Chapter 5
FIVE
JADE
Jade followed Raikar through the command center's polished corridors, her hand still tingling from where his fingers had brushed hers when he'd claimed her duffel bag.
The sensation refused to fade. She flexed her hand unconsciously, trying to shake off the lingering heat that seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat.
What the hell?
The handshake in his office had been even worse—or better, depending on how she looked at it.
When their palms had connected across his desk, recognition had crashed through her entire nervous system like a tidal wave.
Not the casual acknowledgment of meeting someone new, but something deeper, more primal.
Her soul had clearly recognized his with an intensity that defied logic.
But she didn't believe in soulmates. Love at first sight was a fairy tale construct designed to sell romance novels. Yet something undeniable was happening between them, something that made her skin feel too hot and her pulse race every time she looked at him.
Raikar's broad shoulders filled the space ahead of her, his stride controlled and purposeful.
But she'd been studying him carefully since their introduction, and beneath that commanding exterior, she sensed coiled tension.
He held himself with the rigid control of a man who didn't trust himself to relax, as if one moment of weakness might shatter his carefully maintained composure.
Maybe I'm overreading this.
The man was intense, certainly. Perhaps this was simply how he interacted with everyone—professional distance maintained through sheer force of will.
But something deeper whispered that wasn't true.
The way his jaw had tightened when their hands touched, the brief flash of hunger in those predatory blue eyes before he'd shuttered his expression—that wasn't standard military protocol.
That was desire, raw and barely leashed.
He wants to pull me into his arms.
The thought sent heat rushing to her core, and Jade forced herself to focus intentionally on the bustling command center around them.
She was here to work, to train, to prove herself capable in a world built for predators.
Romance hadn't been part of the plan, and she couldn't afford to let attraction compromise her professionalism.
He's your boss. Temporary or not, there's a hierarchy here.
Raikar stopped at a workstation where twin sisters sat reviewing reports, their heads bent together in quiet discussion.
Both possessed the same athletic build and warm tan skin, though subtle differences marked their personalities before they even spoke.
One carried herself with aggressive energy, her dark hair pulled into a high ponytail that emphasized sharp cheekbones.
The other seemed calmer, more observant, her softer hair framing thoughtful green eyes.
"Talia, Brenn," Raikar's voice carried absolute authority as he interrupted their work. "This is Jade Moreno."
Both women looked up, and Jade immediately cataloged their reactions.
The calmer sister—Brenn, based on Raikar's introductions—offered a genuine smile that reached her eyes.
But Talia's expression remained carefully neutral, her green gaze assessing Jade with the sharp focus of a predator evaluating potential prey.
"Oh, you're the one Gerri told us about," Brenn said, rising from her chair with fluid grace. "The martial arts instructor from Earth."
"That would be me." Jade kept her voice steady, though she couldn't miss the way Talia's lips pressed into a thin line. Skepticism radiated from the other woman like heat from a forge, and Jade recognized the challenge immediately.
She thinks I don't belong here.
The reaction didn't surprise her. She'd faced similar doubt throughout her military service and competitive career—the assumption that someone her size couldn't match the strength of larger opponents.
But doubt had always motivated her to work harder, to prove herself through action rather than words.
Talia would warm up to her eventually. Jade just needed to demonstrate that she could adapt to this shifter world, that human didn't automatically mean weak.
"As you know, Jade will be staying at your home," Raikar continued, his tone brooking no argument. "You'll also be handling her training for now. I'll assist when my schedule allows."
Jade caught the slight tension in his shoulders. He was avoiding training her personally, though she couldn't determine why. Did he doubt her abilities? Or was there another reason he wanted distance between them?
Maybe he feels it too.
"I'm excited to work with you," the calmer sister said, genuine warmth in her voice. "It'll be interesting to learn some human fighting techniques."
Talia's expression remained skeptical. "We understand the objective, sir. We'll see that she gets settled and started with training this afternoon."
The grudging agreement carried undertones of resignation, as if Talia had been assigned an unpleasant duty rather than offered an opportunity. Jade bit back the urge to point out that she hadn't asked for special treatment—she was here to earn her place, not have it handed to her.
"Very well." Raikar turned to hand Jade her duffel bag, and their fingers brushed again as she accepted it.
The contact sent electricity shooting up her arm, and she saw his pupils dilate before he stepped back with almost violent haste. Then he was walking away, his stride just slightly too fast to be casual, as if he needed physical space before his restraint shattered completely.
Jade watched him disappear around a corner, her skin still humming from their brief contact. Whatever was happening between them, it was affecting him as much as it affected her.
"Take Jade to our place and get her situated," Talia told her sister, her tone crisp with authority. "Meet me back here in two hours for her first training session."
Brenn nodded, though annoyance flickered across her features at her sister's rigid behavior. "Of course." She turned to Jade with an apologetic smile. "Ready to see where you'll be staying?"
"Lead the way."
As they headed toward the command center's exit, Jade couldn't resist one last glance over her shoulder. Raikar had completely disappeared deeper into the facility, but the sensation of his touch lingered like a brand against her skin.
Two hours until training.
She had that long to get her head on straight and remember why she was here. Professional development, not personal entanglement. No matter how much her body disagreed with that assessment.
The humid jungle air struck Jade like a physical force the moment they stepped outside the command center.
The moisture clung to her skin with an almost possessive quality, wrapping around her like hands that refused to let go.
