Silas: Imperial Warrior (A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Romance) by Ashley West Page B

Silas said as Katia drove. "It wasn't intentional."
    "'Walked in' is kind of mild for what you actually did," she pointed out. "That was more of a definite 'burst', you know. And it's alright. Maybe knock next time you think I'm being killed."
    "I'll see what I can do," he said. "It's not really how I operate, though. In my line of work, hesitation can mean someone dies. I didn't want that to be you."
    Glancing at her, he could see that she was trying to appear like she was still being stern, but there was a smile playing in the corners of her mouth. It was a lovely thing, and he wanted to reach out and trace it with his fingers. He didn't, though, instead keeping his hands to himself.
    He wasn't here to find someone to touch anyway. He was here to... Well, he wasn't supposed to be here in the first place, but for right now, he had a mission. Finding his ship and whatever was left of it was paramount. Who knew what was happening on Gathra and the surrounding planets while he was here enjoying himself. Silas needed to focus.
    That never used to be a problem for him. His job was his life, really. Being a member of HIMA meant giving up other things. It meant that when the Empress needed you, you dropped everything to go do what she bid. It meant that your safety was second to the safety of others and that everything you did was for the good of your people.
    He'd always believed that. It had always been the way he lived his life, ever since he'd joined up. Sometimes he had time for drinks or dating, the occasional tumble with a pretty girl, but he'd always known that he wasn't likely to have more than that.
    And that was fine.
    He'd chosen this life because it was right for him, and he had no regrets.
    None at all.
    "What's wrong?" Katia asked, and Silas shook himself from his thoughts.
    "Nothing. Why would something be wrong?"
    "Because I asked you if your job was really that bleak, and you were staring morosely into space for the last thirty seconds?" she said. "Which probably answers my question, I guess."
    "It's not bleak," Silas told her. "It's just the way things are. Someone has to make those sacrifices, and I chose to be that person. It's an honor."
    "If you say so," she said. "Can we talk about something less depressing?"
    Silas nodded. He didn't want to dwell on sad things. "Of course."
    "Great. So, the article said that two little boys found the smoking wreck of your ship and then went to find their parents. The parents called the police, of course, but they live in Butler and nothing ever happens quickly in Butler, so I'm willing to bet it's all still out there waiting for you."
    A frown furrowed his brow. "The law enforcement won't have done anything? It's been seven days."
    Apparently that was funny because Katia laughed. "I'd be surprised if they even took the woman seriously. If it's not a murder or some high profile robbery, then the police in Butler aren't really on the job. Smoking wreckage probably isn't in their job description, and with no one reported missing, they don't really have a reason to care."
    And people wondered why humans had such a bad reputation. If things like this were allowed to happen, then it was no wonder. But he supposed he shouldn't be complaining. It worked in his favor, after all, since he wanted it to be undisturbed.
    "I can't believe you walked this far with those injuries," Katia said, shaking her head as she took a turn. "It's like ten miles from out here to my house."
    Silas shrugged a shoulder. "I didn't have a choice."
    "But why didn't you stop at some other place and ask for help? Why my house?" From the way she asked it, it seemed like it was something that had been bothering her for a while. Honestly, Silas didn't have a real answer for her. It hadn't been intentional, he'd been so out of it once he'd pulled himself from the smoking wreck of his ship.
    "I don't know," he replied honestly. "Nowhere else felt right. I walked and I saw lights and vehicles, but they didn't seem