James pulled the truck to a stop in front of the farmhouse. Nova jerked, her eyes popping open as she sat up. She drew in a breath and looked around before settling back into her seat.

She’d fallen asleep a few moments ago. He’d planned on letting her sleep, but it seemed she was a light sleeper.

“We are back at your house already?” she asked, lifting her brow.

He turned his attention to the farmhouse. This might be one of the last times he laid eyes on it. Once they’d gotten to the high school, they’d gone over the evacuation plan. He and several others had broken into small groups, hitting several stores in town to gather enough supplies and weapons for the town until the rescue shuttle arrived. Everyone else had been sent home, hopefully to avoid drawing attention to themselves. They were to meet back at the lot by six to prepare for the short drive to the mines.

He turned back to her to answer her question. “We have almost five hours until we have to be back at the school parking lot. I wanted to grab a few things for Emma and I.” His eyes skimmed over her jumpsuit. “Amy might have some clothes in her room that would fit you.”

Nova shook her head. “Thanks, but no. My jumpsuit is designed to handle the shift from phoenix to this form. I fear your clothes would burn up and leave me naked.”

James gulped at the thought. That didn’t sound so bad actually. He blinked when he realized he was staring at her and got out of the truck. He needed to change the subject. “I’ve been meaning to ask, are you feeling better?”

“Much. Thank you.”

He started up the steps with Nova on his heels. “I’m glad.”

“Me too. Ice is deadly to us. If it had hit vital organs, I’d be dead.”

“Thankfully it didn’t.” He led the way through the house and up the stairs. He stopped in front of Emma’s room. “There is a bag hanging on the inside of her door. Do you mind grabbing her some clothes from the dresser? Just a couple pairs.”

Nova nodded and slipped inside. James went to his room and grabbed a duffle from the closet. He chucked a few outfits inside and then went to his closet and drew out his hunting knives. They weren’t as effective as the guns, and he didn’t know if they’d even work against the Imanji, but they were weapons, and it couldn’t hurt anything to bring them with him.

There was a knock on the door. It creaked open slightly as Nova peeked her head in. “Did you want me to get anything else?”

James tried to think if there was anything Emma absolutely needed. He didn’t think so, but there was something important down the hall. “There’s an office two doors down from here. On the desk there is a picture album and a large black rectangle that’s plugged into a computer.” He frowned. Would she even know what he was talking about? “Can you grab those?”

Nova disappeared again. Her footfalls creaked against the old floorboards.

He turned back to his knives, setting them on top of his clothes. Then went back to the closet to get more ammo. He ensured his gun was loaded and then put the rest of the boxes in his bag too.

“Are these what you’re looking for?” Nova asked a few moments later.

He turned to her. She held both items up in her hands.

“Yeah. That’s it. Can you bring them here?” he asked.

Nova walked toward him, handing him the photo album first. She stared at the hard drive, running her fingers over the smooth surface. “What is this?”

“It’s a hard drive. It’s got a bunch of pictures on it that I’ve been saving for my mom. She’d kill me if I didn’t bring it.”

“Pictures?” she said, handing the device to him.

James opened the picture album and showed her the first page. “Yeah memories. Do you have anything like this on Delphi?”

Nova nodded. “Yes. We have something very similar except it displays on a screen and slides through each picture on the wall.”

“Guess our species have at least a few things in common.”

“We aren’t so different. I know it is not ideal, but I do hope you will find happiness on Delphi,” Nova said.

James put the album and hard drive in his bag and zipped it shut. “I’m not ready to give up on Earth quite yet.”

“If there is another way, I’m sure my people will do everything they can to save your planet.”

“Your people have gone to a lot of trouble for strangers,” James said, studying her.

Nova looked at the floor and sighed. “It is our fault your world is in peril. It is the right thing to do to fix our mistakes. What would it make us if we sat by watching as the Imanji destroyed species after species when we led them there in the first place?”

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and continued, “Besides, they’ll come for Delphi’s citizens again once they feel they’re strong enough. By fighting them here and now it gives us a chance to defend our world.”

“But it’s not your fight,” James said. “Would the Imanji attack Delphi in your life time?”

Nova bit her lip, sucking it between her teeth. His eyes trained on her mouth as she continued to chew on her lip. It was wonderfully pink and full. What would it be like to kiss it?

“Probably not,” she answered.

“Then it makes you and your crew brave.”

“Would your people not do the same?” Nova asked, releasing her lip.

James considered her question. “There are some of us that would,” he said with a nod. “We have a military just like yours where we train soldiers. I used to be in a division of it called the Marines.”

