Before she could ask the first of twenty questions about his twin, Cam spun back around to face her. He looked rather ashen. “Okay, pretend to be human,” he said in a low, urgent tone, as though they were criminals about to be picked up and taken into custody by a Guardsman with the Royal Magistrate Guard. “Do not mention the ship or that you’re an Alpha, or anything pertaining to the basement facility at the truck stop. Got it?”
Ria huffed. “I know.”
“Why did you wave at him then?”
“He waved first. I was just being friendly and polite.”
“That’s not a good enough reason.”
“Relax, Cam. All humans wave at each other. I read it in my book. It would have looked weird if I hadn’t waved back.”
“Not all humans wave at each other.Promiseme you’ll behave.”
Ria didn’t feel much like behaving. “Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t.”
“Ria, please. Axel has seen—”
Whatever he’d been about to say, he didn’t finish it, because the subject of their first little argument was within hearing distance. It was clear Cam was not very happy to see his brother. In all honesty, she’d forgotten they were supposed to be keeping a low profile and avoid his family. Taking trips to other towns and staying out of Alienn didn’t seem to be working for them so far, in her opinion.
“Hey, Bro.” Axel nodded at Ria and grinned. “So is this the reason you’ve been gone from the truck stop all day?”
“No comment.”
“That means yes.” Axel stuck out a hand in her direction. “Hi. I’m Axel Grey, Cam’s older, handsomer brother.” She smiled at his joke, took his offered hand and they shook. His eyes narrowed and his grip tightened on her hand. “Say, you look familiar. Have we met before?”
Ria forced herself to remain calm. She laughed. “I get that a lot from folks, actually. I must have an ordinary face.”
Cam stood up and moved between them, breaking the handshake. “No. You haven’t ever met her. Now go away. We’re busy.”
“First of all, your face is not ordinary. Second of all,” he turned to Cam, “is this the same kind of busy that you suffered from earlier this morning when I woke you up?”
Cam tilted his head back in defeat. “Go away, Axel. I’m warning you.”
His brother laughed. “Good luck with that.” He turned to Ria. “Hey, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Ria,” she said at the exact same time Cam snapped his head forward and barked, “None of your business.”
“Ria,” Axel said. “Nice name.” He made a face at Cam. He leaned closer to her, whispering loud enough for Cam to hear, “FYI, you should be aware of the fact that he’s really grumpy when he doesn’t get enough sleep.”
Ria covered her smile with her hand when Cam made a disagreeable face.
Axel tilted his head. “Are you sure we haven’t met?”
“Nope. I’m certain that we’ve never met before right now this second.”
He made a tsking sound and shrugged. “Well, it’s great to meet you, right now this second, Ria.”
“Thanks. Great to meet you, too.”
“I like the blue streaks in your hair.”
She brushed a hand over her locks. “Thanks. It’s really fun.”
Axel glanced at his brother. “Cam is glaring at me. Believe me, if I could stay and torture him, I would, but I’m on an important errand, so I’ll say my farewells.”
Cam shoved Axel away and turned his back.
“I’m going to remember that, Cam.” Axel pointed his fingers at Cam, shaped them into guns and pretended to shoot off a few rounds into the air.
