Rokan

ROKAN

I flipped out the window, my muscles tensing as I gripped the ledge. The wind whipped around me as I scaled the hotel's exterior, my fingers finding purchase on minuscule protrusions. Within moments, I hauled myself onto the roof.

The city stretched before me, a sea of neon and shadows, blending into the jungle beyond.

The world tilted suddenly, my vision blurring. I stumbled, gripping the ledge of the roof to steady myself. A wave of nausea hit, familiar and unwelcome.

"Damn it," I growled.

The poison Arilee had slipped me lingered, a ghost in my system. I'd thought I'd purged it completely, but this dizzy spell proved otherwise. My body fought against the remnants, determined to rid itself of the last traces.

I rubbed my temples, trying to clear the fog. The dizziness faded, leaving only a slight echo of discomfort. Or maybe that was just because I really, really didn't want to make this call.

In a moment, Davor's gruff face materialized on the screen of my percomm.

". About time. Where's the girl?"

I tightened my jaw. "There's been a complication."

Davor's eyes narrowed. "What kind of complication?"

"I..." The words caught in my throat. I ran a hand through my hair, wincing as I brushed against a tender spot. "It's taking longer than expected."

"Longer? You're one of our best. This should have been a simple retrieval."

I nodded, averting my gaze. Davor leaned closer to the screen, a slight raise of one eyebrow the only change in his expression. For him, it was like shouting. Should have known I couldn't keep anything from the old man.

"You look like shit. What happened?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Bullshit. I've known you too long, . What's going on?"

I clenched my jaw, conflicting emotions warring within me. "I can't do it, Davor. I can't complete the job."

Silence stretched between us. When Davor spoke again, his eyes were flat, dangerous. "That's not an option. You know that."

"I have to. You don't understand-"

"Then make me understand," Davor growled.

The weight of Davor's gaze bore into me through the percomm screen. My chest tightened as I struggled to find the words. How could I explain something I barely understood myself?

"She's mine," I blurted out, the words falling like heavy stones.

Davor's eyes widened, his jaw slackening. "What?"

I exhaled slowly, my fingers curling into fists. "Arilee. The human. She's... she's my mate."

The admission still shocked me. I'd known it deep down, but saying it aloud made it real. Inescapable.

"That's unexpected," Davor said, his voice measured. "Are you certain?"

I nodded, my throat dry. "I've never felt anything like this before. It's like she's crawled under my skin, into my very bones."

The movement of the city roared below me, but I barely noticed. My mind filled with images of Arilee - her defiant blue eyes, the curve of her lips, the softness of her skin against mine.

"I thought I was broken," I continued, the words spilling out. "After the war, I felt... nothing. For years. But now..."

Davor's expression softened slightly. "Now you feel everything."

"Yes." The intensity of it was overwhelming. Desire, protectiveness, fear - emotions I'd long since buried clawed their way to the surface.

"I can't give her back to Gorin," I declared. "I won't."

Davor was silent for a long moment, lips pressed together in thought. Finally, he sighed. "If she truly is your mate... I'll see what I can do."

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The reality of the situation crashed back down.

"I'll buy her from Gorin," I said. "Make it all legal. Whatever it takes."

Davor nodded slowly. "I'll start the contact. But you know Gorin is going to milk this for all its worth, . It's not going to be easy."

A wry smile tugged at my lips. "Nothing about Arilee is easy."

Davor snorted. "You've got that right. Alright, I'll make some calls. Keep her safe in the meantime."

The call ended, and I was left alone with my thoughts. The city sprawled below, a cacophony of lights and sounds, but it all faded into the background.

Arilee was my mate. The realization should have filled me with joy, but instead, I felt a gnawing anxiety. I was damaged goods - scarred by war and years of emotional numbness. What did I have to offer her?

I woke to the soft sound of Arilee's breathing beside me. The early morning light filtered through the hotel room's curtains, casting a warm glow across her sleeping form. My heart clenched as I watched her, memories of the night before flooding back.

The call with Davor. The realization that Arilee was my mate. The weight of what that meant.

