Page 43 of Eclipse Sector

My gaze narrowed. “I’ve done nothing.”

“Then I’m sure she’s fine.” He shrugged, his shoulders bare rather than clothed. “As to your questions, Fritz was recently mind-fucked by an Alpha. I doubt he would appreciate sharing a room with a renowned telepath. And you’ve expressed concerns that Benz wishes you bodily harm, so I assumed you wouldn’t want him as a roommate.”

He paused, but I sensed it wasn’t because he wanted me to reply. He seemed distracted by something—or, more likely,someone—in the distance.

Still, I felt it necessary to say, “I expressed my objections to Benz’s assignment because his violent thoughts toward me make it likely that he won’t respect me as his commander. At no point did I express fear or concern for my personal safety. That excuse is a stretch and you know it.”

“Hmm, well, if I’m wrong, then make the switch,” he replied distractedly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my Omega is pregnant and requires my knot.”

The focus of the camera shifted away from him, the wall of his bedroom suite coming into view as Quinnlynn said something in response to Kieran’s crass commentary.

“I want an electronic copy of the room arrangements,” I interjected before he could hang up.

It would save me from having to ask Fritz about that piece of paper. I wasn’t even sure it contained the information I desired anyway. For all I knew, it’d been a random report of some kind. Or a letter.

Kieran’s face reappeared. “Seems like a waste of time, but fine. I’ll send it this evening.”

He might find it to be a waste of time, but I sure as hell didn’t. I needed to figure out a way to fix this so I could properly concentrate on my assignment.

The scene changed once more on the screen, showing the wall again before Kieran’s face returned to view.

“Oh, and, Cillian,” he went on. “If you ever needlessly bother me again while I’m in my Queen’s nest, I’ll drop you in the middle of an Infected pit.”

“I would just shadow out of it,” I pointed out.

He shrugged again. “I would do it all the same.”

“Kieran,” Quinnlynn chastised in the background, her tone reminding me of Ivana’s from moments ago.

He merely smiled. “Coming, darling.”

The screen went dark, leaving me shaking my head at the other man as I pulled up a keyboard to type,Matchmaking doesn’t suit you.I hitSendand closed the screen.

My wrist buzzed a second later.

I almost ignored it.

But my pride forced me to read Kieran’s reply.

And I immediately regretted the decision.

Because his words hit me right in the fucking heart.

Being a martyr doesn’t suit you, either, old friend.

CHAPTER TEN

IVANA

This has gotto be a joke,I thought, glaring at the bed.

Sure, it was a nice size. A king. Maybe even a little bigger. But it was a solitary fixture. Single. Only one.

A growl escaped me as I paced before it, my silky pajama pants swishing with each step.I can’t share this bed with Cillian. I just can’t. Not with all the dreams I’ve been having about him.

Gods, how embarrassing would it be to fantasize about a mind reader while sleeping beside him? He’d hear every word. Witness every detail.

Then he’d pity me even more.