by Kate Rudolph
“Seemed rude not to ask.”
She shrugged. “I’m still new to this whole thing. Take what you want.”
Heat surged through him. He’d take everything and anything she offered and more. But not yet, not now. Patrols could be scanning the area looking for them and they needed to get somewhere safe. Fast.
He concentrated until he could feel the connection he now shared with Emily. While their power was mostly mixed together they still had their own personal reserves. He’d tapped his out while facing off against the soldiers, but she was brimming with it. It took almost no effort to call on her power and she gasped and jolted in her seat, leaning in close to him.
“That feels weird,” she whispered.
It did. The power they’d shared before had all melded together until he didn’t know where hers ended and his began. This power was completely hers. But he’d been invited to use it, and he’d treasure the gift.
It was a dangerous thing he was doing, and perhaps he should have explained that if he wasn’t careful he could tap into her life force and leave her a vacant husk. But he didn’t need much power and he saw no reason to scare her.
He directed the power in front of him and found the vehicle’s battery, jolting it back to life with a controlled flare of Emily’s spark. It took two more jolts for the vehicle to wake up, but once it did Oz let go of his Match’s power and felt it drain out of him.
But those few seconds of borrowed power had been enough to jolt his own spark back to life right along with the engine. He smiled over at Emily, and then he was leaning over and kissing her, joyful for the fact that they had a way out.
“Let’s go back to the city,” he said when he pulled away. “I’m ready to get off of this planet.”
Chapter Fourteen
EMILY HAD NEVER BEEN so happy to be inside a car in her life. She gazed out the window as they bumped slowly along the dirt path. “No flying cars?” she asked after a while.
Oz glanced over and took her hand. They’d been doing that a lot, sharing little touches as if they couldn’t bear to go ten minutes without contact. She liked it. No one had ever been that desperate for her before, and she’d never felt the same. “Flying cars?” he asked.
“All the sci-fi stories back home have flying cars. I mean you have space ships, shouldn’t you have flying cars?” Sure, Kilrym wasn’t exactly The Jetsons, but Emily wanted a little more technological advancement. What was the point of traveling across the universe if the place reminded her so much of home?
“Some vehicles are outfitted with hover,” he said, “but the anti-grav on this unit is busted. We’ll need to rely on the wheels.” He paused for a moment and then shot her a glance. “They didn’t have space travel when you—” he cut himself off.
He’d been doing that a lot. At first Emily hadn’t noticed, but now that they had a moment to breathe she was starting to catalog his weirdness. Every time they talked about Earth for more than thirty seconds Oz seemed desperate to find another topic. She had no idea why.
No, that wasn’t quite true. She had a suspicion.
He didn’t want her to go back, but he wasn’t ready to tell her that because he was afraid she would run.
Would she?
What would she say?
Could she really imagine staying on Kilrym, or wherever it was Oz lived, and giving up on going back to Earth? She was supposed to be starting her life back home. She’d spent a lot of time and even more money to get an education that would be basically useless on his planet. It wasn’t like they had a lot of need for a lawyer from Earth. Or a gymnast.
Then again, she didn’t know much about the Synnrs. Maybe they had a robust legal system and she could learn about that. Hadn’t Oz said that they had lawyers? She could be an alien lawyer.
That almost made her laugh out loud.
“Define space travel,” she finally said. What would Earth’s limited mission sound like to a man who treated going back and forth from planet to moon like she treated a regular plane flight?
“That I have to define it at all means it exists, right?” He grinned at her, fangs flashing.
It made Emily’s stomach flip over. Though that was about half of what existing around Oz did to her. Was this a crush? Could it still be called a crush after what they did the night before? She wished she knew. She wished she weren’t stranded alone on this stupid planet and that she had a friend to talk to.
Not that Oz wasn’t a friend. She was pretty sure he could become her best friend if she let him. But that didn’t mean she wanted to tell him everything. Especially when it was about how much her feelings for him confused her.
Was that even the right word?
She wasn’t confused about liking him, about being attracted to him. But she’d spent all of her life so focused on other stuff that now that she had relationship questions she was just as lost as a gymnast at her first practice.
“Do you think we’ll make it back to the city today?” she asked. She wasn’t exactly excited to get there, but it was one step closer to getting away from the Apsyns who wanted to capture her.
Oz peered out the window. The dirt path had slowly given way to something resembling a paved road. She’d lost track of time, not that she’d ever really had track of time as the car didn’t seem to have a clock she could read, and couldn’t be sure how long they’d been driving. An hour or so? She couldn’t believe it was less than that.
“I hope so,” Oz answered. “These smaller roads should take us all the way to Vanen, and there’s no reason for this vehicle to be under any sort of surveillance. I checked for a tracker before we drove off, and there’s nothing. If all goes well you’ll be sleeping in a bed tonight.”
“Will I be sleeping alone?” If Emily had thought about what she was saying before the words came out she would have never said it. As it was, her cheeks flamed, but she didn’t say anything else, didn’t try and walk it back.
