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she offers you?”
    Korian banged his head on the wall a few times before he
finally replied, “I cannot afford the distraction she poses, Mikael. There is
danger all around me from within my court and from enemies with stolen cloaking
tech, and I know that if I get just one taste of the sweet nectar between her
thighs, I will never wish to come back up for air. She will be here for only a
short time before she leaves for her own world again and I do not want any
feelings of attachment to complicate her mission here.”
    The stern captain shot his friend a disbelieving look. “From
what I am hearing from you both, there seems to already be ‘feelings of
attachment.’ Why do you insist that she must return home at the end of the
month? I have spent much time with Jessica MacGregor and she is kind and
compassionate, not to mention highly intelligent and capable. She would be a
welcome addition to our citizenry should she wish to stay, and I know that my
own lifemate would be thrilled to have her here. The unmated warriors aboard my
ship are all half in love with her, so if you do not wish to take her for your
own lifemate at the end of her captivity, then she will not be short of
suitors.”
    Korian growled and crushed the container in his bruised and
bloodied fist. “You do not need to remind me that other males lust for her. She
has made that point more than clear,” he snarled.
    Mikael couldn’t hide the gleeful grin that spread across his
face and caused the split in his lip to seep fresh blood. “Then you should
claim her for your own, Korian. You could do no better than the Earthling for a
mate. She has already proven her loyalty and devotion to our people through her
service aboard The Ax’Sandre, and if you swear not to repeat these words
to Katsuko, I will also add that she is exceptionally beautiful. You cannot
have it both ways, my friend. Either you claim her for yourself, or you allow
her the freedom to choose another.”
    Korian groaned and rubbed his face with exhaustion. “It is
not as easy as you make it sound, old man. I am too young and my reign on the
throne is too unstable at present to take a mate. Yet the thought of her in
another warrior’s arms makes me want to tear apart rocks in my hands. I confess
that I do not know what to do about the frustrating human.”
    Mikael moaned in pain as he hauled himself to his feet and
offered his hand to help leverage the king to his feet. When they were both
standing, Mikael gripped the younger man’s shoulder companionably and met his
eyes. “I can advise you on many things when it comes to war and strategy, my
king, but when it comes to women? I can only say that if you want her badly
enough, you will find a way. May the stars shine wisdom down upon you, Korian.”
He turned to walk away, but stopped to face his king once more. “But I fear I
must warn you of this. Should you make Jessica MacGregor cry again, it will be
Katsuko that you will have to explain your actions to next time, not me.”
    The captain saluted his king once more and limped out the
door to head back to his home. Korian cringed at the thought of having to face
the fierce Earth warrior. He had watched enough of the security footage from
the ship to know that he could not be 100% confident that he would come out the
victor in such a fight. With his shoulders slumped and his head ringing with
pain, he exited the training room and made his way back to his room. Alone.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    “Thank you again for your offer to take me into the city to
explore, Zandar,” Jessica told her escort the following afternoon.
    The large T’Kalan warrior grinned down at the small human
female and replied, “I wish you had allowed me to retrieve you from the king’s
compound instead of having a conveyance bring you to the city. It would set my
mind at ease had you been accompanied by an armed escort.”
    Jessica rolled her eyes behind her replicated sunglasses. “I
have a feeling that wouldn’t