“We can’t continue to stay here,” Rogar told them when he’d finished his juice.
“That’s why you’re going to my parents’ cabin,” DeeDee said. “Zerod won’t think to look for you there.”
He stiffened. “You know about Zerod?” He looked at Callie.
“I had to tell her, Rogar. I mean, your wound, and everything. I didn’t want DeeDee to think we were criminals or something.”
“I swear I won’t say a word.” DeeDee crossed herself—not that she was Catholic.
“It could be dangerous if you did.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “That, and my parents would probably send me to a shrink.”
Rogar sat straighter. “You can shrink people?”
“She meant psychiatrist. Someone who tries to help crazy people.” Callie hated to put it that way, but it was the only way she thought Rogar would understand.
“Oh, you mean people with emotional problems,” he said.
Callie frowned. “Yeah, that’s one way to put it.” She ignored DeeDee’s smile.
“You will come with us?” Rogar asked. “It won’t be safe here.”
DeeDee shook her head. “I’ll stay with my parents. My cousin is getting married in a couple of months. They’ll be visiting them in another week so it’s an extended vacation. I like her, even if her fiancé is a jerk.” She curled her lip.
“Fiancé?” he asked.
“When two people fall in love, they get engaged. Her fiancé is the man she’s going to marry. They plan to spend their life together.”
He nodded. “Lifemate.”
Callie’s heart tripped at the way he said the word, then looked at her, as though he’d already staked his claim. She wondered what it was going to be like over the next few days living with Rogar. If he continued as he was right now, she had a feeling her heart was going to be in deep trouble.
She jumped up from her seat. The room felt as though it was suddenly closing in on her. “I need to call Mr. Campbell. When all this is over, I’ll still need my job.” She met Rogar’s gaze. She was sure he caught her meaning. Leaving everything she had ever known was not an option.
Chapter 17
DeeDee had said they would be going to her parents’ cabin, that it would be safe there. Maybe they would be out of danger long enough that Rogar could find where Zerod was hiding.
Rogar grit his teeth against the sudden flare of anger. He would kill Zerod, even if it meant death if he ever returned to New Symtaria. His family would ostracize him, as would the people. But he would do it for Callie. He would do it to keep her safe.
Why?
His forehead wrinkled. She was stubborn and obstinate. Her customs were odd, at best. She knew nothing of her true heritage, and furthermore, the only reason she was willing to meet her guide was so she could protect herself against Zerod. Not that she would defeat Rogar’s more experienced cousin.
His hands curled into fists. She would never be able to take care of herself, even if she eventually accepted her guide. Her guide had been dormant too long. It would take years to gain what had been lost. No, Callie was too inexperienced.
He glanced across the seat at her. She drove the boxy vehicle with ease, he would give her that. There were some things she could do better than him, although he could’ve easily learned the functions. Size was the only difference between this vehicle and the Jaguar.
She adjusted the temperature setting on her side, then ran her hand along the wheel that steered the machine. Her touch was light, almost like a caress. He closed his eyes, remembering the way she had touched him.
Maybe that was the reason he’d become infatuated with her. She had a nice touch. But then, she was also very beautiful—more like a Symtarian than someone from Earth. The Symtarian women were beyond comparison.
She was more emotional, though, and her feelings often showed on her face. He knew when he’d pleased her or angered her in some way. He knew when she was content. Like now, she seemed relaxed.
Just as suddenly, her expression changed, and she began to nibble on her lower lip.
Was she thinking of Zerod? She shouldn’t worry, because he would protect her, and when he left, she would come with him. He wouldn’t give her an option, but he would give her a little time to get used to the idea. That was the only solution. There were others like Zerod, and he couldn’t protect her every second.
“You’re awake,” she said.
He had been for a while, but he hadn’t wanted her to know he studied her.
“How are you feeling?”
“More alert. Better.”
“Yeah, sorry about giving you a prescription pain pill. I didn’t realize it would have such an adverse reaction on you. We’ll stick with the over-the-counter medication from here on out.” She shifted in her seat. “It won’t be long now. As soon as we arrive, I’ll get you tucked into bed. Your leg must be killing you.”
He opened his mouth to tell her that it should be completely healed by now, but when she cast a concerned glance in his direction, words failed him. There was such a wealth of sympathy and love in that one look. When she squeezed his hand, he decided he would be better off not explaining that very few Symtarian wounds were life threatening.
Instead, he quickly spelled cabin on his database. A picture popped up of a small log structure. Beneath it he read: cozy one-room cabin with few amenities. Often used by hunters when trapping or killing game.
Rogar liked the thought that she would be tucking him into bed inside a secluded, but rustic cabin. They would spend their nights making love. During the day, he would be showing her the path to her animal guide, and eventually the way back to New Symtaria.
All he had to do was tell her about the wonder and the beauty that New Symtaria had to offer. The wide streams, the green valleys, the highest mountains. The landscape was much the same as that of Earth, except better, so the transition wouldn’t be that difficult for her. He only had to convince Callie to return with him. Since he’d have her all to himself, that shouldn’t be a problem. He’d never had any trouble convincing a Symtarian woman to do his bidding.
When his body began to react to thoughts of just how he would convince Callie that it would be in her best interest to leave with him, he decided to change the direction of his thoughts.
“Did Mr. Campbell understand when you told him you were taking a few days away from work?” He rather hoped she’d been dismissed from her duties. Guilt flooded him. He didn’t want her unhappy.
“There wasn’t any problem getting time off.”
That surprised him. “Mr. Campbell didn’t seem the type who would be so generous.”
She chuckled. “He isn’t, but I tempted him.”
Rogar didn’t think he liked the idea of her tempting her boss.
“I told him that I was trying to convince you to come back for a few weeks,” she said. “The bribe worked.”
“And what will you tell him when that doesn’t happen?”
“That you’re a rotten person and refused to cooperate.”
He wasn’t sure he liked that solution any better.
“We’re here,” she said.
He sat straighter, and looked around. They were just passing under a wooden arch that proclaimed this was
“There are many small vehicles here,” he said as more passed them.
