by Lisa Lace
“And keep this private, please.�
“Damn. I was planning on making a broadcast to the ship. Now I’ll have to put that on hold.�
I shook my head. What an ass.
“Meet me at the docking bay tonight after the last shift leaves. Pack light. We can have the rest of your things sent later.�
“Okay.� Now that my decision was final, I felt my stomach twist into a knot.
Anders must have seen something in my face. “Are you sure you want to do this?�
I nodded firmly. “It’s better for me to choose to run off than be exiled in disgrace.�
“He loves you,� Anders whispered.
“What does love even mean to a man from Auxem? Whatever it means, it’s not enough to overcome this.� I shook my head and went to pack.
I only brought what I could carry in a backpack. I slipped into the darkened docking bay and almost shrieked when I spotted Anders in the dim light. I had known he was going to be there, but seeing someone else was still startling.
“Ready to go, sis?�
“I won’t be your sister after I get out of here.� I didn’t let myself feel sad about leaving Arnon. He had to take the blame, and if I started looking into my feelings for him, I would melt into a puddle of tears and sorrow. There would be time for regrets later. Right now, I had to be strong for the baby.
His cocky expression changed, and he looked mildly disappointed. “That’s a shame. I always wanted to have a sister. There’s too much testosterone in our house. We could have used a little more softness, especially after my Mom died.�
I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure how to respond.
In an instant, he was all business again. “Come on. I’ve got your shuttle ready.�
Anders started running the initial system checks while I settled myself into a passenger seat. When he was ready, we strapped ourselves into our seats.
“This is your last chance to abort. Are you sure you want to do this?�
Well, no. I didn’t want to leave at all. My husband and father-in-law were forcing my hand.
“I’m sure. Let’s go.�
The shuttle lifted off without another word. Anders began piloting us toward the exit. He entered a code to depressurize the dock and the huge doors slowly opened in front of us. In a moment, we flew through and out into the darkness of space.
Technically, I was free, yet it felt like I had stepped into prison for the rest of my life.
ARNON
“Are you sure about this?� I paced back and forth in front of Elle’s hospital bed. Ayrie sat beside her, and they were both watching me.
“I don’t know. It just seemed as if Jayne was saying goodbye. Ayrie thought I should tell you.� Elle sounded hesitant.
“What could this mean?�
He shrugged. “There’s always the obvious thing. Is Jayne trying to leave?�
“How would she do that?�
Elle was the one who finally answered. “I haven’t planned this out or anything, but if I were going to try and escape, there’s only one option. I would take a shuttle.�
“Who would fly it?�
“Not me. I would find someone to help me.�
“You just got here, and there’s no reason for any of the women to leave. We’re on a one-way trip to Auxem.�
“I do know one pilot.� She looked at us with a grin on her face. “Take a wild guess. For a superior alien race, you can be pretty dumb sometimes.� Elle looked pleased with herself.
Ayrie and I stared at each other blankly. In my head, I ran through a list of pilots that I knew and couldn’t come up with a single one on our ship. Elle was still chuckling to herself. I snapped my fingers and Ayrie stood up.
“It’s Anders.� I was already starting to move with Ayrie right behind me.
“You’re welcome,� Elle called sarcastically after us.
“Thank you. I owe you one.�
“We’ll be back soon,� Ayrie said over his shoulder.
We raced to the transporter pad at the end of the hallway, and I hopped on first. “I hope we’re not too late.� A moment later, I disappeared. We dashed into the docking bay just in time to watch a shuttlecraft fly out.
Ayrie pulled up a screen and checked on the spaceship’s occupants. “It’s Anders and Jayne, all right.�
“When was the last time you flew a shuttle?�
“About five years ago. It’s not usually a skill I have to use.�
“Do you think you can still do it?�
“Of course.�
“Let’s take Father’s personal shuttle and go after them.�
“Don’t you think that’s a little reckless?�
“Maybe. I was a fool to let this happen. But, as you said yourself, I would be a greater fool if I let Jayne get away.�
“You love her, don’t you?� Ayrie had a slightly wistful expression on his face.
“I do. Help me get Jayne back before I lose her forever.�
JAYNE
I had a big grin on my face after we cleared the docking bay and shot off into the stars.
“Don’t get too excited, Jayne. It’ll take us a couple of weeks to get back to Earth in this ship.�
“You’re coming with me?�
“Where did you think I was going to go? Besides, did you think I would set you on autopilot and let you fly through space by yourself? You’re carrying my blood relative, you know.�
“I guess I didn’t think that part through at all.�
He shook his head. “I brought enough food for both of us, and I’ll make sure you’re safely in your parents’ hands before I leave.�
I blinked back the tears in my eyes. “Thank you. It’s more than I could have hoped for.� I had been prepared to make the journey alone, but now I had my brother-in-law to keep me company. I hadn’t realized how scared I had been.
