Page 15 of Honor Bound (Project Gliese 581g #4)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

T he soft hum of the Star Runner’s engines reverberated through the bridge, a constant reminder of the space surrounding them. La’Rue sat at the controls, her hands moving with ease as she guided the freighter through the dense asteroid field. The forward viewscreen displayed a treacherous expanse—a swirling dance of rock and dust that seemed to close in around them.

Roan stood at her side, his gaze fixed on the viewscreen. His body was tense, his eyes flicking over the obstacles ahead with practiced precision. “That cluster—dust particles,” he said, nodding toward a faint gray haze. “Safe to pass through.”

La’Rue raised an eyebrow but adjusted their course. “And the one just beyond it?”

Roan’s jaw tightened. “Not dust. Solid rock. Stay clear.”

Julia leaned against the co-pilot’s seat behind him, watching. La’Rue movements on the controls were calm and controlled. His focus flashed from her confident control back to the viewscreen. When the sleek shape of his personal starship came into view, nestled against a massive asteroid, his body stiffened.

His throat tightened as the memory of his grandfather’s death swept over him. The ship was a reminder of everything he had lost—and everything he had yet to do.

Julia, sensing his reaction, slid her hand to rest on his shoulder. The touch was gentle but grounding, a silent acknowledgment of his grief and their shared memory.

Roan glanced up over his shoulder at her. The steadiness in her eyes eased the tightness in his chest. He took a breath, letting determination replace the sorrow, but he still couldn’t quiet his doubts.

She shouldn’t be here. The mission has changed.

He had originally planned to leave Julia with Dorane, asking the man to protect her. Now that seemed foolish. Dorane needed to be warned—and Roan still needed his help. With the current situation, there was no way he taking Julia into the pit of danger. Not with Zoak hunting Dorane.

I don’t want her out of my sight.

The thought of leaving her behind—to keep her safe— should have felt like the right choice. It was the logical one. The tactical one.

She shouldn’t be anywhere near this, the voice in his head kept repeating until he gritted his teeth in frustration.

He considered leaving her with La’Rue and Sergi for a moment, but something inside him rebelled at the thought. The same cold, ruthless part of himself that had learned to cut away weakness, to survive, never to need anyone— that part hesitated .

And yet… I can’t send her away.

And that was dangerous.

He glanced at Julia, taking in the stubborn set of her jaw, the fire in her dark brown eyes. No fear. Only certainty.

She’s already made her decision.

And for the first time in his life, Roan found himself afraid— not for himself, but for someone else, for her .

The conflict warred within him. He couldn’t protect Julia if he wasn’t there… and he didn’t want to risk putting her in danger by taking her with him. If he had been smarter, he would have insisted she stay on the Tracer with Hutu. Sergi’s voice broke his internal turmoil.

“We’re close. I’ll take the shuttle and drop you off,” Sergi said, his eyes flickering between Roan and Julia. “Both of you, yes?”

Roan hesitated, his jaw tightening. His attention moved to Julia. “It’s too dangerous,” he said finally. “More dangerous than anything you’ve faced so far. Sergi and La’Rue need take you to Hutu. I should never have brought you here.”

Julia folded her arms, arching an eyebrow. “Should never—?” She leaned closer, her voice calm but firm. “If what you told me last night is true, you’ll need someone with my knowledge, training and experience. Besides,” she added with a faint smile, “I’m the one who broke you out. Not the other way around. There was never a should of what you should do with me.”

Sergi let out a hearty laugh. “Don’t argue, Roan. Julia will always win. Trust me. Save yourself the trouble and just agree.”

La’Rue smirked, nodding in approval. “She’s got guts. I have to give her credit for that. I saw how she stood up to sour-face Landais, and breaking you out— That takes some major nerves of steel and more than a little bit of insanity.”

Roan shook his head, his lips twitching despite himself. Her stubbornness shouldn’t have surprised him anymore, but it still did.

La’Rue’s expression turned serious as she adjusted the ship’s trajectory. “Where are you planning to go?”

Roan’s voice dropped, steady and deliberate. “To Dorane.”

La’Rue shot him a sharp look. “Dorane? Did Sergi perchance tell you that either your father or uncle has sent a Turbinta assassin after him? You think he’ll help you with, you know, you being related and all?”

Roan gave a faint smile, his tone carefully neutral. “Dorane doesn’t have much love for the Legion, but we have understanding.”