“So, you are a warrior, then?”

James chuckled. “I guess you could say that. Or at least I used to be. I resigned and was honorably discharged so I could help out on the farm with my parents and Emma.” He looked down at the bag that held the pictures. “Will I be able to find out if my parents were safely evacuated from Atlanta?”

Nova put her hand on her suit where the communication button was. “I could ask. We try to keep logs of everyone we rescue.”

James huffed and shook his head. “No. Why don’t we wait.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” If they were safe he’d be ecstatic, but if they were unaccounted for it would only distract him from his duties. As much as he loved his parents the entire town was counting on him to get them to safety. Nova was already a big enough distraction as it was; he didn’t need to add to it. Once he’d ensured the town’s safety then he’d find out and launch a rescue mission if needed. “You know, maybe we could get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day and we need to be at the top of our game. I’m sure Emma wouldn’t mind if you borrowed her room for a few hours. I’ll set my alarm.”

Nova rocked up on her tiptoes. “Some rest might not be a bad idea. I’ll see you in a few hours then.”

James scrubbed a hand over his face. Sleep would be good.

* * *

Nova tossed and turned before staring up at the ceiling. Her body was exhausted, but no matter how long she lay with her eyes shut, sleep just wouldn’t come.

Too much was on her mind. The mission. These people were counting on her to get them to safety. James and Emma had quickly wormed their way into her heart, James in a different way than Emma. He was similar to the males on her planet, but different at the same time.

There was something about him that called to her, awakening a part of her she’d never known before. James was attractive, but his personality was what differentiated him from anyone else. He was one of a kind. It was silly to have affection for him, though. They were from two different worlds. Would he even consider a relationship with her? Her parents would disown her if she fell for an otherworlder. Did that matter? They’d already cast her aside.

She tossed the covers back and stood up. Creeping over the floorboards, she peeked into the hallway. Silence and darkness. She blinked a few times until her eyes adjusted.

There was a bathroom at the end of the hall. She’d seen it earlier when she’d retrieved the items for James. Maybe a shower would help ease her worries away.

She moved slowly, careful not to make noise and disturb James. It’d be good if at least one of them could get a good night’s rest. She pushed the bathroom door open, wincing when it creaked.

Nova held her breath, waiting to see if James would wake. When she heard nothing, she stepped inside and looked around. The facility was nothing like the bathrooms on Delphi. The toilet and shower were similar enough that she recognized them, but they were archaic – looks like there will be no steam shower tonight, she mused.

Bending down, she studied the three knobs by the shower. She twisted the first one, frowning when water trickled out for a few seconds and then stopped. Her fingers went to the next one, turning it too. Nothing happened. Maybe it was broken?

“It won’t work.”

Nova screeched, whirling around so fast she lost her balance. She stumbled but caught herself on a bar holding several towels. Her eyes flickered to James as his hand latched onto her elbow.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I heard a noise and came to check it out. Are you okay?” he asked, his grip tightening as he helped to right her.

She put her free hand on her chest where her heart beat rapidly. “I thought you were sleeping.”

“Couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind. Are you hurt?” His eyes dipped down, giving her a onceover.

“I don’t think so,” she said, her gaze going to his hand that was still on her elbow. A pair of shorts covered his lower half, but his torso was completely bare. Muscles stretched across his skin and the sight sent a wave of tingles straight to her core. What would it be like to have his hands all over her body? She cleared her throat and looked at the shower. “Why won’t it work?”

“The house has a well that supplies the water. There’s no power so the well pump won’t work.”

“Oh.”

“We have a generator but limited fuel for it so I haven’t powered it up. With the aliens out there I’m not sure it’d be a great idea. It’s kind of noisy,” James said.

“The less noise we make the better.” Looks like her shower would have to wait. Maybe there were some cloths she could use with the bottled water they had in the truck. It’d be nice to clean up a little bit at least.

“There’s a stream that runs behind the back of the property. I don’t see myself sleeping. If you’d like I can take you there. It’s big enough and has enough tree cover we could both get cleaned up.”

Nova bit her lip as she considered his offer. Sleep wasn’t going to happen. It would be nice to get cleaned up, but was it a good idea to be so close to him while doing it? They’d both be naked.

The idea sent a shiver running down her spine and straight to her core. Did James look the same as a phoenix male? Were the two of them even compatible to be together?

She shook the thoughts away when she realized he was waiting for her answer. “Sure. I’d like that.”

What was she getting herself into?