Page 26 of Her Alien Guardian

I tried desperately to banish the inappropriate thoughts, but they clung stubbornly to the edges of my mind. The elegant cut of Gamma’s frock coat only served to emphasize his powerful physique, and I found my eyes drawn to the way the fabricstretched across his broad chest. His large blue hands looked strong yet oddly graceful, and I couldn’t help but imagine how they might feel against my skin.

The hubbub of the refugee center faded into the background as I stood transfixed, lost in Gamma’s calm gaze. The air between us seemed to crackle with an electric tension that I couldn’t explain. I was acutely aware of every breath, every subtle shift of his body. The scent of him—a blend of something crisp and clean with an underlying muskiness that was uniquely alien—filled my senses, making me lightheaded.

Time seemed to stretch and warp around us. I knew I should say something, anything, to break the spell that had fallen over us. But words failed me, my tongue feeling thick and clumsy in my mouth. I could only stand there, trembling slightly, as unwelcome, unbecoming desire continued to build within me.

My body felt like a coiled spring, tension singing through every nerve. My nipples had hardened to tight peaks, pressing almost painfully against the fabric of my gown. The slickness between my thighs was becoming impossible to ignore, and I shifted uncomfortably, trying to ease the ache that was building there.

The silence between us grew heavy, pregnant with unspoken possibilities. I saw something flicker in Gamma’s eyes—a hint of hunger, perhaps, or understanding. Did he know the effect he was having on me? Could he sense the confusion of emotions warring within me—fear, excitement, shame, and a desperate, aching need I couldn’t begin to understand?

Just when I thought I might combust from the intensity of the moment, Alpha’s deep voice cut through the tension.

“We should accompany Tessara to see the Prosperian magistrate,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “They can begin the asylum process for her.”

I let out a shaky breath, both relieved and oddly disappointed by the interruption.

Alpha’s words seemed to break the spell that had fallen over us. I blinked, coming back to myself with a rush of embarrassment. How long had I stared at Gamma like some lovestruck fool? The noises of the refugee center crashed back over me, making me flinch.

Sala’s gentle hand on my arm steadied me as we made our way through the crowd. Alpha’s imposing presence again cleared a path before us, the sea of refugees and officials parting instinctively before his regal bearing. Gamma fell into step beside me, making me acutely aware of his closeness. The occasional brush of his arm against mine in the press of the crowd sent jolts of electricity through my body.

We approached a large circular desk in the center of the vast room, the hub of frantic activity, with harried-looking officials bent over glowing screens and stacks of data pads. Holograms flickered above the workstations, displaying an endless wealth of information whose nature I could hardly guess.

Alpha stepped forward, his deep voice cutting through the din. “I am Captain Alpha of the Magisterian starfleet,” he announced, his tone brimming with authority. “I require immediate assistance for this young woman seeking asylum.”

The effect was instantaneous. Heads snapped up, eyes widening as they took in Alpha’s impressive form. A flurry of whispersrippled through the assembled workers, and I caught snatches of awed murmurs.

“The hero of the Vionian campaign…”

“…single-handedly turned the tide of the war…”

“…they say he can bend space itself…”

A tall, thin man with salt-and-pepper hair hurried over, his crisp uniform marking him as a senior official. He bowed deeply to Alpha, his voice filled with deference. “Captain Alpha, it is an honor. I am Magistrate Thorne. How may we be of service?”

Alpha gestured to me, his large blue hand gentle on my shoulder. “This is Tessara. She was rescued from a Vionian warship and seeks asylum on Prosperia.”

I felt my cheeks burn as all eyes turned to me. The weight of their gazes made me want to shrink into myself, to disappear entirely. But Sala’s reassuring presence at my side and Gamma’s steady gaze gave me strength. I straightened my spine, lifting my chin as I’d seen Sala do.

Magistrate Thorne’s eyes softened as he looked at me, a mix of compassion and curiosity in his gaze. “Of course,” he said gently. “We’ll begin the process immediately. Please, come with me.”

He led us to a quieter alcove off to the side, where a holographic interface sprang to life at his touch. I watched in fascination as he manipulated the glowing symbols, my file taking shape before my eyes.

“Now then,” Thorne said, his fingers dancing over the keys. “You wish to apply for female citizenship, I take it?”

CHAPTER 15

Tessara

“Female?” I asked, feeling my forehead knit in confusion.

Sala helped me. “Prosperian women have a different set of rights from Prosperian men,” she murmured.

I swallowed hard, trying to fit the idea into everything else I’d seen and heard of Prosperia. I nodded. “Yes, sir,” I answered.

A small smile played across the magistrate’s lips.

“She’s respectful, at least,” he said. “That’s always a good sign. Very well.”

Magistrate Thorne’s fingers flew over the interface.

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