Page 42 of Heart’s Prisoner

"But I still have authorization to see my client at any hour."

Torrence didn't say anything nor did he move.

"Alright, I guess I'll contact Cole then and let him–"

"He's not contactable right now." Torrence grimaced.

Lana raised a brow. "Well I have his number, I'll just message–"

Torrence made an angry grunting sound and put in the security code for unit three. "Make it quick."

Smiling, Lana turned and headed for the opening. As she waited for the door to close behind her and for the sliding door to open into the room she unclasped the bracelet from her wrist and hid it in her hand. When the sliding door opened she went straight for the wall controls.

"This is a surprise," she heard Xerus say. "What brings the good doctor here at such a..."

When the screen lifted and Xerus got a good look at her, he froze. Even his tail stopped moving.

Lana felt a blush coming on and realized it was because of the way he looked at her. She hadn't expected to get such a reaction from him despite her fancy get up.

"I...um...I have a present for you," Lana said sheepishly.

Xerus lowered his tail slowly to the ground and dipped his head. "Oh?...and what might that be?" He said in a strangely low, husky voice.

Like a little girl, Lana skipped over to the transfer box and carefully slid the bracelet in. She stepped back to the glass to gauge his reaction. Xerus didn't move right away. He watched her instead and Lana had to coax him to open the box.

Eventually, he did. When he entwined the bracelet in his fingers, he looked at it curiously, letting the light hit the gems, making them sparkle. He looked at her, confused.

"What is it?"

Lana giggled. "It's a bracelet. It goes around your wrist. Like this." Lana held up her other hand that had the slim diamond bracelet.

Xerus looked it over again then glanced back at her. "But...why?"

She wasn't sure if he was asking why it went around your wrist or why she was giving it to him. She chose to believe it was the former.

"It's just meant to be like an...ornament. Something nice to wear."

Xerus held it up higher to the light so that he could make out the charms.

"Ah, the star...well you already know that symbol." Lana pointed out. "But the other one is of my homeworld. Earth."

He tilted his head and grunted. Carefully taking it in his claws he tried to lay it out on his wrist and to both of their dismay, the bracelet was much too small. It looked like something a child wore compared to his size.

"Oh, well...I hadn't really thought about it fitting you," Lana said. "It was just last minute and I understand if you–"

"Thank you."

Lana's eyes widened. She watched as Xerus went over to the bed he rarely used and placed it on top. Right next to the lock of hair she had given him over a game of chess. She stared at them, and at Xerus, then moved closer to the glass.

As if in sync, Xerus too came up beside the window and, when Lana placed her hand on the glass, he placed his against hers.

Lana swallowed as her throat tightened. "Xerus...there's something I have to tell you. Something I should have told you before and I'm sorry...I'm sorry I didn't." She licked her lips. "You should know, you need to know, that in a week's time they are going to test you. To prove that you can be trusted."

Xerus' expression darkened. "Tested how?"

Lana shook her head. "I don't know, they wouldn't say but if you succeeded they promised me you would be given more lax holdings, you might even be allowed out from time to time."

Xerus lowered his hand from the glass. "And if I fail?"

---