Page 25 of Krin

“I will always forgive you. But there is nothing to forgive in this case.”

My heart filled with joy. I blinked back tears that stung the backs of my eyelids. All the stress and isolation that had been weighing on me since boarding the ship disappeared.

We’d finally shared our feelings. The possibility of us being together now seemed more real. Finding myself in this situation with Krin was beyond anything I had ever imagined.

I raised my gaze to him once more. “You never told me why you were looking for me. I assumed it was to tell me it was time to leave because we reached the colony. I guess I was wrong.”

He cleared his throat. “I came to inform you we intercepted a Krilex ship that was leaving Novara with female captives.”

My eyes widened. “Oh. My god. Are they okay?”

“Yes. The Krilex did not manage to get far with them. We are returning them to the human settlement,” he reassured.

A whirlwind of memories from the time of my abduction until now raced through my mind. Thankful, I expressed my gratitude to whatever divine being sent Krin to save me. “It’s a good thing I don’t want to be dropped off at the colony.”

Krin’s lips pursed. “I would not have let you leave.”

Not content to leave things alone for now, I spoke. “You asked if I would be happy if I didn’t join the crew right away. Does that mean you will consider allowing me to join the crew at some point?” Of course, I wanted to be with Krin,andI wanted to remain on the ship. I just wasn’t sure that in the long term I would be fulfilled if I didn’t have a job to do.

Instead of being upset or annoyed, Krin grimaced before speaking. “Yes. I need time to adjust to the idea. Riley, it’s important for you to grasp that working in space is different from working on your planet’s Moon. Protectorate ships offer a very different experience. There are many dangers out here. You may be able to look after yourself, but if anything were to happen to you...” he ran his hands through his short hair as his voice tapered off.

His reluctance to let me work on the Chetok made sense to me at last. He wasn’t refusing to give me a job because he thought me weak or incapable. It was Krin’s need to protect me as his mate, that stopped him. I understood there would be more danger out here. That was to be expected.

However, I was determined not to be held back by fear. The mere idea of something happening to Krin made my stomach churn with anxiety. It wasn’t something I ever wanted to face either, so I understood.

“Look, I’m not asking to go out there and fight aliens ten times larger than me. I’m just asking for something to do on the ship. Somewhere that fits my work experience.”

A tiny, relieved smile graced his lips. “Do you have any idea what you would like to do?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I mean, I am good with infiltration, and accessing technology.”

Krin chuckled. “I know.”

My cheeks burned. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”

He waved it off. “No harm done.”

I bit my lip before quickly adding, “I’d like to know more about the positions available on the Chetok. Ones that keep me strictly on the ship of course.”

He grinned. “Of course.”

9

Krin

WHILE WALKING AWAY, I discreetly adjusted my deflating erection, desperately trying to shift my focus away from the blissful memory of our shared kisses.

Having Riley’s body against mine fed the intense need inside me to want to claim her right there in the training ring. My cock stirred in my pants recollecting how perfect she felt in my arms. Her sweet feminine scent mixed with arousal. The tender fullness of her lips pressed against mine.

Gods, I was glad she was mine.

Yet the thought that someone could unexpectedly stumble upon us made me pause. My claiming of Riley had to be perfect. When I mated with my K’sha for the first time, it would be in my bed. Not on the training room floor. Now was not the time to act on my desires. The time would come for me to claim my delicious fated mate.

When I had gone searching for my K’sha, I used the internal sensors to locate her.

Knowing she was a warrior I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Riley in the training ring. What did annoy me was seeing Aza with her when I should have been the one training with her.

The entire situation could have been prevented if I had gone to her sooner. Avoiding my K’sha was a mistake I needed to correct. A decision I regretted, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

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