Page 50 of Coveted

Varner appeared in the hallway behind her, slowing his steps when he noticed Alana.

“Did you eat?” Vax asked her.

A small shake of her head had his fists clenching at his sides. He was supposed to be taking care of her, but he had to take care of his people too.

“This is Varner, my Chief of Staff. He’ll show you to your rooms and make sure you get something to eat. I’m sorry I can’t give you a tour, but I need to get a handle on the situation.”

Those big green eyes blinked up at him, her features taking on a defiant cast.

“You need to eat too, and I want to help.”

Despite the gravity of what he was facing, his lips ticked up. Alana had seemed so quiet and demure when they’d met that he had worried she’d be walked all over on Farcon 1, but she was showing spine, and her desire to help had warmth spreading through his chest.

Reaching out, he cupped her cheek in one hand, brushing the dark circle beneath her eye.

“I promise to eat something, and we’ll find a way for you to help tomorrow. Right now, I’ll feel better if I know you’re fed and resting.”

Her eyes narrowed but she leaned into his palm, sucking in a deep breath. He forced a low purr from his chest, and her shoulders dropped.

“I’m not going to be some useless trophy.”

His chuckle interrupted the purr, and he stepped closer to press his lips to her forehead. He wanted to kiss her pouting mouth, but if he did, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop.

“Not a useless trophy, got it. I’ll put you to work in the morning.”

He stepped back again before he lost control and wrapped her up in his arms the way he wanted to. Dropping his hand from her cheek, he turned to Varner.

“Take her to the First Lady’s room and have a tray brought to her, then meet me in my office.”

Varner nodded before bowing to Alana.

“If you’ll follow me, please. I’ll try to show you where things are as we go.”

For a moment, jealousy flared in Vax’s chest when Alana smiled at his Chief of Staff, but he forced it down, watching until they disappeared around the corner. Lifting feet that suddenly felt as heavy as the boulders he’d helped move just a short time ago, he headed for his office. It was late, and while usually the building would be quiet by then, it bustled with activity.

Keeping his head up and shoulders back, he put on the appearance of confidence until he was safely behind the door of his office. They didn’t need to see the weight of dread he carried for those filling the Medical Wing, or the rage over the betrayal by someone he’d trusted. They only needed to see his determination to make things right as best he could, and that would start with a couple calls.

The first was answered quickly, Camp Primma just as awake as the Administration Building. Vax knew he couldn’t trust the Director, and he was suspicious of everyone who should have known what was being done was wrong, but the Crew Chief of the main shift was someone he’d grown up with and who would be just as angry as Vax over the accident.

“Yivesh, is everyone out of the mine now?”

The knobby horns curling back over his bald scalp had always given the man a surly appearance, but he looked downright demonic as he stared at Vax through the tablet.

"Yeah, Kright has been brought out and his family has him now. I suspect Alcam will have us inspecting the damage in the morning so we can start clearing it.”

Vax shook his head.

“No, Alcam is no longer Camp Director. He’s betrayed us.”

A bushy grey brow rose.

“What do you mean?”

The growl in Yivesh’s voice was clear through the tablet, and Vax raised his own brow.

“You know as well as I that tunnel was in the wrong place. I’d never have approved plans for that. I never evensawplans for that shaft.”

Yivesh took a moment to process Vax’s words.

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