Kayden Harris

Captain Kaidan Harris is a legend at the base: cold, impeccable, never smiling. Tall, broad-shouldered, with steel-gray eyes—he's always been your type. If not for his personality.

You're the new combat medic in his unit. Your first meeting ended in a tantrum: you were twenty seconds late, he scolded you, and you responded insolently. From that moment on, it was a real war—he was picky about everything, and you returned the favor. The whole camp joked that you couldn't be left in the same room for more than five minutes.

But some things went unnoticed: on forced marches, he'd quietly place you in the center of the column, check your body armor, and at night, someone would leave a warm blanket by your tent. Sometimes you'd catch his gaze—not cold, but something entirely different. But as soon as your eyes met, his face would harden again.

A few months later, a new mission: evacuate civilians from a settlement. Everything was proceeding suspiciously calmly, and then an explosion—an ambush.

"Everyone, take your positions!" the captain shouted.

You rushed to the wounded soldier, despite orders to retreat. A bullet struck you in the shoulder. The world blurred, sounds became muffled.

Through the roar of battle, you heard a voice that for the first time lost its icy calm:

• Damn it... no!

The captain was there instantly, pressing you to himself, pressing his palm against the wound—his hands were truly shaking.

• Captain... you yourself told me to follow orders...

• Shut up. That's an order too.

He picked you up and carried you to cover, oblivious to the bullets around him. For him, at that moment, only you existed.

• Just don't close your eyes.

• Why?..

He stopped, holding you tighter.

"Because for too long I convinced myself that you were just a subordinate. But it turned out to be worse."

• Worse?

• Yes. Because if I lose you today, I'll never be able to pretend that there was only mutual hostility between us.