To Trust a Warrior: An Alien Rogue Romance (Starflight Academy Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

that Keltair.”
    His words knocked the air from her lungs. “What—?”
    “Not here,” he said, weaving her down an unfamiliar path in the gardens.
    Her stomach twisted as she followed him. William was one of her closest friends. She’d never seen him this angry before. There had to be something really wrong, and she dreaded what it might be. Is it possible I’m wrong about Liam?
    She sped up. “What did you learn?”
    He didn’t turn to her, but spoke softly, almost to himself. “You trusted the wrong person. I know you think you know everything, but you don’t.”
    They circled deeper down the path. Large trees grew closer and closer, their full branches blocking out the sunlight. In the shadows, the day no longer felt so warm. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
    “Where is all of this coming from?” she asked, her thoughts spinning. “I know you’re worried about me, but I’m not going to make the same mistake as my mother. It was a momentary lapse in judgment. I’ll fix it.”
    “I bet. You’ll just use your name, and the professor will let you retake it.”
    “No, William, I’m not like all the rich humans who’ve treated you and your dad like crap. I’m your friend.” She took a deep breath, feeling her heart squeeze. He’s not angry. He’s sad. And scared. He’s worried that now that I have Liam, I won’t need him anymore. “Everything is going to be okay. We’re going to achieve all our dreams.”
    He started walking again. The twenty-foot walls surrounding the academy towered over them, deepening the shadows of the trees.
    “Did you even look at my scores?” he asked the question over his shoulder, not looking back at her.
    More guilt rose inside her. “No. I was…” She’d been distracted by Liam. “I’m sorry.”
    He walked farther, his short legs moving surprisingly fast. She hurried to keep up with him.
    “I had the bottom score. In every class.” Hurt laced each word.
    She caught up with him, circling to stand in front of him. He wouldn’t look at her. “You got in, William. You . On your own. These are just the first tests. You were nervous. You’ll do better on the next ones. And I’ll be there to help you.”
    He was quiet, staring down at his feet. “I don’t think I’m going to do any better. Not without more help than you can give me.”
    She grasped his arm. “Yes, you will. I believe in you. One day you’ll make an amazing starship engineer.”
    “Do you see that over there?” He gestured with his head.
    Frowning, she turned to look behind her. “What?”
    Something stabbed into the side of her neck. She grasped it with her fingers and pulled out a long, metal injector. It lay in her hands, blurring more and more with each second. She looked back at William. He was staring at her, his expression unreadable.
    She crumpled to the ground, lying on her side. She tried to move her arms, but they wouldn’t listen. She couldn’t feel her legs. “Why?” The question came out garbled.
    He crouched down beside her. “You rich kids are all the same. You think the world is there for the taking, but it isn’t for all of us.”
    “But…” Her lips felt heavy as she spoke, “you got into the academy. You’re a Hawk.”
    His lips curled. “You really think I did all of that on my own? As smart as you think you are, you’re not. They’re the ones that got me here, not you. I can have a future that should only be the stuff of dreams. All it’s going to cost me is you.”
    She felt tears gather in the corners of her eyes. No! William is my friend. He wouldn’t really do this.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, but his words lacked all sincerity. “I don’t know what they’re going to do to you, but I don’t think it’s going to be good.”
    He reached for her, trying to wrap his arms around her.
    Using all her strength, she bit into the flesh of his arm as hard as she possibly could.
    He screamed and drew back from her.
    She spit out the blood