“You mean, take him to the ship?”
B.I.L.L.:I am the ship.Bring him.Bring them all.The male, Johnson, has internal bleeding.He will not survive the journey.Direct your human healers to him immediately once they arrive.
Ahh.The sirens.They’re loud.I doubt they’re more than a block or two away.
B.I.L.L.:Offer my assistance to those you believe we can trust.We will need their assistance in the weeks and months ahead.
“What?Why?I thought we would be leaving.”Rygar’s staying here?
Rygar’s lips meet mine in a gentle kiss.“Prince Straggan escaped.”
Xandor steps into view, Emily and her family at his side.“And we blew up his ship.He’s stuck here, on Earth, until he can steal a ship from your government or someone from his world sends help.”
Rygar shakes his head.“That will not happen.He has many enemies on his home world, and many younger males in his family bloodline eager to take his place.”
Disappointment floods me as Rygar processes what he clearly perceives to be a personal failure.I don’t understand.
“How did he get away?You were winning.I could feel it.Taking him out is your whole mission.BILL said you’ve been hunting him foryears.I don’t understand.What happened?”
Rygar leans in so our foreheads meet.Our gazes lock.“I let him go.”
“You what?”I struggle to get to my feet.I can’t have this conversation on the ground.He helps me stand and wraps his arms around me.Which is fine by me because I don’t want to be anywhere else.“Why?You had him!I can feel your disappointment.Why would you let him go?”
“Because I choose you, Madison.The Wolven would have killed you if I had waited.I’ll eliminate Prince Straggan another time.He is trapped here, on your world.There will be other opportunities.But my love, there is only one you.”
Screeching tires and slamming doors mean the calvary has arrived.I turn and count three ambulances, five highway patrol cars, and… is that a SWAT team?
“Rygar, we have to go.Now.”I look at Xandor.“Do your invisible thing.Now.Right now.”
Xandor and Rygar exchange a look before disappearing into thin air.
Wow.He wasn’t kidding about the invisible suit.“Where are you?”Just because I can’t see him doesn’t mean I don’t want to be as close as possible.
My dad rolls onto his side and pushes himself to a sitting position.“Go on.Go with him.Go hide out on his ship and heal.Both of you.You get caught up in this and you’ll be in a black program debrief facility for weeks.”My dad looks at the dead Wolven closest to him and chuckles.“They’re going to have fun with this one.”
“Make sure the paramedics get to Special Agent Johnson.He’s got internal bleeding and needs medical attention asap.”I hold my father’s gaze so he knows I’m serious.“BILL also said you have three broken ribs and bruised organs.He wants you back on the ship so he can heal you, ASAP.”
Dad nods.“I got it.Now go.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I hold out my hand.My invisible mate takes it.
Emily’s gasp is the only indication I have that I poof right in front of her.
I wake slowly, darkness fading as the interior of Rygar’s ship comes into focus.I’m lying on some sort of medical bed.Xandor appears a few feet away, pacing.Kiki rises from her spot on the floor and trots over to me with a loud, “Yeow!”
And Rygar?I glance to my right as he pulls me to my feet and wraps me in his arms.Kiki rubs her big body against the back of my legs.I scratch her head before she lays down at my feet.I turn into Rygar’s body, holding him tight, and lift my face.
Our eyes meet.In his I see more love than I ever dared dream.
How I ever thought I could live without him is beyond me.He’s everything to me.“I love you so much.I promise I will never willingly leave you again.”
Rygar’s smile takes my breath away.“Nor will I, mate.Crash landing on your planet is the best thing that ever happened to me.My purpose, fighting this war, means nothing without you.”
It’s been too long since I kissed him.Going up on my tiptoes, I place my lips over his, sliding my hands up his chest until I hook my arms around his neck.This man of mine is everything to me.I will never tire of kissing him or being in his arms.We were meant for one another.I feel the strength of our telepathic bond grow.I wonder if one day we’ll be able to hear each other’s thoughts instead of just feeling them.
I glance at the medical bed behind me.“Why was I in there?I wasn’t hurt.”
