Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Maxxon

I walked down the streets of Allie's town, the pull of Earth's gravity familiar but so much else about the place had changed. The scars of the recent attack were still visible, but repair efforts were well underway. Scaffolding hugged the sides of buildings, the steady rhythm of hammers and saws filling the air.

It was strange to walk openly among the humans without hiding who I was. I wore no black suit, no sunglasses, and I hadn't pulled back my hair. I was in my Drexian uniform, and my dark hair fell loose around my shoulders.

I noticed the stares, of course. Even in a world newly aware of aliens, a seven-foot-tall Drexian was bound to draw attention.

As I passed a bookstore, I couldn't help but pause. The window display was filled with magazines, and I was startled to see Drexian faces staring back at me from nearly every cover. "Alien Allies: What You Need to Know About Drexians," one headline blared. Another asked, "Are You Compatible with a Drexian Mate?"

I shook my head, still marveling at how quickly things had changed. It was a strange sensation, being back on Earth and not having to hide my identity. Part of me missed the secrecy, the thrill of moving unseen among the humans. But another part was relieved to finally be seen, to finally stop the deception.

I continued through the small downtown, retracing my path to Allie's building, my pace quickening. Both excitement and anxiety bubbled in my chest as I paused to look at the brick structure that had withstood the invasion. I was glad to see that, like much of the town, the exterior was being cleaned and repaired. Workers on scaffolding were replacing broken windows, and I stepped under it to walk through the front door.

The sound of barking reached my ears, and I smiled. It must be the dog Allie had kept, the one we'd found together in the caverns. Memories of that time rushed over me and made my heart pulse with longing.

When I reached Allie's door, I hesitated for a moment before knocking. The barking had stopped and only silence greeted me. I knocked again, harder this time, but there was still no response.

Then the barking started again, but it was coming from upstairs. Was there another dog living in the small building? I hadn't remembered hearing one during the attack, and I doubted the creatures stayed silent during chaos. Frowning, I followed the sound, taking the stairs to the next floor two at a time. I found myself in front of a door nearly identical to Allie's, save for the number. The barking was definitely coming from inside.

I knocked, and a moment later, the door swung open. I recognized the blond man standing in front of me. His eyes widened as he took me in, and his mouth dangled.

"Oh my God." He glanced behind me, as if looking for something else or someone else. "You're back. You're here." Then he frowned. "You're alone."

I didn't know what that meant. Had he expected a fleet of Drexians to accompany me?

Before I could respond, a brown blur shot past the man's legs. I knelt down instinctively as the dog rushed to greet me. His tail wagged furiously as I scratched behind his ears, his familiar scent bringing back another rush of memories.

"I'm Bryce," the man said, still looking a bit startled. "Allie's best friend. We met before, but things were a bit crazy. " His gaze traveled up and down me. "You look different."

"I am no longer working undercover, so to speak."

Bryce blinked quickly. "You were a spy?"

"No, I procured tribute brides."

Bryce made a sound in the back of his throat. "Of course you did. Who would mind being abducted by you?" Then he seemed to remember he was speaking out loud and his cheeks flushed. "Anyway, I'm assuming you're here for Drex?"

I looked up, confused. Why was the man talking about my home world? "Drex?"

Bryce gestured to the dog. "That's what Allie named him."

I had to suppress a laugh. Of all the names she could have chosen, she'd picked that one? I was not sure if I should be flattered to have a dog named after my illustrious planet, but I decided to take it as evidence that Allie still thought of me.

I stood as Drex leaned against my legs. "Actually, I'm here to see Allie."

The change in Bryce's expression was immediate. His brow furrowed as he leaned back and drew in a quick breath.

"Oh," he said softly. "Oh, no. She's gone."

My heart stuttered in my chest. "Gone? What do you mean, gone?"

Bryce wrung his hands, looking everywhere but at me. "She signed up to be a tribute bride. She left to be matched with one of you guys on that space station."

The words hit me like a physical blow. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. Allie had gone to the Boat? To be matched with a Drexian?

"When?" I managed to ask, my voice sounding strange and distant to my own ears.

"A few days ago. She was excited, but she also said she was coming back. I guess with your new system, brides can return to Earth if it doesn't work out."

I didn't correct him, but I did not think that was the way things worked now. Once a female signed a contract, even as a volunteer, she was committed to a Drexian match. That meant Allie had committed to be matched with a Drexian. She hadn't waited for me to return. She hadn't even tried to find me. She'd signed up and left.

Drex nudged my hand, whining softly as if he could sense my distress. I knelt down again, burying my face in his soft fur as I tried to steady my racing heart. I was not surprised that I didn't see Allie's cat, who preferred hiding, but I sensed that the creature was eying me from someplace safe.

"I'm sorry," Bryce said, his voice gentle. "I thought…well, I hoped you might be the reason she was so eager to go. But I guess…"

He trailed off, but I understood. I guess I was wrong, I finished silently.

"Thank you," I mumbled, giving Drex one last pat before standing. "Thank you for telling me."

I turned to leave, my legs like lead. Each step away from Allie's building, away from the last connection I had to her, was agony.

As I stepped onto the street, the sunlight seemed too bright, the sounds of the town too loud. Everything that had seemed wonderful and exciting just moments ago now felt hollow and meaningless.

I'd come all this way, risked everything, only to find that Allie had moved on without a second thought. She was probably already on the Boat, being matched with some other Drexian, starting her new life.

A life that didn't include me.

I wandered aimlessly through the streets, barely noticing the curious looks I received. My chest felt tight, each breath a struggle. Is this what humans meant when they talked about heartbreak? If so, I didn't understand how they survived it.

As I passed the bookstore again, those magazine covers seemed to mock me. "Find Your Perfect Drexian Match!" one proclaimed cheerfully. I turned away, unable to look at them anymore.

What was I supposed to do now? Go back to the Boat? Pretend everything was fine? The thought of returning to my old life, of potentially seeing Allie with another Drexian, made me feel physically ill.

But I couldn't stay here either. Earth held nothing for me now, just painful reminders of what could have been.