Page 97 of Kissed By the Alien
He points me north, toward a transit line.
“Thank you!” I nod and bounce off in the direction he indicated. Adrenaline races through me with every step I take. Inch by inch, foot by foot, I’m getting closer to Lutan.
Men, women, and children of all ages pile onto the transit tube. The technology here is so advanced compared to home. I’m awestruck by all that I see. I can’t wait to tell Lutan everything.
My heart sinks as I realize how long it’s been since I left Los Angeles. Two months. Two frigging months and no way to contact Lutan.
My father tricked me. Had a small army of brutes forcibly carry me kicking and screaming onto a spaceship. He told me nothing, except we were leaving Earth for our safety. All I could think was that I’d never see Lutan again.
Our safety.I huff at remembering how calm he spoke those words, ones he likely thought would calm me. As far as I’m concerned, this ‘our’ business ceased to exist the moment he lied to me and took me from Lutan.
And tried to discourage me from taking matters into my own hands. He said I’d have no way back to Earth. No money, no connections.
Watch me, Dad. I don’t need your money or your connections.
“Excuse me?” I ask a woman holding a baby. “Oh, he’s so cute!” I say in Common. She smiles. Zyanthans aren’t that different from humans. “Which stop do I exit for the port?”
She smiles back but doesn’t understand my question.
“Three stops down,” a woman says… in English! I don’t know why, but I’m stunned to see another human here. I walk over and sit beside her.
“I’m Golda,” she says. “Welcome to Zyan. I don’t recognize you. You didn’t come through GI5, did you?”
GI5? Oh, the division in charge of rescuing women abducted from Earth. Hmm, maybe I should contact them. “Do they handle anyone kidnapped from Earth, or only those taken by og’dal slavers?”
“That’s not a situation I’ve ever encountered. Were you kidnapped from Earth by someone other than og’dals?” she asks, worry on her face.
“That depends on who you are precisely. Are you attached to the embassy?”
“I was here before the embassy opened. I’m a New York City transplant. My mate is a warrior who was a marshal on Earth when I met him. We’ve been here almost two years. It’s a wonderful planet. The climate’s great, the people are good-hearted, though there are a few cranky ones here and there. The technology is beyond what we have back home, but no place is perfect. Not a single bagel anywhere. And no chocolate, if you can believe that!”
I like her. I can see being friends with her… if I were staying. “My father kidnapped me, but I’m not sure anyone will consider it kidnapping. He’s the new ambassador from Earth. Our whole family is here.”
“I’m guessing that means you didn’t want to come. I didn’t either at first. My family couldn’t come. I had to choose between them and my sholan.”
“At least you got to choose to go with your sholan. I was forcibly taken from Earth… where Lutan is. Ironic, isn’t it? He’s on my planet and I’m on his, but he doesn’t know I’m here and I have no way of contacting him.”
“Your sholan will not give up until he finds you. It’s the way of the heartmate bond.” She reaches into a pocket of the zyanthan dress she’s wearing and hands me a credit chip. “The port is the next stop. If you’re not officially listed as a passenger on a ship, you’re going to have trouble getting on board.”
“Is this money for a bribe?”
“It’s money to help you with whatever you need. I don’t think you’ll be able to bribe anyone at the port. Either way, at some point you’re going to get hungry or tired.” She gets up as the transit slows. “This is my stop. If you want to find me—and I hope you do, because that will mean you decided to stay—you can ask for me at MARS. Everyone knows me there. I’m the only human who persistently bakes for them. My sholan calls it bribes, but I just like to bake.”
“Mars?”
“Not the planet from our solar system. Marriage and Alien Registration Services. I can get you home through legal channels, but the embassy will see your name on a list of humans traveling back to Earth. Maybe we can find a way to circumvent that part of the process. I’ll have to give it some thought.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“You’re not doing anything illegal, so why wouldn’t I help? Besides, helping human women on Zyan is sort of my job. Even if it wasn’t, though, no one should rip a couple apart, even well-meaning parents. That’s something I know about as well. Good luck...” she waits for my name but doesn’t push.
“It’s Lexi,” I say, realizing I can trust her. Besides, I already told her who my father is.
“Good luck, Lexi.” Golda steps off the transit.
One more stop until the port. My fist clenches around the credit chip. I have options now, more than before. No need to sneak aboard a ship. I know exactly what I’m going to do…
CHAPTERFORTY
