Page 18 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien

Fivra’s heart raced. The room felt smaller, the air thick with tension and unspoken truths. “What is it, Glivar?” Cyprian’s voice was steady, but Fivra could hear the underlying note of concern.

Glivar cleared his throat. His gaze fixed on a point just over Fivra’s shoulder. “Something I heard through my sources. Don’t know how true it is.”

Cyprian’s silver eyes narrowed, and his wings twitched slightly—a clear sign of his growing impatience. “Spit it out, Glivar. We haven’t got all cycle.”

The large green male swallowed hard, his fingers nervously clenching and unclenching at his sides. “Rumors, boss. Just rumors, but they’re saying that the Axis… They’re saying that the Axis might be looking to dispose of some of their…assets. Assets connected to recent acquisitions from Falmic-5.”

Fivra’s breath caught in her throat. “Dispose of?” she echoed softly. The word felt like a cold, hard stone settling in the pit of her stomach.

Cyprian’s hand tightened around hers, his gaze never leaving Glivar’s face. “Are you suggesting that the Axis might be planning to…eliminate the Terian females sold at the auction?”

Glivar nodded, his expression grim. “It’s just hearsay at this point, but considering the sensitive nature of the situation, it’s possible they’re trying to cover their tracks. To make sure no one can trace the…the breach in protocol.”

Breach in protocol? Fivra’s mind reeled. It was as if she’d been dropped into the middle of a dangerous and complex game,one where the rules were constantly changing and the stakes were life and death.

Cyprian rose to his full height. His wings unfurled in an obvious display of agitation. “I want you to dig, Glivar. Find out if this is true or a rumor. If the Axis is looking to collect the Terian females that were taken to the auction, they have a reason for it.”

“The Axis gave the raiders permission to abduct us in the first place,” Fivra said.

“They weren’t dealing with a full-scale uprising at the time.” Cyprian shook his head. “Penal colonies rebelling and overthrowing their rule is bad for business.”

“So why not stamp it down?” Glivar asked. “They have the power to do so.”

“Maybe they have more problems than we’re aware of,” Fivra mused, having wondered the same thing. “They might not be as powerful as the impression they give. Or maybe bringing in a huge fleet to put down one small colony would have attracted too much attention.”

Cyprian’s gaze turned sharply to Fivra. “One of those scenarios is likely,” he said. “I have met with Axis representatives—never any of the leaders—and they are tight-lipped about the prison element of the Axis’ business. Makes me curious to find out what they’re hiding.”

“Whoa, boss.” Glivar held out his huge hands. “You have Erovik to think about. Nothing good can come from angering the Axis. Look what was said about the Zaruxian at Fivra’s settlement. He was going to be rehabilitated, and you know what that means.”

Cyprian winced, and Fivra crossed her arms. “What does it mean?” she asked.

“The Axis have a way of making people forget things.” Cyprian scratched the back of his head. “Not clear how it’sdone, but Glivar and I have both experienced it firsthand. A client with deep business ties to the Axis stopped coming in. We encountered him in the primary hangar of the station and he had no idea who we were.”

“He wasn’t faking it, either,” Glivar added grimly. “The male didn’t know us. And he was different. Vacant.”

“And you think the Axis did this to him?” Fivra asked.

Cyprian nodded. “The Axis dropped all ties to him, and he’s not the only one. There have been others. The Axis doesn’t go out of the way to hide it. When they say someone needs ‘rehabilitation,’ it means they’re altering someone’s mind. You could say it’s an open secret. An extremely well-planted threat.”

Fivra’s eyes locked onto Cyprian’s. A swirling mixture of fear and anger drove her words. “If the Axis tried to erase the overseer’s mind, if they made these other people…forget, then what’s stopping them from coming here for me? Or the others?”

“They won’t touch you.” Cyprian’s voice was steel, his silver eyes flashing. His wings flared. “Not while I’m here.” He took two calculated steps toward her, his sheer presence dominating the room.

Fivra’s gaze dropped momentarily, overwhelmed by his intensity. “You don’t know what they’re capable of,” she murmured. “You said it yourself—they quietly erase memories. If they’ve decided I’m a breach—something they can’t afford to leave unchecked—what’s stopping them?”

“Iam stopping them,” he said firmly. His voice reverberated with power, leaving no room for doubt. “They will not take you, Fivra.”

Glivar let out a low whistle. “Boss, I don’t mean to get in the way of your proclamations and all, but…we’re talking about the Axis. They’ve got resources we can’t even dream of. This isn’t a fight we can win in the open.”

Cyprian’s jaw ticked as he turned his attention to his assistant. “I am aware of what we’re up against, Glivar. I’ve worked under their thumb for cycles. But since they abandoned Fivra’s settlement and left loose ends crawling around their well-oiled machine, they have a problem. If the Axis were all-powerful, those females wouldn’t have ended up on Falmic-5, would they?”

Glivar hesitated. “No, but that doesn’t mean they can’t fix their mistake with firepower and ‘rehabilitation.’”

“Let them try.” Cyprian’s wings flexed, and his silver eyes were stormy. “They will learn it’s a mistake to underestimate me.”

“You’re being reckless,” Fivra said, rising from the chair. She moved closer, her hands reaching out to grip his arm. “You can’t take on the Axis alone. It’s suicide.” She searched his face, her voice dropping to a tremble. “I won’t let you die because of me. I can’t.”

Cyprian’s eyes softened just slightly as he dipped his head to meet hers. “I have no intention of dying. Nor will I let you sacrifice yourself for their convenience. If you think I can’t keep you safe, Fivra, then you don’t know me as well as you should by now.”

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