Oz sucked in a ragged breath and looked at her for longer than was safe given that he was driving. Would she see lightning dancing in his eyes if she could look at him any way but out of the corner of her eye? “That all depends on you,” he said in that same gravelly, sexy voice he used when he was thinking about them together.
“Well it’s not like I want to sleep in Solan’s bed again.” She meant it as a joke, but if the predatory sound that came out of Oz’s mouth was any indication, he was not a fan. Was he flashing his fangs? She should probably not find it really hot that he was acting possessive. “So if you’re my other option...”
“My bed is yours,” he said with the gravity of something much more serious. Emily was sure he was about to make another declaration, but he didn’t say anything else.
The rest of the ride went smoothly, but as they pulled off the small side roads and onto the highway, Emily’s anxiety kicked into high gear. She was certain some patrol would spot them and stop them, that they’d be apprehended long before they made it to the city. Day turned to night and no patrol harassed them. They pulled between tall buildings, the city seeming to spring suddenly around them, and no one paid any attention to them. Still, she slumped in her seat as if that would make her seem like less of a target, less obviously human. Of course, from a distance no one would be able to tell.
And she had wings of her own now. That would fool them for a minute.
She didn’t recognize the streets that Oz turned down. They weren’t near the club, the lab, or his old dwelling. But the city was big, so she wasn’t surprised. A few minutes later he pulled their stolen vehicle into a parking space. “I’m going to take you inside, then I need to ditch this vehicle somewhere else. If it’s reported stolen, I don’t want it tracked back to us.”
That made sense. Emily wasn’t eager to be left alone, but she could manage. “I’m guessing it’s safer if I wait inside?”
“I’ll need to walk back,” he said, “or possibly hop on a bus or two to confuse the trail. It’s best if we’re not seen togethe
r.”
She knew that. It didn’t make her feel better.
Unlike the last place Oz and Solan stayed, this one was a stand alone house with a bit of yard. It was big enough for ten people and if rent on Kilrym was anything like rent on Earth she didn’t want to think what the place could cost month to month. Was her Match loaded? Not that she’d like him more if he was rich. Besides, if he was here on some military thing it was probably the military that was paying for it.
They didn’t go in through the front door, for some reason. Oz led her around the side of the house and to a small exterior staircase that descended below the street level. There they opened a door and entered into the cold basement. It was dark and dank and Emily didn’t want to stick around for long. There was no telling what kind of bugs were lurking, and she didn’t need to find out.
Oz had just flicked the lights on when footsteps came running. He shoved her behind him and flared out his wings. Emily tried to call on hers. She could feel the spark deep within, but was still working on triggering them when she caught sight of another set of wings wrapped tightly around their would-be attacker, ready to protect him from whatever Oz could throw his way.
But they weren’t in any danger. “Malsan Ozar,” came Solan’s relieved sigh. “You’re alive.”
Malsan? Was that Oz’s real name? She stored it away for later.
Oz retracted his wings. “We ran into a bit of trouble.” He took her hand and led her across the basement to the stairs where Solan was waiting. Solan looked them both over, whether searching for injuries or something else, Emily wasn’t sure. He looked to be in good health, except for the bags under his eyes. He’d been run ragged.
“I found the safe house. I was certain you’d been taken. Or worse.” He shuddered as if he was still imagining it.
“We are well. But I need to hide a vehicle. Will you watch Emily while I’m gone?” Oz squeezed her hand.
Solan looked down at their joined hands and then back up, a question in his eyes. But Oz didn’t seem eager to answer it. And Emily wasn’t sure what to say. How was this Match thing going to go over among his people? He’d said that Synnrs weren’t opposed to non-Zulir Matches, but was that the whole story?
What was his captain going to think? His family? Did he even have a family? Things had made a lot more sense when it was just the two of them. Or maybe she had just been able to ignore reality.
“May your return be swift,” said Solan, and Emily wondered if she’d missed anything. They were at the stairs, but Oz didn’t seem to be headed up. He squeezed her hand once more and she turned to him. They looked at one another for a long moment, no words passing between them. Then Oz reached up with his free hand and pulled her toward him, kissing her soundly. Possessively. Silently marking her.
He could keep going for as long as he liked.
But after a moment he pulled back and nodded once before turning and leaving her in Solan’s care.
The other Synnr cleared his throat and looked at her for a long minute, but he also seemed to have nothing to say. He led Emily up the stairs.
She hoped Oz returned soon.
IT TOOK OZ ALMOST TWO hours to get back to the house and time had never moved so slowly. Of course, he’d never left his heart behind before. That was what Emily had become in the short time they’d been together.
He trusted Solan. Knew he was a good man and a capable soldier, but Oz wouldn’t be well until he saw Emily once more. Feeling her spark in his veins wasn’t enough. Not now.
Would the need ebb? Did he want it to?
Oz couldn’t answer either of those questions. But when he arrived back at the house and saw Solan and Emily sitting at the kitchen table and eating a delicious smelling meal he could breathe easier. She was okay. And so was Solan. Good.
“It seems you had quite the adventure,” his friend said. “Though Emily hasn’t told me everything.” There was an accusation there and Oz bristled.