“Why don’t you go take a rest?� His voice was gentle. “You’ve had a rough day.�
Immediately I felt exhaustion taking over my body. Anders was right. I had to take care of myself now because that was how I could help the baby. “I think that’s a good idea.� I stifled a yawn. Before I headed for one of the bedrooms at the back of the ship, something nagged at me.
“I thought you needed to take your wings out every so often for medical reasons. What are you going to do on this ship? There’s not enough room to fly.�
He winced. “I’ll have to do the best I can. Maybe I can take them out while lying on the bed in my room. At least that will prevent infection.�
I was sure it would be an ordeal for him to be stuck in a tiny spaceship, but he had made his decision and I wasn’t going to refuse his help. I doubted he would let me send him back. Even though we would be cramped for the next two weeks, it was better than being alone.
Once I was lying on the bed in my room, tears began to fall. I felt overwhelmed. My father-in-law had rejected me. My husband hadn’t defended me. I was going to have a mutant baby by myself.
I was supposed to be off having a grand adventure. Some adventure this turned out to be.
To top it all off, I missed him. Nothing could fill the hole in my heart. Once the sobbing started, only sleep could stop it.
A couple of hours later, I was back sitting next to Anders in the cockpit, looking out the window. We sat in comfortable s
ilence. Everything felt better after a nap.
A tone sounded throughout the ship. “Is that something to be alarmed about?�
“I think it’s just another spacecraft.�
I saw a small dot through the window, and it steadily grew larger. “Is there a reason for anyone else to be in this region of space?�
“I’m not sure who it is. They haven’t hailed us yet, but I can take a guess.�
“If I had to guess, I would guess Arnon. Did he follow our ship? He’s not going to take this baby.�
“I’m not sure that’s why he’s here.�
“There’s nothing for us to discuss. Is there a place to hide here?�
“I won’t let him do anything to you.� Anders spoke sharply, making me focus on his face. “You’re not going anywhere. But don’t you think you should give him a chance to say anything? After you’ve listened to him, if you still want to go to Earth, I’ll take you there.�
I only saw truth in his eyes. The ship finally hailed us, and the pilot asked for permission to dock.
“Fine. Let him come aboard. But I’m still going to Earth.�
“That’s what I said. I won’t change our course without your permission.�
I nodded. “Okay.�
The hatch opened with a clang. A moment later, Arnon dropped into our ship.
Chapter Nineteen
ARNON
Jayne looked distraught and scared of what I might do. “What do you want, Arnon?� Her voice sounded different. It was like I had never heard it before. Her threat to leave was real.
I had been a fool.
“Can I speak to you privately?� I glanced at Anders, giving him a dirty look.
She looked slightly frantic. “We can talk right here.�
“I don’t want to discuss our relationship in front of my brother.â€�
She shook her head fearfully. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.â€�
“Jayne.� She turned to look at Anders. “Remember my promise? I won’t let him make you do anything you don’t want to do.�
“Wait a second. Am I the bad guy here? You’re the one helping her escape.â€� I glared at him.
Anders gave me a cold look. “Call it what you want. The way I see it, I’m the one taking care of someone after her husband abandoned her. You should be thanking me.� He moved toward me with anger all over his face.
I felt betrayed, then shocked. Was that what I had done?
“I don’t want to take the baby.� Could she feel the truth from my heart?
“That’s not what she thinks. Talk to him, Jayne. If he’s still acting like this, I’ll take care of you.â€�
She nodded, looking calmer and relieved. “Okay.â€� The word came out like a sigh. “It didn’t seem like you, but that’s what you said. If your father could make you do something like that, who knows what else you would do?â€� She trailed off, looking hopeless before she walked past me into the bedroom.
I turned to Anders. “You’re right. Thank you for taking care of her.�
“Just so we’re clear. Now convince Jayne you’re not evil. I’m the screwup. You’re the golden boy. Don’t encroach on my territory.â€�
I doubted his self-assessment. He had apparently grown into a capable man. We had all underestimated him. I intended to speak with him about his personal issues later. For now, I had to fix things with my wife. Nothing else mattered unless I could make things right. I entered the room and shut the door, leaning against it and taking in her beauty. Jayne sat on the bed, looking as nervous as I had ever seen her.
“Did you think I was going to take our baby?� I whispered.
