Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

Maxxon

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to reveal my true identity to this woman and explain my urgent need to leave and join the fight against the Kronock. I'd never revealed myself to any human before. My entire job was based on concealing my identity and keeping humans unaware of Drexians. Could I go against all my training?

Another rumble shook the building, reminding me that there was an invasion taking place. If humans did not know about aliens before, they soon would know more than they ever desired, especially if the Kronock were victorious. The thought made me shudder.

But before I'd decided whether to reveal my identity to the woman who'd given me sanctuary, the door rattled, but it wasn't because of the battle outside. Someone was knocking and calling through the door.

"Allie! Are you in there, girl?"

Allie. That must be her name. I exhaled when I realized that it was not the name of the female I'd been sent to find. For some reason, I needed the woman not to be a tribute.

She clicked a button on a device that made the television go silent, ran to the door, and threw it open.

The man who nearly fell inside was thin and pale-haired, although neatly dressed in gray shorts and a sleeveless green shirt. "I was worried sick, Allie. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Bryce." Allie gave him a quick hug. "Just a bit shaken up, that's all."

Even though she was hugging the man, I did not sense that there was anything romantic between them. Possibly because as the man hugged her and caught sight of me over her shoulder, his pupils flared.

He pulled back and put his hands on his hips, giving me an unrepentant once-over. "And who is this?"

Allie hesitated for a moment, glancing back at me with uncertainty. "He's taking shelter with me since he's not from here."

"No kidding." Bryce stepped closer and eyed my suit. "I don't even know if they make them like this in South Carolina."

"I'm sorry." Allie pivoted to me. "In all the craziness, I didn't ask your name."

"Maxxon," I said, then stopped myself from adding that I was from House Kapor. Earthlings didn't have clans in the same way Drexians did. At least, they didn't identify themselves by them.

Bryce grinned. "That's an unusual name. Where are you from?"

Allie nudged him in the side. "This isn't exactly the time to play twenty questions."

Her friend glanced toward the windows. "What is going on? It's not the base doing fly-overs again, is it?"

Allie waved a hand toward the muted television. "You didn't hear? It's aliens."

Bryce threw his head back and laughed. "Aliens?" Then a blast shook the ground, and his laughter stopped. "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously." Allie pointed the device in her hand at the screen and suddenly the talking head was audible again, warning people to take shelter immediately.

Whatever color Bryce had had in his face drained, and he sank onto the couch, not even bothering to push aside a magazine that crunched underneath him. "This can't be right. Aliens aren't real."

I wanted to tell him that aliens were very real, but not all were violent and terrifying like the Kronock. But seeing his face told me this was not the time to convince either Allie or Bryce that I was one of the good aliens. When creatures were scared, they lashed out, and I did not want to be on the receiving end of fear.

Allie's cat jumped onto the couch next to her friend and nudged his arm. Bryce managed a weak smile and petted the cat's head. "Hey, Dinah. What do you think about all this?" His gaze was glued to the news report, and he let out a mournful sigh. "You just know the aliens aren't going to be hot and horny, no matter how much we want them to be."

Allie walked closer to me. "My friend seems a bit freaked out."

"Understandable."

She eyed me, her voice low. "But you don't. You seem pretty calm, all things considered."

My mind raced as I thought of an excuse, but she put a hand on my sleeve before I could come up with something convincing.

"Don't worry. I think I know why."

My heart lurched. Had she figured out that I was an alien?

"You're one of the Men in Black, right?"

I stared at her. Men in Black? I glanced down at my standard issue black suit that all Drexian tribute bride procurers wore. I suppose I was in black, but what was a Man in Black?

She cut her gaze to Bryce then back again. "Don't worry. I won't tell him that you're here to fight off the aliens. It would probably freak him out more."

She was right that I wanted to fight off the Kronock, but I sensed that she meant something different. Still, if it meant she wouldn't question my presence or my appearance, I didn't mind going along with it. What was one more deception to keep her calm?

Bryce quickly stood, causing the cat to yowl and jump to the floor. "If this is an honest-to-God alien invasion, I need to pack a bag."

"What?" Allie followed him to her door. "Where are you going?"

His gaze darted around as he stepped into the hallway. "If we need to go to a shelter, I do not want to be wearing this getup for days. I'll be right back, sweetie."

Once he was gone, Allie turned to me. "Maybe he's right. Maybe I should pack a go bag in case we need to bug out."

I peered outside, but I was unable to see much. Still, it did not seem safe to stay in a building that was above ground. I'd known of Kronock lasers to take down much more substantial structures than this one. "You should. This building is not made to withstand an alien attack."

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, a deafening explosion shook the building. Instinctively, I dove toward Allie, tackling her to the ground as the window shattered and shards of glass rained onto the carpet.

My ears rang, but I remained hunched over her to shield her from any falling debris. Her small body rose and fell, as she drew in shaky breaths, reminding me just how fragile humans were. In that moment, nothing else mattered but keeping her safe. Not my mission, not my own safety. All that mattered was protecting her.

I finally uncurled my body from hers, and she blinked up at me, her eyes wide. My gaze drifted to her lips as she inhaled quickly, but I forced myself to look away and stand, pulling her to her feet with me.

It was clear now that I couldn't stay here, and I couldn't leave her. I wouldn't leave her to the mercy of the Kronock. But I also needed to see what was happening and try to get a message to my ship and the station.

"I need to go out there," I told her, "but I promise I'll come back."

This snapped her from her daze. "Are you insane? You can't go out there. We're supposed to shelter in place." Then she hesitated. "But you're probably trained for this, right? You know how to deal with aliens."

For once, she was right. "I do." I took one of her hands and squeezed it. "And I will come back for you."

I made myself drop her hand, despite the buzz of heat her touch sent dancing across my skin. Then I turned and hurried out the door, down the hall, and back onto the sidewalk. I craned my neck to take in the sight of a hulking Kronock battleship overhead, the only comfort being the Drexian fighters whizzing around it and firing relentlessly at the scaly hull.

I pulled out my device, ready to send a message to my pilot telling him to prepare for some extra passengers. Then I saw the message from him, and my blood turned to ice.

He had taken off to join the battle. He would not be able to save me or Allie. He was gone—and I was stuck on Earth in the middle of the invasion we thought would never happen.