Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
NIKKOV
Not enemies.
I pull Noelle down on top of me and wrap my arms around her, ecstatic to hear such sweet words.
Though Earth Intelligence works with Galactic Intelligence sometimes one side fails to update the other.
That’s all this is. She’s working undercover and her people never notified us.
If they had, I never would have been assigned this case.
“I am more than relieved, sholani.”
“You’re grinning. I guess the sex was that good, huh?”
“Very good, but that’s not why I’m grinning.
Finding one’s sholani is a blessing but learning she is part of the Brotherhood…
” My horns twist even as they curve behind me.
“I’ve been at a loss of how to convince you that the Brotherhood will only destroy your world, not heal it.
Now, there are no worries. We are, as you say, allies. Though much, much more.”
She runs a hand along my right horn. “I guess leaving those sacks behind made me look bad.”
“You, female, are too beautiful to ever look bad.” I smack her bare ass.
“Do that again and you’ll see how bad I can be.”
Vekk, but my cocks harden so easily for this female. “We shall continue this later, after we deliver the last of the blaster parts.”
“We?” Noelle slides from me as she shakes her head.
“You can’t accompany me anywhere. You’ll blow my cover and this op if you change your behavior now.
If anything, you should make it clear to the volunteers when they come in that you’re no longer going to be Santa because you have found no evidence of blasters here, and then leave. ”
“I cannot leave you.”
Noelle hurriedly dresses. “You have to.”
“I’ll continue playing Santa for the toy drive, but I’m not leaving. You’re in danger. Twice now, males have attacked or stolen from you.”
“All part of the job.”
“I shall remain in the open and continue searching for blasters here, as if I still suspect you and your project. That will give your undercover role credibility.”
She tilts her head, thinking about it. “I hadn’t considered that.”
“It’s settled. I’m staying.”
My sholani cups my cheeks and stares into my face with eyes so blue she could be zyanthan. But she’s not. She’s human. These humans have a fierceness—and stubbornness—to them I don’t often see. Before she speaks, I know she’s going to tell me to leave.
“Nikkov, I can’t have you here now that you know who I am.”
“I will not reveal your identity.”
“I just can’t have you here.” Her lips seize mine one last time. The passion remains, but the kiss ends too soon. “You need to go. Now. I promise, I will be fine.”
My horns rise on their own, as they often do when someone lies to me.
It’s an instinct I trust more than words.
She claims to be an Earth Intelligence agent and not part of the Brotherhood.
I want to believe her, believe that my sholani is not part of a network of traitors.
But the pieces don’t fit. If she truly is part of Earth Intelligence, why refuse my help?
Why push me away when we share the same enemy?
The answer hits me hard and cold. The reason Earth Intelligence never informed Galactic Intelligence of this operation is because it doesn’t exist. Her claims of being from Earth Intelligence are the lie, one she spun to keep me from arresting her and her contacts.
My stomach sours. Not only is my sholani my enemy, but she feels no bond, no connection to me. For if she did, she would not use me. Would not lie to me.
I have no sholani, only the ghost of one…