“That’s an understatement,” La’Rue muttered, keeping her eyes on the viewscreen. “Dorane’s not exactly a fan of anyone who interferes with his business—or his independence. He’s a merchant, sure, but he’s no simple trader. He’s dangerous in his own way.”

Sergi leaned back against the bulkhead, crossing his arms. “This Dorane… he has resources and connections most people only dream about, yes?” Roan nodded. Sergi shrugged. “Then, if anyone can get you deep into Legion-controlled space, he’s the one.”

Roan nodded slowly. “He’ll help—if it benefits him. But it’s more complicated than that. Dorane and I have… history.”

La’Rue raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “History? Care to share?”

Roan’s lips curved into a faint smile, but he didn’t elaborate. “Let’s just say we’ve crossed paths a time or two.”

The tension on the bridge deepened, but it wasn’t fear—it was the kind of quiet anticipation that precedes a storm. Roan’s pulse quickened. He could feel the weight of what was coming, the risks they were about to take. But fear wasn’t what filled him—it was resolve.

Sergi clapped his hands together, breaking the heavy silence. “Well, then. Let’s get you both to the shuttle. The sooner you are off it, the sooner we can all get back to making bad decisions.”

Julia chuckled, tension easing just enough for her to breathe again. She glanced at Roan, her eyes meeting his once more. “I think we’ve got this.”

Roan’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

* * *

The ship hummed around him, the quiet rhythm a steady contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in Roan’s mind. His fingers flew across the console, initiating the jump sequence. The stars blurred, collapsing into streaming lines of light as they slipped into faster-than-light travel.

He exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing marginally. They were safe for now—safe enough. But safety was a fleeting thing these days. He tapped a series of commands into the console, establishing a secure comm link. Dorane would be expecting him… or at least expecting trouble.

The monitor flickered to life, and Dorane LeGaugh’s face appeared—calm, handsome, and completely unreadable. His calculating smile gave nothing away, though his eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.

“Well, well. General Roan Landais. Imagine my surprise. I thought you’d be dead by now.” Dorane’s tone was light, but there was steel beneath it. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepling beneath his chin. “Tell me, how did the family reunion go?”

“As well as could be expected,” Roan replied, his tone equally dry.

Dorane chuckled. “Ah. That bad, then.” He studied Roan for a moment, his expression shifting to something more thoughtful. “I heard rumors you’d found another Ancient Knight. Tell me, are the whispers true?”

Roan hesitated, weighing his options. Dorane wasn’t an enemy, but he wasn’t exactly an ally either. Finally, he nodded. “It’s true.”

Dorane’s eyes narrowed slightly, but the flicker of interest was quickly masked. “And the last one? Have you found him yet?”

Roan raised an eyebrow. “Odd question.”

“Is it?” Dorane smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His attention seemed to flicker briefly off screen before returning to Roan.

Roan frowned. Something wasn’t right. “We’ll have that conversation when I get there.”

Dorane leaned forward. “You’re coming to Cryon II?”

“Yes. I need to see you in person.”

Dorane’s smile faltered for the first time. “Cryon II isn’t exactly open for Legion Generals right now.” His gaze flickered off-screen again, and Roan’s unease deepened.

“You don’t have much of a choice. Besides, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s only one General Landais and it’s not me,” Roan said bluntly. “Zoak has been sent after you.”

Dorane barked out a laugh, the tension breaking for a moment. “Zoak? That’s old news, my friend. I’ve known about the bounty on my head for days. Let him come—I could use the entertainment.”

Roan’s jaw tightened. “Zoak may not be the only one. The Legion rarely sends just one assassin.”

Dorane’s amusement faded, replaced by something sharper. “Fair point.” He leaned back, tapping his fingers against the armrest. “So, what’s the real reason for your visit? This could have been handled with a transmission.”

“The information is too sensitive. I’ll explain when I arrive.”

Dorane’s eyes narrowed, his scrutiny locking on Roan. After a long pause, he nodded once. “Very well. But let me be clear—don’t bring your trouble to my doors. I’ve worked hard to keep Cryon II off the Legion’s radar, and I’d hate for you to ruin my spotless record.”

Before Roan could respond, Dorane’s attention flicked away again. The screen went dark a second later.

Roan stared at the blank monitor, his mind racing. Dorane’s distraction hadn’t been accidental. Something was happening on Cryon II.

