Page 20 of Revealed

Maxxon seemed to stiffen slightly, turning to me and managing a tight smile. "This is Allie. She saved my life and led us to hide in these caverns.”

“Good thinking.” Torven gave me a curt nod. Clearly, he didn’t worry about charm as much as his friend.

“Is she the tribute you came to retrieve?” Dakar asked.

Maxxon’s lips became a tight line as he shook his head. “She is not.”

My cheeks heated at his words. Why did I care that I wasn’t a tribute? Being abducted to an alien space station was the last thing I wanted. Still, it smarted that I was not considered worthy of being kidnapped.

“Too bad,” Dakar muttered with a sly wink at me.

Maxxon seemed to grow larger, as if puffing up his chest like an animal going into battle.

“I jest.” Dakar slapped a hand on Maxxon’s shoulder. “ I am happily mated to my own human. I promise not to steal yours.”

Maxxon’s shoulders relaxed but he started sputtering. “It is not…she is not…”

I understood why he needed to deny anything between us. He’d been sent to retrieve a human, not screw another one. Even so, a pang of disappointment and regret arrowed through me.

“We helped each other survive,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “That’s all.”

Maxxon fell silent, and I thought some emotion flickered behind his eyes. But it was gone before I could be sure. Besides, he was an alien on a mission., and we’d both been clear about what we were to each other and what it had all meant. Nothing.

Torven cleared his throat. "We're here to take you back. The mission's over, but there is a lot of rebuilding to do.”

Maxxon’s face was a mask of discipline. "I am ready.”

His words were like a body blow. Of course he was ready to leave. This was what he'd been waiting for—rescue—so he could return to his own people.

I glanced down to where the dog had come to sit at my feet, looking up at me with soulful brown eyes, as if he understood exactly how I was feeling. I reached down and ruffled the fur on his head to keep myself from losing it.

"What about the human?" Torven asked, jerking his chin in my direction. “Protocol states we should return her to the nearest safe zone. The Earth authorities are setting up refugee camps."

"No.” I startled myself with the firmness in my voice. "I'm not going to any refugee camp. If Earth is free again, I want to go home."

Maxxon stepped forward, his eyes meeting mine. "Allie, it might not be safe. Your neighborhood was hit hard.”

"Then I'll deal with it," I said, holding his gaze and willing myself not to cry. "I'm tougher than I look."

Dakar looked between us grinning "Perhaps we could escort her home ourselves? It's not far out of our way, and it would ensure her safety."

Torven looked like he wanted to argue, but after a moment, he sighed. "Fine. But we move fast. I want to be off this rock before nightfall."

I picked up Dinah and tucked her into my bag then fell into step beside Maxxon as we trudged back through the caverns the way we’d entered. As the Drexians discussed the battle, I found myself fighting back a storm of emotions. Relief that the invasion was over. Fear of what I might find when I returned home. And a deep, aching sadness at the thought of saying goodbye to Maxxon.

I glanced at him, only to find him already looking at me. For a moment, I thought I saw a reflection of my own turmoil in his eyes. But then he blinked, and his expression was once again unreadable.

The dog nudged my hand with his wet nose, as if offering comfort. I bent and scratched behind his ears, grateful for the unconditional affection.

When we reached the formerly caved-in section of the caverns, the rock was cleared. Torven and Dakar went through first and then Maxxon stepped through, reaching back a hand to help me.

Even though I could step over the rubble just fine on my own, I took his hand, letting the warmth of his skin tingle up my arm. When he released my hand, my fingers stayed outstretched, as if something was slipping away from me. Something I hadn't realized I wanted until it was too late.

Chapter

Fifteen

Maxxon

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