“Why wouldn’t I? You said as much last night.â€�
I should have thought about what to say before I boarded the ship. How could I even begin? “What I said yesterday was wrong. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Please, just forget it.�
“It’s a hard thing to forget when your husband says he’s leaving you and threatens to rip a child from your womb at the same time.�
I swallowed hard. “I deserved that.�
“Yeah, you did.�
I hoped admitting I was wrong was a good first step toward rebuilding our relationship. “I was wrong, Jayne. I was an asshole of the highest order yesterday. I should never have said those things, and I didn’t mean them.�
She studied my face as I spoke.
“I had intended to come to you so we could figure out a way around my father’s plan. Instead, everything fell apart. I said terrible things. I thought you had lied to me. I had just come from an awful meeting with my father.�
“Yes.� She stood and interrupted my litany of excuses. “I forgive you for all of it, even for keeping the reality of your wings from me. The question facing us is, what are we going to do?�
“I’m not sure what you mean.â€� I had thought it would take more groveling before we reached this point.
“The situation we face is the same whether I forgive you or not. I’m still H4T7 positive. Your father still wants us to part ways. I’m pregnant, in case you forgot.â€� She turned away from me as her eyes filled with tears. “And our relationship is hitting a rocky stretch.â€�
I felt as though my heart was being ripped out of my chest.
“I didn’t expect us to be sunshine and roses all the time. We shouldn’t have this much trouble so soon. Maybe we just aren’t meant to be together.â€�
I wanted to reach out and hold her, but I kept my arms at my sides. I didn’t think she would welcome my touch. “Don’t say that.� Fear leaped into my heart again. I thought everything had been going well, but maybe Jayne had a different picture of our conversation in her head.
“How can any of these things be worked out? They aren’t fixable.�
“There’s got to be a way. Let me think about it.� I started to walk around, as much as I could in the cramped quarters. “I’m not supposed to marry a woman who carries the gene, but does that matter? We will need men in the next generation. Even if we have a family full of boys, they’ll be vital too.�
“That make sense, as long as you can convince other people.�
“If Father has a problem with us, he can disown me. We can go live in a cavern in a cliff and remain blissfully unaware of planetary politics.�
“That sounds a little dangerous.�
“As a matter of fact, there are some nice, safe homes built in unusual places on Auxem. You can do a lot with wings.�
“What about the baby?�
“I want this baby more than you can imagine.� I finally crossed over to her side. I had to hold Jayne in my arms.
Despite herself, she couldn’t help reaching up and clasping her hands around my neck. My arms went around her waist, and I pulled her close to me.
“Really?� She sounded like she could hardly believe it.
“Of course. I am both delighted and excited. You have no idea.�
“Tell me. Try to make me understand.�
“I can’t wait to hold him in my arms.�
“Or her,â€� she interrupted. “Even if there’s a ninety-nine percent chance we will have a boy, that implies there is a one percent chance we’re going to have a girl.â€�
“I never thought of it that way. I suppose that’s the difference between an optimist and a pessimist. I don’t care which it is. A boy or a girl, eit
her way, I can’t wait to hold that baby and play with them. I can’t wait to see you swell up as the baby grows inside you. I hear woman’s breasts get large and sensitive.�
She licked her lips and bit the bottom one, which I found terribly attractive. But I could tell that I hadn’t won her over yet. She still harbored doubts.
“You’ve convinced me that you want the baby.� She dropped her eyes. “But what about me?�
“What do you mean?�
“Do you want me?�
I lifted her chin to look into her eyes. “Do you think you’re undesirable?â€�
“You were ready to let your father separate us. That’s not exactly showing me that you love me.�
I gazed into her eyes. “I love you, more than anything. Can’t you feel it?â€� I pushed my hips toward her in case she hadn’t noticed the bulge in my pants. “Give me another chance. I promise I’ll never let you down again. I will love you and our child. I will take care of you.â€� I held my breath as she stared at my face.
“Only under one condition. I’ll forgive you and give you another chance, but you have to forgive me too. I knew about the report. A lab tech told me about it, but it sounded like a mistake to me. You had already said that I didn’t have the gene. I was supposed to get tested again, but you came home that day, and we got distracted.�
I nodded my head. Considering what we had already done together, I couldn’t believe she wasn’t blushing.
“I completely forgot about the retest. No one ever contacted me again. I don’t know if the tech overlooked it…maybe there was a cover-up. Someone might have suppressed the information considering that we were both essential to the project.â€�
Nothing Jayne said mattered to me anymore. We were supposed to be together. I couldn’t bear to let something as trivial as a test result tear us apart.
“I forgive you, Jayne. Now I know that I can’t live without you. I don’t care about your genetics.� I looked away, suddenly remembering an inconvenient fact. “I might have been wrong about your original test.�
