Page 30 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien

“They didn’t notice,” Cyprian explained. “Kaelen was sneaky.”

“I prefer discreet,” Kaelen said.

“And yet, here you are.” Cyprian’s wings flexed slightly.

Kaelen laughed.

Cyprian sighed. “We had a mutually beneficial arrangement. Although I did lose one of my bestcourtiasto you. How is Xentia, anyway?”

“Still profoundly beautiful,” Kaelen replied with a sigh and a smile. “And she still has my heart.”

Fivra blinked. Howinteresting. “May I ask why you’re in hiding now?”

“Cyprian may tell you that I’m a nosy, meddlesome individual who cannot leave well enough alone.” Kaelen chuckled. “I found out too much about the Axis’ dealings and landed on their enemy list.”

“An accurate description,” Cyprian quipped. “If vague. You took Xentia without paying off her contract, dug into the Axis’ data systems and stole an obscene amount of information,andliberated one of their prison colonies.” He looked to Fivra. “Not yours. A different one.”

“I’d do it again.” Kaelen’s jaw raised. “I have, in fact.”

Cyprian rubbed his knuckles along his jaw. “And this is why he cannot travel openly.”

“Which is your fate now, too.” Kaelen’s expression sobered. “At least, for a time. We’ll talk more when we reach my home. I have some interesting information to share with you. For now, why don’t we find you two quarters?” Kaelen rose.

Cyprian looked as if he wanted this “interesting information” now, but unclipped himself from the seat and stood up. Fivra did the same, noticing how different it felt to be here than on the station, and certainly different from on her home planet. Thegravity belt worked, but she felt lighter, less attached to the floor than she was used to.

Still, she had no difficulty following Kaelen to the quarters he’d set aside for her. The room was small but serviceable. It lacked any of the luxury Fivra had grown used to at Erovik, but was a welcome sight and had everything she needed. The walls were a steely gray, interrupted only by storage compartments and a small bathroom. A single light strip cast a soft, yellowish glow over the room’s one defining feature—a wide bed set against the far wall.

“Perfect for a pair of runaway lovers, wouldn’t you say?” Kaelen asked. “We have little space on this ship, but I imagine you two won’t mind keeping close.”

Fivra blinked. These weren’t her quarters. They were hers and Cyprian’s quarters. Her face warmed. “Um,” she began, but her voice faltered as Cyprian stepped forward to address Kaelen, his voice steady and low.

“Thank you, Kaelen. We appreciate the accommodations.” His silver eyes flickered briefly to Fivra before settling back on the smuggler. “When do we reach this outpost of yours?”

“It’ll be a few cycles, assuming we don’t run into any patrols or unwelcome surprises along the way.” He stepped away from the door. “I’ll leave you two to clean up, rest. There’s a replicator over there for when you’re hungry. Call for me if you need anything. And don’t hesitate to explore the ship, though I’d avoid the cargo hold if I were you. The less you know…” He winked, and with that, Kaelen gave them a sharp-toothed grin and disappeared down the corridor, the door sliding shut behind him with a soft hiss.

The silence that followed was thick and taut, like a tightly stretched wire humming with energy. Fivra swallowed hard, her eyes flicking back to the single bed as her belly fluttered with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Her fingers played anxiouslywith the hem of her borrowed cloak before she finally dared to glance at Cyprian. His tall, imposing frame nearly filled the small space. His crimson wings cast faint, shadowy shapes on the walls. He stood motionless for a beat, his silver eyes focused on the bed with an intensity that made her heart race.

She took a tentative breath, trying to ground herself, and then spoke before second-guessing herself. “There’s only one bed,” she said.

“So there is.” Cyprian’s gaze fixed on hers. His wings twitched like embers waiting for a spark. Then, he moved closer—a single, purposeful step into her space that sent a dizzying mix of warmth and electricity surging through her. She tilted her chin to meet his gaze. Her breath caught as he towered over her, all coiled power and restraint.

“I’ll take the floor.” His voice was a low rumble.

Tension was as palpable as the recycled air moving through the ship’s ducts. Fivra breathed deep through her nose. “No,” she blurted. “You don’t need to do that.”

Cyprian’s gaze narrowed slightly as he tilted his head to study her more closely. “You need rest, Fivra. This isn’t about comfort for me. The floor will do just fine.”

She shook her head, her voice trembling but gaining strength. “We both need rest. And there’s only one bed. We’ll…share it.”

His sharp intake of breath sent a shudder through his broad shoulders. His wings flexed, casting longer shadows around them. For once, the unshakable director of Erovik looked uncertain. A flicker of vulnerability cracked through his smooth exterior.

“Fivra…” His voice was a mix of warning and restraint, but she cut him off with a hand to his chest. Her fingers spread over the muscles there.

“Cyprian.” Her voice was steadier now. Her momentarily fear faded against the quiet resolve building in her chest. “You will not sleep on the floor.”

His silver eyes searched hers. His wings lowered slightly, no longer poised with the tension that radiated off him like heat from a fire. “I will not sleep in that bed with you,” he said quietly, taking another step closer. The space between them was shrinking to nothing.

Fivra swallowed hard against the lump rising in her throat. Her pulse quickened, cheeks warm under the low glow of the light. The tension between them wrapped around her like a tether, pulling her closer to him. Her voice wavered, but when she spoke, a surprising steel undercut her words. “Cyprian.” She took a breath, gathering every ounce of courage left in her. “I don’t want you to take the floor. I want to share the bed with you. I want to bewithyou. Fully.”

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