Page 35 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"—is what you prefer." She met my eyes across the fire. "Just like you preferred the less effective sabotage method today."

My lifelines brightened with irritation. "We completed the objective without detection before the failsafe triggered. That was the goal."

"The goal is saving those younglings. Everything else is secondary."

"Including our survival?" I countered. "Your recklessness during the sabotage nearly got us caught."

Claire's markings flashed. "I was trying to reach the secondary junction box—which would have doubled our effectiveness!"

"You were trying to do too much too quickly," I leaned forward. "Your approach risks everything."

"Unnecessary risks?" She stood suddenly, nearly hitting her head. "You didn't see what I saw! Every hour we delay?—"

"Is an hour we use to ensure we succeed rather than die trying!" I rose to meet her, the cave suddenly too small. My tail beat a frustrated rhythm against the stone floor.

"What good are your intentions if Hammond captures you? If he adds you to his experiments?"

Claire stepped closer, face inches from mine. "At least I'm willing to risk something! You and your precious Aerie training—always calculating, always safe."

"Safe?" My voice rose. "I defied the council to come with you! I risked my standing, my honor?—"

"Why?" She challenged, eyes fierce. "Why did you really come, Nirako? Was it for the younglings? Or because of whatever this is?"

She gestured between us, where the air seemed to shimmer with our energies.

The question hit like a physical blow. My lifelines flared golden across my chest and arms.

"You think I don't understand sacrifice?" I growled. "My people lost everything in the Great Division because of recklessness, because of corrupted power. And here you are, rushing headlong toward the same dangers."

"I'm trying to stop it! Hammond is doing to those younglings exactly what your ancestors feared!"

"And you'll stop him by getting yourself killed?"

"Better than hiding behind caution while innocent people suffer!"

My control snapped. I grabbed her shoulders, fingers pressing into her skin. "You think I don't care about their suffering? You think I don't feel it through you, through this bond neither of us asked for?"

My tail lashed against the cave floor, sending pebbles scattering.

Claire didn't pull away. Her silver markings brightened where my hands touched her, sending jolts of energy up my arms. Through our connection, I felt her anger, her fear, her determination—and under it all, a current of something deeper.

"Then why hold back?" she whispered. "Why fight me?"

"Because I can't lose you!" The words escaped before I could stop them, raw and honest. "Because every time you take a needless risk, I feel it like a blade in my chest."

The confession hung between us. Claire's eyes widened, her markings pulsing in time with my lifelines. The cave felt too small, the air too thin.

Our energies reached for each other, silver and gold light dancing where they met.

"Nirako..." Her voice softened, anger draining away.

I released her shoulders and stepped back, my breath uneven, my tail drooping slightly before I consciously straightened it. "We should rest. Tomorrow will be difficult."

Claire didn't move. "Is that all you have to say?"

"What would you have me say?" I turned away, staring into the small fire. "That I'm compromised? That this bond affects my judgment?"

"The council was right—I shouldn't have come."

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