Page 46 of Stars in Umbra
‘Naam. You got a problem with that?’
She parted her lips at his growl, then closed them, with nothing to add.
He jerked his chin, a silent command for her to proceed, and she swept past him and into the plenary session.
Yet, even across the vast chamber of the hall, she sensed his gaze on her.
Hot. Possessive. Relentless.
It was almost a physical press on her skin, a constant reminder of his presence, and it left her feeling both comforted and aroused by his unwavering attentiveness.
Some time later, Rina’s data pad vibrated against her thigh as intelligence reports poured into her inbox.
She glanced at her screen.
With a sigh, she skimmed the headlines.
Civilian casualties were rising on both fronts in Falasia and Alloria.
A contingent of Falasian prisoners had ambushed a settlement on the border, and the Allorian uprising following Tyran’s assassination was spreading beyond containment.
Hell, she’d just experienced the wrath of activists, so the issues at hand were severe.
Her stomach clenched.
She toggled her interface, typing rapid-fire reports to Kainan, while also half-listening to the drone of the next speaker outlining advancements in shield harmonics.
By midday, her temples were pounding.
She’d foregone a meal for work, and she didn’t note Kainan’s approach until his shadow fell across her seat during the lunch break.
He cut an imposing figure, even in a room filled with the most prominent military leaders in Pegasi. His chimeric energy was subdued but ever-present, like lightning beneath his skin.
‘Colonel.’
‘Kainan.’
He sat in the chair beside her, his gilded, flaming eyes fixed on her. ‘I’ve just gone through your latest update. It’s getting dicey.’
‘That’s an understatement.’
‘Here’s what I need you to do. Draft a joint statement from the UGM, the Allorian government, and the rebel faction. Call for de-escalation. Immediate ceasefire. Frame it as mutual survival.’
She exhaled, her fingers drumming on the screen of her comm tab. ‘That’ll be a challenge. Achieving consensus between them right now is like asking wolves and lambs to share a meal.’
Kainan’s gaze narrowed, unflinching.
‘’Tis your job, Colonel, as lead peacekeeper, to find common ground. This conflict has torn the veil off Alloria’s shitshow; their freakin’ house is a mess. The government’s fractured, the rebels are desperate, and Pegasi’s watching. They need to let us help them rein in their shit, but we can’t keep shelling out soldiers, armaments, and trillions of credits while they pussyfoot around, arguing semantics.’
He leaned in, his rasp steel-wrapped. ‘They have to fix their house, stat. Make sure they understand this is their last grace period before the wider galaxy loses patience.’
Rina nodded once, resigned to her fate. ‘Understood, sir.’
He gave her a slight smile. ‘Good.’
He rose to leave, but paused, his voice dropping to a softer, warmer tone. ‘You’re one of the smartest military strategists I know. Your work on Dunia during the coup was extraordinary. You transformed chaos into control and guided the coalition army to victory. I need that same magic here. You’re a natural at this.’
Then, with the trace of a simper, he added, ‘Even if you are a pain in my ass. Now finish your meal, Mendi. You require the strength.’
