Crap. She knew what she needed to do, and nobody at this table would be happy about it, including her. Her eyes strayed to Luka, and she grimaced. His muscles were bunched, and his eyes were glued ahead of him, but his hand was gentle around hers. If what he’d told her about the difficulty he felt being away from her was true, then he wouldn’t like her idea one bit.
“I won’t go to the prison to see Sal.” She felt Luka’s frame relax for a moment before she added, “I want to go with Sal, Helas, and whoever else to the cabin.”
“Absolutely not.” Luka’s head snapped toward her, and she held his furious glare for long moments. “Alice, I’ll not have you around those vile…disgusting….” His wild gaze wandered.
Verakko crossed his arms over his chest, his teal skin darkening slightly. “I agree. It’s too dangerous.”
The Queen stayed silent, but her intelligent eyes were focused on Alice.
“The women in there need to trust whoever is talking to them. I’m sorry, Verakko, but you just sound too…alien. Everyone here does. It’s the way you speak and the words you use—they’ll know you’re not human. And what happens when you try and talk to the humans who don’t have a translator? Do they just get left behind? We can’t assume they all have one.” She could feel Luka’s erratic pulse through the firm grip of his hand. She turned to him. “Luka, we’re our own people, right? We have our own goals and ambitions?” she probed, repeating his words from days ago.
He threw his head back angrily, and his knee began bouncing. His breaths were coming quickly while his eyes darted across the room, likely looking for an argument.
Alice, Verakko, and the Queen all sat in silence, waiting for Luka’s response. Alice would go regardless. She didn’t need his permission, and if he truly thought to fight her on this, he’d lose. But she wanted to see what he’d do. For the last few days, Alice had been holding back from Luka. She could sense she was falling for him, hard, but she couldn’t let herself fully trust him yet.
Being abducted by aliens had taught her a few things about herself. Despite her insecurities, she was passionate and resilient and brave. She needed a man who pushed her and allowed her to continue to flourish, not one who decided what was best for her without her having a say.
She didn’t mind if he got mad about her decisions. They could scream and fight like cats and dogs, but at the end of the day, she needed to know he wouldn’t try to keep her from doing what she wanted.
When he faced her, his eyes and brow were crinkled with worry. “I need to go with you.”
Alice felt warmth spread through her, shooting all the way to her fingertips. They could do this. She could make things work with Luka. “Of course you can come.” She turned back to the Queen and Verakko. “Sal owes a bigger apology to Luka than to me, anyway.”
“Wonderful,” said the Queen, her strained smile not reaching her eyes. “I’ll need a few days to arrange for the two men to be quietly transported to the cabin. If the other Insurgents don’t know of this secondary system, I don’t want to alert them.”
Verakko picked up a black communicator from the table and held it out to Alice. “We’ll contact you on this.” He gave Luka a once-over before adding, “Show her how to use it.”
They all rose and began exchanging farewells when the Queen addressed Luka. “You received my message about your marks?”
Luka’s lips thinned, and he nodded.
“It wasn’t a request, Luka, it was a command.”
“Understood, madam.”
Verakko stayed behind, explaining he needed to assist the Queen in working out logistics. Luka guided her to the door without another word. What message about his marks?
Once they were on their way to the gate, she asked, “What did the Queen say about your marks?”
Letting out an annoyed huff, he grumbled, “She reminded me that I need to paint my hands whenever we leave our homes. She wants to keep the marks hidden as long as possible.” Flexing a hand in front of him, he frowned. “I’d intended to paint them before I left home today, but…it felt wrong not to be able to look at them.”
Her heart pitter-pattered. Like a wedding ring he doesn’t want to take off.
Alice kept his hand clasped in hers, grinning as they walked back to the gate. The proverbial gears were turning in Luka’s head. Brow furrowed and face taut, he looked like he was trying to think through the universe’s most complex issues. Alice’s worry about the outing to come was buried beneath an overwhelming feeling of joy and affection.
This wasn’t right; she couldn’t be in this good a mood while Luka looked so stressed. She stopped walking. It took Luka a moment to realize, only turning to peer at her when their connected hands prevented him from walking forward.
“Are you okay?” she asked, standing in front of him.
“I’m…” he took a deep breath, searching her face, “concerned.”
Rising to her toes, she reached up and snaked her arms around his neck. “I appreciate your support, anyway.” A look of surprise lit his features, and his hands flew to grip her hips before he jerked them back.
Aww, he’s still keeping his word. Her chest felt too full at the moment. Finally, she could relax and let the wall she’d been keeping between them crumble. She beamed at him, pulling his face down to hers. Against his lips, she breathed, “No more red zones.”
It took him
