Page 53 of Honor Bound

“Is it?” Dorane smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His attention seemed to flicker briefly off screen before returning to Roan.

Roan frowned. Something wasn’t right. “We’ll have that conversation when I get there.”

Dorane leaned forward. “You’re coming to Cryon II?”

“Yes. I need to see you in person.”

Dorane’s smile faltered for the first time. “Cryon II isn’t exactly open for Legion Generals right now.” His gaze flickered off-screen again, and Roan’s unease deepened.

“You don’t have much of a choice. Besides, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s only one General Landais and it’s not me,” Roan said bluntly. “Zoak has been sent after you.”

Dorane barked out a laugh, the tension breaking for a moment. “Zoak? That’s old news, my friend. I’ve known about the bounty on my head for days. Let him come—I could use the entertainment.”

Roan’s jaw tightened. “Zoak may not be the only one. The Legion rarely sends just one assassin.”

Dorane’s amusement faded, replaced by something sharper. “Fair point.” He leaned back, tapping his fingers against the armrest. “So, what’s the real reason for your visit? This could have been handled with a transmission.”

“The information is too sensitive. I’ll explain when I arrive.”

Dorane’s eyes narrowed, his scrutiny locking on Roan. After a long pause, he nodded once. “Very well. But let me be clear—don’t bring your trouble to my doors. I’ve worked hard to keep Cryon II off the Legion’s radar, and I’d hate for you to ruin my spotless record.”

Before Roan could respond, Dorane’s attention flicked away again. The screen went dark a second later.

Roan stared at the blank monitor, his mind racing. Dorane’s distraction hadn’t been accidental. Something was happening on Cryon II.

His fingers tightened briefly around the edge of the console. He needed Dorane’s help, but trusting him was always a gamble.

With the ship’s destination locked, Roan programmed the shields to maximum and set the computer to scan for any nearby ships. Satisfied for now, he rose to his feet and left the bridge.

* * *

The warm scent of his favorite tea greeted him as he stepped into the galley a short time later. Julia stood in front of the food preparation machine, studying the instructions on the back of one of the ready-to-eat meals. Her back was to him so he couldn’t see her face. The light caught her hair, giving it a soft, golden glow.

She glanced over her shoulder when she heard him enter, her lips curving into a faint smile. The quiet comfort of the moment hit him harder than it should have.

Roan paused, his breath catching unexpectedly. It wasn’t just attraction—he’d known that since he first saw her. It was something deeper, more dangerous. It unsettled him in a way nothing else ever had.

For years, he’d avoided attachments. Connections made a person vulnerable, gave their enemies something to exploit. His relationships had always been transactional—clean, controlled, and disposable.

Julia was none of those things.

She looked at him, her eyes calm and steady, but there was a warmth in them that drew him in. He stepped closer, the purr of the ship fading into the background.

“Everything okay?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.

He didn’t answer. Words seemed pointless.

Instead, he closed the distance between them, lifting a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, the warmth of her skin anchoring him in a way he hadn’t realized he needed.

Julia’s breath caught, her eyes searching his. The air between them seemed to hum with something unspoken—something fragile but undeniable.

And then, as if pulled by a force greater than either of them, he leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was slow at first, almost hesitant, but it deepened quickly, urgency and emotion intertwining when she responded with a ferocity that scorched through him hotter than any laser knife. His hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer, and she responded without hesitation, her fingers curling into his shirt.

For a moment, everything else—Dorane, Zoak, the Legion—faded into the background.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling in the quiet. Roan’s heart pounded, the intensity of the moment catching him off guard.

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