No, the pull toward her wasn’t just attraction. It was a connection born in a dark cell months before.
She’d been the one to rescue him from the Rahl.
He’d been weak, disoriented, and covered in filth and blood. The pain had gone beyond anything his cyborg systems could block. His memories were still a bit foggy, but he remembered her soothing murmurs, her arms around him, her hot tears on his skin.
He looked at her now and saw no sign of any emotion. Sometimes he wondered if he’d imagined those moments.
He’d read her file and knew there were many more implants under the uniform. Centax prized the enhancements and implants that made them stronger, smarter, and faster. Axton himself had several, but CenSecs were so enhanced that it blocked most of their capacity to feel.
That’s why Axton, and everybody else on the planet, had been beyond shocked when Xander had gone and fallen in love with Malin Phoenix, the spunky little salvage mechanic who’d helped him save Centax from the coup.
If Xander could feel, then it was possible Xenia could too. Axtonknewthat she wasn’t the cold, blank CenSec everyone believed her to be.
She was a mystery he desperately wanted to uncover.
But as he turned back to the window, staring out across his planet’s capital city, Haxx, guilt swamped him. Here he was thinking about his own wants and desires and not his planet.
At a glance, the city looked normal—tall spires spearing into the sky to tapered points. In between the spires were graceful, sprawling, white buildings with metallic domed roofs. These were the design academies that Centax was renowned for. They housed Centax’s finest scientists and engineers who designed some of the galaxy’s best technology—computer systems, starships, biological enhancements.
But on closer inspection, it was easy to see that some of the buildings were charred by fire or in ruin from the explosions that had rocked Haxx during the attack. An anti-grav crane hovered in the air above the dome of the Xeon Academy of Starship Design, lowering new metal sheets into place.
Axton’s shoulder throbbed, a physical reminder of his failure. He’d missed the signs that Rexton Dax, a high-ranked member of the ruling council, was about to launch devastation. Then Axton had been locked up, unable to fight back, useless.
There was still a long way to go to heal the damage done by Dax and the Rahl. Axton had to win back the trust of his people and make things right. And he needed to start with finding the Codex. He couldn’t let his desire for Xenia interfere with that.
Xander’s face was impassive, but he was watching Axton carefully. Xenia was staring straight ahead, the perfect CenSec.
Codex, Axton.“Any chance the Rahl will try to return and retrieve the Codex?”
Xenia didn’t blink or move a muscle. “The probability is low. They are leaderless and defeated. It will take them some time to rebuild.”
“Xander, I need you to assign someone to work on hunting the Codex exclusively. Someone good.”
To Axton, the Codex had become more than just a valuable artifact or piece of history. It had become a symbol of rebuilding their planet. A symbol of Axton making things right again.
“Consider it done,” Xander said.
Axton glanced at his timepiece. “I have a meeting with the council.” He grabbed his suit jacket, and as he shrugged it on, his shoulder throbbed. This time he made sure not to let the pain show. “Walk with me.”
As he left the office, the two CenSecs flanked him.
“You’re a fool to ignore your injury.” Xenia’s icy voice whipped at Axton.
He jerked to a halt. Obviously, he hadn’t hidden it as well as he’d thought. “Excuse me?”
“You clearly still have pain?—”
He faced her. “I’m fine.”
She stepped forward, so close her body was almost brushing his. “It’s irresponsible. You’re the Prime, you should?—”
“Yes, I’m the Prime, so I make the decisions. Not you.”
“Your safety and health are of primary importance. You shouldn’t risk yourself.” Her cheeks held the faintest flush and her eyes had darkened.
By the Creator, she was gorgeous. His hands flexed in an effort not to touch her.
Xander cleared this throat. “Stand down, Xenia. Axton’s treating the injury, maybe not resting it as much as his doctors would like, but he’s not threatening his life.”
