Read Hathor Legacy: Burn for Free Online Page B

down on the small crystalline table between them. "This was improper. I'm his assistant and it's not right for me to criticize him."
    "If you feel that way, why did you accept the position as his assistant?" she asked.
    "It's very prestigious, isn't it? Who knows? It might lead to me being an Elder one day," Mikal replied. "I want to be more than a glorified security officer."
    "That's how you see us? Don't Guardians provide a service by protecting Hathor? What do you think would happen if we weren't here?"
    "We're not protecting Hathor, we're protecting Novacorp's a ssets. They run the planet and they own the resources," Mikal replied, his voice rising. "Aren't you tired of following their orders? We're powerful and yet we have to answer to weak Fragiles. It's not right."
    Nadira glanced over at the hall, sure that someone must've  heard him. But no one was paying them any attention. "We have a responsibility," she said.
    "Yes, I see they trained you well." He picked up his glass and gulped down the rest of his drink. When he finished, he gripped the crystal goblet with both hands. "After what they did to your mother, I thought you'd see the truth."
    "My mother made her choice and I've made mine." It was the answer she always gave when this came up. Her mother had br oken away from the Guardians. And that would always be a mark against them both. Nadira knew it, even though no one ever said it to her directly.
    "Yet again, I've said the wrong thing." Mikal set his glass back down again. "So, you were investigating the mine robbery on D emeter four months ago. It was all over the news alerts. And so was Jonathan Keel."
    Nadira felt a twinge as she heard Jon's name mentioned. It sounded like Mikal had a bit of contempt in his voice. "His father is the CEO on Demeter."
    "And he's from Astarte. Which makes me wonder why he stayed here. But when I discovered he was staying with you, I understood why."
    "He's not just staying with me, Mikal. We're together."
    "Nadira, you must be careful who you associate with. Keel is in the Executive level and they only crave wealth and power. Guardians must be above petty ambition."
    "Look around you, Mikal. This house is a symbol of wealth and power. No one without credits is even allowed to come to Hathor as a tourist, much less live here. They're screened by security b efore they can board a shuttle. Are we any better than they are?"
    "Yes we are. We're descended from the First Families who came from Earth. This planet is rightfully ours. Don't you see?" He grasped her hand and rubbed his thumb along her wrist. "They use people, just as they use up the resources of this planet. You cannot trust any of them."
    She was tempted to pull away, but Mikal's touch was strangely soothing. "Jonathan's not like that."
    "I know that it was wrong to take you from your mother. She was only trying to protect you. Mikal's voice was soft, as he leaned so close that their faces were almost touching. "Elder Dakar and the others want to use you for your power. But I would never do that."
    Mikal's words were drowning out the noise around them until she could only hear a low murmur in the background. He understood. He knew what she'd been through, and he was the first one to say it'd been wrong.
    "I promise you, I will never hurt or betray you," Mikal said. "Remember when we were children? That's when I knew it. I knew we were going to be together."
    "Mikal, I--I'm not--" She stopped herself. No, she wouldn't tell him about her psychic connection to Jon. There had to be one thing in her personal life that could be kept private. "I told you, I'm with Jonathan."
    "Now you are. But you and I know that it can't be permanent. It can never be--"
    "Nadira!" A woman with shoulder-length brown hair came over and held out her hands in greeting. "I thought I recognized you."
    How are you, Eleni?" Nadira returned the gesture. "I haven't seen you since we were introduced to the Elders."
    "Where have you been? They shouldn't