A gray hand darted through the window, grabbing the sariun by his neck and jerking him roughly back into the night. Aley hurled towards the window at the sound of scuffling, throwing herself onto the bed and grabbing the windowsill for support.

Xinn had the other sariun pinned under him, tying his wrists and hands together as he snarled at him in another language. The other sariun was trying to snap back, but Xinn kept pushing his face into the ground.

He glanced up when he noticed Aley in the window. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "You?"

"Yes. I need to take this filth to the Protection Site. Close the window, lock it, and check the door as well. I will return shortly." He heaved the other sariun to his feet.

"I can't believe you are defending a mixed blood," spat the sariun. "Of all the things our general should be doing, this shouldn't even make the list."

Oh, Aley realized. It's the angry guy from earlier. Vare.

Xinn gave him an animalistic growl. "You should know that the mixed blood you tried to kill is our savioress and the only thing that can end this war."

"Don't be ridiculous," Vare snorted. "The savioresses couldn't be one of those abominable things."

"I assure you; they can be, and they are. The council has already collaborated with our researchers, and they agree that this female," he jabbed a finger at Aley, "and her sister are the savioresses which means they are our only chance of defeating the sariun. And you just tried to kill her. I doubt the council will look kindly on that."

Vare was starting to look nervous. "But—"

"Enough." Xinn glanced at Aley and nodded before dragging Vare away.

Aley watched them go before closing the window and latching it with trembling hands, then sinking down on the bed with her back to it. Her eyes caught on the pillow, slashed right where her neck would have been if she hadn't been pacing. A shaking breath left her mouth.

I could have died. I almost died. She covered her mouth, wings drawing in tightly as her other arm hugged herself. Tears pricked her eyes. No, don't cry. We have to check the door. Check the door. Don't cry. If there is someone else out there and I'm crying, he'll get me. Xinn isn't here to save me again. I have to be alert. She stumbled out of the room, blinking fast as she tried to keep the tears at bay. The door was closed, but not locked, so she made sure to secure it before checking the other windows in the home as well. Once she was certain everything was bolted, she dropped into a chair and pressed her trembling hands together. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure someone else would have been able to hear it from across the room. It's okay. I'm okay. I just need to stay alert. Xinn will be back soon. I'll be safe then.

It seemed like Xinn was gone forever. But when he finally came back, he came straight over to her and knelt. "Are you all right?" he asked earnestly, eyes skimming over her as he searched for injuries.

"I'm okay." She barely managed to speak through the tremble in her voice. He grabbed her hands, holding them tightly as she fought not to cry.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to let him get so close. I should have been more careful."

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in a breath, before opening them again. "What do you mean?" Her voice was thick, almost unintelligible, from the withheld tears.

He studied her eyes with worry. "I was concerned that TarqPhyeVare was serious about wanting to hurt you, so I told him where you were to see what he would do. That's why I was your guard tonight. I wanted to put him in a cell sooner, but I had no reason beyond spiteful words, so I had to wait until he attacked before I could seize him."

She cleared her throat to rid it of the thick tone. "So..." Her eyebrows pinched together. "You used me as bait?"

"If that's the way you want to put it. I had to have something to convict him of, otherwise I wouldn't be able to put him in the Protection Site. He would still be a threat to you."

Aley stared at him for a second. "He almost killed me." She jerked her hands away from him, holding them close to her chest. "If I hadn't been pacing instead of sleeping, he would have gotten me and not the pillow."

"I'm so sorry," he said imploringly. "I miscalculated how quick he would be. I thought I could get there before he hurt you."

"You almost got me killed!" she snapped, shoving him away so she could stand. "I could have died because of you!" She took a few steps towards the kitchen, pushing her fingers through her hair.

"I didn't mean to—"

She whirled around. "I don't care! I almost died because you wanted to put a guy in jail. If I die, who is going to rescue Rocki? Who is going to win your stupid war? You could have killed me!"

"I realize that—"

"Clearly you don't! I could have died!" she shoved a finger against her chest. "I. Could. Have. Died. He could have..." Tears clouded her vision and choked her. "I..." She put a hand over her mouth to hide its trembling.

Xinn slowly approached her and put his hands on her shoulders. She shivered, then broke. He gathered her into his arms as she sobbed into his shoulder, hands grabbing at his shirt.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair. "I'm so sorry."

She pushed her face harder into him, sobs roughening. I want to go home. I want to go home so badly.

After a long while, her tears slowed enough for her to take in a decent breath. Her shoulders dropped and she wrapped her arms around Xinn's neck, holding onto him as her only support.

"I'm sorry," she finally said hoarsely. "I was scared."

"I know." Xinn put his hands on her shoulders and leaned his head back a little. "Are you truly all right?"

She nodded into his shoulder.

"Do you want me to leave you alone for a while?"

She tightened her grip, shaking her head.

"All right." He continued to hold her, occasionally running a hand down her hair or brushing his fingers soothingly across her back.

At long last, she sighed and pulled away, her hands resting on top of his shoulders. "I should probably sleep, right? That seems like a healthy thing to do after an assassination attempt."

He hummed deep in his throat, hands sliding down to her waist. "I suppose so." His intense gaze held hers, not letting her move away like she had intended.

"You'll protect me, right?" she whispered hoarsely, tilting her head up slightly to better meet his eyes. The way his stare was searing into her skin gave her the impression that he wanted to kiss her. And she wasn't opposed to that.

He dropped his head to rest alongside hers, breath whispering on her neck. "I promise," he murmured. His teeth found the soft skin on her neck, nipping it gently.

She flinched a little. "Ow." Okay, way to kill the mood, Aley. "What did you do that for?" Seriously, you are a mood destroyer.

He pulled back and smiled at her. "I'll explain it sometime. Sleep well, Aley." Her hands slid off his shoulders and dangled by her side as he vanished into the outdoors.

She stood there for a moment, then crossed her arms and frowned. When did I become so bad at flirting that guys started biting me instead of kissing me? She growled at herself, stomping back to the bedroom. She double checked that the window was locked before laying on her back, careful to arrange her wings.

I hope Rocki is doing better than me. She's probably not getting attacked by stupid people who think they can just kill mixed bloods. Her eyes widened as reality returned to her. Crap. She might be doing worse, actually. Nope, I can't think about that. I'll start panicking again. Try thinking of pleasant things. Xinn is pleasant... No, no, shut up. I said pleasant things, not hot aliens who make you fall for them just by being half jerk and half the nicest guy ever. Think of beaches, or dogs, or Xinn's intense eyes... Stop that! I've seriously got a problem. She groaned and turned over.