When Dhiro opened the front door, she jumped up from the desk chair and rushed to see him. He immediately began unbuckling his black tactical vests. She loved him in uniform. And with nothing on at all. He had the perfect male form, and she couldn’t get enough of him.
Ella stopped in her tracks before throwing herself at him. Something was off.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Ella. How was your day?” He passed by her and hung up his gear.
“What’s wrong?” she repeated. She swatted his arms when he tried to hug her.
“All is well. I have just been thinking about Earth lately.”
“What about Earth?” she asked.
He walked into the living area, pacing back and forth. She sat on the sofa and waited for him to say something.
“I think we should return.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“I would like to visit your planet. No, live on your planet. It will be a new adventure for us.”
Ella scoffed. “You don’t want to live on Earth. You hate Earth. How many times have you told me how hot and primitive it is?”
He kept quiet, stoic. Her nerves began to race as she thought of every possible scenario.
“What is it? Do your people want me gone? I don’t understand.”
“Our enemies are closing in. It’s dangerous for you here.”
She remembered the alarms. “The Scyathra?”
“Yes. My commanding officer said they’re moving dangerously close. They’re insistent on capturing you for their own benefit.”
“For my body, my womb?”
“Yes.”
“But you’ll protect me.” Dhiro never seemed like the type to give up or run away. There was something he wasn’t telling her, and she didn’t like secrets. The last thing she wanted to do was tell him about her pregnancy. That news should be joyous, not stress him out even more.
“That’s why I think we should go to Earth,” he said. “I can keep you safe there.”
She shook her head. Ella was actually getting used to the new planet and way of life. Most of the negatives he mentioned about Earth were true. She wanted a new start with Dhiro on his world. Going back didn’t seem right to her.
“This is so sudden. You never mentioned any of this before. When do you plan on doing this?”
“Now.”
“Now?” She followed him around the house as he pulled bags down from his cupboards. The sense of urgency wasn’t lost on her.
Tears pricked her eyes. It didn’t help that her hormones were already out of whack. She grabbed his forearm, forcing him to make eye contact with her. “You’re scaring me, Dhiro. Please talk to me.”
He stopped rummaging and cupped her face. “I won’t give you up. Every day we wait here puts you more at risk.”
“For what? A Scyathra attack?”
He exhaled. “It’s more complicated. My leaders are not in agreement when it comes to having an Earthling on Trenu Zel. It’s only a matter of time until they insist you leave. I won’t wait for that day.”
“But they’ve been so accepting. What did I do wrong?”
“Don’t blame yourself. I told you our mating is for life. I will never abandon you.”
This was such a shock. She felt sick. He’d been worried about her accepting her new fate, and now she was the unwanted one on the planet. Dhiro shouldn’t have to uproot himself because of her. It wasn’t fair. She had nothing on Earth to even go back to. Where would they live? How would she explain any of this? If the government back home caught wind of Dhiro being an alien, they’d have him locked in a high-security lab for the rest of his life.
He was so intense, so she didn’t bother arguing. Ella packed her bags, including many of her samples. Her research was far from done. They were out in his vehicle soon after, without a single goodbye to anyone in the neighborhood. The landscape passed by in a rush, and neither of them said a word during the drive. She was still in disbelief.
Dhiro took out his communicator. “Bronn. I’m returning to Earth with Ella. Tell Mother I am sorry for failing her. Take care of her and Kaalen.”
She could hear his brother getting loud on occasion on the other end of the line but couldn’t hear what he was saying. She imagined his family didn’t want to lose him, to never see him again because of her.
“Is my ship in the same dock?” Dhiro asked.
A while later, they approached a huge military-type compound. Instead of aircraft, there were spaceships. Dhiro parked the truck, then came around to her side. He took her bag, flinging it over his shoulder. “Keep close. Say nothing. I do not want to rouse attention.”
“Are we not supposed to be here?”
“Let’s go, Ella.”
He tugged her along, entering one gate, then another. She noted he had one hand on his weapon.
Dhiro stopped for a moment, letting her catch her breath. “I love you, Ella.” He kissed her hard on the mouth. “I’d return to Earth a thousand times if it meant finding you. Never forget that.”
“Why do we have to leave?”
He kissed her again, cupping her ass as he pulled her close. Even under the stressful circumstances, she felt herself falling under his spell.
They continued down some grated metal stairs, then around a few corners. She was growing tired of moving so quickly. As they traversed the base, she realized Dhiro really did love her. He was giving up absolutely everything for her sake. Ella never expected to find true love—even with a human man.
They came to an abrupt halt, and she crashed into Dhiro’s side. “What’s wrong?”
When she peered around him, there were several uniformed men blocking their way.
“Your ship is out of commission. You have not been approved for travel.”
Dhiro walked backward, his arm to the side as a shield. She felt the tension thick and heavy.
“You had no right to touch my ship. My father built that ship.”
“Where are you taking the human?”
“I am not taking her anywhere,” he said. “Who gave your orders?”
“The commander wants to see you both.”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Run down two levels to section C5. You’ll find a male named Kaalen. Tell him what happened here. Go now!”
Panic flooded her system, but she did as told, running away from the man she loved and those armed men. She held the handrail of the stairs, moving as fast as she could. Ella scanned for the C5 as she ran, gasping for breath as she went. She heard banging above her and worried about Dhiro. Would they kill him? Incarcerate him?
Then she noticed C3, then C5. She stopped, struggling for air. As she turned the corner, a large, muscular man in a grease-covered tank top noticed her enter. He looked remarkably similar to Dhiro.
“I’m looking for a male. His name’s Kaalen.”
“I am Kaalen.” Just then, his communicator sounded and he brought it to his ear. His brow furrowed as he listened. Within a minute, he tucked it away. “My brother will meet us here. Until then, I must hide you,” he said.
“Who are you?”
“I am the brother of Dhiro and Bronn.”
She’d never met his brothers, only his mother. He kept saying they would meet at their official mating ceremony, which was yet to happen.