Chapter 3

I applied to the Federation for a new bodyguard.

“Are you sure?”

“Kael cost you half your life to save.”

Director Thorne chuckled.

“Ms. Anya, the food crops in the North District are growing exceptionally well. Want to take a look?”

“It cost you half your blood.”

“And where you begged and pleaded on your knees with the High Council, grass has now grown. That beastman doesn’t know that, does he?”

“A failed genetic experiment like him, why would he be worth your life?”

“Oh, I forgot, he looks just like Ms. Anya’s childhood best friend. No wonder…”

I had made up my mind.

I would replace Kael and never get involved with him again.

The next day, my new bodyguard from the Federation arrived. It was Ryker, the Alpha Guard, even taller than Kael, his snowy white tail curled around his luggage.

“Greetings, Ms. Anya.”

I cleared out the room I’d prepared for Kael and let the Alpha Guard move in.

Just as I was briefing him on his duties, the doorbell rang.

I didn’t answer.

Kael waited outside for a while, assuming no one was home, and then tried to punch in the code himself.

“Access Denied—”

He thought he misheard.

He tried again.

“Access Denied.”

He started pounding on the door.

Annoyed, I sent the Alpha Guard to deal with him.

A thunderous crash shook the entire house.

I rushed out and saw Kael and Ryker locked in a violent struggle, neither giving an inch, the front door ripped off its hinges.

“Stop!”

Kael looked up, jealousy practically dripping from him.

His scorpion tail powerfully plunged into Ryker’s side.

A muffled grunt, and the Alpha Guard sagged, his skin visibly bruising.

“Are you insane!”

I slapped Kael across the face.

His head snapped to the side, several drops of blood flying. Only then did I notice the raw, bleeding gouge on the back of his head where Ryker had clawed him.

“Who is he?” Kael stared intently at the other man.

“My new bodyguard.”

I helped Ryker, quickly cut my arm, and fed my blood to him.

Kael’s eyes turned bloodshot.

“*I’m* your bodyguard.”

His defiant stance crumbled. He stood frozen, looking lost, especially without my response. Even his scorpion tail drooped.

“I am your bodyguard…”

“You can’t protect me,” I said coldly. “Get out.”

He stood rooted to the spot.

Perhaps realizing how awful he’d been, he muttered something, his lips barely moving, unable to utter a single word of protest.

“I can…”

“I’ll protect you properly from now on, I’ll protect you with my life…”

Kael’s reflection stared back from the glass, his jaw tight, his gaze locked on me.

He didn’t even flinch, despite the blood running into his eyes.

“Just give me one more chance.”

Ryker woke up, shoved me aside, and bolted for the door as if a venomous barb was still chasing him.

“Anya, no one’s better suited for this job than me,” Kael took a step forward. “I *can* protect you.”

I was silent for a moment.

Then I looked at him.

“You said, ‘with your life’.”

Kael nodded frantically.

“I promise.”