Page 40 of Resisting the Alien Commander

“Can I help you?”

There’s no intercom button or anything for me to push, so I hope he can hear me without it. “Um, hi. I’m looking for Commander Horek, please.”

“Enter and I’ll let him know you’re here.”

The monitor goes black and a disengaging lock sound comes from the doors. I grab the handle and pull. It easily opens and I step inside to a lobby area. On one wall are framed pictures of various Bohnari men. Copper nameplates are centered along the bottom of each one and I walk down the line, studying them. Every male showcased here has the title of Commander. I reach the last one and sure enough, it’s Horek.

His long hair is tied back and the tight-fitting black, sleeveless shirt he wears displays his rounded, muscular shoulders and bulging biceps to perfection. The only thing missing in the picture are the dark scales I noticed while he was burning up from the mating fever. Is that another one of the side effects?

“Quinn?” The familiar gravelly voice comes from behind me. “What are you doing here?”

I turn to find Horek standing there with a stunned expression. His skin darkens to a deeper shade of copper and there’s a flicker of light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Is the fever hitting him again? A sudden case of nerves hit me now that I’m here and my mind goes blank. Shit, whatamI doing here? Oh, yeah. I came here to figure out this thing between us and what it means. I swallow.

“Sorry to show up unannounced. If you’re busy, I can come back another time.” I’m offering him the perfect out that a part of me prays he takes.

He shakes his head. “I’m not busy. Is everything okay?”

I shift from one foot to the other. “Yeah, it’s fine. I was just, um, wondering if we could go talk somewhere? In private?”

“Of course. Follow me.” He waits until I’m within reach before he turns and heads down one of the hallways that branches off the lobby.

The silence feels a bit awkward, but I don’t break it. Not yet. I’m still rehearsing what to say in my head. I keep changing the words even though once it’s time, I’ll forget whatever I planned on saying anyway. Lining the walls of the hall are doors spaced evenly apart. They’re all closed so I can’t begin to guess what’s behind them. Personal rooms of the guards maybe?

We turn down another corridor. This one is not even a fraction of the length of the others and there’s only a single door. Horek comes to a stop in front of it and lays his palm on a bioscanner. A teal light scans its length and the door opens. He gestures for me to go first, and with only a single glance, I can tell we’re in living quarters.Hisliving quarters. The fluttery sensation starts up in my belly, but I ignore it and just stand in the middle of the seating area.

Horek closes the door and the space that felt large seconds ago shrinks. Although it’s just my imagination, I’m almost struggling to take a breath. Like he’s taken all the air with him.

“Quinn?” He cocks his head and his stare intensifies, but he doesn’t move any closer.

I chuckle, the sound more uncomfortable than natural. I could swear I see actual flames burning in his eyes, but they can’t be real. “Right, sorry. Tell me more about the mating fever and this plant you take to calm it.”

Horek blinks like my request has surprised him as much as my visit itself has. “Perhaps it would be best if we sat.”

“Probably.” Since the only piece of furniture is a couch, I sit at one end of it.

He takes the other end, and despite the distance between us, I can still feel the heat radiating off him. “What would you like to know?”

Everything. But that’s a broad scope, I suppose. “How about we start with the fact that this plant you trade for is used to keep your mating fever at bay, right? Then why isn’t it working for you?”

Might as well get straight to the heart of the matter.

Chapter20

Horek

It became clear after our encounter at the botanical garden that Quinn was avoiding me. So I cannot be more shocked to find her not only at my door, but seated within my living quarters asking me about the mating fever.

“Perhaps you should tell me first what it is you were told. That way I don’t explain something you already know.” This will give me time to gather my thoughts, but she’s shaking her head.

“Nope. I want to hear everything from you, even if Bannik mentioned it previously.”

Her response confirms he’s the one who told her. I should punish him for speaking of that which he shouldn’t have. Maybe a few extra patrol shifts will remind him to keep his mouth closed. I won’t, though, because as much as I wish otherwise, itisthe females’ right to understand the type of males they will become a bride to. They are part of our people now.

“Are you trying to come up with some fabricated story?” Quinn interrupts my inner thoughts. “Or trying to avoid answering me?”

“My apologies.” I incline my head. “I was merely reminding myself that, as a future bride, you have the right to answers.”

“Oh. Yes, I do.”

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