CHAPTER TEN
Van pulled out of her, yanking up his shorts, already moving. "Sorry, sweet. Just... stay here."
He palmed his laser from the counter. He must’ve had it concealed in his clothing, probably the waist band of his shorts, and taken it out when they... did what they did.
She didn't even consider obeying him, not this time. Sit there with his sex fluids on the insides of her thighs, while their hosts entered this place? Not a chance in the seven hells!
As Van stopped at the door leading out to the back porch and peered outside, she leaned over, grabbed a handful of the disposable towels on a dowel, and used them to clean herself up. Then she righted her panties, and leapt down from the counter. She staggered as her still quivering legs nearly failed her. Hanging onto the counter, she pulled her clothing to rights. No wet spot on the back of her skirt, that was good.
She hurried across the room after Van, her bare feet silent on the hard floor.
When he stepped back from the door, she put her hand up to keep from running into him.
He frowned forbiddingly. "Told you to stay back."
Peering around him through the gauzy cloths hung over the long window beside the door, Reva ignored him, except to curl her fingers into the back of his tee for balance. "I don't see anyone."
"No, they're gone," he said. "They left something."
Reva moved farther around him, peering down to see an open container on the porch. It appeared to have been woven of sticks and grasses. Lined with a checkered blue-and-white cloth, it held several white containers. "What is it?"
"Perhaps food?" Van sniffed. "Yeah, it is food."
"Maybe this is a delivery, like the boy who brought the cheese-burgers." Her mouth watered--she hoped this was more of those.
"I'll link Frost and ask him. Don't eat anything until we're sure it's safe."
The phone on the counter tooted a short sequence, as a horn calling soldiers to battle. When it repeated, Van moved to grab it. He pressed a button, and Frost's voice sounded. "You are awake, good."
"Yes," Van said. "Did you leave a container on our threshold? Or is this another assassin's trick?"
Frost murmured something, and Lacey's voice was heard. "Oh, is breakfast there? Good, we'll be right over. See you in a few."
"A few what?" Van asked blankly.
"Approximately ten Earth minutes," Frost stated. "Do not open the doors until we arrive."
Van scowled as he set the phone aside. "We do not require his protection."
Looking out the window again, Reva agreed. "But the food does require our protection—the cat is back, and she has brought her young." She shook off her weird imaginings that someone might persuade the small felines to attack.
"Not good." Van jerked the back door open, and stepped outside.
Reva followed him. "Oh, they're so sweet."
The gray-striped cat had two young, one a miniature of her and the other with stripes the hues of Van's reddish hair. The kittens stood with their tiny paws up on the rim of the basket, sniffing hungrily. The mother cat looked up at Reva and meowed.
Reva's heart swelled with pity. "We must feed them."
"Don't give them our food," Van protested.
"But they're hungry," she said, opening the top container. It contained a pile of warm, crispy sausages. "And you already had your Coco Poops, or Poofs. Here you go, mama cat. And here is one for your babies."
"Hey!" Van reached down and grabbed the basket in one big hand, Reva in the other, and lifted them both off the porch. "They are called Coco Puffs, and although delicious, they leave one strangely hungry for real food. Now, come inside before you feed our entire meal to these creatures."
Frost and Lacey's vehicle pulled into the drive with a crunch of gravel.
Lacey laughed out the SUV window, the warm sound floating on the cool, morning air. "That's one of Topper's cats. From the looks of things, she’s used a beguiling spell on Reva."
Frost stepped out and shook his head. "I told you not to open the door, Aurelians. That's why. The cat hasn't figured out how to get into the containers by herself, but she can get others to do it for her."
"Great," Van muttered as he hauled Reva and their breakfast inside the house. "Even the felines here are dangerous."
Reva wriggled to get free of his powerful arm, craning her neck to see the cats. "Let me go, Van. They're not dangerous, just hungry."
"Like I said, dangerous. That's our food. You're moon-dazzled, is what." He plumped her bottom onto a chair at the dining table, and gave her a look that promised trouble if she left it. "Stay put."
She tossed her head and glared at his back. "Fine, then you can bring me more coffee."
"Anything for you, my sweet gremel fruit." He gave her a wicked look across the counter-top where they'd just had sex, and she looked away, her face burning.
Lacey sat across from Reva, smiling. Frost walked around the counter to get two more coffee cups out of the cupboard.
Now that the door was closed with the cats outside, Reva came back to herself. She flushed, remembering how her only thought had been to feed the cats. She'd even forgotten her own hunger. She would have fed the cats anyway, but perhaps not before their hosts were served.
"This is all very strange," she told Lacey. "This place is so... so peaceful. I mean, here we are, sharing a meal in your family enclave, and yet...."
"And yet, you are far from home, and last night you were attacked. And your normal lives hang in the balance."
Reva nodded. The witch truly seemed to understand.
"You are accustomed to a more military lifestyle." Frost carried two mugs of steaming coffee to the table, handing one to Reva and the other to Lacey. "Worry not, Aurelians. Magic only appears to be a sleepy little village. We can be every bit as productive as a military base."
Van handed Reva her fresh cup of coffee and sat with his own cup. He snorted. "I hardly think so. Our military is a complex machine, honed for generations."
This was true, but Reva thought Van could be at least a little diplomatic. She gave him a look over her coffee, which he ignored.
Lacey waved her hand, and all the containers drifted gently from the basket and settled on the table, their lids popping open. "Have some pancakes, sausage and egg," she invited them.
Reva looked to Van, who flushed, and gave the witch a nod. "Your point is taken. I beg your pardon."
