Chapter 8

THE TALLER criminal lay writhing on the ground, his arm badly broken, his cries fading into whimpers of pain and shock. The remaining criminal stood frozen, his eyes wide with terror, his weapon forgotten, his body trembling as he stared at Jo’Nay, the alien warrior who had descended upon their world like a vengefulgod.

Winn saw the opportunity. Achance for escape in the midst of the unfolding chaos. She pushed herself away from the overturned table. She had to reach Jo’Nay and pull him away from this madness before anything worse happened.

“Jo’Nay!” Her voice, thin and reedy, was swallowed by the surrounding clamor. She pushed forward, her hand outstretched, her gaze fixed on his towering form, his white hair a beacon in the swirling maelstrom of the marketplace.

He turned, his head snapping towards her, his purple eyes blazing, the intensity of his gaze nearly knocking her off her feet. For a heartbeat, their eyes met, and she saw it. The recognition, the flicker of concern, the momentary break in the warrior’s facade, the glimpse of the male beneath.

And then, it was gone. His gaze shifted, flickering to the fallen criminals and the surrounding crowd. His senses remained alert, his body tense, ready to resume the battle, if necessary.

He lowered his blade, the point hovering inches above the remaining criminal’s throat, his voice a low growl, the Vettian accent thick, unmistakable.

“Go. Leave this place and never return. And pray to your gods that our paths never cross again.”

The criminal didn’t hesitate. He scrambled back, his eyes darting between Jo’Nay and the fallen form of his comrade, His fear was palpable, his relief evident in the trembling of his limbs as he turned and fled, disappearing into the maze of stalls and fleeing shoppers.

Winn reached Jo’Nay, her hand finding his arm, her fingers digging into his flesh, anchoring herself, groundinghim.

“Jo’Nay, we have to go. Now.” Her voice was a desperate whisper against the roar of the crowd and the lingering echoes of the battle.

He nodded, his gaze flickering back to hers, the intensity momentarily softened, replaced by a flicker of concern. He grabbed the hand truck as they turned and it impressed the hell out of her that he had enough self-possession to remember it. They hastened through the dispersing crowd, their movements swift and purposeful. Winn kept her head down while her senses reeled and her mind struggled to process the events that had just transpired.

They had to get out. Had to escape before the authorities arrived, before Jo’Nay’s true identity was exposed, dissected, and ultimately feared by the ignorance of the human world.

As they reached the edge of the marketplace, anew voice cut through the air, sharp, authoritative, laced with the chilling timbre of human law enforcement.

“Hold it right there. Police! Don’t move!”

The officer, atall, broad-shouldered man with a stern face and piercing blue eyes, approached, his gaze fixed on them. He stopped a few feet away, his hand resting on the butt of his holstered weapon, his posture alert but not overtly threatening.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” His voice, though authoritative, held a surprising gentleness.

She forced a smile, her voice trembling slightly as she replied. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

But she knew it was a lie. They were far from fine. They were teetering on the edge of a precipice, their future hanging in the balance. And the fear, icy and inescapable, coiled around her heart, threatening to consumeher.

“I need you both to come with me.” His words were courteous, but left no room for argument or discussion.

WHILE the human officer apprehended two of the criminals, Jo’Nay stood beside Winn, observing the scene. His weapon seemed more of a hindrance than a threat. He couldn’t understand Winn’s fear. He had swiftly disarmed and subdued four criminals with ease, atestament to his superior Vettian strength and centuries of combat training. Did she not think he could do the same with this latest combatant?

And yet, she stood frozen beside him, terrified. Did she not understand? He was a Vettian warrior, aFirst, the most skilled and deadly of his kind. He could protect her from any threat. After all, he was the true threat.

Jo’Nay’s attention shifted to the officer who’d approached them as they’d attempted to escape. He sensed a shift in the man’s expression, aspark of recognition when he looked at Winn. Jo’Nay’s unease grew. The human’s proximity to his mate sparked a primal urge to defend what was his. He would allow no harm to befallher.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” the officer asked again. His voice was laced with a concern that grated on Jo’Nay’s nerves, but he remained silent, observing the interaction.

This was a human problem. He would only interfere if necessary.

“I’m fine,” Winn replied.

“You’re the woman whose car ran off the road out by the Miller cabin, aren’t you?” the officer asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

Winn tensed beside him. The human had recognized her, shattering their facade. This was no longer a minor inconvenience. It was a direct threat. Jo’Nay’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. He had to be prepared to act, to defend Winn with the same ferocity he had defended countless worlds.

“Yes, that’s me,” Winn replied, her voice steady. Jo’Nay was impressed by her composure. She was learning to control her fear, avital skill for survival.

“Do you have any identification with you?” the officer asked, his gaze sharp. Jo’Nay felt Winn hesitate. He could sense her fear. This encounter was spiraling out of control.

“I don’t have my driver’s license on me,” Winn replied. Her voice was carefully neutral. He knew she was lying. Winn was gambling, relying on human ignorance to shield them. If the human pressed, their charade would crumble.

