Page 21 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien

“I’ll die before I let that happen,” Cyprian said darkly, his wings flaring slightly in response to his rising anger.

“Boss,” Glivar said, lowering his voice. “I know you’re in lo—I mean, I know you have feelings for the Terian, but you need to be smart about this. The Axis doesn’t lose. If they find out we’re hiding her, they’ll tear Erovik apart piece by piece. They won’t just take her; they’ll make an example out of all of us.”

Cyprian’s claws extended involuntarily, the tension in his body sparking his dragon instincts. He knew what Glivar had been about to say—that he was in love with Fivra, and he wasn’t sure about that. He’d never been in love, but he’d also never felt likethisbefore. His gaze darkened as the unflinching reality ofGlivar’s words settled heavily on him. He knew what the Axis was capable of. He had seen their ruthlessness before.

“That’s why we don’t let them find her,” Cyprian said firmly, his voice razor-edged. “She needs to disappear before they arrive. We don’t have the luxury of options anymore.”

Glivar’s broad shoulders slumped slightly as he ran a hand over his scarred scalp. “You’re sure that smuggler friend of yours—Kaelen—can be trusted?”

Cyprian’s wings twitched. “Yes. He owes me, and he’s too pragmatic to get sentimental or sloppy. If anyone can keep her out of Axis hands, it’s him.”

“How do we get her to him without getting flagged?” Glivar challenged, his skepticism tempered by the urgency of the situation. “The Axis will have eyes on any ship leaving the station before the inspection. That means the space docks and hangars, too.”

Cyprian’s mind raced. Each thought scrambled to invent a workable plan. “The maintenance sector,” Cyprian mused, his voice cold and calculating. His wings were folded tightly against his back as he paced. “The emergency breach tunnels aren’t on any official Axis schematics and they run well below the lower levels, where the scanners would not reach. We could keep her there, hidden, until the inspection is over.”

Glivar’s brows knit together in a dubious scowl. “Thebreachtunnels? They’re part of the waste systems, boss. It’s a forsaken pit. Smells worse than a Gurvok’s armpit.”

“I don’t care about the ambiance, Glivar,” Cyprian snapped, his patience thinning. “It’s isolated, secure, and impossible for anyone to wander into by accident.”

Glivar sighed, his thick fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Boss, the maintenance sector might be secure, but you’re asking to stash a delicate Terian female in thefekkingwaste tunnels. They’re completely dark, and I may add,notlacking in lifeforms. The Axis may not get her, but there are creatures down there that will.”

Cyprian winced. He wasn’t aware of the state of the breach tunnels, but then again, it wasn’t his role to be. Glivar handled much of the management of the facility and if he thought the tunnels were a threat to Fivra, she wouldn’t go there. Cyprian exhaled sharply through his nose, irritation and guilt simmering beneath the surface. “Do you have a better suggestion?”

Glivar raised a hand to stall Cyprian’s growing tension. “Actually, yes. Thecourtias.”

Cyprian froze mid-step, turning his silver eyes on his assistant. “Thecourtias?” His voice was skeptical, but a flicker of curiosity crept in. “Explain.”

Glivar straightened. “Look, they’re good at keeping secrets. Most of them would rather let their tongues get severed than betray one of us. And they already know how to work with clients who have too much power for their own good. We talk to Siku and Viparia. Siku’s sharp as a blade, and she can keep the rest of thecourtiasin line if they get curious. I know for a fact that Viparia’s wardrobe has a scan suppressor inside it to hide her true wealth. Between the two of them, they can make sure Fivra stays hidden right under the Axis’ noses.”

Cyprian’s wings flexed slightly, tension coiling in him as he considered the suggestion. “You want me to involvecourtiasin this? They already have enough to deal with.”

“Yeah, and so do we,” Glivar countered. “Hiding her in the tunnels risks her losing herfekkingmind and getting hurt, and the Axis might still scrutinize high-level maintenance zones. But thecourtias’ private quarters? No one from the Axis would dare compromise client confidentiality. They might audit the station as a whole, but they won’t do anything to lose our high-paying patrons.”

It was a compelling argument, and Cyprian already felt the plan clicking into place in his mind. The private suites of thecourtiaswere sacred ground. They operated under an unspoken rule of secrecy in Erovik. No one intruded there without explicit permission, not even Cyprian. It was part of whycourtiaschose to stay at Erovik even after completing their contracts. It was their sanctuary, their domain. And if the Axis representatives were as arrogant as he suspected, they would avoid violating those boundaries unless absolutely necessary.

Cyprian’s jaw tightened. “Viparia hates the Axis. I think she would help.”

Glivar tilted his head slightly, his arms crossing over his thick chest. “I think Viparia has a soft spot for the little Terian. Thecourtiashave had your back before. Siku’s like ice—nothing shakes her—and she’s clever enough to keep her mouth shut if pressed. And Viparia would bite an Axis agent for fun, then demand payment from him for it.”

Cyprian let out a low growl, pacing again as he considered the plan. It wasn’t ideal. There was too much at stake, too many variables. But Glivar was right: thecourtiasknew the game they were playing, and they excelled at it. Viparia’s quarters were the most untouchable place in Erovik. If pushed, she could be a formidable ally.

“Fine,” Cyprian said finally, his tone clipped but resolute. “I’ll speak to Siku and Viparia first. They will need to understand exactly what’s at stake. If even one of them breathes a word of this to the wrong person—”

“They won’t,” Glivar cut him off, his voice firm. “They’re loyal to you, boss. You treat them better than most would, and they know it. They won’t jeopardize the sanctuary you’ve built here.”

Cyprian nodded slowly, though the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on his chest. “Bring Viparia and Siku to my office now. The inspection starts in less than threeliks, andI want Fivra hidden before the Axis so much as sets one foot aboard this station.”

Glivar gave a curt nod and turned to leave, but hesitated at the door. “Boss…you sure about this female? It’s not just your reputation on the line. If this goes wrong, the Axis could burn Erovik to the ground.”

Cyprian’s silver eyes glinted with determination, his expression carved from stone. He knew what Glivar was asking of him. He heard the question threaded through his second-in-command’s words. What did Fivra mean to him? He didn’t even have the words to describe that, yet. Still, too much was at stake to not give an answer. He closed his eyes and spoke, letting the words flow, uninhibited by doubts, or fears, or the very real possibility that Fivra would reject him. “She is mine. My dragon fire burns for her. I—I was planning on paying off her contract and asking her if she would stay here. With me. As my mate.” He pulled in a shaky breath, reeling from the relief he felt at acknowledging the truth. “If the Axis wish to play with fire, I’ll make sure they get burned first.”

Glivar nodded once and left without another word, the door hissing shut behind him. Cyprian turned back to his desk, his claws tapping on its surface as he tried to focus on the plan.

Thecourtiaswere his best option, and for now, his only option, but he couldn’t shake the unease brewing inside him. He had spent cycles building this place, ensuring it ran smoothly, thriving even under the shadow of the Axis. Now, in the span of a few cycles, all of it had been thrown into chaos because of one terrified, breathtakingly defiant female.

And yet, as he thought of Fivra—her determination to protect her friends, her despair at learning the truth about her home, and the passion in her kiss—he knew there was no alternative. He’d burn the stars themselves if it meant keeping her safe.

A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts, and the door opened to reveal Siku and Viparia, their contrasting presences filling the room. Siku’s icy elegance and Viparia’s raw sensual energy couldn’t have been more different, yet they both carried an air of confidence and composure that Cyprian deeply respected. They stepped inside, their gazes sharp and inquisitive, though markedly different in their approach.

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