Page 94 of Heart’s Prisoner

The car stopped abruptly, flinging Lana against Xerus. The lights went out and the car ceased to move.

"Ecisa va," Xerus cursed. He went to the doors of the car and shoved them open. The car was stuck.

"What are we going to do?" Lana asked.

Xerus peered at her with his good eye. "You will climb on my back."

***

Xerus crawled up the darkness, his back muscles straining under her. She clung to him tightly, her arms wrapped around his neck, grateful that the way was slightly angled and not just a straight shoot down. When light broke from the top, Xerus quickened his pace, clambering for the pinpoint of light. When the light became larger and brighter, Lana began to hear the voices of people; a dull echo, but there nonetheless.

They didn't have a plan for what would happen when Xerus got to the top but Lana no longer cared as long as Xerus got out safe. She would take up a gun if she had to and point it at anyone who tried to stop him.

As Xerus made it to the end, he slid himself over the ledge then had Lana drop from his back. As he righted himself, he picked her up once more and carried her out of the station.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The people at the docks didn't run or scream. No guns were drawn, no orders shouted. They merely stared in wonder at Xerus with Lana still in his arms. Lana was shocked to be sure but also equally relieved. As the people backed away to give them space, Xerus set her down beside him.

Lana looked through the crowd of faces and saw Dahlia, Ben, and Sarah among them. They came to the front to hug and greet her.

"You made it, fuck, it's a damn miracle," Ben said.

"Everyone is okay?" Lana asked.

Dahlia nodded. "A few were injured, but we patched them up."

Lana looked at the faces of those watching them, most looking to Xerus with fear and awe. "Why don't they run?" Lana asked. "

"They saw you with him and got the hint," Ben said.

Dahlia smacked his shoulder lightly. "It was more than that. Once groups started coming up from the cargo elevators one after another we had a theory that someone was aiding them. When we asked, they each said it had been a great big red demon alien from hell." Dahlia shrugged as Xerus snorted and shook his head. "We knew it had to be Asset X. But what we didn't understand was why he did it and how everyone would come out alive. Since, let's be honest, there was no way they would."

"So we then theorized," Sarah said, "That he was actually helping. It took some time but we convinced them. Ben showed them the video recordings of all your sessions. Well, the good ones anyway." Sarah glanced at Xerus nervously. "We then told them to wait for others. Until we knew for sure everyone was out. But once the tremors started..."

"People have been itching real bad to leave," Ben finished. He pointed to the ships. "They are ready to go. No one is holding us back now that the officers stood down and the pilots are ready to fly them."

Lana nodded. "Let's get hell out of here."

***

Xerus did one last round of scanning to be sure none held the parasite. To their relief, everyone was clean. A few volunteered to blockade the station entrance but Xerus was satisfied the infected were either all dead or still down in the earth ready to be buried. None would be able to make it out from the bottom to the top. And with all the ships taking off, there would be no way for Spectre to spread.

Lana stood out beyond the crowd where most were filing in line to get on one of the ships. She didn't know whether to join them or not. Now that she and Xerus had made it out, what she had avoided before could no longer be ignored. He had to go back to his home planet. Where he could get back to his kind and tell them he had completed his mission. Where he could be made Predomis and mated to a queen.

A sharp sting hit her chest at the thought and in that moment she fully considered forcing Xerus to take her with him.

But how could she force someone to go against their way of life, against their beliefs? They were from different worlds, no matter how much she loved him, she couldn't force him to go against his ways. Even if it broke her.

"They are getting ready to depart," Dahlia said beside her. "Better get on."

Lana swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "I..."

Dahlia's eyes widened at something behind her and she stepped back, bowing her head. Lana turned and saw Xerus behind her.

"We are taking this ship," he said, looking at Dahlia. "Since there is enough room for everyone on the others."

Dahlia glanced at Lana, her brows rising. Lana stared at Xerus. "We?"

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