Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
Autumn leaned against the wall of the cave all day and all night, watching the ship in the distance. It was their one and only chance to get off this miserable ice planet and back to civilization. Stars sparkled until dawn in the emerald sky. The storm had ceased for a few hours, allowing her clear sight of the rugged snowy terrain, not that there was much to look at anyway.
Armienti paced the room, staring at her often, but she ignored his longing gazes. The memories of him pressing his lips to hers and his passionate embrace haunted her. She could still taste the peppermint on her tongue and see the yearning in his clear blue eyes. She could feel his heart shatter into a million pieces when she rejected him. Rejection was never easy for anyone, but it was a necessary part of life.
However, she reminded herself there were bigger issues at hand and their futures depended on their success.
“So what’s the plan?” she asked him, and he stopped dead in his tracks. He ran his good hand through his golden waves. The sling holding his broken arm shifted. His eyes met hers.
“Well, I—” he stuttered. “I haven’t been able to think of one. I can only think of you.”
She rolled her eyes, throwing her hands into the air. “We need to stay focused here. This opportunity may not come again. What are the chances we could sneak on board or overpower Valdez and her crew?”
“Valdez is a force to be reckoned with. She’s never lost a fight. I haven’t seen the full extent of her true power and I’ve known her for most of my life. She keeps it under lock and key, only releasing it in the most dire of situations.”
Autumn shook her head. “I hope you’re not giving up on me. We at least have to try and fight. It’s better than staying here week after week, month after month, for who knows how long?” Her temples throbbed, and she fell to her knees grabbing her head. Her breathing grew shallow as she groaned.
He ran up to her, palming her back, “Are you okay?”
She trembled, staring at him. “I don’t know anymore. My head hurts so badly. I’m constantly in pain, and our abilities?—”
“Same,” he admitted. “My head has been bothering me for a few days now, since I broke my wrist. I’m not sure if it’s related.” He shrugged.
She stumbled to her feet. “That’s exactly my point. I’m afraid there’s something wrong with this place and I can’t take it anymore. I want to go home.”
The ship door lowered in the distance, and she crouched on the ground. Armienti followed suit. Guards spilled out wearing obsidian uniforms, carrying their metallic rocket launchers. They raced on foot through the snow. Her heart sped. She had to get closer, undetected. She had to do everything she could to take the ship from Valdez.
She crawled out on all fours, belly down on the ground against the snow. “Well, aren’t you coming with me?” she hissed at Armienti, gesturing toward the ship.
He exhaled, falling beside her. “Yeah, I suppose so,” he said, quietly.
“Then let’s get going.”
Ronan pulled up with Sean in the Uber to Farrah Falls. Shadows swept through the dense treetops. The crescent moon offered a sliver of pale light in the darkness. The stars glimmered in the pitch-black sky.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Sean’s large brown eyes sparkled in the blackness of the landcraft.
“I’m positive,” Ronan offered him a reassuring smile.
Sean followed him outside as he held onto his numerous travel bags. He waved the land craft pilot off into the night.
Finally, they could be alone again. Ronan’s heart accelerated.
There was a moment of pure silence followed by an awkward laugh. “So where do we go from here?”
“I’m taking you to my vehicle to get you settled. We’ll be departing for our destination soon enough.”
“Great.” Sean’s eyes scanned the long stretch of black. “But I thought you said you don’t have a car?” He stared at him strangely, brows furrowed.
“I don’t,” Ronan pointed into the vast woodland of Farrah Falls. “My transportation is located in the woods though.”
Sean’s mouth lowered. “Oh, do you have an ATV? Were you off-roading?”
He chuckled. “Something like that.”
Sean hesitated before taking a step back, wringing his hands.
“Don’t worry, you have nothing to fear. You have the stars above and me as your guide. We’ll reach our destination soon enough.” Ronan offered him his hand. When Sean grabbed hold, droplets of perspiration slid against his black gloves. For a moment, Ronan pitied him for being so nervous without cause.
“There’s no need to be afraid. I promise I’ll protect you no matter what monsters we encounter.”
Sean nodded, offering him a warm smile. “Okay, you’re right. I’m being silly. I’ve never liked the dark, but I’ve always loved this place.”
They headed into the woods, hand in hand, each carrying a bag over their shoulders. Insects chirped and glowed as they flitted through the forest trees. Brown animals with large innocent black eyes and white tails pranced gracefully through the night. Water babbled and the ground crunched beneath their footsteps.
Sean tilted his head to the side, the strands of his ginger-blonde hair grazed his ears. “It’s a shame about the fire that took place a few years back, but I’m glad to see the forest is finally healing.”
“It is a shame, isn’t it?” Ronan recalled his cousin destroying the forest in a fit of rage after Autumn broke up with him and then falling into a deep state of depression about ruining one of her favorite places in the world.
Dante had come a long way since then, and he was glad for him.
They walked further still, passing by the pouring falls. Water crashed against the slick mossy rocks.
Sean stopped and hunched over to catch his breath.
“How much further?” he rasped, sweat slicking his brow.
“It won’t be long now,” Ronan reassured him, but inside, his heart did acrobatics.
How could he breach the subject of not being human? Ronan’s mouth grew as dry as desert sand. His hands sweated within the confines of his gloves. What would he do if Sean freaked out and rejected him? No, he couldn’t handle rejection —he’d be devastated. He needed to be more positive about the entire ordeal.
They arrived at the crash site where Dante ordered a few trusted guards to remain behind and monitor the force field emanating from his stranded ship. The destroyer wasn’t too far off. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around.
Sean panted, fanning his face. He stopped as well.
“Is everything okay?” Sean wiped an arm across his brow. “Do you need to rest for a minute? I think I do?—”
“Yes, and there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Okay?” Sean placed his bag next to his feet before taking a seat on a rock. He crossed his legs. “I’m all ears.”
“There’s something I've been meaning to tell you, but I’m not exactly sure how and now I’m afraid I’ve waited too long,” the words left his mouth in slow motion. His bottom lip quivered.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” Sean offered him a smile.
“I do,” Ronan’s face and neck warmed. His adrenaline crushed his senses. He only had this moment to confess the truth. “Okay, um, well I know we’ve been in a long-distance relationship for a few years, but I haven’t been entirely truthful with you.”
“What do you mean, Ronan? Is there someone else?”
A long awkward pause followed. He shook his head. “No, of course not. There’s no one I’d rather be with than you.”
Sean’s mouth curved; his cheeks flushed pink.
“You see—I’m not from Earth.”
“Huh?” Sean’s brows furrowed. What are you talking about?”
“I’m not from Earth,” Ronan repeated, unable to imagine a clearer way to spell the situation out.
“I’m sorry, I'm not sure what you’re trying to say.” Sean shrugged.
In that instant, the bushes rustled. Twigs snapped and cracked from their limbs. Autumn’s father charged full force at him, feet scraping against the rocks and fallen twigs. Ronan’s eyes widened. In all his haste, he must’ve forgotten to lock his ship.