"Quite all right," Frost said, handing Reva the sausages. "I see the cat left us some of these."
It was Reva's turn to be abashed. "Sorry. I'm the one who gave those away, so I'll do without my share."
The tall man winked solemnly. "There are plenty for all. I always order extra."
"He'd better," Lacey said dryly. "Who do you think taught that cat to beg?"
Reva laughed, and Lacey joined her. They busied themselves filling their plates with breakfast. The food was delicious, and they ate every bite, making Reva very glad she hadn't given anymore away.
When they were finished eating, and had fresh cups of coffee, Lacey looked at them both. "I have some good news... and some bad news."
"Give us all the intel you have," Van said. "Is it about who, or whatever animated the cactus?"
"And tried to kill you?" Lacey asked. "Sorry, no. I've tried divining the source, but I'm getting only vague readings. No, our news concerns your possible way to get back to your time, and your destination."
Reva clasped her hands around her warm mug and waited, hardly daring to breathe.
"Please, share." Van leaned forward, focusing on Lacey with laser-like intensity.
"Today is a very special event here on Earth," Lacey told them. "An eclipse. You know what this is?"
Reva nodded eagerly. "One of your moons travels in front of the sun, darkening the sky over a portion of your planet for a short time."
"Yes. And this causes a kind of rift in the atmosphere."
As Van's look changed to one of clear skepticism, the witch held up a slim hand. "Not noticeable by ordinary folk. Only by those of us who live with awareness of other realms—including magical ones."
"But Van and I are not magical," Reva said, discouragement sagging her shoulders and bringing a hot ache behind her eyes. "We're just... beings."
Van's hand covered hers, warm and calloused. "We are not just beings, sweet. We are Aurelian. And if the witch is willing to help us use this rift she speaks of, we will be brave, yes?"
Reva turned to him, taking in the cerametal will that gleamed from his green eyes, and the strength in his jaw. Reassurance flowed through her, warm and strong. She nodded resolutely, and turned her hand to clasp his. "Yes. We are Aurelian. And we will do what is necessary."
Van squeezed her hand. "After all, you already jumped once. What's one more?"
She widened her eyes at him, because jumping was the most unpleasant thing she'd ever done—besides dealing with his girlfriend—and she would like to avoid both. At the thought of T'Bele, she tugged her hand from his and turned to Lacey again. "What do we do?"
Lacey gave her a smile that held sympathy. "In a few hours, we meet the other Magic witches on Kokopelli Knob. It's one of the higher points near town. The perfect place to view the eclipse and to utilize the rift. The Knob is on private property, so although everyone in the area will be out watching the eclipse, there won't be anyone else right around except us."
"When do we go?" Van asked, already shoving his chair back. "Reva, go change your clothing, and pack."
Reva glared at him. "When I am ready, T'Van A'Ralle." Then she turned back to Lacey, who looked as if she was fighting the urge to laugh. "I can't believe you can do this! How wonderful that you and your friends are willing to do it for us." She tried to imagine the Aurelian army calling out a platoon to help strangers who landed in their laps, and could not.
Lacey's smile turned warm. "What good is being a witch if we don't use it to help others? Also, there's plenty of time for you to gather your things," the witch assured them. "The eclipse starts in three hours, at noon. It will only take us twenty minutes to drive up to the Knob, and the others are to meet us there, so we should leave here in about two hours. Take your time getting ready."
"You said you also had bad news," Van said, watching Lacey with a frown. "What is the bad news?"
Reva froze, her joy wavering as she waited for the witch to speak.
"Well," Lacey said, looking uncomfortable. "When we Magic witches form a circle, we are strong... but we've never attempted anything quite like this. I do wish Topper were here, and that we could access the Director in Black. However, she's on a cruise and he's… who knows where in the galaxy. Out of my reach, certainly. Anyway, those of us who are here will be sending you out through the rift, and aiming you at a point so far away, thus so minuscule that... well, we could potentially miss."
"And you must be prepared to take this risk," Frost put in, his deep voice grave. "Your next landing may not be in such a hospitable environment as this, you understand."
Reva had to swallow hard as her stomach revolted, trying to send back up her breakfast. The blue-eyed alien was right—if they missed this jump, they could land in cold space. They could die instantly.
Van nodded briskly. "You should send me first. Reva is not trained, and I don't want to risk her unnecessarily. Give me time to wake, and be ready to protect her when she arrives, then send her through."
Reva snapped upright at this, her own fear forgotten. "I arrived here in much better shape than you. They should send me first." Then, if she landed safely, she'd be awake, ready to watch over Van until he woke. Also, he was more important than she—without him, his mission might not succeed. Her death would change nothing.
"No!" he turned on her, his face livid. "I would never risk you that way! What kind of coward do you take me for?"
She probably should be cowering in the face of such Aurelian ferocity, but she returned his glare. "The same could be said for me, commander. I will not hide behind you, either. We are here together, and I may not be one of your precious team, but I am Aurelian. And even if you don't want me with you, you're stuck with me—at least until we get home. Then I will leave so fast you won't even see me go. So... so just put that in your ale and drink it!"
Shaking with fury, she shoved her chair back, rose and stalked away to the bedrooms, slamming the door behind her. The loud bang was most satisfying—one could not slam a hatch operated with whisper touch-tech.
A part of her cringed at the rudeness of walking away from their hosts in such a way, but she was so angry she wanted to scream. She clung to her anger—it was much easier to face than the terror she felt at the possibility of Van's death. Of all his energy and strength snuffed out, gone. How could he not see she wanted to protect him too?
Needing something, anything to do, she grabbed her duffel and began to cram her things into it.