She drew a deep breath, tasting the rich earthiness of decomposing leaves and flowering vines that created an intoxicating perfume unlike anything she'd experienced on Earth.
The twin suns blazed overhead, casting everything in an otherworldly light that made the purple foliage shimmer like jewels.
I'm going to have to adapt fast.
Her body would need time to adjust to this climate, especially if she planned to train and work in these conditions for.
.. however long she'd be here. She still didn't know the timeframe, and the oversight gnawed at her.
She should have pressed Raikar for specifics, but that magnetic pull between them had scrambled her usual sharp focus.
The fact that she'd managed any coherent conversation at all felt like a minor miracle.
Brenn glanced at her as they walked along the stone pathway that wound through the territory toward what she assumed was the residential area.
The path stretched ahead for what looked like several miles, carved from pale yellow stone that gleamed in the dual sunlight.
Jade found herself caught between processing the alien beauty around her and the lingering heat that Raikar's touch had left burning through her nervous system.
"I'm still confused about why you're here," Brenn said, her voice carrying genuine curiosity rather than suspicion. "Gerri mentioned something about Raikar looking for strong warriors, and she found you on Earth in some small town?"
Jade frowned slightly. The question struck her as odd—shouldn't Brenn know about her general's recruitment objectives? But military hierarchies could be complicated, and perhaps not everyone was privy to command-level decisions.
"Yeah, it was pretty random," Jade admitted, stepping carefully over a root that had grown across the path. "Gerri just walked into my dojo yesterday and told me about this opportunity. Said Raikar needed warriors to help with missions."
Brenn's expression grew more puzzled, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, her face brightened with interest. "You own a dojo? That's incredible."
"For the past eight years. It's where I teach my martial arts classes and give private lessons. It's been really rewarding." The familiar pride warmed Jade's voice as she spoke about her work. "Building up other fighters—there's something deeply satisfying about that."
"Those skills and experience will prove useful here," Brenn said with enthusiasm. "Especially when we start training you in our methods. Methods that Raikar taught us, actually."
The mention of his name sent another wave of heat through Jade's core, and she forced herself to focus on the conversation.
Brenn fired off another question, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Did you compete back on Earth?"
"Quite a bit, but not for the past two years." The words came out more clipped than Jade had intended.
Brenn's perceptive green eyes caught the shift in tone. "What happened? I sense there's more to that story."
Jade hesitated, then decided honesty might help build trust with her new housemate.
"My adoptive parents died within months of each other three years ago.
I tried to keep competing for about a year after that, but.
.." She shrugged, the gesture failing to convey the depth of grief that had nearly consumed her.
"It stopped bringing me joy. Everything felt empty, like I was going through the motions.
So I switched gears and focused solely on teaching.
That felt more purposeful—helping others reach their potential instead of chasing my own. "
"What about your potential now?" Brenn asked gently. "Do you still think you have room to grow?"
The question hit deeper than expected, striking right at the restless hunger that had been eating at her for months. "Yes. That's exactly why I came to Nova Aurora—to grow, to learn, to challenge myself in ways my life on Earth couldn't offer anymore."
They finally reached a house that perfectly embodied the warmth Jade had sensed in Brenn's personality.
When Jade stepped inside, the structure featured tall windows that invited natural light to flood the interior, and the open layout created an immediate sense of welcome.
Through the expansive windows, she could see the pink ocean shimmering in the distance, its alien beauty framed by the purple jungle canopy.
"Your home is beautiful," Jade said, meaning every word. The space radiated the kind of comfort that came from being genuinely loved and cared for.
"Talia and I try to make it feel like home the way our parents did before they died." Brenn's voice carried old grief softened by time.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. It was five years ago now. We've managed to find purpose under General Raikar's guidance." The reverence in Brenn's tone was unmistakable. "He gave us direction when we needed it most."
These people really do look up to him.
The realization sent an unexpected flutter through Jade's chest. Raikar wasn't just a commanding officer—he was someone his people genuinely trusted and respected.
That said something significant about his character, something that made the attraction she felt toward him seem less like foolish infatuation and more like. ..
She cut off that line of thinking before it could develop further.
Brenn guided her to a guest room that managed to be both cozy and functional. "I'll make us some lunch while you unpack and settle in."
Jade quickly transferred her belongings from the duffel bag to the closet and dresser, but her mind refused to cooperate with the mundane task.
Every few minutes, her thoughts drifted back to Raikar's office—the way his pupils had dilated when their hands touched, the careful control he'd maintained over his expression, the sense that he was holding himself back from something.
What was he holding back from?
She tried to summon her military training, to compartmentalize her emotions and focus on the practical aspects of her situation.
But her body betrayed her every time she remembered that handshake, the electric heat that had shot through her when their skin connected, those blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
Get it together.
"Lunch is ready," Brenn finally called from the kitchen.
They ate in comfortable silence, Brenn clearly understanding that Jade needed time to process her arrival on this alien world. The food was surprisingly familiar—grilled vegetables and what tasted like chicken, though the spices carried exotic notes she couldn't identify.
Fifteen minutes later, Brenn glanced at her watch with the precision of someone accustomed to military schedules. "We really should head back to the command center for training."
Jade's pulse quickened. Going back to the command center meant she might see Raikar again, and despite her best efforts to maintain professional distance, the prospect sent anticipation racing through her veins.
Focus on the work. Prove yourself. Everything else is just distraction.
But as they prepared to leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that her careful control was about to be tested in ways she'd never experienced before.