Karn had been in the holding cell on his own all afternoon. He’d been separated from Marcus after the punching incident, much to Karn’s relief.

He was bursting to talk to someone about his meeting with Ivy. He kept thinking about the sensation he’d gotten when he’d touched her hand. A flutter of heat and energy had shifted from her. She’d felt powerful and unstoppable. The only time Karn had felt that same sensation was when a female Forka had hugged him. She’d been pregnant at the time and had fizzed with the power of life inside her.

What Ivy had given off was slightly different. After all, she was human, but it was close enough to make Karn wonder if she could be pregnant. Pregnant with his child. It was a serious mind fuck.

Worry settled over him. What if Marcus went to see Ivy? Ivy had said nothing about Marcus, but she always kept her guard up. Karn wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t mentioned Marcus.

He hated the thought of Marcus messing with Ivy again, more so if she carried his child.

A smile lifted Karn’s lips. A kid of his own. He’d never felt interested in having a family. For some aliens, they were obsessed with raising loads of children. Forka weren’t like that. They had maybe one or two. Many chose careers over family. Life as an intergalactic spy left little time for family fun.

Maybe a kid wouldn’t be so bad. Having one with Ivy would be interesting.

Karn needed to get out of this cell and explain everything to her. He also needed to make sure she went to the doctor to confirm his suspicions. Then he needed to make sure Marcus got on the next transport ship leaving Prodigy. He could do without that idiot messing things up for him.

Karn felt he was getting somewhere with Ivy. Even though she’d told him to leave the station, he’d seen she wasn’t convinced. He needed to spend time with her, and everything would be okay. Maybe even more so if they were to raise a family together.

He hopped up and banged on the cell door. Karn hoped it would be a human guard who came to see him. If it was a cyborg, he’d be out of luck. There was no way around them.

He gave a friendly smile as he saw the guard he’d talked to yesterday peer through the hatch at him. He gestured for the door to be unlocked.

The door slid back. “Don’t tell me; you want more relationship advice?”

“This has everything to do with my relationship issues.” Karn slammed his fist under the guard’s nose, hard enough to knock him out, but not so the bone shot into his brain. He sort of liked this guy and didn’t want to do him serious harm.

The guard flew backward and slammed into the wall. He slid to the floor and didn’t get up.

“Sorry, buddy.” Karn grabbed his security pass. “I’ve got a girl to go rescue.”

He hurried past the rest of the holding cells and slipped out into the station. Karn kept his head down as he hurried along. He needed to be careful of any station security drones. He wouldn’t have long until the guard woke up. It was time to leave, but he wasn’t ready to go anywhere until he’d spoken to Ivy and figured out what was happening between them.

If she was pregnant, he wouldn’t abandon her. Karn didn’t walk away from his obligations, even if this one terrified him more than an angry Retar with a plasma blade.

Now was the perfect time for them to figure out if they really were the perfect match. She’d been suspended from her job, and he needed off the station. They could leave together. He could hire a ship and get them out of this mess.

There was no way he wanted to go back in a holding cell, and he definitely didn’t want to go to a mining prison.

Karn slowed as he reached the office of My Single Alien. He risked a peek through the door. There was no sign of Ivy.

He headed to the general store and then tried the Enchanted Captain. He didn’t want to leave without seeing Ivy, but time was not on his side. Karn needed to make it right with her. He wanted Ivy by his side. He wanted her to think he was an alien with morals. Okay, sometimes his morals could be shaky, but he had to be this way because of the work he did.

He stared at a tall guy who wore a black jacket and hurried along in front of him. Karn’s fingers clenched automatically. It was Marcus. He must have been released.

Karn dashed after him, frustration rolling over him as he saw Marcus holding a bottle of champagne and a bag of chips. He was going after Ivy. That jerk would try to sweet talk her and convince her he should be back in his life.

He stayed a safe distance behind to make sure Marcus didn’t spot him. Marcus strode into the first corridor of living quarters. Karn stayed around the corner as Marcus approached Ivy’s door. How did Marcus know where Ivy lived? Maybe she’d told him and expected his visit.

The idea sat badly with Karn. If she’d done that, then Ivy knew Marcus was coming. Maybe she’d even invited Marcus and was eagerly awaiting his arrival.

He watched as the door slid open. He was too far away to hear what they said, but from the expression on Ivy’s face, he saw she was surprised.

Marcus held up the champagne and chips before giving her a hug.

Karn’s jaw clenched. Rather than shoving Marcus away, Ivy returned the hug. What the hell was she doing? She couldn’t seriously be into this moron.

He waited, expecting to see her send Marcus away. Instead, Marcus walked in, and the door slid shut behind him.

Karn closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. What had he been thinking? Of course, Ivy was into this guy. They had a history together. She carried a torch for this loser, even after everything he’d done to her.

Ivy wasn’t the woman he thought she was. If she could be sucked back into this idiot’s life, then they deserved each other. He’d wasted his time thinking he should convince her to go away with him. He should leave Ivy to it. Let her clear up this whole mess.

Karn opened his eyes and jumped. Billy stood right in front of him, a grin on his face. “How do you do that?” He scraped a hand through his hair.

“It was easy. You were deep in thought. Anything I can help with?”

“Not now, kid. I’ve got problems to deal with.”

Billy bounced on his toes. “I heard you’d been locked up. What did you do?”

“Nothing important. I made a mistake and got caught. It won’t happen again.” Karn glanced back at Ivy’s door. It remained closed.

“Are you on a mission now?”

Karn  continued to look at Ivy’s door. He needed a new plan, a change in his focus. Ivy couldn’t be a part of his life. She had someone else. She’d chosen badly, but there was nothing he could do about that. He felt let down by her. If Ivy was so easily convinced by this Marcus idiot, then they should be together. He didn’t want her in his life.

The idea left a foul taste in Karn’s mouth. What about his kid? If Ivy carried his child and got back with Marcus, did he want some jerk raising it?

“Karn, is everything okay?” Billy took a step along the corridor as if meaning to go and look at the door.

Karn swung an arm around Billy’s shoulders. “You can help me. I’ve got an idea. It’s time for a new adventure. I’m done with Prodigy and everyone on it.”