The officer frowned, unconvinced by Winn’s claim. He scrutinized her, and Jo’Nay felt a surge of anger. He wanted to end this, to whisk his mate away to the safety of his ship. Yet, he hesitated. They still needed the apples to ensure the survival of his unit, the warriors who had become more than just brothers in arms. He had to protect them, to offer them the choice of a life beyond their engineered mortality. For their sake, for Winn’s sake, he had to remain patient.

“We found your registration in the glove compartment of your car,” the officer stated. His tone was flat, but Jo’Nay could hear the underlying threat. They had evidence, atangible link. Their charade was failing, and the consequences would be dire. Exposure was imminent, and with it the risk of capture, of separation fromWinn.

Jo’Nay could no longer tolerate the threat. He had to act, to protect Winn, to ensure their escape. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword.

“We are not the predators here. We are innocent. We need to go,” he growled. He would not waste time with explanations. If required, he would act, swiftly and decisively, to ensure their safety.

The officer’s eyes widened as he registered the threat. He was slow, his reactions sluggish. His hand moved toward his weapon, afutile gesture.

“Stay back!” the officer ordered.

Amusement filled Jo’Nay at the human’s attempt to assert authority. Did he think this would deter a Vettian warrior? He stood seven feet tall in Earthen measurements, his body honed by centuries of training. This human barely reached his chest, his physique soft. He posed no threat, only a minor inconvenience.

Jo’Nay drew his sword, the energized blade humming with power, the tip of the blade aimed at the officer’s chest. Not that he had any intention of killing this creature, but he would disable him, if necessary.

The officer gaped at the weapon, his fear palpable. “What—”

“Remain still,” Jo’Nay commanded, his voice cold and hard. The human stood frozen, his bravadogone.

“Johnny, no!” Winn cried, grabbing his arm. “Please, we can explain.”

He glanced down at her, surprised by her intervention. Her fear was evident, her hand trembling on his arm. But her voice remained firm, determined. Was this her human way of protecting him? Afoolish but touching gesture.

“Explain what?” the officer scoffed, his voice regaining some of its bluster. “That you’re lying about who you are?”

“It’s not a lie,” Winn insisted. “He... he’s just not from around here.”

Jo’Nay watched the officer carefully, gauging his reaction. The human seemed skeptical, his gaze darting between them. The tension was palpable.

“Not from around here?” the officer repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Where’s he from then? Another planet?”

Jo’Nay felt a surge of irritation. This human was testing his patience. Winn squeezed his arm again, her touch a plea for restraint. He drew a slow breath, forcing himself to calm. He had to trust Winn, to follow herlead.

“He’s... an immigrant,” Winn said, her voice strained. “He doesn’t speak English very well. I’m helping him.”

Jo’Nay nearly choked. An immigrant? That was the best she could come up with? He was a Vettian warrior, agenetically engineered killing machine, not some displaced human struggling with a new language.

The officer’s eyes narrowed. “An immigrant, huh? What kind of immigrant carries a weapon like that?”

Jo’Nay stifled a growl. This was getting tedious. He had wasted enough time on this pointless charade.

“It’s a prop,” Winn blurted. “For a... aRenaissance fair. He’s a performer.”

Jo’Nay stared at Winn, his astonishment battling with his amusement. She was getting bolder, her lies more elaborate. Was this how humans survived? Through deceit and improvisation? He found himself oddly fascinated.

The officer, however, appeared unconvinced. He took a step closer, his hand hovering near his weapon. Jo’Nay felt Winn tense beside him. He had reached his limit. This charade wasover.

“Step away from her,” Jo’Nay warned, his voice low and menacing. The Vettian inflection was unmistakable. He saw a flicker of fear return to the officer’s eyes.Good.

“I’m just doing my job, sir,” the officer said, his voice wavering slightly.

Jo’Nay scoffed. His job? To harass a helpless female? “You have interfered enough,” he stated, his patience exhausted. He would not tolerate further intrusions.

He shifted his stance, the movement fluid and predatory. Winn gasped, but he ignored her. He focused on the officer, his senses alert. He could feel the tension radiating from the human, the fear that pulsed beneath his bravado.

“Back off, pal,” the officer warned. His hand moved closer to his weapon, but his movements were hesitant, unsure. Jo’Nay smiled, aflash of his golden canines. This human was no match forhim.

He activated the sword, sending a pulse of energy toward the officer. It was a non-lethal stun, awarning shot. The officer crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

“Come,” he said to Winn, his voice softening. He saw the fear in her eyes, the shock of what he had done. He took her hand and led her away, grabbing the hand truck at the last instant.

Jo’Nay led Winn through the crowd. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. She was safe with him. He would protect her. He led her to the secluded spot where they had first materialized, hidden from pryingeyes.

“Rory, transport,” he commanded.

Back on the ship, Jo’Nay felt the tension drain from his body. He had defended Winn, protected her from harm. Yet, anagging doubt remained.

Their actions had potential consequences, ripples that could spread beyond their control. He glanced at Winn, who sat huddled in a chair, her face pale. She was shaken, but unharmed. He would have to be more careful, more restrained. He could not risk exposing her to further danger. Their future, the future of their child, depended onit.