Page 28 of The Quoram Effect

“There wasn’t any more room.” Torz’s unexpected words caught me off guard, and I flashed him a confused look. “At the barracks,” he explained. “With the week-long gala, all the beds are full. And as you were a last-minute inclusion…”

“Oh.” Shame slammed into me, making me avert my gaze. But my breath hitched—my heart spasmed—as a mental hand delicately stroked my hair and neck. I’d never felt anything like it before. It was soothing, comforting, but it left me gasping for air as I forced my stance to remain strong, my face impassive.

Was that Torz through our bond? Was he trying to ease my self-loathing, my regret? Or was I really going insane? The Damson God had mentioned absorbing too much Q caused the same symptoms as The Quoram Effect. Had the doses I’d taken last night finally tipped the scales?

But I’d been slowly questioning my reality for months, what with the dreams and the meaning behind them. My mind was a brewing volcano, full of toxic conversations and overly volatile thoughts.

I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes with a despair fuelled by self-aversion and fear. I didn’t deserve Torz’s protection. I wasn’t sure if I ever had.

The doors chimed open, and like a sea of claustrophobia being sucked through an airlock, the pod emptied—only Torz and I remained. My chest tightened as the doors closed, locking us inside. The elevator began to rise again, and the air thickened with a tension triggered by my own notions. I was struggling to replenish the breath in my lungs. And when Torz stepped in front of me, his commanding presence compelling my eyes to meet his, I stopped breathing altogether.

He was only a few inches taller than me, but in that moment, I felt small. Dominated. Just like in last night’s dream…

Heat flushed in my chest as desire pooled deep in my belly, strumming at my core.

Gods, make it stop! He’ll feel it.

“I’m sorry,” Torz said softly, his eyes studying my face with a stifling warmth. “For being angry with you.”

“Don’t,” I whispered, dropping my gaze to his upright collar. “I deserved it.”

His shoulders stiffened before he blew out another breath, the bobbing of his Adam’s apple confirming his own awkward thoughts. The doors pinged open, and he twisted, motioning to the exit. “This is us.”

Level Sixty-Four, Zone AC. Where were we?

Stepping into a luxurious hotel foyer, I choked back my gasp. A white domed ceiling with a giant, twinkling chandelier hung high above. Below it stood a grey-and-white marble reception desk that seemed far too long for the two receptionists manning it. To the left, huge potted plants with twisted purple stems and pale leaves edged the entrance to an alcove of velvet seats, where a smartly dressed man lounged, reading from a foldable tablet.

Torz strode over to the desk as I ambled further into the picture of wealth. A large cobalt-blue rug cushioned my booted feet as my eyes devoured the patterns on the delicately crafted pillars lining the entrance to a wide corridor on the far side. In awe, I ran my hands along the silky cream walls. They weren’t a cool metallic like the Argentum’s inner structure—like my apartment. They were a tepid, soft veneer. But this hotel was a different tier to my standard living quarters, Torz’s also. This was upper-class elegance.

Did Torz always stay in such luxury when on government business? Surely, he would’ve said something.

My commander appeared at my side and offered me a key-chip. “For our room.”

I lifted my gaze from the key to his face, then back to the opulence surrounding me. “So, youarestaying here?”

“We’re staying here.”

A woman sauntered past with her head held high, dressed in an exquisitely tailored two-piece suit with gold buttons and elegantly stylish heels. I questioned if I was posh enough to rub shoulders with the elite. I’d always felt smart and proud clad in my security uniform, but here, I was a rough pebble among refined gemstones.

“Wait?” I shot Torz a wide-eyed glare. “Ourroom?”

“There wasn’t enough time for me to find you somewhere to stay. I have a suite. I’ll take the sofa.”

“No, you fucking won’t.” I tensed, burning under the scathing attention of the two receptionists and the smartly dressed man sitting in the alcove—all clearly disgraced by my vulgar words.

“Look…” Torz took my arm, steering me away. A zap of electricity sparked over my skin at his touch, leaving goosebumps in its wake. My feet stumbled as he led me across the foyer, through the pillared entrance, and into the corridor. Swirling pictures and elaborate vases lined the walls. I brushedmy fingers over the pink flowers proudly standing at attention. They were pynaz from Quoram’s Nova Valley. They’d always been my favourite, hence why I’d attempted to paint them on my bedroom ceiling years ago. I loved how the tiny magenta petals looked like miniature blossoms themselves, creating a silky, luscious structure.

“We can discuss this later.” Torz’s voice yanked me back to the reality of the situation. “Just make yourself at home and…” He pulled me to a stop and took a deep, resounding breath. “Promise me you won’t leave the room.” His eyes rose to meet mine, and a flash of unease stirred within them.

As his words sunk in, something snapped inside me—something resentful and bitter. My following reaction was irrational—I knew it was—but his demand was downright derogatory, and it hurt like fucking hell.

I snatched the key from his fingers, gritting my teeth. “Maybe you should give yourself peace of mind, Torz, and lock me in the room.”

I stormed off down the corridor, leaving him rooted to the spot. He didn’t follow, and I was glad of it. I needed space to clear my head.

Working with him had initially been a saving grace, but recently, it had become excruciating. And now, faced with living and sleeping in such close proximity to him…I wasn’t sure how I’d cope. As rejected Damsons with an active bond, it was going to be torturous. And following this morning’s heated conversation, how could he not understand that? It was as if he intended to punish us both. And by Gods, he was succeeding.

Chapter Fifteen