Page 7 of Fool's Gold

I closed the distance between us in two strides, looming over her slight form. I could see the rapid flutter of her pulse in her throat, the sheen of perspiration on her brow.

"Your actions were foolish and unnecessary," I said, fighting to keep my voice level. "I had the situation well in hand."

Those defiant hazel eyes of hers never left my face. "It didn't look that way to me."

I clenched my fists, the itch to seize her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her rising.

Or kiss her until she was dizzy, breathless.. Suddenly that seemed like a perfectly reasonable option.

Instead, I simply glared at her, letting the weight of my stare pin her in place. "Do not interfere again. Or there will be consequences."

Gemma held my gaze for a defiant beat...then finally gave a tiny, jerky nod of acquiescence. I felt some of the tension bleed out of my shoulders.

"Good. Now stay behind me and do as I say. We're continuing on to those maintenance tunnels." I waited until she fell into step, then set off once more down the battered corridor.

Gemma trailed close on my heels, the occasional clank of twisted metal beneath our boots the only sound. I could sense the unasked questions, the barrage of thoughts no doubt whirling through her human mind.

Let her wonder. Let her be confused and off-balance. It was better that way - easier to control. Easier to...

No. I shook my head minutely, banishing the unbidden thought. Gemma was a means to an end, a potential source of information. Whatever strange compulsion drew me to her tempting form was an unwanted distraction.

One I intended to master, no matter how great the exertion required.

Even if this particular human seemed determined to test my vaunted self-control at every turn.

GEMMA

The rusted metal corridors echoed with our footsteps as I trailed behind Kaelith. My heart raced, torn between fear of this imposing alien warrior and an inexplicable draw I couldn't shake. Escape seemed impossible, but I clung to that flicker of hope, studying his movements for any potential opening.

Kaelith prowled forward, his piercing red eyes scanning our surroundings with feral intensity. The tattered remnants of wiring and piping jutted from the walls, yet he deftly avoided them, his senses primed for any threat. The swirling blue markings adorning his gray skin shifted with each ripple of his lean muscles, a mesmerizing dance I found difficult to look away from.

He stopped, turned back to me. "Where did you learn to throw like that?" His deep voice sliced through the silence, startling me. "When you took out that drone."

I pushed away the memories."Landar's lair was infested with all sorts of vermin. I had to learn quickly, or..." My voice trailed off, the implication clear.

Kaelith's jaw clenched, his pointed canines glinting in the dim light. I tensed, bracing for his anger. But he simply nodded, his eyes narrowing as he studied me with renewed curiosity.

We navigated through a particularly dilapidated section, debris scattering underfoot. A rusted plaque caught my eye, marks around its faded lettering dredging up unwanted reminders of my time under Landar's cruel control.

Flashes of him gloating about his priceless treasures hidden throughout the sector assaulted me. He'd often boast about secret caches concealed with intricate puzzles and codes, taunting me with promises of riches if I proved useful.

Kaelith paused, sensing my discomfort. "What is it?"

I hesitated, chewing my lip. Should I share what I knew? Earning his trust could be my chance, but one misstep, and his wrath would be devastating.

"Landar..." I began, my voice trembling. "He had a habit of hiding valuable items everywhere. Codes leading to disguised recesses, false walls—he loved making it a game to find them."

"Like the concealed compartment I found you in." Kaelith's expression remained impassive, but I detected a flicker of interest in those crimson depths. "And you knew these codes, how to find his little hiding holes?"

"Some of them," I admitted, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "He'd taunt me with promises if I could decipher his clues. It was a cruel game, but one I had to learn."

A heavy silence stretched between us as he considered my words. Then, his eyes narrowed, and he gave a quick tilt of his head. "Very well. We'll keep searching."

We pressed on, my nerves fraying with each step deeper into the derelict station's bowels. That's when I noticed them again—a series of scratches and markings etched into the corridor walls. I bit my lip as realization dawned. Those symbols... they were unmistakably Landar's.

"Kaelith..." I began, my voice steadier than I expected. "Those markings—I recognize them."

He whirled to face me, eyes narrowing as he studied the crude etchings. "Explain."