Page 9 of Protected By the Alien Knight

An uneasy sensation churns in my gut. “I’m not certain it’s wise to move An—the ambassador again, given the circumstances.”

“I will not ask again, Cruxian. I pray you’re not letting your... distractions get in the way of your duties, again, Knight.” With that, the line goes dead, and I curse aloud.

“What’s going on?” Annie’s tone is sharp with worry, and I hate that I’m the cause. I need to tell her about my last protection detail—the shame it brings me, and why, because of it, she is safer away from the citadel.

I holster the comm unit and turn to face Annie, guilt and trepidation churning in my gut. She looks at me with a mix of concern and impatience.

“Well? What’s happening?”

I let out a weary sigh and scrub a hand over my face. “The Commander is demanding I return you to the citadelimmediately. Apparently the Planetary Police have a lead on the rebels behind the attacks.”

Annie straightens, her brow furrowing. “Then we should go. The sooner those responsible are brought to justice, the better.”

“It’s not that simple.” My tone is grim. “There are... circumstances that make me question the wisdom of taking you back there.”

Her eyes search mine intently. “What circumstances? Crux, you’re going to have to give me more than vague half-truths.”

The directness of her gaze makes me want to squirm. I’ve kept the truth about my last failed assignment, and my subsequent disgrace, deeply buried for so long. But if I’m going to disobey a direct order and risk exile, not only from the Order but Avenia, she deserves to understand why.

I suck in a steadying breath and plunge ahead. “My previous assignment was protecting a human diplomat—Ambassador Oleg Moskal—and it ended in tragedy. He was assassinated on my watch.”

Annie’s eyes go wide, her hand lifting to cover her parted lips. Recognition flashes in her gaze. “Moskal? From the Vulpexian trade dispute over a decade ago?”

I give a tight nod, jaw clenching as the memories bombard me like shrapnel—the stench of blood, the dull thud of Moskal’s body hitting the ground, a rain-slicked blade glinting in the dim light.

“It was supposed to be a routine visit to finalize the deal. But I got careless, complacent.” Regret laces my tone. “I followed orders blindly instead of trusting my instincts about the potential threats. A mistake I refuse to repeat.”

Annie watches me carefully as I struggle with the ghosts of that fateful night. “I remember hearing about his death. It was before my tenure on the station, but the fallout from losing such a prominent diplomat was severe.”

“There were hints of an inside leak, someone feeding information to the Vulpexian separatist group.” Bitterness sharpens my words. “But the Order dismissed my concerns, insisted I follow protocol instead of adjusting for the dangers.”

I hold her gaze and try to convey the gravity. “I dare not take you back. Back there, I had those same concerns—too many eyes, too much potential for a security breach. I sensed that same curl of danger I ignored once before with Moskal.” My jaw ticks. “I won’t make that mistake again, even if it means defying orders. I won’t risk losing you.”

Understanding dawns in her expressive eyes. For a fleeting moment, her composure slips, showing a glimpse of the weight she carries from her own losses and responsibilities. Then it’s gone, replaced by that unshakable determination I’ve come to admire.

“Then we stay here, away from prying eyes.” Her fingers caress my cheek. “You’re the only one I trust to keep me safe. I’m so sorry, Crux. What happened to Moskal wasn’t your fault. You were just doing your duty as his protector.” Her soft fingers caress my cheek, the tender touch startling me after reliving those haunting memories.

“You don’t understand...” I grit out, self-loathing twisting my gut. “I ignored warning signs. Moskal paid for my negligence with his life.”

“Shhh.” Her thumb brushes soothingly over my cheekbone. “From what I know of that situation, there were layers of deceit beyond your control. You can’t keep carrying this guilt.”

With trembling hands, I pull her against me, burying my face in the sweet-scented cloud of her hair. Annie makes a soft sound, her arms wrapping around my waist as she holds me close.

For a moment, the invisible vice around my heart loosens as I cling to her. Annie was just a fresh-faced recruit when Moskal’s assassination upended the Stellar Together Initiative over adecade ago.Yet she offers me consolation, understanding the fallout in a way few others could.

When I finally pull back, my expression is one of grim resolve. “No matter the consequences, I will not take you into a situation that could put your life at risk. I won’t fail you as I did Moskal.”

Annie studies my face carefully, her fingers still tracing idle patterns across my shoulders and chest. “Then we stay,” she says with finality. Without awaiting my response, she rises onto her tiptoes and presses her lips sweetly to mine.

It’s a chaste kiss, achingly tender, but it somehow fractures the last remnants of my restraint. With a harsh groan torn from deep in my chest, I capture her mouth in a searing, demanding dance. Annie gasps but instantly melts into me, her fingers tangling in my hair as she gives back as good as she gets.

The knot of tension inside me unravels, replaced by the same fevered want that plagued me last night. There is no turning back now from the precipice we’ve reached. For once in my tormented life, I want to follow where this blinding exhilaration leads.Consequences be damned.

Dizzying need propels me forward, my broad hands spanning the downy softness of Annie’s waist. My palms slide down until I’m gripping the lush curves of her backside, hauling her flush against me. We both groan at the intimate contact, the undeniable proof of our arousal straining between us.

“Crux...” Annie gasps out my name like a plea, her nails raking over my scalp with delicious friction.

Her cheeks are flushed a becoming rose hue, eyes heavy-lidded with desire. She has never looked more radiant, more beautiful. I burn to lay her out on the nearest surface and worship every exquisite inch of her body with fervent devotion.

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