Page 61 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

“Because you’re leaving, and after you’re gone, I’ll still be here!” she yelled without meaning to. Her eyes widened, and she took a step back. “You’re leaving,” she repeated softly.

“Yes, I’m leaving. What is there for me on this planet but captivity?”

Zoey stared at him silently for a time before nodding. “You’re right.” Painful tightness seized her chest. “Nothing. Which means I made the right decision. Goodnight, Ren.”

She turned her back on him, but not before catching a look of shocked realization in his eyes. He was silent as she walked away. She didn’t look back.

Entering the room they’d shared, she stuffed her toiletry bag into her suitcase and hauled her meager belongings — this waseverythingshe had, now — upstairs and into the master bedroom. She slammed the door closed behind her. Only when that solid barrier was between them did she allow herself to slide to the floor and cry.

Chapter Thirteen

Zoey woke with a headache for the second morning in a row. Though this one wasn’t nearly as intense or painful as her hangover headache, it was in some ways worse — this time, her heart ached, too, enough so to prevent her from falling back to sleep. Her eyes were swollen from crying the night before, and she was miserable.

You made your bed, now lie in it.

Oh, she’d lain in it, alright. Alone and filled with regret.

After tossing and turning for a long while, she finally glanced at the clock. The glowing green numbers taunted her —4:45, and you sure as hell aren’t getting any more sleep.

Giving in to her frustration, she tossed the blankets off and slipped out of bed. She brushed her teeth, took a shower — acknowledging in some part of her mind that the fancy system of hidden showerheads provided anamazingexperience, though she was unable to enjoy it in her current state — and got dressed. With nothing else to do, she tip-toed downstairs to the kitchen to occupy herself.

Twenty minutes later, a second-floor door opened. The stairs groaned to announce their displeasure at supporting Rendash’s weight. He entered the kitchen and stopped just inside the doorway.

Zoey slowed the whisk and looked up from the large bowl of powdered eggs tucked in her arm. She made eye contact with Ren, but his expression was unreadable. He sighed softly and walked to the table, seating himself in a chair that faced the glass doors, giving her his back. The snow was three-fourths of the way to the top of the doors today.

At least he put on some pants this morning.

Way to look on the bright side, Zoey.

She frowned and looked down at the bowl, resuming her whisking. “I couldn’t sleep. Figured I’d come down and start breakfast.”

“I heard you pass in the hallway,” he said.

“Sorry if I woke you.”

“You didn’t.”

She pressed her lips together. What a mess. How could sex complicate things so much when they hadn’t evenhadit?

He turned his head slightly, his leftmost eye shifting toward her. “Whatever you are cooking, it smells good.”

She placed the whisk in the sink. The aroma from the oven had spread sweetly through the kitchen. “It’s a surprise.”

Rendash twisted in the chair, looking at her over his shoulder. “A surprise?”

“Yep.” Turning her back to him, she poured most of the egg into the waiting skillet and picked up the spatula.

“Even if you tell me what it is called, the word will be meaningless to me. You can give me that much, at least.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s a surprise, which means you’re going to have to wait to find out.”

“Zoey…”

“Don’t you growl at me.”

The wood of his chair creaked, conveying his impatience even before he spoke. “Well how long do I have to wait?”

Zoey glanced at the oven. “Ten minutes. But then it will need a little time to cool.”

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