Page 24 of Pact with the Alien Devil

“Lieutenant,” he greeted, his expression grave. “I received your report.”

“The attack was coordinated, sir. These weren’t random scavengers.”

Alkard nodded. “Your suspicions are confirmed. The Black Spikes are making a direct move against us. They’re trying to undermine our operations across the sector.”

His eyes narrowed. “The Black Spikes have been expanding their influence across three systems,” Alkard continued. “They’ve been recruiting our people, undermining ouroperations. This isn’t just about territory anymore—it’s about survival.”

Well. That was interesting. The Spikes were a rising power, but I hadn’t expected such a direct challenge.

“We have a lead,” Alkard continued. “An informant on Velaxis Prime has information about the traitor within our ranks. You are to intercept and extract what they know.”

“Velaxis Prime is in active conflict,” I noted.

“Which makes it the perfect place to hide.” Alkard’s expression hardened. “This takes priority over the current shipment. Secure what you have, then proceed immediately.”

“Understood.”

Alkard leaned closer to the transmission pickup, his voice dropping. “Trust no one, Lieutenant. Not even the ones closest to you.”

The transmission ended before I could respond, leaving me alone in the corridor with the weight of his warning. The irony wasn’t lost on me—I was already trusting Iria Jann far more than I should.

I returned to the cockpit. Iria glanced up as I entered but didn’t speak, letting me break the silence first.

“We have a change of destination,” I announced. “Velaxis Prime.”

Her hands paused over the controls. “Velaxis Prime? You really know how to pick vacation spots.”

“We have an informant there. Someone with information about who set us up.”

“And let me guess—it can’t wait.” She sighed, inputting the new coordinates. “No problem. I love visiting war zones. Really brightens my day.”

I watched her closely as she worked, noting the efficient movements of her hands, the way she muttered quick calculations under her breath. She was clever. Loyal, despitehaving every reason not to be. And something else I couldn’t define—something that kept drawing my attention when it should have remained focused elsewhere.

“This situation wasn’t what I meant in our original deal,” I found myself saying.

“Is that your way of offering me a bonus?” She shot me a sidelong glance.

“If that’s what it takes.”

“Careful, Lieutenant. That almost sounded like negotiation. You’ll ruin your reputation.” She finished the calculations and looked up at me. “Ready when you are.”

TheStarfalljumped into hyperspace with a lurch, stars stretching into streaks of light around us. Velaxis Prime was hours away, giving me too much time with my thoughts—thoughts increasingly occupied by the human woman sitting beside me and the danger of the bond forming between us.

IRIA

Istared out the cockpit viewport, watching hyperspace flow past. My mug sat cold next to me, forgotten after the first sip. The ship hummed around me, vibrations through the pilot’s seat as comfortable and familiar as an old sweater. But right now, nothing felt right. Nothing felt normal.

My fingers traced the edge of the control panel, rubbing over a spot worn smooth from years of the same nervous habit.

“One month. Just survive one month.” The words fell flat in the empty cockpit.

I’d said that phrase like a mantra since I’d made the deal with Korvan. Back when he was just a dangerous Vinduthi enforcer who owned my contract. Back before I’d seen him bleed. Before he’d saved my life. Before his hand had lingered on mine in the galley, the heat from his skin searing into me.

Why did that moment keep replaying in my head? The slight softening around his eyes. The hesitation before he pulled away.

“He’s a Vinduthi,” I reminded myself. “Cold. Ruthless. Deadly.”

The kind of man who killed without remorse. The kind of alien that most humans only saw in nightmares or on wanted bulletins.

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