This is Glek

Chapter 7: War Declaration

Tobias left with Eric. A question and answer session started. I flicked off the TV and curled into a ball. It was Official. Helix was at war, and my lover was the leader of the armed forces.

***

The door opened later that night. I didn't need to look to know it was Tobias. The smell of ham filtered into the room with him.

"I heard the announcement," I said softly.

Tobias let out a deep breath and set a platter on the table resting between two armchairs. "Forgot to limit your technologies access."

"You weren't going to tell me." I sat up. "You're going to war, and you weren't going to tell me!"

He sat quietly on the corner of the bed.

"What is going on Tobias?" I snapped. "No more lies." I pulled at my hair. "I'm tired of sitting around trapped in random safe houses waiting for someone to tell me you're still alive."

"Come here." He held out his hand to me.

"No," I muttered. "I'm pissed at you."

"Raja," he said softly. "Come here."

Crawling over, I leaned against his side. "Stay with me. Don't go, please don't." I buried my face in his uniform.

"It's my duty, Raja. I have to protect the empire. I have to protect you."

"Then hold me," I whispered. "Hold me before you disappear again."

Tobias brought my lips to his and parted my lips. We parted. I started to undo the button on the front of his uniform. He tossed his hat onto a chair and tossed his coat next to it, before pulling his undershirt over his head. I leaned forward and kissed his chest. He was thinner. I ran my hand down his side, tracing every indent.

Tipping up my chin, he kissed me again. "Lift your hair for me."

I gathered it up and turned. Tobias unlocked my collar and set it on the nightstand. My hair fell about my shoulders.

"Come here." He leaned back against the bottom bedpost.

I straddled him and left a trail of kisses along his shoulder and up his neck. Tobias played with my hair as I did so. I loved this man. Even after all these years, he was still my beloved. I pledged my life to him.

The general carefully laid me down. "You look beautiful."

Guiding his lips to mine, I kissed him slowly and enjoying every moment I had left before he left me again.

"Shit," hissed Tobias, kissing me hard. "Don't make this so hard."

My eyes met his. Those red eyes, I had thought belonged to the devil.

I cupped his cheek. "Stay with me."

"Tonight is yours," he whispered. "For now, that's all I can give."

***

I brushed my fingers along Tobias's collarbone. "Do you think others are working for Taris?"

"Everyone aboard this ship has been cleared, and all other units are being swept. If they are others, we'll find them and dealt with."

"How'd you find out about those men?"

He rubbed my shoulder. "I suspected that someone within Helix was involved with the attacks. I was planning on going home that day they bomb the house. Very few people knew about my plans to visit the mansion. I received a message from Eric on the way and had to change routes." Tobias laid his head against mine. "Eric already expected that it was someone on the inside that arranged the attack at the banquet. It was confirmed when the mansion was hit."

I sucked in my lips. "When do you have to leave?"

He shifted and pulled the blanket further up. "Let's not talk about that right now."

"Just promise me you're going to be safe." I sat up and met his gaze.

"I've always have been." He kissed me. "They don't put general's on the front line, Raja."

"It still scares me," I rested my head on his chest. "Someone could be sent to kill you. They've already tried twice already, how do you know it won't happen again."

"Hey," Tobias said sternly. He sat me up and grabbed my upper arm. "Enough. Don't think like that. I'm fine."

With a frown, I fell forward and put my arms around his neck. "Where am I staying while you're gone?"

"You'll be staying in a safe house with Sora. You be kept far away from any kind of danger."

"Yeah," I breathed. I wasn't looking forward to being locked in some cement block again. I just wish Tobias could be locked up with me in that cement block. "Will you call?"

"When I can." He adjusted the covers over my body. "For now, let's just enough the time we have." He pressed his lips to my cheek.

My stomach started to growl.

"Don't move." He gave me a peck and climb out of bed. Returning with the tray, he laid it on my legs. "It probably not warm anymore."

"That's okay."

He joined me again and put an arm around my shoulders. I removed the lid and grabbed the bottle of juice. I twisted off the cap and took a drink. I ate quickly as Tobias looked through his phone.

I noticed he was going through his messages. Reaching over, I took it from him and tossed it to the bottom of the bed.

He sighed and laid down, with his arms around my waist.

"Tonight, you're mine." I finished my food and place the tray on the ground. I curled up next to him. "No general bullshit."

Tobias pinched my side. I jumped and stared at him shocked.

He just gave me that classic smirk and yanked me back into his embrace. "No swearing." The general kissed my cheek. "You know that."