“I’m a thief, remember? A Snatcher. That’s what it means to be an M-Switch Kindred,” Chain growled.
Then he seemed to make an effort to control his temper because he took a deep breath and smiled at her.
“Don’t worry, beautiful Victoria, I left a note informing them that we had an emergency at home and couldn’t stay. I also included the number of an interstellar bank account—I’ll send Professor Torella more than enough to cover the price of her artifact. She’ll probably be able to afford to add a whole new wing to her collection.”
“Well…that’s okay, I guess,” Vicky said uncertainly, though it still felt like stealing to her. Still, he was right—she had known he was a thief right from the start of their short-lived relationship. And it wasn’t really surprising that he was willing to commit larceny to get out of bonding with the wrong woman permanently. Hell, lots of men had done worse things than that to get out of a bad relationship!
But was it bad? whispered a little voice in her head. Because I kind of thought it was pretty good—great actually.
Vicky sighed. Yes, it had been great while it lasted. Chain was a wonderful guy and he’d given her the most erotic sexual experience of her life. So at least she had that memory to treasure.
“I guess we’d better go, huh?” she asked him.
He nodded. “Yes—but quietly. Come on.”
They snuck out of Professor Torella’s house like a couple of criminals—which Vicky supposed they were—and got quietly into Chain’s ship.
“Well,” he said, as they finished buckling themselves in. “Time to get back to the Mother Ship. Commander Sylvan will be wanting the other half of the T’lix-Kruthe.”
“Yes.” Vicky sighed. “I guess the adventure is over and it’s time to go home—back to normal life.”
“Home,” he echoed but he didn’t sound very happy about it. “Yes, let’s get you back to your home, Victoria. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your life any longer.”
Then, without another word, he started the engines and the little ship rose into the air and flew into the blackness of space.
Chapter Thirty-three
She didn’t want you, whispered the little voice in Chain’s brain. Didn’t want you, didn’t want you, didn’t want you. It was like a chant that wouldn’t stop.
Well, who could blame her for not wanting him? He was, after all, one of the notorious M-Switch Kindred and a thief into the bargain. Was it really such a shock that his beautiful Victoria didn’t want to bind her life to his permanently?
Not a shock at all, Chain told himself. But it still hurt. Somehow he had allowed himself to fall in love with her, despite the fact that they’d been together such a short time. And knowing that she didn’t feel the same way hurt in a way he’d never experienced. Maybe because he’d never allowed himself to truly love a female before.
I didn’t allow it this time, either, Chain told himself. It just…happened.
He wished he could make it un-happen, but of course he couldn’t. So there was nothing to do but take her back to her home planet and leave her where he’d found her on Earth.
Nothing to do but let her go and never see her again.
That was a thought with sharp teeth—it chewed on his heart until he could hardly breathe for the pain it caused. He could barely look at Victoria, sitting in the seat beside him. The ride back to her planet was silent and, for Chain at least, completely miserable.
* * * * *
When they got back to her house—landing in the early twilight in her back yard—Vicky felt strangely reluctant to let him leave. Which was completely ridiculous, she knew, but somehow she just couldn’t stand the thought of watching Chain fly away, never to return.
To put it off a little while longer she said,
“Would you mind coming in and checking the house with me? Just to be sure no more, uh, lizard guys are hiding anywhere?”
“Of course.” He had been unusually silent all the way home, but now he seemed to come alive. “There shouldn’t be any Varians though—we towed their ship out of orbit so there should be no way for any of them to track you. But if it would make you feel better, I’ll come with you to look.”
“It would make me feel better,” Vicky said. “Especially since it’s going to be dark soon.” She looked around the dim backyard and shivered.
“Come on, then.” Chain went with her into the house and they made a thorough check of everything and everywhere an alien lizard guy might be hiding. They found nothing, though, except the broken bathroom window—which Chain had patched for her with plywood from the garage—the shredded drapes, and the greasy black spot where the second Varian had been incinerated.
“I’m sorry about all this damage to your domicile,” Chain said, frowning, as they ended up in the living room where the stained carpet was. “I promise you’ll get more than enough from your half of the fee for our mission to repair and replace everything. I’ll be sure to ask Commander Sylvan to see to it personally.”
“Thanks,” Vicky said nodding, though at this point she wasn’t really thinking about the damage to her house. Instead, she was dreading the moment when Chain would have to leave. “Um, would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked, hoping to prolong their time together. “It’s kind of like the caffeine brew you made me—only brown instead of light blue,” she added, seeing his confusion.
“Thank you but…I’d better not.” Chain shook his head regretfully. “Commander Sylvan will be wanting the other half of the T’lix-Kruthe.”
“Oh, uh…sure. I guess he will.” Vicky nodded and sighed, feeling unutterably sad. “Well, I guess this is goodbye then?” she asked and
