Chapter 13

Layla rolled over and punched the pillow. She had fallen asleep almost immediately, but she kept waking. Every dream was about Zyair—having sex with Zyair, to be specific—and every time she woke, she was more frustrated than before. Why hadn't he come to see her?

It wasn't that she was a suspect. She'd been a suspect when they had sex, and he hadn't hesitated. They had known each other for a little while, so it wasn't like they were strangers. So, what was it? He had his fun, and now she was back on the top of the "beings of interest" list?

"He believes me," she muttered.

She was sure of it. He couldn't possibly believe she stole the old lady's stupid rock anymore. Maybe the heiress had stuck her out here in the guest house to separate them and put thoughts in his head about Layla.

Lady Indorsha was half-human, half-Konian, but who knew what her deal was? Maybe she wanted Zyair for herself. That thought made Layla giggle.

He certainly was worthy of wanting. Tall and strong, and confidently knowing exactly what Layla liked. She groaned and shoved her face in her pillow. Then she heard something. She sat up. She heard it again.

It was a soft rap at the door. She rushed across the room.

"Layla?" She knew that deep, low, sultry voice that had just a hint of darkness.

She opened the door to see Zyair, but before she could say anything, an overwhelming sense of vertigo overcame her, making her feel as if she would fall. Zyair reached out and grabbed her by the upper arm, steadying her.

"Are you okay?" he said.

The concern in his voice was obvious. She waved it off.

"Head rush," she said. "I stood up too fast. Or space lag. Both?"

She wasn't sure what it was. A minute ago, she had been longing to see him. Now she just wanted to lie down.

"Hi," she said. Now that the dizziness faded, he was looking quite appetizing. The thrill of seeing him started to feel a lot more normal. Deep down inside, she felt desire stirring. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

"Can I come in?"

"Of course." She shut the door and waited till he was across the room to approach him. The better for him to look her over. Halfway toward reaching him, she stopped. He wasn't looking. He was staring in her direction, but he wasn't seeing her. "What is it?"

"I believe you that you didn't take the stone," he said.

"Okay." She nodded.

That didn't seem like something to come to the guest house in the middle of the night for.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but…"

"What? Tell me."

"I talked to the heiress. The stone, it isn't just a trinket. It has power, great power."

"You didn't know?" Layla asked.

"No, not for sure until now. Did you?"

"I didn't know anything about it all," she insisted.

"Okay," he said. "I get it. Can we get past that? This is important."

Zyair furrowed his brow and glared at the floor. Layla went to him and then led him to the edge of the bed where they sat down together.

"What is it?" Layla asked urgently. She was overcome by a need to fix whatever the problem was.

"I think the Jorvlens stole the stone. I think they plan to use it to attack Lorr."

"Why do you think that?"

"Um, I can't tell you."

"I thought you trusted me…"

Zyair pulled his hands out of hers and stood up off the bed. "I am trusting you," he bellowed. "I shouldn't even be telling you this much."

"Okay." Layla patted the bed. "Sit back down."

Zyair scowled as he sat. Layla wrapped her arm around him and debated kissing—or even biting—his shoulder. But he looked too serious.

"Why don't you start at the beginning? Tell me what you can," she suggested gently, and he sighed.

He filled her in very succinctly on the history. It wasn't hard to understand why the Jorvlens would want Lorr. She had even considered traveling to the planet when researching places to resettle after her inevitable escape from Earth. Lorr was known for its verdant green landscapes and the proud tradition of the Lorr although much of the details of their culture were shrouded in mystery.

The passage was too expensive, though, and the environment for humans was unknown to her. She assumed the opinion of humans on Lorr was similar to the opinion held elsewhere in the universe, which could be summed up in one word—poor.

"So, you think the attack is imminent?" she asked when he finished. She stroked his black hair.

"I don't know," he murmured. "I was ordered to stay and find the stone. I have a feeling it's not a non sequitur, even though they tried to suggest it was one." He stood and paced the room. "Lorr will not roll over without a fight. Not just my father, the king, either. Every being, warrior, woman, and young one, will want to fight, to save our planet and preserve our way of life."

He stopped and looked at Layla.

"A war?" she said, aghast.

Her mind was churning. Zyair would go and fight with his kind. Of course, he would. And he would be a great warrior. She had no doubt about that, but she didn't want him to go fight. She wanted him with her. Safe. Happy. Well, as happy as a grump like him could be.

"They said this case was the top priority. I think… I think they think if I can get the stone back, the Jorvlens will not attack. At least not now. The stone is the key, I can feel it. I have to recover it."

"I'll help you," Layla said immediately.

"Thanks, but…"

"Don't but me. I want to help. I insist."

"You insist?" Zyair mocked with a smile.

Layla smiled, too, and then she punched him in the upper arm. He feigned pain and grabbed his arm, falling over onto the bed.

"You don't think I can help. Do you?"

"I think…" He pulled her down next to him. "I'll take all the help I can get."

Layla got excited for a second, but then he rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

"We need a plan," he said, and Layla agreed.

He outlined what he thought they should do, and Layla noticed he included her in all aspects of the plan. She snuggled in next to him, and when he yawned she suggested they get some shuteye and go over everything again in the morning. She fell asleep in his arms, filled with a contentment she had never known.

She woke with a sense of dread, which was immediately replaced by a very urgent need. She threw herself out of bed and ran to the bathroom.

The woozy feeling was back, and this time, it was accompanied by quite a bit of nausea. It took a while but eventually the feeling subsided. She splashed some cold water on her face and marched back into the bedroom.

Zyair was still asleep when she crawled in beside him. She had no intention of telling him about what had just happened.

Probably food poisoning, she thought, trying to remember what she had eaten the day before.

Finding the stone was their highest priority—to save Lorr and to save Zyair from having to do whatever was required should his home planet go to war. Nothing was more important.

She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him, delicately tracing the white tattoo on his chest. She had just found him. She couldn't lose him.