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“So we’re almost there,” I said, relief evident in my voice. “And then what?”

Zehn and Khaaz exchanged a look that I couldn’t interpret. There was an entire conversation happening in that silent communication, one I wasn’t privy to.

“Then we find a way to get you home,” Zehn said finally, his tone neutral. Too neutral. “If that’s what you want.”

Something in my chest constricted painfully at the thought, but I pushed the feeling aside. Of course that’s what I wanted.Earth. Home. My apartment. My job. My life. The normal, human world where I didn’t have to run for my life or worry about alien hunters or navigate the complicated dynamics of whatever this was between the three of us.

“Right,” I said, matching his neutral tone. “Home.”

We broke camp efficiently, each of us falling into the routine we’d established over the past days. I rolled up the thermal blanket that had served as my bedding, stuffing it into the pack Zehn had given me. It was significantly lighter than theirs, containing only essential supplies and none of the other bulk they both carried. Even so, my shoulders protested as I hoisted it.

As we set off, me sandwiched between my two protectors as usual, I made a silent promise to join a gym if—when—I got back to Earth. No more takeout dinners eaten while hunched over my laptop. No more elevator instead of stairs. No more excuses.

The landscape here was beautiful in a stark, alien way. Red-tinged rock formations rose around us, their shapes like nothing I’d seen on Earth. Vegetation was sparse but tenacious, clinging to cracks in the stone, their colors ranging from deep purple to a green so dark it was almost black. The sky above was a pale lavender, streaked with wispy clouds that moved too quickly across the horizon.

In another context, this might have been the adventure vacation of a lifetime. Instead, it was a desperate flight from forces I still didn’t fully understand, guided by two males from a species I hadn’t known existed until a week ago.

My thoughts drifted as we walked, my body falling into the familiar rhythm of the hike. What would it be like to go back to my apartment after this? To the gray-beige walls and generic furniture, the stack of take-out menus in the kitchen drawer, the endless stream of data entry that constituted my job? Thethought felt hollow, like trying to squeeze back into clothes I’d outgrown.

Here, despite the danger and discomfort, every moment felt vibrant, immediate. The food, though simple, tasted more real than any five-star restaurant meal I’d ever had. The nights under alien stars, wrapped in warmth and safety despite the constant threat, were more restful than any night in my memory foam mattress.

And then there were Zehn and Khaaz themselves. Two sides of the same coin—Zehn disciplined and controlled, Khaaz feral and unpredictable. Both lethal. Both protective. Both fixated on me in a way no human man had ever been.

The dream had only confirmed what I’d been feeling since they found me—that I belonged with them in some inexplicable, cosmic way. That we were connected by something deeper than circumstance or convenience or even attraction.

The thought of never seeing them again after we reached the facility hit me with unexpected force. A physical pain lanced through my chest, stealing my breath, making me stumble on the uneven ground. Zehn’s hand shot out, steadying me before I could fall.

“Everly?” His voice was sharp with concern. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I gasped, trying to regain my composure. “Just lost my footing.”

His amber eyes narrowed, studying my face with unnerving intensity. “Your scent changed. You’re in distress.”

I’d forgotten about their enhanced senses. Lying to them was pointless, apparently.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, straightening my shoulders. “Just tired. And sore. And wondering if we’re actually going to make it to this facility without something trying to kill us again.”

Khaaz had doubled back, alerted by our pause. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, his gaze sweeping the area for threats.

“Nothing,” I repeated, frustration edging my voice. “Can we just keep moving?”

“No,” Zehn said firmly. “We rest. Now.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the look on his face stopped me. This wasn’t a suggestion; it was an order. And despite everything in me that wanted to argue on principle, I found myself oddly comforted by his decisiveness.

Khaaz nodded in agreement, his eyes flickering between Zehn and me. “This ridge provides good cover. I’ll scout ahead, check for perimeter sensors. The facility might have automated defenses still active.”

Zehn hesitated, clearly torn between wanting to stay with me and the tactical advantage of having Khaaz survey the terrain. “Be careful,” he finally said. “Stay under the cloak. Fifteen minutes, then return.”

Khaaz’s lips curled in what might have been amusement. “Concerned for my welfare, Reaper?” he asked.

“Concerned for our mission,” Zehn corrected, but there was no real bite to his words. Something had shifted between them since the dream—a new understanding, perhaps, or at least a temporary truce.

Khaaz approached me, his movements fluid and predatory. Without warning, he leaned in, his nose skimming along my jawline in a gesture that was both alien and intimately familiar. He inhaled deeply, as if memorizing my scent.

“Rest,” he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. “I’ll return soon.”

Then he was gone, disappearing among the rocks with a grace that belied his size. I stared after him, my heart hammering in my chest, my skin tingling where he’d been so close.

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