There was no way she was returning to Ajos’ crib.
Not after he’d disappeared.
Something wrung deep inside her at the thought, and she didn’t realize that she was no longer alone.
“You’re so busy. Find out anything?” The female voice reached her ear and Kerena turned to find Alaina smiling at her.
Pushing her feelings behind her, Kerena met the woman’s smile with one of her own. “Nothing yet.”
She peered down into the strange microscope. “Don’t come close. They say this thing is very contagious and you’re not wearing a suit.”
In the corner of her eyes, she saw Alaina raise her hands. “Don’t worry about me. It’s not my sort of thing anyway. I’m more interested in robotics and machines. I wasn’t any good with biology.”
“Oh? You studied robotics?” Kerena lifted her head.
“Basically.” Alaina smiled again. “I am a…was an engineer.” She sighed and there was a note of sadness there. “I’m used to keeping busy. It’s great that you found something to do here.” She met Kerena’s gaze. “You’re lucky you’ve made friends with one of them. The others all seem to be staying far away from us.”
Lucky, she said.
Ha.
She didn’t feel lucky.
Her heart felt torn.
“So,” Alaina continued, her face brightening once more. “What are you working on?
“Uh.” Kerena shook her head. She really needed to stop thinking about him. “Just trying to see if we can find a way to fight the bad guys.” She looked down into the microscope once more. “I may have found something that has an effect on their cells, but we’re not sure yet. We’d have to create a stronger sample. Isolate whatever is having an effect on the Tasqal cells, and begin further testing from there.”
“Did you see them? The Tasqals, when you went on that planet?”
Kerena shook her head. “No, thank God. But Aker has an image.”
She moved over to Aker’s control panel and pressed the button she’d seen him press to bring up the hologram.
The image of a huge toad-like creature sprung up before them.
Alaina shrieked. “Oh my fucking God, that’s hideous.”
Kerena chuckled. She’d had the same response.
Alaina stepped forward slowly, her eyes wide. “This is what took us away from Earth?”
Kerena nodded. “With help, yes.”
“Fuck.”
“I know.”
For a few moments, Alaina just stared at the image, the huge dark eyes of the Tasqal seemingly staring back at her.
“What effect is your experiment having on its cells?”
Kerena sighed. “I’m not really sure. It seems to be…healing the cells.”
“Healing it?” Alaina frowned.
“Precisely.” Aker’s voice reached their ears as he entered the lab, his feet carrying him quickly.
He moved over to the receptacle the flower had fallen into and he stooped so he could look into it.
“We need more,” he said.
“I know. But there’s only one way to get it.” Kerena stared at the doctor.
Alaina stepped forward, her gaze moving from one to the other. “You’re not planning on heading back there, are you? You almost died.”
Kerena looked at the woman. “I know.”
“And that doesn’t scare you?”
“A little.” She looked back at Aker and understanding seemed to pass between them.
“I’ll radio the dock,” Aker said. “They will prepare a ship.”
Kerena let out a breath as she looked up at the small airship. Aker had only managed to get this one on short notice, and it seemed it was only big enough to carry two passengers.
She turned to glance at Alaina by her side and that’s when she saw him.
How could she miss him anyway?
Tall, minty-teal…he walked through the space as if he owned it.
He was dressed differently today, and even with the scowl on his face, Kerena couldn’t take her eyes away from him.
Ajos.
His eyes met hers, the spun gold raking over her before he looked away dismissively, and something inside her fell and cracked into a million pieces.
She watched as he walked to stand right by her, his eyes on Aker the entire time.
“This is the ship?”
Aker looked up at him. “You arrived quickly.”
“I had nothing better doing at the moment.”
He was ignoring her, but worse than that, his words stung like salt in a wound.
Nothing better doing.
He hadn’t seen her in three days, yet he was off doing nothing.
He seemed healed too, better. No longer was his head red or his mood testy.
Kerena’s throat moved, a lump forming in her throat.
It was clear to her then.
It had just been sex.
That’s all.
She was a big girl. She’d known what she’d been getting into.
Still, it hurt.
When had she become so…weak? So easily affected by things?
“You,” he said, his voice so emotionless, it took her off guard when she realized he was referring to her.
For a moment, she couldn’t speak, then her anger flared.
“What?” She mirrored his tone and saw him frown a little.
How the fuck did he expect her to react? If he was cold, she could be too.
“Give me the vial with your life blood.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and handed the small package to him.
They’d decided it was better that she send a sample of her blood instead of her being physically there.
No one wanted a repeat of what had happened before. Who knew how the plant would react to her when she returned? It was better to play it safe.
Ajos took the package just as another alien, a huge one with horns on top of his head, came from the other side of the ship.
“Ready?” the alien with horns asked.
“Always, E’lot.” Ajos grinned and Kerena felt more pain and hurt within her.
She didn’t realize she was scowling till Alaina touched her arm and asked what was wrong.
Kerena shook her head.
“Nothing,” she answered, her eyes still on the minty-teal alien.
How dare he.
The one name E’lot glanced at them before hopping into the ship and without a backward glance, Ajos hopped in behind him and the door closed.
Pain swelled inside her as the engine of the craft started and they had to step away.
“Hopefully, they will
