Page 29 of Zayrik

“Too late for that,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “I’m already involved.”

Her eyes searched mine, something vulnerable flickering in their depths. “Why do you even care? You don’t know me.”

Nav’s voice cut in unexpectedly from her wrist device. “Perhaps it’s the primal biological response his species demonstrates when—”

“Shut up, Nav,” she hissed, color rising to her cheeks.

I couldn’t help the slight smirk that curved my lips. “Your AI’s observant.”

“My AI’s a pain in the ass,” she muttered.

“I prefer‘realistically cynical,’” Nav responded.

Zep chirped in apparent agreement, making Nyla roll her eyes.

“Great. Now you’re all ganging up on me.”

I hadn’t moved away, and she hadn’t pushed me back. We remained close, too close, the air between us charged with something neither of us was acknowledging.

“What do you know about Vask?” I asked quietly.

Her expression shuttered immediately. “Why?

“Part of my mission,” I admitted. “Intelligence gathering. Tracking potential...” I paused, considering how much to reveal. “Threats.”

“Your mission,” she repeated, eyes narrowing. “For the Protectorate.”

I nodded once.

She laughed, a bitter sound. “And now you’re wondering if I’m one of those threats.”

“Are you?”

Her hand was still on my chest. I could feel the heat of it through my shirt, a counterpoint to the steady pulse of my mating marks.

“I’m the least of your problems right now,” she said, voice dropping to almost a whisper. “But if you keep asking questions...”

I leaned closer, drawn by something I couldn’t explain. “You’ll what?”

The challenge hung between us, electric and dangerous.

She tilted her chin up, eyes meeting mine with unexpected heat. “I might have to find a way to shut you up.”

The words sent blood rushing south so fast I nearly groaned. This wasn’t smart. This wasn’t rational.

This wastrouble.

And I was starting to think I liked trouble a little too much.

10

Nyla

I SWALLOWED HARD, PULSEpounding as Zayrik’s gaze pinned me in place.

I’d talked my way out of ambushes, lied to warlords, stolen from men who thought they owned the stars. But Zayrik?

He was something else.

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