His fingers tightened briefly around the edge of the console. He needed Dorane’s help, but trusting him was always a gamble.

With the ship’s destination locked, Roan programmed the shields to maximum and set the computer to scan for any nearby ships. Satisfied for now, he rose to his feet and left the bridge.

* * *

The warm scent of his favorite tea greeted him as he stepped into the galley a short time later. Julia stood in front of the food preparation machine, studying the instructions on the back of one of the ready-to-eat meals. Her back was to him so he couldn’t see her face. The light caught her hair, giving it a soft, golden glow.

She glanced over her shoulder when she heard him enter, her lips curving into a faint smile. The quiet comfort of the moment hit him harder than it should have.

Roan paused, his breath catching unexpectedly. It wasn’t just attraction—he’d known that since he first saw her. It was something deeper, more dangerous. It unsettled him in a way nothing else ever had.

For years, he’d avoided attachments. Connections made a person vulnerable, gave their enemies something to exploit. His relationships had always been transactional—clean, controlled, and disposable.

Julia was none of those things.

She looked at him, her eyes calm and steady, but there was a warmth in them that drew him in. He stepped closer, the purr of the ship fading into the background.

“Everything okay?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.

He didn’t answer. Words seemed pointless.

Instead, he closed the distance between them, lifting a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, the warmth of her skin anchoring him in a way he hadn’t realized he needed.

Julia’s breath caught, her eyes searching his. The air between them seemed to hum with something unspoken—something fragile but undeniable.

And then, as if pulled by a force greater than either of them, he leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was slow at first, almost hesitant, but it deepened quickly, urgency and emotion intertwining when she responded with a ferocity that scorched through him hotter than any laser knife. His hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer, and she responded without hesitation, her fingers curling into his shirt.

For a moment, everything else—Dorane, Zoak, the Legion—faded into the background.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling in the quiet. Roan’s heart pounded, the intensity of the moment catching him off guard.

“Julia…” His voice was rough, barely a whisper.

Her eyes fluttered open, a soft smile playing on her lips. “If you’re about to say something about this being a bad idea, don’t.”

He chuckled softly, his tension easing. “I wasn’t.”

“Good.”

They stood like that for a moment longer, lost in the connection they had forged. But reality was never far behind.

Roan stepped back reluctantly, his fingers trailing down her arm before intertwining with her fingers. The mission was still there, waiting, demanding their attention, but he wanted time where it was just the two of them.

“Sergi reminded me that life is short. That I should live it to the fullest while I can,” she said, her voice quiet.

Roan’s eyes widened as the meaning behind her words sank in. His breath hissed when she lifted her free hand and caressed his cheek. There was a question—a subtle challenge—in her eyes that dared him to deny what was going on between them. He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, and accepted what she was offering—a chance for just a little while for the world to be normal.

“Are you sure? There will be no going back. Once you are mine, I won’t let you go,” he murmured, drawing her back into his arms.

“Who said I would let you?” she retorted, tangling her hand in his hair and pulling his lips down to meet hers.

* * *

The familiar sounds of the ship were a soothing constant, vibrating softly beneath the mattress of the bed. Julia nuzzled in the curve of Roan’s arm, her cheek resting against his bare chest, her fingers playing with the hair on his chest. The warmth of his body and the thin sheet covering kept the chill in the room from being uncomfortable and made her reluctant to move.

Her eyelids drooped as she breathed in his familiar scent. The steady rise and fall of his breathing and the rhythm of his heartbeat soothed her chaotic thoughts—anchoring her to the present when her thoughts kept drifting back to the past.

She could feel his hand moving gently along her back and down along her hip, a slow, comforting caress compared to their heated lovemaking a short while ago. Even his soothing touch couldn’t chase away the heaviness pressing on her chest.

“You’re thinking too hard again. I hope you aren’t having second thoughts because I’m not,” Roan murmured, his voice a quiet rumble against her ear.

Julia exhaled, closing her eyes for a brief moment. “I’ve had second thoughts before, but not this time,” she replied, her voice low.

She felt him tense, his body stiffening slightly beneath her. When he started to pull away, Julia instinctively tightened her grip on him, pressing her cheek harder against his chest.

“No… stay,” she said softly. “It’s not what you think.”

He didn’t move, his hand stilling on her back as he waited. The silence stretched between them, warm and patient, giving her the space she needed.

Her throat tightened. Where did she even begin? Sharing this part of her life was like peeling back scar tissue—painful and raw.

