With a nod, Lala bounded up, shoved the robots in a bag and sprinted for the entrance. Instantly Zayn was there, gripping her arm. His gaze hit Ria. “Okay?”
She nodded. “Better once we’re out of here.”
They ran in a zig zag pattern, dodging falling debris and the rocks already scattering the floor. They flew through the tunnel. Ahead a bright arch of blue sky beckoned. The tunnel walls around them were vibrating, more dust raining down.
So close. Ria pushed for more speed. She heard a deep rumble, like a giant beast on the hunt. She glanced over her shoulder.
Oh no. “The tunnel’s collapsing.Faster.” She gripped Lala’s arm, thankful the girl was quick on her feet.
Zayn was bringing up the rear. “Run!”
Ria broke out of the tunnel, Lala a step behind her. They dived, tumbling a few feet down the hillside.
With a deafening roar, the tunnel collapsed. A huge cloud of dust washed over them.
Ria coughed and rubbed at her stinging eyes. She couldn’t see. Her eyes watered. “Lala, you okay?”
The girl coughed. “Yeah.”
“Zayn?”
No answer.
“Zayn?” Ria scrambled up. She stared at the collapsed tunnel.No. The bottom dropped out of her stomach.
“Over…here.”
She swiveled. He lay sprawled on his back beyond some rocks. Blood coated his face and neck.
“Zayn.” She climbed over the rocks and leaped down beside him. “What happened?”
“Rock to the head. I’m fine. Just a scalp gash. They bleed like hell.”
She cupped his cheeks, studying his dust-covered features. He was right about the cut. It wasn’t deep. Releasing a breath, she leaned forward, her forehead bumping against his. “You scared me.” She wasn’t used to worrying about someone else.
But this man, this reckless flyboy, made her feel things she never knew she was capable of feeling.
“Sorry.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’m fine.”
“Yuck.” Lala’s exclamation was followed by various choking noises. “Do you guys do this kissing stuff all the time?”
“We’ve just started doing it.” He sat up and slung an arm across Ria’s shoulders. “So get used to it, kid, because I plan to do a lot more of it.”
Lala wrapped her hands around her neck and mimed gagging.
Ria couldn’t hold back a smile. Give it a few more years and Lala’s aversion to the opposite sex would morph into something else. Heaven help the man who caught her attention. “Sorry about your home.”
“No probs. This is the third time I’ve blown up my lab. My living area is in a different section of tunnel.”
“Lala, do you have any horses?” Zayn asked.
“Nope.” A wicked grin. “But I have some hoverboards.”
“Excellent.” His matching smile was wide. “I love hoverboards. We’ll need them to get back to my ship. Pack a bag and then let’s ride.”
Ria groaned. “Hoverboards? You can’t be serious.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
