Page 10 of Revealed

It was an outrageous claim considering the odds stacked against us, but I believed him.

The blue lights flickered back to life, no doubt powered by some backup generator, and I drew in a quick breath. Maxxon was staring intently at me with the most gorgeous set of amber eyes I’d ever seen. Amber. Not brown. Not hazel. And not quite right.

Chapter

Seven

Maxxon

The faint glow of the cavern's emergency lighting cast eerie, blue shadows on the rough stone walls, reminding me vaguely of the bridge of the Drexian space station. Even though we were currently trapped underground, I preferred the cooler air and darkness of the caverns to the blazing heat and blinking sunlight on the surface. Despite many trips to Earth, I had never fully acclimated to the heat, especially near the planet’s equator. That was when the black suit uniform had seemed like a very bad idea.

I tipped my head back, relief unexpectedly surging through me. We were trapped, yes, but we were also safe for now. The thick layer of rock above us would shield my Drexian bio-signature from Kronock sensors. Of course, it also meant my own people couldn't detect me either, but that was a problem for later. For now, I was safe. More importantly, Allie was safe.

I allowed myself to glance back down at her. I’d known the human female for mere hours, yet I felt an inexplicable urge to keep her safe at all costs. It made no sense. She wasn’t the tribute bride I was sent to retrieve, which meant I could not return to the station with her. And yet, I could not deny my urge to protect her.

“I guess there’s only one way to go.” Allie’s voice bounced off the stone around us. “But if I’m remembering right, there's an area up ahead with some underground pools. We might be able to find fresh water there."

“Is there a secondary entrance?” I asked. “Or an exit?”

Allie started walking ahead of me. “Not that I’ve ever heard.”

I tried not to dwell on what that meant—no way out. Drexians were known for beating the odds and for never leaving a warrior behind. My people would come for me. They would find me.

As we ventured deeper into the caverns, the scent of moisture grew stronger, and the sound of distant trickling water was amplified by the hollow chambers around us. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone icicles, droplets of water collecting at their points before falling to the cave floor with a rhythmic plink.

We walked in silence for several minutes, the only sounds were our footsteps on the stone path and the occasional faint rumble from above. I kept my senses alert for any sign of pursuit, but it seemed we had successfully evaded the Kronock—for now.

Finally, the narrow passageway leading through smaller caverns opened up into a vast chamber. Instead of glistening stone, the cavern floor was blue-green water illuminated from below, the surface iridescent. The ceiling soared high above, lost inshadows despite the ethereal glow that made turquoise light dance across the rock walls.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Allie said softly, her face bathed in the pool’s gentle light. “This was my favorite cavern when I visited here as a kid. It still seems as magical now as it did then. Most things have changed for the worse, but not this.”

I wanted to ask her what things had become worse for her, but it was too personal. I barely knew her, even if she had put her life in my hands. That didn’t stop me from wanting to make those things that had become worse for her better.

A muffled mew made Allie jerk around. “Dinah!”

I made to join her in rushing into the next chamber after the cat, but she put a hand to my chest. "No offense, Maxxon, but you're kind of a mess. Maybe you should take advantage of these pools and wash up a bit while I find Dinah.”

I glanced down at myself. She was right. My clothing was torn, one of the arms of my black suit jacket hanging on by a literal thread, and I was caked with dirt and rock dust and maybe even a bit of blood.

"The water's safe," Allie continued. "Before this place became a tourist attraction, the native people used to bathe in these pools. They believed the water had healing properties."

The idea of washing away the grime of battle was suddenly very appealing. “You are right.” I shrugged off my jacket and started to unbutton my shirt.

Allie's cheeks flushed slightly, and she took a few steps back.. "I'll give you some privacy and look for Dinah.”

Privacy. I’d almost forgotten that humans were significantly more modest than Drexians. It had never come up in my many trips to Earth.

Allie turned and hurried down the path that led further into the caverns and in the direction of the cat sounds. As long as she was right about there not being a back entrance or secret exit, she should be safe.

I didn’t waste any time in shedding my filthy clothes, leaving them in a pile on the path before slipping underneath the rope barrier. The cool air raised goosebumps on my skin as I eased myself into the nearest pool, and I released an unrepentant sigh.

The water was bracing, the cool temperatures of the underground caverns making the water even more so, but I didn’t care. I waded out until I was chest-deep, my hands moving through the shimmery water and sending ripples to the sides. Unable to resist, I took a deep breath and submerged myself completely.

Underwater, all sound ceased. There was nothing but profound silence and peace. For a moment, I could almost forget the chaos of the world above—the invasion, the desperate escape, my botched mission. All that was washed away in the icy pool.

When my lungs began to burn, I surfaced and gulped in a lungful of air. I stood so that I was only waist deep, opening my arms wide and spinning around. Then I swiped the water from my eyes, blinking to clear my vision. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Allie with Dinah in her arms.

“You found her,” I said, walking through the water toward them.

---