hidden compartment of his desk. He stood, triggered the door release and stepped into the hall.
33
She was close. She’d come as close to his room as a human was allowed. Maybe near the meeting hall, or even the observatory? Those were only one corridor over. This was the normal Briel female reaction, home in on her mate, get close enough to drive him crazy. Haylie probably wasn’t even aware of what was going on.
He paused outside his room, confusion flooding his mind. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, pushing the mix of adrenaline and hormones through his body, forcing his arousal higher and clogging his brain. What was he doing? Finding his mystery human wasn’t going to get him what he wanted, a wife and family. This was a mistake. Briel didn’t have casual relationships, and that’s all this could be. Briel only mated with Briel. A human…it shouldn’t be possible.
So why was everything about his reaction to her screaming that she was the one?
“Are you well, Ambassador?” The security guard posted outside his quarters said from behind him.
“Yes, thank you. I’m going for a walk. I’ll be gone for a short while.”
“Would you like an escort, sir?”
Uncontrollable rage flashed through him, his hands balled into fists. Only through a fight would he let another man near Haylie. Kamran gave his head a shake and tried to relax. No, he wasn’t thinking clearly. It was the bonding playing havoc on his mind as it pulled at him from deep within his genetic code. He had to fight it, maintain control over his senses until he knew for sure she was the one. Knew beyond a doubt she was his mate.
“Ambassador?” the guard asked again.
“No, thank you,” he said through clenched teeth.
He didn’t turn to see the guard’s reaction and stalked down the hall.
People were everywhere at this hour. The bazaar had thinned out and the people had shifted over to the bars and local social establishments. The humans certainly enjoyed their entertainment. With everyone about, it took Kamran longer to pick up her scent. He stopped, closed his eyes and breathed deeply. There it was. Her scent drifted on top of the chaos that assaulted his senses. Definitely near the observation room.
He pivoted and went down the hall parallel to the one he’d emerged from. He passed several meeting rooms, the materials interconnect lab and the reliability lab. All were deserted this late at night. No one would disturb them.
The observation room was the last one on the left-hand side of this hall. Normally, it would take Kamran no more than five minutes to walk the short distance. Two if he ran. Running, however, seemed out of the question. He tried to jog at first, but an increasing pressure on his chest slowed him down. He stopped after only a few seconds and slumped against the wall.
“What…?”
34
His voice choked off, caught somewhere deep in his throat. He looked down the hall, blinking to clear his blurry vision. Where was he and what in the maker’s name was wrong with his feet?
Move!
His brain coaxed his body forward again, but he remained against the wall for support. He knew if kept moving and made it to the end of the hall, somehow everything would be all right. He smacked his fist against his head, knowing he was forgetting something.
Keep moving down the hall and to the left.
Why was that again?
His breathing became labored and Kamran had to consciously think about taking the next lungful of air. He felt like his body was being pulled back by invisible strings. It would be easier to move backward. He should turn around.
No, keep going. You’re almost there.
Ahead of him, perhaps five feet away, was an open door. Down the hall and on the left.
Kamran’s body shook violently from the strain. He collapsed at the entrance. He gave up. He felt more than heard the gasp that left his body, the last breath of air that lived in his lungs. The cold deck plating of the floor sent a jolt of pain
33
She was close. She’d come as close to his room as a human was allowed. Maybe near the meeting hall, or even the observatory? Those were only one corridor over. This was the normal Briel female reaction, home in on her mate, get close enough to drive him crazy. Haylie probably wasn’t even aware of what was going on.
He paused outside his room, confusion flooding his mind. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, pushing the mix of adrenaline and hormones through his body, forcing his arousal higher and clogging his brain. What was he doing? Finding his mystery human wasn’t going to get him what he wanted, a wife and family. This was a mistake. Briel didn’t have casual relationships, and that’s all this could be. Briel only mated with Briel. A human…it shouldn’t be possible.
So why was everything about his reaction to her screaming that she was the one?
“Are you well, Ambassador?” The security guard posted outside his quarters said from behind him.
“Yes, thank you. I’m going for a walk. I’ll be gone for a short while.”
“Would you like an escort, sir?”
Uncontrollable rage flashed through him, his hands balled into fists. Only through a fight would he let another man near Haylie. Kamran gave his head a shake and tried to relax. No, he wasn’t thinking clearly. It was the bonding playing havoc on his mind as it pulled at him from deep within his genetic code. He had to fight it, maintain control over his senses until he knew for sure she was the one. Knew beyond a doubt she was his mate.
“Ambassador?” the guard asked again.
“No, thank you,” he said through clenched teeth.
He didn’t turn to see the guard’s reaction and stalked down the hall.
People were everywhere at this hour. The bazaar had thinned out and the people had shifted over to the bars and local social establishments. The humans certainly enjoyed their entertainment. With everyone about, it took Kamran longer to pick up her scent. He stopped, closed his eyes and breathed deeply. There it was. Her scent drifted on top of the chaos that assaulted his senses. Definitely near the observation room.
He pivoted and went down the hall parallel to the one he’d emerged from. He passed several meeting rooms, the materials interconnect lab and the reliability lab. All were deserted this late at night. No one would disturb them.
The observation room was the last one on the left-hand side of this hall. Normally, it would take Kamran no more than five minutes to walk the short distance. Two if he ran. Running, however, seemed out of the question. He tried to jog at first, but an increasing pressure on his chest slowed him down. He stopped after only a few seconds and slumped against the wall.
“What…?”
34
His voice choked off, caught somewhere deep in his throat. He looked down the hall, blinking to clear his blurry vision. Where was he and what in the maker’s name was wrong with his feet?
Move!
His brain coaxed his body forward again, but he remained against the wall for support. He knew if kept moving and made it to the end of the hall, somehow everything would be all right. He smacked his fist against his head, knowing he was forgetting something.
Keep moving down the hall and to the left.
Why was that again?
His breathing became labored and Kamran had to consciously think about taking the next lungful of air. He felt like his body was being pulled back by invisible strings. It would be easier to move backward. He should turn around.
No, keep going. You’re almost there.
Ahead of him, perhaps five feet away, was an open door. Down the hall and on the left.
Kamran’s body shook violently from the strain. He collapsed at the entrance. He gave up. He felt more than heard the gasp that left his body, the last breath of air that lived in his lungs. The cold deck plating of the floor sent a jolt of pain
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