“He’s not my alien,” I mutter as she slips through the curtain.
“Mm-hmm,” she hums before disappearing.
I catch myself smiling as I climb under the blanket behind Skylar.Don’t get your hopes up,I tell myself as I curl up on my side and let my eyes slide shut.
How many times have promises made to me fallen through? Too many to count, that’s how many. So why should I expect some alien who came out of nowhere to be any different? The only one I can rely on is me. So it’s going to be up to me to get Skylar and me out of this mess.
It would sure be nice to have some help for once though.
* * *
Treto
Back on the shuttle, I retreat to a spot just beyond the station’s perimeter, even while my soul screams at me to go back for her. As soon as I’m hidden, I power down and comm Sone. Themarkattilooks haggard.
“How are things with your female?” He rubs at the fur between his eyes.
I blow out my breath instead of arguing with him. “There are three human females on the station; one is a kit, and my Bela refuses to leave without them.”
Sone nods and leans back in his seat. “Getting one out is going to be hard enough, but three… I’m still at least a rotation out. I was able to get the hyperdrive to work, but only if I use it in short bursts.”
That’s not what I wanted to hear.
“Have you talked with Rovos?” Sone asks.
“Not since I commed you before.” I slouch into my seat and run my palm over the top of my head. “They are coming as fast as they can.”
“Knowing Rovos, he’ll push theShadeto the very brink. He better not break anything,” Sone growls and then looks straight at me. “I don’t supposed I can talk you into waiting for us before you try to rescue the humans?”
I lift my eyes to his image.It was nearly impossible to leave that station without my Bela.
“Never mind,” Sone sighs. “I know that look. Can you at least promise not to rush in with a half-cocked plan?”
My lips twitch. How well Sone knows me. “I’ll do my best.”
He promises to let me know when he’s a bit closer to Lux, and the screen goes blank.When I call up theShade,my comm is picked up almost immediately, and Igid appears before me.
“Treto!” she exclaims, her lips splitting into a wide grin. “Any luck getting the human?”
When I shake my head, her smile falters. I quickly fill her in on everything that’s happened since. By the time I’m finished, she’s leaning forward, tapping a long, claw-tipped finger against her lips.
“They kidnapped a kit?” she growls and then rattles off a string of curses in her native language.
“My—I mean, Bela refuses to leave the station without the others, but especially the young. She made me promise that if it comes to it, I’m to rescue her and leave them behind.”
“Honorable,” Igid mutters, nodding. Then her lips quirk again, and she winks at me. “I like her.”
“Good,” I say. “Because I need your help if I’m going to have any chance of getting them out of there.”
Rovos steps up behind Igid, resting his hand on the back of her seat as he leans over. “Have you talked with Sone?”
“He’s still a rotation out,” I tell him. “How far out are you?”
“We’re about the same.” He glances down at Igid, and the corner of his mouth quirks into a half smile. “I’ll see if I can push theShadea little faster.”
“You willnot!”Igid snaps, spinning around and stabbing one of her sharp fingers into his shoulder. “You’re already pushing her too hard.”
Kurva.Why was this happening? I drag my hand over the front of my face before resting my chin in my palm.This is a disaster!
