His eyes dropped half closed and his mouth curled into a tiny, satisfied smile. “I was referring to the shielding, Captain.”

“Sure you were,” I whispered. I bit my bottom lip and his gaze zeroed in on the motion. His muscles locked tight before he growled something under his breath. He pivoted away before he spun back and opened his arms, a challenging light in his eyes.

“Torran,” I protested.

“Are hugs forbidden now, too?”

With the way I felt right now, they probably should be, but I just shook a warning finger at him. “A hug only.”

“On my honor,” he agreed quietly.

I eased into his arms and knew immediately that this had been a mistake. Because under all of the hungry looks and burning desire, there was a deep well of care. And my heart was far more susceptible to caring than it was to lust.

He held me lightly, gently, and when I remained tense, he ran a soothing hand down my back and played with the ends of my hair. “Relax, Tavi,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble.

I wanted to hear it again. I gingerly laid my head against his shoulder and demanded, “Tell me something about yourself. Why did you join the military?”

“It was expected,” he said. “My father was a general, a decorated war hero, as was my grandfather. I learned strategy from the best.” He sighed. “I rose through the ranks quickly and everyone assumed it was nepotism. And it was, of a sort. I’d been taught by two of our greatest military strategists. They didn’t have to help me get promoted because they’d already taught me everything they knew.”

“You were one of our primary targets,” I admitted. “But you never got close to the front lines.”

His chuckle had a bitter bite. “I spent plenty of time at the front,” he said. “Telekinetics, even generals, are not to be wasted. But we didn’t announce my presence. I’m not that bad at strategy.” He paused, as if weighing his words, then admitted, “I was on Rodeni the day you attacked.”

I leaned back and met his eyes. “Really?”

He nodded. “I was a few kilometers away from the blast, organizing the assault that would’ve wiped out the remaining FHP forces.” His eyes darkened. “The attack on civilians changed my plan.”

I thought of Lexi’s words about how every story had two sides. I wanted to explain more of my side, but it wasn’t only my life on the line if word got back to the FHP. I clenched my teeth and stared at his chin.

Torran’s fingers ghosted along my jaw. “Someday, when I’ve earned your trust, I would like to hear the truth of what happened. It will go no further than me, I swear it, but my decisions that day haunt me.”