Page 32 of Revealed

At the next stop, Reina led me and a few other women off the inclinator. I stepped out and froze. The tall alien hadn’t been kidding. If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn we were somewhere in the South Pacific.

We stood on a wooden walkway over the most crystal-clear blue water I'd ever seen. In the distance, a lush, mountainous island rose from the sea, its peaks shrouded in wisps of cloud. The air was warm and humid, carrying the scent of salt and tropical flowers. A light spray from the water splashed around my ankles, cool and refreshing.

Reina took a few steps forward as we all gaped. "Drexian holo-technology is far more advanced than anything humans have developed. Our fantasy suites are fully realistic and immersive experiences."

I remembered Maxxon mentioning holographic technology and fantasy suites, but it wasn’t the kind of thing that could be given justice with words. You had to see it—and smell it and hear it—to believe such a thing was possible. And even then, I was having a hard time absorbing it.

A petite blonde standing next to me put her hands on her hips "Why didn't the Drexians reveal themselves sooner? Everywoman on Earth would want to come here if they knew about this!"

Reina just laughed softly and continued leading us down the walkway. I was so overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells around me that I completely forgot that this would have been a perfect time to pull her aside and ask about Maxxon.

But Reina was all efficiency, guiding us to our suites, giving us instructions I barely comprehended, and leaving us to freshen up. Then I was standing alone in a stunning overwater bungalow feeling somewhere between stunned and giddy.

The room was open and airy, with large glass doors that led to a terrace that overlooked the impossibly blue lagoon and boasted a plunge pool. A gentle breeze ruffled the sheer curtains draped around the huge bed covered in pristine white linens. The water lapped against the stilts of the bungalow and the stairs leading from the teakwood terrace into the sea.

I sank onto the plush bed, my head spinning. I wasn't just millions of miles from home—I was a million miles from my old life. The quaint shop where I worked, my cozy apartment, even the familiar streets of home…they were so far from this.

I looked up at the gauzy canopy and tried to ground myself. “Focus, Allie. Remember why you're here. This is not a vacation.” Even though, if it was, it would be amazing. “Find Maxxon, convince him to go back with you, and leave the station. That's the plan."

But as I sat up and looked around at the luxurious suite, feeling the warm tropical air on my skin and hearing the gentle sound of the water, a new thought crept into my mind. Would Maxxonwant to leave all of this? Could I really ask him to give up this incredible world to come back to Earth with me?

I flopped back on the bed, watching the woven ceiling fan as it spun lazily above me. I'd come all this way and risked everything. But now that I was here, surrounded by aliens and alien technology, I wasn't sure of anything anymore. Then I thought of Bryce and my two loyal pets waiting for me back home. I knew I couldn’t abandon them.

With a sigh, I roused myself from the bed. First things first—find Maxxon. The rest would fall into place. At least, I hoped it would.

I squared my shoulders and headed for the door. Time to explore the space station and find Maxxon. I'd already done the hard part of crossing the galaxy. How much harder could it be to find one Drexian?

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Maxxon

Iwalked down the streets of Allie's town, the pull of Earth’s gravity familiar but so much else about the place had changed. The scars of the recent attack were still visible, but repair efforts were well underway. Scaffolding hugged the sides of buildings, the steady rhythm of hammers and saws filling the air.

It was strange to walk openly among the humans without hiding who I was. I wore no black suit, no sunglasses, and I hadn’t pulled back my hair. I was in my Drexian uniform, and my dark hair fell loose around my shoulders.

I noticed the stares, of course. Even in a world newly aware of aliens, a seven-foot-tall Drexian was bound to draw attention.

As I passed a bookstore, I couldn't help but pause. The window display was filled with magazines, and I was startled to see Drexian faces staring back at me from nearly every cover. "AlienAllies: What You Need to Know About Drexians," one headline blared. Another asked, "Are You Compatible with a Drexian Mate?"

I shook my head, still marveling at how quickly things had changed. It was a strange sensation, being back on Earth and not having to hide my identity. Part of me missed the secrecy, the thrill of moving unseen among the humans. But another part was relieved to finally be seen, to finally stop the deception.

I continued through the small downtown, retracing my path to Allie's building, my pace quickening. Both excitement and anxiety bubbled in my chest as I paused to look at the brick structure that had withstood the invasion. I was glad to see that, like much of the town, the exterior was being cleaned and repaired. Workers on scaffolding were replacing broken windows, and I stepped under it to walk through the front door.

The sound of barking reached my ears, and I smiled. It must be the dog Allie had kept, the one we'd found together in the caverns. Memories of that time rushed over me and made my heart pulse with longing.

When I reached Allie's door, I hesitated for a moment before knocking. The barking had stopped and only silence greeted me. I knocked again, harder this time, but there was still no response.

Then the barking started again, but it was coming from upstairs. Was there another dog living in the small building? I hadn’t remembered hearing one during the attack, and I doubted the creatures stayed silent during chaos. Frowning, I followed the sound, taking the stairs to the next floor two at a time. I found myself in front of a door nearly identical to Allie's, save for the number. The barking was definitely coming from inside.

I knocked, and a moment later, the door swung open. I recognized the blond man standing in front of me. His eyes widened as he took me in, and his mouth dangled.

"Oh my God.” He glanced behind me, as if looking for something else or someone else. “You’re back. You’re here.” Then he frowned. “You’re alone.”

I didn’t know what that meant. Had he expected a fleet of Drexians to accompany me?

Before I could respond, a brown blur shot past the man's legs. I knelt down instinctively as the dog rushed to greet me. His tail wagged furiously as I scratched behind his ears, his familiar scent bringing back another rush of memories.

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