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“If I jump, I can’t hurt you.”
“No!”
“I have to, Z. I can’t stop the thoughts. I’ll hurt you.”
“We will fix this. Together. I promise.”
“How?”
“Marry me.”
His words stunned her. Before she could react, Zirkov grabbed her around her waist and pulled her off the ledge. Massive arms locked her in a cage of muscle, crushing her against his chest. Never had anything felt so perfect.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
MAGGIE
“Idon’t understand,” Stenikov said as he walked beside Maggie. “Commander Kesk proposed to take you as his mate and you said no. Is this because you’re not his sholani?”
“He’s suffering from drug abuse side effects which prevent him from knowing who his sholani is. But that was never something that bothered me. We belong together. I know it down to my soul, Stenikov, but he doesn’t.”
“I’ve never heard of such a condition, but I accept your words on the matter. I still do not understand why you refuse to see him. It has been a month since he rescued you from the bridge and the doctors gave you the antidote for Sartog’s Sin. The tekklan officials who provided the necessary information clearly stated you would suffer no side effects from either the implant or Sartog’s Sin.”
“I can’t see him.”
“But you can. You’re no longer a threat to him, and he wishes to see you. I am certain of this.”
“It’s… complicated.”
“He doesn’t blame you for what you did while under the og’dal’s control.”
“Sten, it’s sweet of you to help, but a mating with Zirkov wasn’t meant to be. He only proposed as a means to distract me on that bridge.”
They walked in silence past several storefronts before Stenikov stopped. “Perhaps I should escort you home and then proceed on my own, Marshal… I mean Ms. Walsh.”
Maggie tapped the gun resting on her waist. “I’ll be fine, Sten. You should have backup. And stop calling me Ms. Walsh. Just Maggie will do.”
“I should not have asked you to accompany me but you are the only friend I have here on Earth and you appear… depressed. I do not think sitting in your apartment alone suits you.”
“I thought you needed my help.”
“It was an excuse to entice you from your apartment.”
“You don’t have to meet the informant?”
“I do, but I could go alone. Marshal… I mean Maggie, if you were one of my sisters, I would tell you to stop sulking and find your path.”
“Find my path… Zirkov said something similar to me once.” She inhaled a long breath. “To be honest, I’m a little lost without Zirkov.”
“Then meet with him.”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure it’s the right time. The DAA doesn’t trust me enough to hire me back, even though the information Var’Len gave Earth Intelligence cleared me. And while Zirkov never blamed me for what happened, I… I worry he doesn’t think I’m right for him.”
“It is not my place to say if you two are meant to be, but he told me—” Stenikov stopped while he thought through what he wanted to say. The male had a lot to learn about humans, but he definitely had heart. He would do well as a marshal. “If anything happens to you while you’re under my protection, Commander Kesk will hang me up by my horns.”
“Really? Is that a thing?”
“I’ve never seen it done, but I do not believe the commander would jest, especially concerning your safety. He’s still angry that he did not kill Var’Len for what he did to you.”
