“Let’s head back to the truck, and I’ll show you.”
Rather than guide, Grayson swept her into his arms and assuredly stalked, somehow able to see in the darkness.
She leaned her head on his chest. “Are they all dead?” she asked, her voice still shaky from shock.
“I got his two associates. I’m just sorry I didn’t get to that bastard before he found you.”
“At least we’re both okay.” Or she would be once she stopped trembling.
They reached the truck, the interior light feeble until they got close. He sat her on the edge of the trunk and reached inside for a discarded jacket to wrap around her shoulders.
“Look what I found,” she exclaimed with a tremulous laugh, showing off the chunk of rock with bits of black flaking cradled in her palms.
“Is that…”
“The meteor? Yes.” She bobbed her head. “The waves must have rolled it ashore.” And not a moment too soon.
“In that case, our mission here is complete. What do you say we head back to Tower?”
“I’d like that. Let me grab the case with the samples.”
“You will sit on your ass while I grab it,” he commanded, crawling into the truck to snare the hard-shelled containment unit that appeared to not have been damaged by the gunfire.
He plopped it beside her and pursed his lips. “Okay, now according to Aquarius, I need to be holding on to you and everything I want to bring before I wish myself home.”
She eyed the meteor chunk. “Think it will make it back with us?”
“Only one way to find out.” He grabbed the handle of the case and held out his other hand. “Tuck in as close as you can.”
She slid from the tailgate and pressed herself to him, leaning her cheek against his damp chest while his arm curled around her.
“Now to see if it’s as easy as they claimed. Oh, star god, if you’re listening, we want to go back home.” He muttered. “And, by home, I mean Tower.”
She almost laughed but didn’t have the breath because suddenly they were in a cold place, the kind to steal a voice, to chill the very soul, a brief terrifying moment of nothingness, and then warmth returned.
The disorientation had her pushing away from Grayson and leaning over, gulping for air, eyes closed as she waited for the dizziness to subside.
“Leila?”
The concern in his voice had her croaking, “I’m fine. Beaming is disorienting for non-warriors.”
“I can’t believe that worked.”
“Even better, look what made the voyage with us.” She still clutched the chunk of asteroid.
“Are we sure it’s the right one?” She could understand his skepticism.
“We’ll soon find out. I’ll check it at once. Even if the water killed the alien microbes, traces will remain.”
“Before you do anything, you will jump into a hot shower and put on some dry clothes.”
She arched a brow. “Is that an order?”
“Yes.” He crossed his arms.
“And if I think this is more important?”
“Then you’ll leave me no choice.” He snatched the rock from her hand, and she gaped.
