Page 21 of Kissed By the Alien
“The Brotherhood?”
“I’m not sure. But she is armed.”
“You gave her the gun?”
“I had no choice.” A sholan would never endanger his sholani, even if he cannot claim her as his. “There were two males watching her tonight, but she’s not trained to use that weapon, and even if she is…” Fear races through me at the thought of something happening to her. And yet I don’t tell Hunzu she’s my heartmate, the female fated for me.
“I’ll follow the males when they leave the ball, but I need you to watch Lexi discreetly and ensure she reaches her home.”
“I’m currently handling another security issue. I can assign Beven or Tosh to her.”
A growl escapes me. Neither male has Hunzu’s skills or instincts, but letting her leave without protection is unacceptable.
“Have Beven trail the two males inside. They are dressed alike but not in the formal attire the other males or soldiers wear. He should have no trouble spotting them. I’ll see to Lexi.”
“Done. Hunzu out.”
As he ends the communication, I slide into the shadows across the street. From here, I have a good view of the bag Lexi stuffed in the potted bush earlier. I’ll wait for her to retrieve it, then I’ll follow her.
Twenty minutes pass, and with it, my patience. I did not expect her to stay after I left the hotel, especially since I gave her the gun. That was the reason she came tonight, after all.
Visions of other males dancing with her, pressing their bodies against her, make my horns curve forward, ready and eager to impale anyone who dares to touch her.
The last time I waited for someone to appear, I’d been on Karthika, eager to see Narzan. I gave him ten additional minutes. Ten drekking minutes. If I’d listened to my instincts and left to find him…
No more. I will not risk Lexi because my instincts are as battered as my soul. I surge forward under the bright moonlight, then quickly sink back into the shadows as a group of eight humans exits the hotel. The males stand by the curb, blocking my view of the females behind them. I see nothing but red dresses peeking through the gaps as they stand in front of the potted bush, talking and laughing. A moment later, a bus pulls up and they pile on, as does another group pouring out of the hotel.
After the bus pulls away, I check the potted trees. Lexi’s bag is gone.
I race into the street and stare at the bus. There in the back window is my Lexi, with her hand splayed across the pane as she watches me with sadness filling her face. She knew I was here, and she avoided me.
That’s when I see them, the two males from inside the hotel... walking down the center of the bus toward my female...
* * *
LEXI
As I headtoward the back of the bus, I see a streak of blue race into the street.
Lutan.
He’s standing there, staring at the bus, looking incredibly lost. My heart melts even though he’s the one who bailed on me, not the other way around.
The gun. That damn gun. He thinks that’s all I care about.
I place my hand against the glass, my fingers spread out. I touch his image as the bus pulls away, wishing I were touching him. I’m tempted to demand the driver pull over so I can run back to Lutan, but that would break every rule in the ‘stay safe, Lexi’ rule book, especially the one about keeping a low-profile. It’s bad enough I accidentally hopped onto a private bus, not a city bus, and have no idea where it’s going. Discreetly, below the level of the seat backs, I slip the gun into my bag.
“Excuse me,” I ask the women in the row in front of me. “Where does this bus stop?”
“The retreat, of course.”
“Retreat?” Fuck, don’t tell me she means the military center that houses all the foreign dignitaries in Altadena. There’s no way they’ll let me through the gates without ID. They could detain me.
The silver-haired lady who’s dripping in diamonds turns her head to look me over. I’m still wearing the dress so I’m no threat, not like I’d be if I’d donned my coat and boots and looked like a vagabond.
“Did you get on the wrong bus, dear?”
When I open my mouth to answer, I spot McCauley and Sideburns sitting in the third row up front. They take turns glancing over their shoulders, watching me.