She took a deep breath, her fingers curling into his shirt. “Before the mission… before all of this… my father and I worked for four years trying to secure funding for the Gliese 581g project. It was ambitious—far bigger than anything we’d ever done before. The costs were astronomical.” She let out a dry laugh. “We needed both public and private funding from more than one country just to make it a reality.”

Roan stayed silent, his hand resuming its slow circles on her back. That small gesture gave her the strength to continue.

“One of the companies I approached belonged to Markus Landborne. A billionaire tech mogul. Charming, brilliant… dangerous in ways I didn’t see at the time.”

Her voice faltered, but she pushed on. “At first, it was business—strictly professional. But the meetings got longer, more personal. One night, we had dinner. Then another. Eventually, we started dating.” She paused, swallowing hard. “He asked me to marry him, and I said yes. I never set a date… I was always too busy. Part of me knew something wasn’t right, but I ignored it.”

Her breath hitched, and she forced herself to sit up, wrapping the top sheet around her body like a shield. She couldn’t look at Roan, not yet. The memories were pressing in too fast and vivid now.

“With Markus’s influence, we secured funding from several countries and a group of private investors. They insisted the mission remain secret. My father hated that. He believed the discovery of alien life—or the technology to reach it—belonged to everyone. He was adamant that it couldn’t be owned by a single person or nation. He only agreed because they promised the information would be shared once we confirmed something truly alien existed.”

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the sheet. “That’s when Markus changed, or maybe I should say revealed his true identity.”

Roan shifted beside her, his focus riveted on her. She didn’t dare meet his eyes. Not yet.

“He started pushing for more access—for insider information about the technology we were developing. I refused. I wouldn’t betray my father’s trust. It… didn’t sit well with Markus.”

Her voice cracked, and she took a shuddering breath. “I was going to break off the engagement. I’d made up my mind. But, before I could… the accident happened.”

Her chest constricted, the words scraping against her throat. Her father’s face flashed in her mind—kind and determined, with that endless spark of curiosity. Gone. Just like that.

“I was supposed to be on the helicopter with him, with my father and the other crew members,” she whispered. “I would’ve been with them… but I got delayed.”

The tears she’d held back for so long burned behind her eyes. She wouldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of Roan.

“I survived because of a scheduling conflict,” she said bitterly. “Markus was shocked when he found out I was still alive. I should’ve seen the truth then… but grief makes you blind to things you don’t want to believe.”

Her voice grew quieter, trembling with the weight of the next words. “Admiral Greenburg sent me a message a year into the Gliese mission. He told me it wasn’t an accident. It had been a power play—calculated and deliberate. Four people had conspired to bring the helicopters down. Markus was one of them. They wanted control over who would be on the mission. Someone who would give them the information I wouldn’t. I wasn’t supposed to survive.”

Her shoulders shook, but she refused to let the tears fall. “Nothing was ever done. The investigation was buried because of the sensitive nature of the mission. No one will ever be held accountable. Not Markus. Not the others. It would be too messy and hurt the global economy.”

The room felt suffocating. She clenched the sheet tighter around her, her knuckles turning white.

The comforting weight of a warm hand settled gently on her back. Roan. A man who knew betrayal by the ones he should have been able to trust the most. She closed her eyes, the weight of that realization washing over her like a wave, bringing with it an unexpected sense of release. As if the release valve on a pressure cooker had finally held as much as it could before it blew up.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he said softly. His voice was steady, but there was an edge of steel beneath it—a quiet promise of retribution.

Julia shook her head, her breath hitching. “I should’ve seen it. I should’ve known.”

“Do you think I’m like him?” Roan asked quietly.

The question startled her. She turned to him, her eyes wide and raw. For the first time, she saw the vulnerability beneath his armor—the fear that maybe, just maybe, he was tainted by the same darkness.

“No,” she said firmly. “Markus would’ve sold his soul for money and power. You… you are willing to die to protect the people you don’t even know.”

Her voice softened, her fingers curling around his. “You fight for something bigger than yourself. That’s the difference.”

Roan’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with something fierce and unspoken. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close.

“We’ll make them pay,” he murmured into her hair. “For your father. For everyone they’ve hurt.”

Julia closed her eyes, letting herself lean into him. For the first time since her father’s death, she felt the weight of her guilt release and a sense of peace settle over her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?”

Julia opened her eyes and gave Roan a trembling smile. “For being you.”