Shit.
I am not fast enough to outrun bullets.Lifting my fingers to my lips, I let out a shrill whistle.
The answering scream of the gelding is music to my ears.Seconds later he is racing toward us, ears back.He runs behind us, using his body to block the MIB.Rygar lifts me into the saddle before climbing up behind me.
Rygar wraps his arms around me as I lose my balance, shoulders rocking backward.One second later and I would have flipped backward off this horse.I’m not a sidesaddle, ballgown wearing expert on horseback.One clicking noise and a soft nudge from Rygar to his sides, and the horse is running like it’s his life on the line.The pop-pop-pop of shots being fired makes me wince.
Bullets whiz past us.
A wooden support beam explodes into a shower of splinters a few inches from the horse’s shoulder.
Holy shit!
These guys are actually trying to kill us.
Why am I watching this happen like it’s an adventure movie rather than a life-or-death situation?So weird.Maybe I do still have tequila running through my veins.Sober me would freak the fuck out.The possibility that my husband is who he says he is adds another level to this surreal reality.Who would come after an alien from the Pleiadean system but theMen In Blackor some other nefarious, secret government organization?
I rock back and forth in Rygar’s lap as he leads the racing horse through the exit corridor, past the stables and out into the street.Metal horseshoes make a loud clopping sound as we race down the center of the street, around a corner and into a dark alley.
The loud pop of gunfire is followed by an explosion of glass in a window across the street.I look over my shoulder to see one of the bad guys followed us outside.
“BILL?Where are they?”Rygar is calm.Too calm.Like he’s used to being shot at.
BILL chimes in, giving Rygar directions.Turn here.Wait.Double back.Turn left.Wait.We play cat and mouse with the MIBs for what feels like hours but is probably more like thirty minutes.
When BILL informs us that the electric company’s giant transformer above our heads is blocking the MIBs’ ability to track us, I take a few deep breaths and try to figure out what to ask first.Who were those guys?Why are they trying to kill you?As cool and interesting as a plus-sized baker from Stargazer Village is, I’m pretty damn sure they weren’t after me.
B.I.L.L.:I’ve sent a message to your driver to leave town, Commander, and planted a decoy in the vehicle’s onboard computer.It’s primitive, but adequate to mimic your signal.The MIB are following the car away from your location.The decoy is successful.
“Thank you, BILL.”
“Are you on the run from the cops or something?The FBI?What is going on?”
“I have told you, mate.Our ship crashed two days ago.Those men, if they are in fact human men and not hybrids or soulless drones, are hunting us.They will stop at nothing to get to us.They are most likely aligned with our enemies, the Dark Fleet.”
I take a deep, deep breath.Hold it.Count to ten.“Just tell me the truth, okay?We’re married now.Even if you are a criminal, I don’t have to testify against you, so you don’t need to keep up the act.”I wave my hands around in front of his spacesuit.“This is an incredible costume.The effects?Like blowing up that car and stuff?Epic.So, I figure you’re some kind of spy or Special Forces asset.Space Force maybe?So, please, just tell me what’s going on?”Although, hell, if he is CIA or a Specialist, he’s probably working on Top Secret stuff that he can’t talk about.
Damn it.I swore for years and yearsand years,I wasn’t going to marry a military man.Now what have I done?One better?Married a spy?007, James Bond?A regularInspector Gadget?How many more gizmos and tricks does he have in that suit?
God.What a mess.Maybe I shouldn’t have married him.I’ve done the one thing I swore I would never do.Never, ever,ever.I lived the military family life growing up.I don’t want that again, not for me, and not for my kids.Yet refusing him means breaking things off with Rygar forever.
No.Everything in me rejects that thought.He’s mine.I don’t know how or why, I just know it’s true.Deep in my soul, I know.I just know.We are meant to be together.We’ll figure it out.
So, even though we’re hiding in an alley, in Reno, in the middle of the night, on a stolen horse, I’m still happy.Blissfully so.How truly bizarre.
“My love, I am sorry.”When Rygar lifts one hand to cup my cheek, I lean into him and forgive everything between one heartbeat and the next.Totally illogical.I don’t care.He’s my husband.
“It’s okay.We got away.”
“No.The Astral Euphoria has muddled my thinking.BILL was correct.I am compromised.I should not have risked your life.As soon as I realized who you were, I should have taken you to a secure location and explained.”
His hands move over me, but the movements are efficient.Assessing.Looking for injuries?
“I’m fine.I didn’t get shot.”
“Are you sure you are not hurt?”He lifts one hand and another beam of light erupts from his palm.He moves the light over me slowly.“BILL, confirm my mate is not injured.”
“I’m fine.”The only thing that hurts is my brain trying to make sense of this.
