.”

“It is my honor.”

The tears fell freely this time and he lifted his thumbs to wipe them from her cheeks before pulling her close one last time.

“This stinks. You know that, right?” she mumbled into his chest.

“Were circumstances different, I would never let you go.”

He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. The kiss was soft at first. Gentle. But she was hurting and she didn’t want gentle. She wanted fire to burn away her tears. If this was the last time she saw him, she wanted him to feel her love, even if she didn’t dare declare it. Telling him now would be unfair, an extra burden on him when he was already prepared to sacrifice so much.

She kissed him hard. Deep. Devoured him like this was the last kiss she would ever give.

Perhaps it would be.

Chapter Eleven

Mora Five, Ship Launching Bay

Her kiss scorchedhis soul and made his legs weak. He did not want to leave her.

Ever.

Taeger leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, their breath mingling as he let the ache squeezing his chest grow and consume him. She was worth this moment, this agony. He had no choice, he had to let her go. Cassie wasn’t his, not really. She belonged to her people, to the oaths she’d taken as a warrior of Earth. Duty and honor were as elemental to her being as they were to his own and that part of her made him love her even more.

Love. That was a word he’d not thought to feel for a woman again. Not like this.

Not this feeling that he’d gut himself with his own sword to protect her if that’s what she needed.

It was not. What she needed was to leave him, to finish her mission. To take the ancient weapon back to Earth. He would have to trust the new Caldorian King, Dagan, and Falden Corshival, a knight who had survived and protected one of the royal bloodlines successfully for over two thousand years in hiding, as Taeger and his knights had with Ion.

There were strong warriors on Earth. Not the least of whom pressed her warm body the length of his. Tangled her fingers in his hair. Held him captive with a gentle touch.

“Taeger.”

“No. Don’t speak. Just go. Get out of here before the fighting starts.”

She shook her head. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

He didn’t answer her. He couldn’t say the words to her now. She had to leave. And he had to stay here and buy time for Ion, Marcano and the others to flee the Dark One’s attack.

He’d kept his eyes closed after the kiss. Breathed in her scent. Absorbed her heat. He’d wanted to live in the moment without revealing the pain he knew she would see in his gaze.

“Taeger.” She tugged at his hair, lifted her lips to his and kissed him hard. Fast.

He opened his eyes and saw identical pain reflected in green eyes...and he broke. Just for a moment, but that was all it took for him to lose control.

Lifting her from the floor of the small fighter ship, he crushed her to the wall as he claimed her mouth. She answered in kind, her fingernails digging into his back as she urged him on, tried to get him closer.

---