Page 25 of Kazzon's Human Bride
“But… how? Caylee, darling, you… I meanJulie, Julie darling, what are you talking about?”
Caylee almost laughed. Both her parents had already addressed her by her real name in front of Kazzon. Apparently in their surprise over this morning’s events, they’d forgotten that she went by Julie around others.
“He knows who I am, Mom,” Caylee replied. “He knows everything. Look, I’ll tell you what happened, but can we come inside please? Before all the neighbors wake up and get nosey?” Then she remembered Kazzon’s impending meeting with the Leaders. He had to leave soon. He’d only come to meet her parents quickly, and what a first impression that was. She found herself wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
“Uh, wait,” she said, turning to face her father. She noticed that Kazzon had leveled a glare of disapproval upon him. “My husband has to get to a meeting with the Leaders. But I wanted to introduce you to him first. Um,Xerr, this is my mom, Yvette, whom you’ve already met, and this is my dad, Quinton.”
Still glaring, Kazzon offered his hand to her father. They exchanged an awkward handshake and she wondered if it had something to do with her addressing Kazzon asXerr. Her parents only knew a little of the Tarrkuan tongue, but she was certain they knewXerrmeant ‘Master.’
“Good morning, Quinton,” Kazzon said, a noticeable edge to his voice. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His tone indicated the meeting was anything but a pleasure.
Caylee didn’t need to possess the same sort of powers as Kazzon to know he wasn’t truly happy to meet her father, but she couldn’t exactly blame him right now. She couldn’t summon any anger over the harsh tone he’d used either.
“I’d really like to know what’s going on,” her father said.
“Yes, so would I,” her mother said with a sharp glance at her father. Clearly, she was talking about more than the huge Tarrkuan that Caylee had brought home for a meet-and-greet.
“Your daughter will explain everything to you inside,” Kazzon said. “I regret that I must leave now, but as Caylee already explained, I have a meeting with the Leaders. I will return for your daughter later in the day.”
Kazzon faced Caylee and cupped the side of her face, his visage reflecting the same tenderness as when he’d embraced her last night. Her heart fluttered at the memory. Not caring that her parents watched, he bent down to place a kiss upon her lips. His kiss and his nearness suddenly felt like an anchor in the storm that swirled around her. To her surprise, she found herself wishing he didn’t have to leave. Too soon, he broke the kiss and took a step back.
“I will see you in several hours, wife,” he said, speaking low enough that only she could hear. “Remember what we talked about.”
“Yes,Xerr. Goodbye,” Caylee whispered, her lips tingling in the aftermath of the quick, chaste kiss that had made her toes curl in her shoes.
She watched as Kazzon departed and didn’t face her parents again until he’d rounded the corner at the end of the street. When she finally looked at them, they were glaring at one another. Tension hovered in the air and a ball of dread curled in Caylee’s stomach.
She didn’t want to go inside. Not really. She had no doubt they were about to get into another one of their screaming matches.
Frustration surged through her. This might be her last day on Earth—she wasn’t certain yet because it depended on how Kazzon’s negotiations went—but it was one of herlastdays on her home planet. It angered her that her final goodbyes would be forever tainted by her parents’ constant fighting. She shot a glare at her father.
“Let’s all go inside,” he said with a gesture at the front door.
Mom shook her head. “I don’t think so. You don’t live here anymore,” she said. “I gave you one last chance, yousonofabitch, and you blew it. I told you if I caught you again, I’d kick you out. You can go live with Carol or that whore next door.”
“I tried to make things right with you, Yvette, but you keep giving me the fucking silent treatment. How do you think that makes me feel when my own wife won’t talk to me? Maybe if you—”
“Mom, Dad, please,” Caylee interrupted, sadness filling her, as well as fatigue. A few minutes around her parents and she was suddenly mentally and physically exhausted. “This might be my last day on Earth and I’d like to say goodbye to you guys and explain everything that’s happened. Can you hold off on the fighting until I leave? Please?” She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back her tears.
“Of course, darling,” her mother said after a moment. She aimed a comforting smile at Caylee. “Come inside. Both of you, I suppose.”
Chapter 18
A senseof accomplishment hummed through Kazzon as he navigated the streets of New Leesburg. The Leaders had just agreed to the new terms of the treaty, and earlier than he’d anticipated, given that they’d invited him to spend several days in this dome-city enjoying their hospitality. Now he was free to leave Earth with Caylee as soon as possible.
But would his bride wish for an extra day to spend saying her goodbyes to her family and friends? His steps slowed as he considered this possibility. As the blue house on Beck Street came into view, he decided he would allow her an extra day if she wished. Perhaps even longer than that. The desire to make her happy surged through him.
The door to her family’s home opened as he approached and an anxious-looking Caylee stood in the doorway, holding a large suitcase in her hand. Apparently, she’d been watching for him. Two smaller bags rested on the floor behind her. She swallowed hard and met his gaze.
“I-I’m ready to go back to the ship.” Tears glimmered in her eyes and her lower lip trembled.
He searched her gaze, confusion falling over him. “Is something wrong, little human?” He cocked his head and listened for the sounds of footsteps or voices in the house, but he didn’t hear anything. Was Caylee here all by herself? Where had her parents gone? And what about her brother?
“Nothing’s wrong.” Black mist appeared. “Shit,” she blurted a moment later as she gestured to her head. “Well, I guess you knowsomethingis wrong, don’t you?”
He nodded, though he didn’t scold her for lying. He wasn’t completely heartless, and he sensed something other than her impending departure from Earth had pushed her to the verge of tears. He reached for her, though he kept his touch gentle.
“Has someone harmed you?” The urge to protect her and savage anyone who’d so much as insulted his bride rushed through him.
