Page 25 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"Hard to tell. Maybe half a day's journey?"

I nodded, scanning the terrain ahead. The land had changed dramatically since the storm—new fissures in the earth, vegetation withered in patches. Hammond's experiments were accelerating the planet's destabilization.

"We'll need to be cautious," I said. "The ground is unstable."

Claire's markings pulsed steadily now, the chaos temporarily tamed. "I can sense the weak spots. If I concentrate."

"Good. Use the technique I showed you. Maintain that connection to the ground."

She shot me a look. "So touching is only acceptable when it's training?"

The directness of her question caught me off guard. "Claire?—"

"No, I get it. The purpose comes first." She adjusted her pack on her shoulders. "Let's go."

I watched her start down the slope, her movements more controlled than before. The grounding technique was working. That should have been enough.

But the memory of her in my arms, the taste of her lips, the way her markings had flared silver-bright at my touch—these things followed me as I fell into step behind her.

The bond between us pulled like a physical tether. Each step away from her required effort. Each moment not touching her felt wrong.

But wrong was exactly what it was. I had a duty to my people, to the council. Claire was unpredictable, human, and temporary in my world.

The kiss had been a mistake.

A mistake I couldn't stop thinking about.

Claire paused ahead, crouching to examine something on the ground. Her markings cast a soft glow on her skin in the shadow of a rock outcropping. The silver light pulsed in a steady rhythm now—the rhythm I had taught her.

Pride mingled with something deeper, more possessive. I had helped her find balance. My teaching, my touch had steadied her chaos.

I approached, keeping a careful distance. "What is it?"

"Tracks." She pointed to indentations in the soil. "Not animal. Too regular."

I knelt beside her, examining the marks. "Hammond's people. Recent."

"How recent?"

"Hours, not days." I touched the soil, feeling its consistency. "A patrol, most likely."

Claire's jaw set in determination. "We're close then."

"Yes." I rose, scanning the horizon. "We'll need to adjust our approach. Stay low, use the terrain for cover."

She nodded, all business now. Our bond hummed with shared purpose, the awkwardness temporarily set aside.

"I can sense their tech more clearly now," she said. "It's... wrong somehow. Corrupted."

"Hammond is manipulating energies he doesn't understand."

"Like me?" A hint of vulnerability crept into her voice.

I met her eyes. "No. You're connected to the planet naturally. Hammond forces connections, twists them to his purpose."

"But I'm still dangerous. Unstable."

"You're learning." I hesitated, then added, "You're stronger than you know."

---