Mila awoke in the middle of the night to find herself alone. She stretched in bed, finding Stax’s side long cold, and peered through the darkness.

“Lights on,” she called, and the room instantly illuminated in soft yellow hues.

The wind was no longer howling, though the windows were fully closed to keep out the nighttime chill. After donning a warm robe, she walked to the large window that faced the snow-capped mountains, though in the night she couldn’t see them. But she saw the twin moons, full and orange and so large in the sky she felt as if she could reach out and touch them.

Thinking perhaps Stax needed a midnight snack, she walked to the door, but it didn’t open upon her approach. A sense of trepidation grew and her stomach clenched. Had Stax intentionally locked her in their room? Why would he do that?

She pushed on the door but it wouldn’t budge or slide open. “Door open,” she called, but still nothing happened. Frowning, she paced the room and hoped he returned soon. As the minutes passed, her frustration grew. When he walked through the door, she planned to give him a piece of her mind.

She ran a hand through her hair. They’d spent quite the day together, making love countless times and in a variety of interesting positions, until they’d collapsed in fatigue and fallen asleep in one another’s arms. They hadn’t had any disagreements at all recently and she couldn’t imagine him locking her in their room even if they had.

When footsteps sounded on the stairs, she stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips. But when the door opened and she saw the blood covering Stax, all her anger fled as worry consumed her. His uniform was torn in several places and a large, half-healed gash marred the side of his face. She rushed to him, but he held his hands out, preventing her from getting too close.

“All is well, my little beauty. I had hoped you were still sleeping.”

“Where have you been? What happened? Oh, Stax, are you all right?”

“I assure you, I am fine. By the time I take a shower, all my wounds will be healed.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “An unauthorized vessel landed outside the settlement. Somehow, it evaded our probes and took us by surprise. All warriors were dispatched to take care of the threat.”

“I-I didn’t hear an alarm or anything.” Her anxiety increased and she had a very, very bad feeling about the occupants of the vessel. Her heart raced. Was Evan looking for her?

He tapped his head. “I have an implant that rouses me to full wakefulness in the event of an emergency. All Vaxxlian warriors have them. The warriors on night watch detected the ship landing and sent out a warning.”

“I see.” Mila exhaled a shaky breath, and all her previous frustration over being locked in the bedroom evaporated. She now understood that he’d locked her in for her safety. “Who-who was on the vessel?”

Stax stiffened and a murderous look entered his glowing green eyes. “Three bride hunters from Yozovinla.”

Her stomach dropped and her mouth went dry. Evan likely knew where she was. Somehow, someway, he had discovered her location.

“Oh God. I-I’m so sorry, Stax. It’s my fault. They’re here because of me.” She hated knowing she’d put the settlement in danger.

He cupped her face. “Shh, Mila.” His gaze turned tender. “There is nothing to fear. I will keep you safe.” As he spoke, the gash on his cheek faded further, until it was nothing but a thin pink line. Seconds later, it vanished completely, as if he hadn’t been wounded in battle at all.

“But I’ve brought danger to your beautiful, peaceful settlement, Stax.” When she’d been on the run, constantly venturing from planet to planet as she transported goods, she’d been harder to find. A moving target. And she’d been alone on her transport ship. She never put anyone else in danger. Until today. Guilt settled upon her shoulders and tears burned in her eyes.

“Mila, it is not your fault a dishonorable man is hunting for you. The fault lies on him. On Evan. And when I find him, I will kill him.”

She shuddered, a chill hitting her. She didn’t know how to respond, so she simply nodded and watched silently as Stax went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Sinking down on the bed, she covered her face in her hands and wept. People had died because of her. Sure, they were bride hunters, but she couldn’t help but wonder if they had families, hopes, and dreams. Times had been tough on Yozovinla before the earthquake, but now they were even worse. A job was a job, and she couldn’t blame the bride hunters for coming after her—they’d likely been desperate for the money.

But though she despaired over anyone else dying, even Evan, she knew deep in her heart that he probably wouldn’t stop until he found her. Their wedding date had been set and all of society had been invited. When she’d left Yozovinla, she’d likely created an embarrassing scandal for him. She could only imagine the headlines. He’d wanted to marry her because he needed a lowborn wife to combat the safety scandals involving his family’s mines, and then she’d run off all by herself to avoid marriage to him.

She recalled the one and only time they’d met in person. His eyes had been dark and cold. Calculating, even. Tremors assailed her and she felt colder than before. Perhaps he didn’t mean to drag her back to her home planet to marry her. Perhaps he only meant to exact revenge.

She sniffled and tried to compose herself before Stax exited the bathroom. He shouldn’t have to comfort her after he returned from what appeared to be a bloody battle.

If only there was something she could do. If only she could find a way to diffuse this situation without anyone else dying.

A plan started to form in her mind, but before she could figure out all the details, Stax emerged from his shower, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. She rushed to him, inspecting every inch of his body for injuries, but not a single bruise or small cut could be found.

“The nanobots,” he explained, “have already healed me. My injuries were not very extensive and I lost very little blood. The blood on my clothes did not belong to me.”

“If all the warriors in the settlement were alerted to the unauthorized vessel’s landing, why is it you seemed to take the brunt of the battle? Did only a few of the warriors respond to the alarm?”

“Every warrior left his house and converged on the field where the ship landed. But once the human males were identified as Yozovinlan natives, one of them confessed all. Apparently, they followed your trail to Horstha and after interviewing Horsthan Defenders they suspected you’d been taken by a Vaxxlian as a mate, which led them to New Vaxx. And yes, they informed Evan of your location.”

“I see, but that doesn’t explain why you were covered in so much blood.”

“I told the bride hunters I was your mate and that Evan has no claim to you.” He shrugged. “Then they challenged me to a fight for you, the foolish theronizas. I had no doubt I would win, my little beauty, please do not fret or think that I risked your freedom. They were fools to challenge me, though their fate would have been death no matter what. By challenging me, they simply hastened their own demise.”

“What about a shield?” she asked. “A planetary shield to keep unwanted vessels from entering New Vaxx’s atmosphere? Then no one else would have to die because of me. No one might get hurt.”

“Our scientists are in the process of developing such a shield, Mila, however it won’t be completed for some time.” He gave her a serious look. “Until Evan is no more, you will not be permitted to leave our home unless you’re in my company. I’ll let Annika and the builders know you won’t be piloting the transports of stone until further notice.”

“But it could be months or even years before another bride hunter comes this way. Or Evan might decide to give up,” she said, though she doubted the horrid man would ever stop searching for her. The possession of vast wealth and the burning need for revenge made for a terrible combination. “Please, Stax. I will be careful. I will go crazy if I’m kept cooped up.”

“You won’t go crazy,” he said, cupping her face with such gentleness that she found it difficult to remain frustrated over his declaration. “My decision is final, Mila, and I expect you to obey.”