“And?”
Cass smiled, small and private. “Things happened.”
She blinked. “Things?”
“We’re mated. According to him, anyway.” Cass’s blush deepened. “Apparently cyborgs have this whole bonding thing.”
“Mated.” A slightly hysterical laugh escaped. “Cass, are you telling me we both got caught in the same storm and came out of it with… mates?”
“Seems that way.” Cass grinned. “Though I have to say, yours is considerably more alien than mine. Zach is at least partially human.”
“And you’ve known him for a year, even if you spent most of that time pretending to ignore him. But Rhyx is—” She stopped, searching for the right words. “He’s kind and curious andprotective to a fault. I know it hasn’t been long, but I’ve never felt anything so completely right.”
“I wasn’t judging. Trust me, after the past few days, I’m in no position to judge anyone’s taste in men.” Cass reached over and squeezed her hand. “We’ll figure this out, Alina. Whatever happens, you’re not alone.”
“Thank you.” The words felt inadequate, but she knew Cass understood.
“Now,” Cass said, pouring them both another drink, “let’s talk logistics. Your Rhyx—he’s still in the cavern?”
“Yes. He promised to stay hidden for three days. After that…” She grimaced. “He made it pretty clear that he’d come looking for me.”
“That would be a problem.”
“I know.”
“We need to get you back to him before the three days are up. Bring supplies, establish some kind of communication system, maybe?—”
The door burst open.
Martin Reece stood in the threshold, his pale eyes blazing with an emotion that made her skin crawl. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days—his usually immaculate hair disheveled, his lab coat wrinkled, and dark circles under his eyes. But his gaze was sharp, focused with an intensity that reminded her uncomfortably of a predator sighting prey.
“There you are.” His voice was soft, controlled, but there was an edge to it that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Alina.”
Cass was on her feet instantly, positioning herself between Martin and Alina. “This is a private residence, Reece. You can’t just?—”
“I can do whatever I want when a colleague disappears for nearly a week without explanation.” Martin’s eyes never left Alina’s face. “Where were you?”
“I got caught in the storm.” She forced her voice to stay calm, and kept her expression absolutely neutral. Just stick to the story. Boring details. Nothing to investigate. “I found a cave in the foothills and waited it out.”
“For five days?”
“The storm lasted five days.”
“And you just happened to have enough supplies to survive that long?”
“All of the rovers are equipped with emergency rations. Standard protocol.” She stood, drawing on every ounce of scientific detachment she possessed. “I followed procedure, Martin. I survived. I don’t see what the problem is.”
“The problem—” He took a step into the room, and Cass moved to block him. “—is that you’ve been hiding something from me. I know you have. Those readings you were analyzing before you left—the anomalous signatures—you thought I didn’t notice, but I did. I always notice.”
Damn.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, but she could hear the tremor in her voice.
Martin smiled—a thin, satisfied expression that made her stomach turn. “Don’t you? Then why did your face just go pale? Why is your heart racing?” He leaned past Cass, close enough that Alina could smell his cologne—exactly as oppressive as she remembered. “What did you find out there, Alina?”
“Nothing. A cave. Some interesting rock formations. Nothing worth?—”
“Liar.”
