Page 29 of Maar's Girl

His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of the man I thought I knew. "I never lied about how I feel about you."

I look away, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. Part of me wants to believe him, but the wounds are too fresh, the betrayal too deep.

"Let's just find somewhere to rest," I mutter, pushing away from the table.

We locate a small hotel near the docking bays, renting a room for our layover. As soon as the door closes behind us, the weight of everything crashes down on me. I sink onto the bed, burying my face in my hands.

"Why me?" I ask, my voice muffled. "Of all the people in the galaxy, why did it have to be me?"

I feel the bed shift as Maar sits beside me. His hand hovers over my shoulder, hesitating.

"Alyssa, I?—"

I jerk away, nearly falling off the bed in my haste to put distance between us. "Don't touch me!"

Maar's face contorts with pain, but I can't bring myself to care. My skin crawls at the thought of his hands on me, hands that have killed, hands that were meant to end my life.

"I'm sorry," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never meant for any of this to happen."

I laugh, a harsh, bitter sound that scrapes my throat raw. "Oh, you never meant for it to happen? Well, that makes everything better, doesn't it?"

He reaches for me again, and I scramble backward, my back hitting the wall. "I said don't touch me!"

Maar's hand drops to his side, defeat etched into every line of his face. "Alyssa, please. I know I've hurt you, but you have to believe me when I say I'm trying to protect you now."

"Protect me?" I spit the words like venom. "You were sent to kill me, Maar. How am I supposed to believe anything you say?"

He runs a hand through his hair, frustration radiating off him in waves. "Because if I wanted you dead, you would be. I've had plenty of opportunities."

His words hit me like a physical blow, and I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold. "That's not as comforting as you seem to think it is."

Maar stands, pacing the small room like a caged animal. "I know. I know this is all fucked up. But Alyssa, you have to understand. The moment I met you, everything changed. I couldn't go through with it."

I close my eyes, trying to block out his words, his presence, the conflicting emotions warring inside me. "Just... just leave me alone. Please."

He sighs.

"I can't blame you," he says. "I'll keep watch outside the door. Get some rest."

I hear the door click shut behind Maar, and I'm finally alone with my thoughts. The silence in the room is deafening, broken only by the distant hum of the station's life support systems. I slide down the wall, hugging my knees to my chest, and let out a shaky breath.

"What a mess," I whisper to myself, my voice barely audible.

My mind races, replaying every moment I've spent with Raaj—no, Maar. The tender kisses, the passionate nights, the quiet conversations. Was any of it real? Or was it all just part of his act?

Somewhere along the way, I fall asleep.

CHAPTER 21

MAAR

"Passengers whose final destination is Glimner must report to Customs," the voice over Glimner station says as we disembark from the star liner.

The last leg of our journey was uneventful.

I look at Alyssa.

"First time on Glimner?" I ask.

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