The terrain on the unnamed planet Drako was inspecting for sand kiting was brittle and cold. His den had temperature control and all the comforts that came with one, but he couldn’t shake that coldness or the emptiness that pressed on his heart. It was worse than the pain he’d suffered in the hands of the agents on Earth. For that, he only had a pretty little human doll to blame. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wasn’t going to contact Kahvissar and meddle in their private lives. They deserved undisturbed time together to complete their bonding. Had Kahvissar presented her at Krina? Did Kahvissar enjoy her body as much as he had? He jumped from the plank where he was working and paced to the kitchen. Maybe just a quick call, to see if she’d adapted. No, damnation. He pressed a fist to his mouth. He had to be strong. Kahvissar had warned him about the physical addiction of taking human blood, but he’d failed to mention the emotional addiction would be much stronger.

Damn it. Zut. He activated his palm device, hesitated for all of one second, and called Kahvissar via voice command.

“Drako,” his friend replied in a jovial tone. “How’s the unknown territory? Still getting a kick out of the adventure?”

He wasn’t interested in small talk. “How is Ilse doing?” His heart contracted, the cavity between his ribs filling with bitter poison as he imagined her naked in the arms of his friend. He continued his pacing. “Is she happy? Has she adapted to Krina?”

“I didn’t take her to Krina.”

Hope flared in his chest. “She’s still there, at the station?” Maybe he could catch a glimpse of her.

“She went back to Earth.”

He stopped dead. “She did what?”

“She left.”

“I heard you fine, you moron. How could she have left?”

“I let her go.”

“What do you mean you let her go? She’s your charl!”

“No, she’s not. She rejected me and asked that I send her home. I had no choice.”

“Why?” An ache started throbbing in his temples. “Why would she reject you and risk her life?”

“She said she only cared for you.”

He advanced to the hologram in two strides. “Cared for me?”

“She said she loved you.”

Drako balled his hands into fists. His voice rose in volume with every word. “You didn’t think to check with me before you let her go?”

“You said you didn’t want her as charl. Why would I have checked with you?”

“Zut! You’re an idiot. You put her life in danger. Do you know what her government will do to her if they catch her, which, right now, is more of a certainty than a probability?”

“Sadly, yes, I understand that they’d eliminate her, which is why I let her go. It serves us, too. This way, she won’t talk about the invasion. We can’t risk information slipping out before the time is right.”

“Zut zut zut!” He rushed to the floating desk, gathering his material.

“Drako, what are you doing? Need I remind you that you have no authorization to go back to Earth?”

“I guess I’ll just have to risk the Elders’ wrath.”

“I insist that you––”

He cut the feed before Kahvissar could utter more protests. Inside his pod, he programmed the coordinates for Earth and set off at maximum speed. He only hoped it wasn’t too late.

* * *

“I can’t meet with you again, Caitlin.” Ilse twisted the ruby ring around her finger. Like always, it sparked bitter-sweet memories she couldn’t let go. “It’s too risky.”

They were in an alley behind a supermarket where they’d agreed to meet. Driving around her house in a rented car had confirmed that it was still being watched. So was the hospital. Caitlin’s landline and mobile phone had been tapped, too.

“At least tell me where you’re staying,” Caitlin said. “I’m going out of my mind with worry about you.”

“It’s better that you don’t know. Did you bring it?”

Caitlin took the Rifampin from her pocket and handed it over. “I can’t keep on smuggling medicine out like this. After the allegations, the police are watching the hospital with hawk eyes, searching for any leads to you.”

“I’m sorry to put you in this situation. I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t a matter of life and death.”

“It’s for that patient, the one you promised to visit, isn’t it?”

“She’s a good woman. She doesn’t deserve to suffer because of corruption.”

“Tell me what I can do to help you.”

“You can stay out of it. The last thing you want is to be implicated.”

Caitlin sighed. “You can’t call me again as my mother. If someone catches on and compares the numbers, they’ll put two and two together.”

“You’re right.” Ilse glanced over her shoulder. “I have to go.” She took Caitlin into a hug.

Tears trembled in Caitlin’s voice. “You say it like it’s goodbye.”

She wasn’t going to lie to one of the few friends she had. “Take care of yourself. Keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble. Whatever you do, don’t get messed up with the medicine scandal. It’s not worth it.”

