Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Maxxon
W e ventured deeper into the caverns and the tremors from above grew less frequent, less intense. I allowed myself a flicker of hope. Perhaps the Drexian fleet was turning the tide, pushing back the Kronock invasion force.
I didn't want to consider the alternative. I'd seen firsthand the devastation the Kronock left in their wake—worlds stripped bare, native species subjugated or eradicated. The Boat was filled with aliens who no longer had a home world. The thought of Earth suffering that fate, of Allie living under Kronock oppression, made my blood go from cold to boiling. I clenched my fists, a renewed sense of determination flooding through me. My people wouldn't let that happen. I wouldn't let that happen.
Glancing at Allie, I noticed her steps becoming sluggish, her shoulders drooping, her grip on Dinah loosening. Her clothes were still damp from her fall into the pool, and she shivered occasionally from the cold.
"We should find a place to rest for the night," I suggested, scanning our surroundings for a suitable spot. "You need to sleep, and your clothes need time to dry."
"That sounds amazing. I feel like I could sleep for a week."
I scanned the caverns in earnest, finally spotting a promising alcove. It was set back from the main passage, partially hidden behind a prominent stalagmite. The blue lights that lit the path didn’t shine on the alcove, creating a dark nook that should be conducive to sleep.
I had to bend slightly as I ushered Allie into the space. “This is hidden from view.”
“Who is going to be walking by?” she asked, her tone teasing.
I didn’t want to tell her that we might value a hiding space if the Kronock broke through the rock.
As Allie settled herself on the smooth stone floor and released Dinah to sniff the area and select her own spot, she shrugged the bag off her shoulder and turned it upside down. A cascade of colorful cellophane packages spilled across the floor.
“I snagged these from the welcome center on our way through, remember?”
I hadn’t paid too much attention to why she’d slowed down as we’d run toward the caverns, but now I was grateful for her quick thinking. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that it had been since early that morning when I’d last eaten.
“Doritos, Fritos, Twizzlers.” Allie swept a hand over the offerings. “Pick your poison.”
When I hesitated, she laughed. “They aren’t actually poison. I mean, they’re not great for you, but they won’t kill you. Not for decades.”
Very comforting, I thought, but I plucked an orange bag from the floor and opened it. “This was very resourceful of you.”
She laughed, the sound echoing softly in our little alcove. “I don’t go anywhere without snacks.”
I chewed one of the Fritos as she tore into the Twizzlers, pulling out a strange red cord. When she saw me cocking my head at it, she waggled it at me.
“Never had a Twizzler?”
I shook my head as she handed me one of the elastic confections. Cautiously, I bit into one, my eyes widening at the strange texture and overwhelmingly sweet taste.
Allie rocked back as she laughed. "Your face is priceless!"
I swallowed with some difficulty. “This is an Earth dessert?”
She shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it dessert, but it’s definitely sweet.”
I continued trying to chew the red rope candy.
She tilted her head, studying me. “Is candy not popular on Drex?”
I finally swallowed. “Drexian diets contain very little sugar. We have some sweeter foods on the Boat—the space station where we house and match tribute brides—but those are primarily for the tributes.”
"The Boat? That's an odd name for a space station.”
“It was named after one of your popular dramatic stories, The Love Boat.”
Allie almost choked on her Twizzler. “The Love Boat? That old sitcom from the ‘80s?”
Now it was Maxxon’s turn to twitch his shoulders. “Maybe. The space station was designed and named many decades ago.”
“An ‘80s themed space station. Now that I’d like to see.”
The thought of showing Allie the station made my chest swell. “The Boat is designed to be appealing to human females, so I’m sure you would like it. There's a promenade level that looks like a high-end Earth shopping district and has cafes serving coffee and bread with sugary toppings.”
“Pastries?” Allie grinned. “And a space mall? Not bad.”
“But the Promenade is not as stunning as the fantasy suites.”
"Fantasy suites?"
"They're living quarters for the matched couples," I explained. "Each one is a fully immersive holographic environment. Some mimic Earth locations—tropical beaches, mountain retreats, that sort of thing. Others are more…exotic, like the sensuous jungles of Amma Mora.”
Allie blinked at me. “I’m not sure I want to know more about a sensuous jungle.”
As she asked me more questions, I described the Boat's various features—the inclinator system that allowed rapid transport between levels, the advanced medical bay, the various fantasy wedding pavilions. As I talked, she stretched out on the stone floor, using her rolled up tote as a makeshift pillow.
Her eyelids drooped, her breathing slowed, and as I started to describe the officers’ lounge, I realized she had fallen asleep. In sleep, the worry lines that had creased her forehead smoothed away, and her eyes weren’t wide with fear.
There was no arguing that she was beautiful. Even dirty and tired and damp, she made my breath catch in my throat. Lying on the stone floor, she seemed almost fragile, although I had seen the steely resolve within her and knew that any appearance of frailty was an illusion. Her dark hair fanned out around her face, still wet from her fall into the pool, and a smudge of dirt marred one cheek. Without thinking, I reached out to wipe it away.
I caught myself just before my fingers made contact with her skin. What was I doing? I had no business thinking of Allie like this. I certainly had no reason to touch her, especially since I knew what her touch did to me. My job was to procure brides, not to take one for myself. Besides, I was far down the list for receiving a mate—assuming any of that old hierarchy even mattered anymore, given the war raging above us.
Still, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have someone like Allie as a mate. Someone brave and resilient, with a quick wit and a kind heart who took in a stranger in need and didn’t panic when she learned he was an alien. Well, didn’t panic much.
I shook my head, trying to dispel the dangerous thoughts that teased a future that wasn’t possible. Now was not the time for such unrealistic fantasies. She wasn’t a tribute bride candidate, and I wasn’t anywhere close to the top of the list. Not to mention the fact that she hadn’t chosen to be a tribute bride or even indicated that she desired me.
A sound from somewhere deeper in the caverns snapped my mind back to reality. I went rigid, every muscle in my body tensing as I strained to hear. There it was again—a faint scraping noise, like something large moving stealthily through the passageway.
My heart raced as I stood. Had the Kronock found us? Impossible. How could they have tracked us this deep into the caverns? The layers of rock should have protected us. But who else could it be?
I slowly reached for the blaster at my hip, careful not to make any sudden movements that might give away our position. My only hope was that it was a single Kronock, a scout sent to explore. If it was a squadron of the aliens, my single blaster would be no match. Not that I wouldn’t go down without a battle. I would die before I let them hurt Allie.
Casting a look at the sleeping woman, I held my breath with my finger resting lightly on the trigger of my weapon. The scraping grew louder, closer.
I stepped from behind the rock formation that hid us, ready to open fire as something emerged from the darkness of the tunnel.