Alien Paladin's Woman: SciFi Alien-Human Military Suspense Romance Read Online Free Page A

colonization. Until they could safely climb out of bed every morning, people of all species and genders focused on their work and little else.
    "What's the situation?" Audrey asked, walking through the corridors with a fast pace.
    Pelar struggled to keep up with her a bit, but she was used to getting busy as soon as she got warm.
    "Everything is good," her assistant reported. "The first shift of miners has eaten and gone down to the mines."
    "Did they follow their workout routine?" Audrey asked.
    "Yes, Miss," Pelar confirmed. "As you demanded."
    The mines down below the surface of the planet were treacherous. At first they were deceptively warm, away from the cutting winds that could flay a man, but in the deeper levels the cold crept in even through the protective suits.
    Trying to prevent hypothermia by any means, Audrey insisted every man and woman on Verien work out in the mornings, no exceptions. It built their strength and stamina, which everyone needed, and it loosened up the muscles, not to mention provided some initial body heat.
    Audrey Price was the governor of a planet with a mere population of five hundred. She was intent to see that every last one of them saw the conclusion of their attempt to tame the ice world in one piece.
    "What are your orders for today?" Pelar asked, rushing alongside her.
    "I will go down to the mines," Audrey said. "There was a resupply issue down on Level 31. I want to see with my own eyes that it is resolved. If they lose power or light that deep…"
    She said nothing more. The implication of being stuck thirty-one floors below the ground spoke for itself.
    "Very good, Governor," Pelar said. "I will ask Commander Tieran to send you a guard."
    Tieran .
    The name alone was enough to spoil her mood for the morning. Audrey frowned and Pelar kept her mouth shut wisely as her pace quickened even more.
    So Verien wasn't a glorious harvest world or a future technological center, but it was hers and she was proud of the work they were doing. Despite the cold, despite the rigorous regime that she'd enforced, even despite the possibility of it all being ultimately futile, Audrey was happy with the way things were going.
    Except for that damn elusive Palian.
    "He still won't see me?" she asked Pelar tersely, instantly regretting letting her face show the bitterness she harbored towards the commander of the Palian paladins.
    "No, Miss Price," Pelar said patiently, not meeting her eyes, before she switched to a less formal mannerism. "I'm sorry, Audrey. You know I can't let you meet him. You know he can't see you, even if he'd want to. Paladins don't appear in public. No stranger has seen them in a long time."
    "And that's not suspicious at all?" Audrey asked, knowing it was a pointless argument to get into.
    It was a conversation they'd had several times before, with her none the wiser at the end of each time.
    "There is someone in my station, on my planet, who I've never met. I might not even recognize him if I ever accidentally ran into the man! Or any of the other paladins!"
    "You would," Pelar said, always the avatar of patience. "Trust me. He has no ill will towards you. In fact, the commander thinks you're doing a great job."
    "Comforting," Audrey snorted. "I don't need his approval. I'm the governor of this world."
    "I know," Pelar said as they rounded the corner and arrived in a small dojo.
    The doors opened to let them inside, a lovely warm breeze greeting them as they stepped into the part of the station that was always kept cozy.
    "The commander knows it too, I promise. It's not like he's trying to fight you. He is a galactic peacekeeper. He is simply above us."
    Well, at least I'm ready to punch something now, Audrey thought darkly.
    The settling of Verien was supposed to be a joint mission, but there was nothing joint about the Palian commander so far. Everything Audrey knew about him came from Pelar. For all she knew, the man might not have existed at all, or be one of the highly