10. Lordek

TEN

Iris let out a yelp. I stared at her grimly.

Our interlude was over much too soon.

We slipped from the bed and rushed into the living area, me still limping, though my leg was nearly healed. Lights flashed overhead before the flying crafts continued across the forest behind her home.

"They're looking for you," Iris cried, clinging to me. "We're not going to let them find you."

Not if I could prevent it.

"We'll hide you somewhere. The attic or the basement. There has to be someplace. My grandfather had boxes out in the barn. We can dump out the tools. You can hide there. There has to be a place where they won't look for you."

I had to leave. If they were anything like my government or those I'd encountered on other planets, there was no place they wouldn't look. They would seek and seek until they found me. And if they had to stomp over Iris to get me, they would do so without a qualm.

Our time together was over. It wouldn't be long before the flying crafts returned. This time, they wouldn't pass over the farmhouse.

They'd surround it.

Iris turned on the vision box, scrolling through to a program discussing events.

"In national news, military officials report that an unidentified aircraft crashed in a remote area of forest near Bridgetown recently. Witnesses reported seeing a bright fireball streaking across the sky, followed by a loud explosion. Was it a meteor or something more sinister?"

"Aliens could be among us, Steve," the woman on the vision box said. She looked right at us as if she could see me and Iris standing in her tiny home. "Lock your doors, folks, and keep your children close. Whoever was flying the craft is considered armed and dangerous."

"Shoot, then ask questions, right?" Steve said grimly.

How could he smile while stating something so horrifying?

As if Katie understood what was being said, she hissed at the screen. She hopped onto the floor and raced over to rub against my legs. I picked her up and laid her across my shoulder, stroking her silky fur.

I'd only known her a short time, but I already couldn't imagine not having a pet like her. I'd have to leave her just like I would Iris, and the thought was like torture.

"It's a big mystery, Barbara, and I'm tellin' you, it's also darn exciting," Steve said. "The military has cordoned off the little town and they're searching for debris to determine the craft"s origin. Imagine. It could be aliens or something equally amazing. Will they update us? Or will take whatever they find to Area 51? Stay tuned for the latest details here on this network."

The screen flashed to a comical character singing about golden blocks of meat called chee-con.

I put Katie down, and she blinked up at me forlornly.

I gripped the edge of the large resting chair, my knuckles turning pale. How long before they traced the crash site to Iris"s home? I had to leave as soon as possible. If I was gone when they arrived, they may leave her alone. I'd make sure I left no evidence I'd been here behind.

I didn't care about myself, but I couldn't risk her. She was in danger as long as I remained with her.

"We've got to get my ship ready," I said.

She nodded, and her eyes were filled with enough sorrow to lay waste to my very soul. How could I leave my mate now that I'd found her and loved her? She was the galaxies and stars to me, my sole reason for being.

But it wasn't safe for me to remain here with her, and I'd never do anything that would bring harm to this beautiful person.

Our fates were sealed long before we met.

It was useless trying to fight our endless parting.