I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and made my way to the window. The city was already bustling below, the streets filled with beings of all species going about their day. A group of Xarnaki merchants haggled over the price of exotic fruits at a nearby stall. A Kolluskian diplomat hurried past, tentacles twitching nervously as he spoke into his comm device.

But I barely registered any of it. My mind whirled, trying to make sense of everything. How could I explain this to Arilee? How could I make her understand what being my mate meant when I barely understood it myself?

"?"

Arilee sat up in bed, her blonde hair tousled from sleep. Her blue eyes fixed on me immediately.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. Just... thinking."

She raised an eyebrow. "About?"

I sighed, moving back to the bed and sitting on the edge. "About us. About what happens next."

Arilee tensed, pulling the sheet tighter around herself. "What do you mean?"

I scrubbed my hands through my hair. Could I possibly find the right words? "Arilee, there's something I need to tell you. Something I only just realized myself."

She waited, her expression guarded.

"You're my mate," I said, the words feeling strange on my tongue.

Arilee pursed her lips. "Your... mate? What does that mean?"

I felt stupid, my tongue thick in my mouth. "For Vinduthi, it's a bond. It's biological, instinctual. We're drawn to our mates in a way that can't be explained. We don't always know. But sometimes…"

Arilee's eyes widened. "And you think I'm yours?"

I nodded. "I know it."

She stood abruptly, pulling on her clothing before pacing the room. "So what, I'm just supposed to accept this? To give up my freedom because your biology says so?"

Her words stung, but I understood her reaction. "No, that's not-"

"How is this any different from being Gorin's slave?" she demanded, whirling to face me. "Trading one master for another?"

I flinched. "It's not like that. I don't want to own you, Arilee. I want to protect you, to-"

"To what?" she snapped. "To keep me? To control me?"

"No!" I stood, frustration building. "I want you to be free. But I also want you safe."

Arilee laughed bitterly. "And you think you can give me that?"

I looked away, shame washing over me. "I know I'm not good enough," I said quietly. "I'm broken, Arilee. The war... it changed me. I don't know if I can be what you need."

Her expression softened slightly. ", it's not about you being good enough. It's about me having the right to choose my own path."

I nodded, understanding dawning. "You're right. I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed."

Arilee sighed, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "I appreciate that you want to protect me. But I need to be free to make my own decisions."

"Even if those decisions put you in danger?" I asked, unable to keep the worry from my voice.

She met my gaze steadily. "Yes. Even then."

We stood in silence, the weight of our words hanging between us. Outside, a street vendor's cry echoed up from below, advertising "Fresh Limintu! Straight from the Crimson Sands!"

Finally, I spoke. "What if... what if I helped you get your freedom? Legally?"

Arilee's eyes narrowed. "How?"

"I could buy your contract from Gorin," I explained. "Then immediately release you. You'd be free, with no one able to claim ownership over you."

She considered this, her expression thoughtful. "And what would you want in return?"

"Nothing," I said firmly. "Your freedom would be yours, no strings attached."

Arilee studied me, as if trying to read the truth in my eyes. "And if I chose to leave? To never see you again?"

The thought sent a spike of pain through my chest, but I forced myself to nod. "That would be your choice. I won't lie and say it wouldn't hurt, but... I'm serious about your freedom, Arilee. Even if that means being free of me."

She was quiet, her fingers twisting as her gaze drifting to the window. I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind, weighing her options.

"Okay," she said finally, turning back to me. "Let's do it. Buy my contract. Set me free."

Relief flooded through me, followed quickly by anxiety. "You're sure?"

Arilee nodded. "Yes. But ... this doesn't mean I'm agreeing to be your mate. I need time to figure out what I want."

"I understand," I said, even as my heart ached. "Your freedom comes first."

She stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch my arm, my skin tingling where her fingers rested.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For giving me a choice."

I covered her hand with mine, savoring the warmth of her touch. "Always."

I could feel the pull between us, the invisible thread that tied us together. But I wouldn't act on it. Not until Arilee was truly free to choose.

"So," she said, breaking the silence. "What's our next move?"

I straightened, pushing aside my emotions. "We contact Gorin. And hope he's in a bargaining mood."