AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I accept or reject a marshal based on skills. Females included.”
Zirkov leaned in and inhaled along her neck, distracting her.
Why don’t I tell him to stop?
“Talk to me, Magdalena. Tell me why you fight me when I’m only trying to help you.”
“Maybe you’re the one fighting me. Have you thought about that? Listen to what I’m saying before one of your marshals or witnesses gets hurt. Stenikov rushed the witness out of the safehouse because he heard a siren. A mere siren from a fire truck spooked him.”
Zirkov backed off several feet and his horns bent at the top. “Sirens? Drekk. I never thought to explain their use here. On Zyan, the only sirens we have are for invading forces. We’re very attuned to them. Stenikov’s instinct would be to move civilians out of a house, out of the town, as those are primary targets. This will not happen with future marshals.”
“No one expects you to know everything about Earth. It’s why I have this job, to help mitigate potential problems. But this job requires trust between us. And respect.”
“I value your knowledge and skills, Magdalena. Which is why, despite the evidence against you, I removed the footage of you in the park and left the portion with the og’dal. Earth Intelligence will match the body in the morgue to the og’dal on that video without knowing about your connection.”
He’d more than covered for her. He’dsavedher. Could she have misunderstood all the times he ignored her, grunted at her, and even turned his back on her to avoid listening to her suggestions?
“You want something from me, don’t you?” she asked.
“I almost wish you’d go back to calling me Warrior instead of talking to me like I’m your enemy.”
“From the moment Earth Intelligence assigned me as your liaison, you’ve acted as if I’m a burden, or worse, a stupid woman who would only get in the way and screws things up. I’m tired of having to prove myself to everyone.”
“I’m not everyone.” His chin lifted along with his horns.
Didn’t he realize he didn’t need to make himself appear larger, stronger than anyone else around? Zirkov already stood out among every male she knew. He exuded confidence and power merely by walking into a room.
“You are correct. I objected when Earth Intelligence assigned you as our liaison, but it had nothing to do with you being female. Females are equals on my world. They hold top government positions and a few become warriors, though most don’t choose that path.”
“Then why treat me like I don’t deserve to work alongside you and your marshals?”
“Because you’re—” His mouth clamped shut, and he donned that mask of indifference he wore so often around her.
“Fine, don’t tell me. It doesn’t matter. But I will prove my innocence.”
Zirkov caressed the side of her neck, sending heat between her legs. Her nipples hardened and ached for attention. Thank God she had a blazer on. Her body seemed bent on sabotaging her desire to remain professional around him.
“Stop pushing me away and accept my help,” he whispered in her ear, his cheek brushing hers. It would be so easy to slide her face along his and steal a kiss. “We both know you’re the mole.”
He truly believed she was a traitor.
She pulled away, all thoughts of kissing him gone and buried beneath her dreams of earning his respect. That footage would condemn her; it already had in his eyes. What was she going to do about him? And if he didn’t want anything from her, why had he covered for her?
CHAPTERSEVEN
ZIRKOV
Leaving fifty feet between them, Zirkov followed Maggie from the alley back to the DAA building. She never turned around to look at him. Not once. It was as if she had cast him out of her life completely. He’d lost her trust by confronting her with the video. Soon, he’d lose her.
When she entered the elevator in the lobby, surrounded by other humans, tears clouded her eyes. He could do nothing to comfort her. Approaching her would only anger her further.
Once in the stairwell, Zirkov punched the wall repeatedly, leaving a sizeable hole in the drywall and bruises on his fists. She wouldn’t accept his help and if he couldn’t prove her innocence, he wouldn’t be able to save her.
Before Zirkov let his frustration overwhelm him, he raced up to the fourth floor, wondering where he’d erred. There was a time Maggie had trusted him, or so he had thought. The more he investigated her, the more he realized he didn’t know her.
She’d been struggling to prove her worth to him. An unnecessary task, as he’d seen her skill and dedication many times over the past two years. Had he made her feel inferior? He only wanted to protect her from what would happen once her people realized they had a mole in their midst… and that she’d been meeting with an og’dal.
This need to protect her, even at the risk to his own career, disturbed him. She was a fellow marshal, but this drive came from somewhere deep within him, making him wonder if she might be his sholani. Then reality always set him straight.
