“Maybe I’ll just call you Santa, at least until Christmas.”
“You may call me whatever you wish. Anything, as long as you are safe and happy.”
“I may never be fully safe, not with my job. But it’s not something I can walk away from. Earth might never have fallen the first time if not for how the Brotherhood undermined our strongest governments. And they’re trying to do it again.”
“Agreed.”
“You really care about Earth.”
“Strengthening Earth and other allies in turn strengthens Zyan. I will not see my home decimated again, even if that means I’m not there often. I go where GI6 sends me, to do what is necessary.”
“After the med-center, will you take me home… and stay?”
I don’t answer, because I’m not sure what to say.
“I get it. You’re leaving. Duty calls.”
“Galactic Intelligence ordered me to withdraw from Earth two days ago.”
“Two days ago…” She chuckles with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I guess you better get that ship in the sky before they dock you a week’s pay.”
“My pay remains the same even if I disobey orders. But I risk other missions and lives.”
“We can’t have that.” She squeezes my arm. “I can walk, Warrior.”
Normally I prefer a person use my title, but coming from her now, moments after I told her I must leave, it creates a distance between us.
Reluctantly, I release her, but taking my hands off her proves near impossible. “You’re my sholani. Iwillreturn for you.”
Her splayed hand lands on my chest, as she looks up at me. “Go defend the universe. I can get to the med-center on my own.”
I glance at the blood on her right side, above her hip. The sight of any blood, any injury on her, makes my horns rise high. “You’re still bleeding. I don’t like leaving you like this.”
“It’s a minor wound. I didn’t hit anything major. My instructors taught us where the fatal blows are, and where and how deep to cut to fake a deathblow.”
“You will not do this again. Not for me, not for anyone.” I take her hands in mine and lean my forehead against hers. “Aji kali faztov, miz sholani.”
Her hand cups my face as her expression softens. “What are you saying, Warrior?”
“These areancient words, ones that make you mine, ones I should have said when I claimed you. And they are a promise that I will return.”
“When?” Her eyes no longer shine the way they did before I told her I’d been recalled to Galactic Intelligence.
“Before Christmas ends.” As I look into her eyes, I see the understanding there, the reality that I can’t promise when I’ll return. I only hope she knows Iwill. Short of death, nothing in this universe will keep me from her.
She kisses my forehead. “Be safe, Nikkov.” Before I can say more, my sholani turns and disappears into the night, her scentfading and leaving me feeling as hollow as a male without a mate.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NOELLE
“That’s the last of my belongings,” I say to Donna, who carries a bag of clothing Earth Intelligence said I could keep from my op. The rest of the furnishings stay in the high-rent apartment they paid for while I established my contacts with the Brotherhood.
“At least now that the trackers are in place, we have plenty of work to keep us busy over the next few months. I, for one, will enjoy some desk time, normal hours, and not having to worry about slipping up in the field.”
“I guess sleeping in on the weekend will be nice.” It would be better if I had Nikkov beside me in bed. I miss his crooked grin and the way his horns twist when Earth culture confuses him.
“When did your alien say he’d be back?”
