Page 58 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"Because you are you," he said simply. "The bond only confirmed what I already knew."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Part of me wanted to pull away, to maintain some distance. But another part—the part that had been alone for so long—wanted to lean into this connection, this certainty.

Before I could decide, a pulse of energy from the compound caught my attention. I turned, my markings flaring in response.

"Something's happening," I said, crawling back to the ridge's edge.

Nirako followed, his body tense beside mine. Below, the energy patterns around the central building had intensified, the sickly colors swirling faster.

"He's channeling more power," I said, my stomach clenching. "The children?—"

A scream tore through my mind—not physical, but psychic. One of the children, their pain amplified through the Nexus connection. My markings flared white-hot, responding to their agony.

Nirako's arm wrapped around me, steadying me as I swayed. "Claire?"

"I can feel them," I gasped. "He's pushing too hard. Their minds can't take it."

Another scream echoed through my consciousness, and then another. Multiple children now, their pain blending into a chorus of agony that threatened to overwhelm me.

Nirako's lifelines pulsed as he pulled me against him, his energy flowing into me, creating a buffer between my mind and the children's pain.

"Focus on me," he said, his voice a lifeline. "Find the center. Ground yourself."

I struggled to follow his instructions, to find that still point he'd taught me. But the children's pain kept pulling at me, dragging me under.

"I can't," I whispered. "They need help now, Nirako. We can't wait until nightfall."

His expression tightened, torn between the need to wait and the immediate suffering of the children. I saw the moment he made his decision.

"We go now," he said. "But we go smart. No rushing in. We follow the plan, just accelerated."

I nodded, relief washing through me. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." He scanned the compound one more time. "This increases our risk significantly."

"I know." I touched his face, feeling the tension in his jaw. "But we can do this. Together."

He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "Together."

The simple gesture, so unexpected from the stoic warrior, nearly undid me. In that moment, I understood the depth of what had grown between us—not just physical attraction or even the mate bond, but a partnership forged in shared purpose and mutual respect.

"Let's go save those kids," I said, my voice stronger now.

Nirako nodded, his eyes fierce with determination. "And then we deal with Hammond. Permanently."

We gathered our supplies quickly, leaving nothing behind that could be traced back to us. As we prepared to descend from our vantage point, Nirako caught my arm.

"Claire," he said, his voice low. "No matter what happens, know that I chose this. Chose you."

The weight of his words settled over me. Not a declaration of love—we weren't there yet—but something perhaps more important. A conscious decision.

A commitment.

"I chose you too," I replied, meaning it more than I'd expected to.

His eyes held mine for a long moment before he nodded, satisfied. Then he turned, leading the way down toward Hammond's compound and whatever awaited us there.

The mate bond hummed between us, a tangible connection that strengthened with each step. Whatever happened next, we would face it together. Not because fate had decreed it, but because we had chosen it.

---