Emily gave him a tentative smile. “I thought you should be here before we talked about what happened.”
Oz smiled back, nothing tentative about it. “Thank you. Though I trust Solan with my life. And yours. You can tell him anything.”
Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned red. “Anything?”
Before Oz could say anything Solan set a plate of food down heavily in front of him. “Eat,” he commanded. “And if the two of you are trying to hide that you slept together you’re failing. Miserably.”
Emily’s cheeks got even redder and Oz glared at Solan. “Let’s leave the private matters out of this.”
“Because Cru won’t have questions?” he shot back.
Oz really didn’t want to think about what his captain would say. Cru was an asshole at the best of times. He couldn’t punish Oz for falling for Emily, not really. And he didn’t think Cru would hold their Match against them, but there was no telling until they were back on the ship and talking to him for sure.
“Is something wrong?” Emily asked. Her bowl was mostly empty and she pushed it away instead of eating the last few bites.
Oz shoveled food in his mouth to give himself a moment to think. Solan didn’t seem eager to answer either. Then again, he didn’t have all the relevant information. And Emily must have realized it since she didn’t take her eyes off Oz. Chewing his food could only take up so much time, and though he was tempted to take another bite, he resisted the urge. “Our captain, Crubok Scofoyl, can be a bit...” How could he say it without edging into slander? He didn’t think Solan would turn him in, but even his friend had to have his limits. “He can be set in his beliefs,” Oz finally settled on. “And we have clashed from time to time. I’m not certain he’ll be happy about our Match.”
Solan sputtered. “Match?”
“I hadn’t gotten around to telling him that part,” Emily admitted. “If your captain will have a problem with it, do we have to tell him? It’s not like he’ll know if he doesn’t see my wings. Unless I shock him on accident.”
“Wings?” Solan was even more indignant. “Shock?” He snapped his gaze to Oz. “So not only is Emily your Match, you bonded with her. Does she know—”
“We were going to die,” she cut him off. “And I knew what I needed to know. I can’t say that I understand every nuance, but Oz explained it to me. And it was my choice.”
Solan looked at her, then at Oz, then back to Emily. When he looked back at Oz one last time, Oz knew they’d be talking about things in private. “You shouldn’t hide a Match or a bond from our captain. He may be... resistant, but there’s nothing he can do about it. And it’s relevant information. Hiding it would be imprudent.”
Oz was afraid of that, but he wasn’t surprised. “When are we heading back to the ship? Did he give you any trouble?”
Emily answered for Solan. “He got Lena hooked up to your med... thing,” she grimaced, as if she’d forgotten the word. “And he said the others would be safe.”
“The timing worked out well,” he said. “The captain was in a meeting with the high command and Jori was acting captain. He promised to look after the humans and run interference. We leave in the morning.”
“If this guy is such a bad captain, why is he in charge?” Emily asked, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. “It doesn’t seem like either of you like him too much.”
“Family connections, money, good scores at the Academy. It all adds up to a captaincy and a small crew. He’s... competent,” Oz had to grant him that. Cru got the job done. Most of the time. And there were enough people who thought like him in the high command that he wouldn’t risk his position by stating some of his more... Zulir-centric views.
“You shouldn’t need to interact with him too much,” Solan added. “He’s very busy, and he won’t have time to watch a bunch of humans.”
“At this point anything is better than where we were,” said Emily. She stood up. “I’m in need of a three hour long shower. I’ll see you later.” She didn’t kiss Oz, but she did run
her hand over the back of his shoulders as she left the room.
Solan waited until they heard the door to the bathroom close and the water begin to run before he spoke. “There’s no way you had time to explain everything about Matching to your human. She would not be nearly so calm.”
“You speak of it like it’s a death sentence.” Oz shoveled food into his mouth, no longer caring about manners.
“Does she know she may be conscripted? That if you want to rise in the ranks you’ll need her? She’s no soldier.” Solan glared at him.
“She is a fighter,” Oz shot back. “And she has more spirit than ten soldiers. Any decision we make going forward will be made together.”
“Even if it means giving up your career?” Solan didn’t look convinced. He’d known Oz for years, known how determined he was to maintain his position.
“Yes.” Oz hadn’t thought about it that closely. Not yet. It was still all too new. But he couldn’t just think of himself now. Emily would be part of those decisions. If she could forgive him.
“The humans were speaking of returning to Earth,” Solan observed. “What does your Match have to say about that? Does she know the truth?”
“She doesn’t know enough about space travel to have figured it out.” The words were sour on Oz’s tongue, and he was quieter than he needed to be. She couldn’t hear them over the sound of the water in her shower, but he didn’t want to risk it.
“The lives they know are over,” Solan said. “We can’t return them.”
“Why are you telling me something I know?” he scowled.
“Because a life built on lies is bound to crumble. Your Match needs to have all of the information.”
“I’ll tell her,” Oz promised. “Eventually. We have been a bit busy.” He scooped up his bowl and Emily’s and took them to the kitchen to clean them. “I’m going to help Emily harness her spark. We’ll be working in the basement.”
“Oh? Is that all?” Solan gave him a dark grin.
