Page 62 of The Alien's Private Redemption

Her voice was calm, her words measured, and her eyes darted from his face to the people standing behind him.

Seeing her concern, he released his grip on the doctor's shirt, and noticed that his claws had punched through the now wrinkled fabric. Dr. Torres settled some of his weight back on his heels and lifted his hands to straighten a tie that wasn't there. When his hands gripped nothing, they smoothed down the sides of his labcoat and ended in his pockets.

"Hello, Colonel, Dr. Phillips, Ae-cha. I didn't think the meeting was over yet."

"It wasn't," Dr. Phillips said, her words clipped.

"It is now," Zoric said, his voice still holding the menacing growl he'd used on the guard. "And you will explain yourself."

"Colonel," Ae-cha said from behind him. "It might be a good idea to let Private McBride out from her cell for a moment."

"We can't just release the prisoner," Colonel Schuh said.

"The parameters of our assistance has changed," Ae-cha said, her tone casual. "And if you don't want to lose Dr. Torres, you're going to want Private McBride out of her cell very soon."

Zoric felt the air move with whatever gestures the Colonel made, then the cell door slid open, and Angela was at his side. With her hand on his arm, she pulled his attention to her face, and the world stopped.

Her touch sent ripples through his scales, each point of contact spreading warmth that seemed to sink straight into his bones. The rage didn't disappear - it coiled inside him, ready to strike if needed - but her presence gave him the control to choose whether to use it.

He fell into her eyes and felt the small twist of her lips rush through him as though she'd laughed with joy. His scalessoftened where she touched, and he wanted to ask her to run her hands over every inch of him so he could memorize how it felt when she touched him. Then he wanted to do the same for her.

He didn't yet know every inch of her inside and out and that felt like a true tragedy. She was the voice of reason that prevented him from carrying her off to remedy that lack by reminding him that, not only were they still in the cell block, they had an audience. Except, she didn't say anything, just walked into his arms and let their minds rest in the comfort of the others embrace.

"Colonel," Ae-cha said. "I don't know if this adds complications or removes them, but we're going to have to change our approach."

"Obviously," the Colonel said, drily.

"Would one of you care to explain what's going on?" Dr. Phillips demanded.

"It would appear that Zoric and Angela have Bonded," the lizardwoman explained, disdain dripping from her voice. "I'll need to get a closer look but it appears to be recent."

Zoric turned and growled but she blinked placidly back at him.

"This is fascinating," Dr. Torres exclaimed. "Truly fascinating."

"Finding me fascinating is what got you holes in your shirt," Angela said, turning her face so she could address him. Her body was still pressed against Zoric's, her cheek resting on his chest, and his arms were doing their best to cover as much of her body as possible.

He didn't like their audience studying her and turned so the most they could see was her side and the back of her head. He'd have given them his back but he wanted to be able to watch for any possible threats.

"Under ordinary circumstances, I would recommend separating them as quickly as possible," Ae-cha said, and wasinterrupted by a menacing growl from Zoric. "However, as these are not ordinary circumstances, and the Bond appears to have been chosen, I think we're going to have to make new accommodations for the happy couple."

"What kind of accommodations?" Colonel Schuh asked.

At the same time, Dr. Phillips asked. "How can you tell it was chosen?"

Ae-cha decided to answer the second question first. "She's not screaming in terror, and I would recommend private accommodations, outside of the range of projection, Colonel."

"Explain," Colonel Schuh demanded.

"A forced Bond creates discord," Ae-cha explained, her own scales shifting patterns in what might have been discomfort. "The victim's mind fights it, even when their body complies. This..." she gestured at how Angela had molded herself against Zoric, "this is harmony. Their minds are reaching for each other, not pulling away. And I, for one, would rather not be close enough to overhear if they get physically intimate."

Zoric grinned at the lizardwoman and it was the first time he thought she might actually be useful.

"Sir, she's a prisoner," one of the guards said from the door.

Zoric growled but Angela had calmed him enough that it was more of a warning than a true threat.

"It would appear that she is being released into Zoric's custody," Colonel Schuh said, his tone wry. "Though I, too, would like a reasonable explanation as to why."

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