Caitlin sniffed. “You, too, honey, and get some sleep. You look like shit.”

Ilse smiled. “Thanks, not only for the medicine, but so much more.”

The women hugged again briefly.

Ilse left the alley, not looking back at her friend for the fear that she’d break down and cry. It had been a tough month, living from hand to mouth, mostly on Mosa’s charity. Thankfully, Samuel was no longer a threat. When the inhabitants of the township had found out what he’d done, they’d beaten him with sticks and expelled him with stones. They didn’t take kindly to the betrayal of their own, and Mosa was a respected and loved figure. She held much influence over the informal settlement community.

Mosa was sitting on a box outside the shack when Ilse arrived.

“I have your medicine,” Ilse said, handing it over.

“You shouldn’t do this,” Mosa chastised. “Have you learned nothing?”

Ilse chuckled. “Let you die while those black market bastards make a packet? I don’t think so.” She sat down next to Mosa on the ground. “I have a plan.”

“I don’t like it.”

Ilse clicked her tongue. “You haven’t even heard it, yet.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to. I know it’s going to be bad.”

“It’s no use stealing and conniving every month to get your rightful supply of medicine. We need to take down the black market operation and prove my innocence.”

She couldn’t approach the government and warn them about the pending invasion with a price on her head. The minute she showed her face, Pete and his cronies would pounce and assassinate her. She had to prove her innocence first.

“No judge will set you free. The police own them. You’re a government liability now.”

“The media can put pressure on the police force.”

“The article you leaked didn’t work.”

“It must’ve been intercepted by one of the big shot editors. The government owns the newspapers. I need a watchdog media channel, like Carte Blanche.”

“Then what? What proof do you have? They can’t go around making wild accusations without proof.”

“I don’t have proof, yet, but I will.”

“See? This is the part I don’t like.”

“I don’t have a choice. I can’t run forever, and stopping these dealers is the right thing to do. We need less corruption and more damn medicine.”

“Ilse.” Mosa stilled her with a hand on her arm. “Let’s face it. I’m going to die. There’s no point in risking your life for me.”

“You’re not going to die.” She added softly, “Besides, there are many others like you.”

“You can’t save them if you can’t save yourself. Get away from here. I beg you. Go to Lesotho.”

“When I’ve taken the black market down.”

Mosa sighed. “You’re adamant about this.”

“Yes.”

“If you won’t let me persuade you to give up your crazy idea, at least let me help you.”

“You’re not getting involved. It’s too dangerous. If something happens to me, you have to tell the world the truth.” She gripped Mosa’s hand. “Will you promise me?”

“All right.” The older woman straightened with a groan. “When are you doing it?”

“Tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

“Not soon enough.”

“I’m sorry I took so much of your time.”

It had taken Ilse a month to doctor Mosa back to health. The state she’d found her in after not having had access to medicine had left her close to death. Too close.

“It’s not your fault.” Ilse hugged her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

“It wasn’t your fault, either. If that alien hadn’t abducted you––”

“Let’s wash up for dinner.”

She didn’t want to be reminded of the alien who believed the worst of her and traded her like a piece of animal hide.

No, thanks.

It was enough that he dominated her dreams.

* * *

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Ilse moved through the Oriental Plaza, trying to blend in with the other shoppers. As agreed, the Carte Blanche crew was positioned around Fatima’s Fabrics with hidden cameras. She was wearing one, too, a small device hidden in a pin fitted to her jacket. Tonight, when the broadcast went live, the illegal drug syndicate and the police’s involvement would be exposed. Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades. She wore a hat and sunglasses, but the chances were good the dealer would recognize her. Hopefully, he wouldn’t call the SS in exchange for the reward on her head.

She made her way through the market buzzing with activity and up the escalators. A man stood in front of the pet shop window, admiring the goldfish. He had to be one of the cameramen. Another stood at the rail, smoking and overlooking the commotion below.

“Hello. Hello,” the parrot called in his shrilly voice.

With her heart beating in her throat, she entered the shop. The same woman from her first visit stood behind the counter. The look she gave Ilse was foul.

“Ismael,” she called as the door closed behind Ilse. “Your client is back.”

The curtain lifted, and the man with the gold-framed spectacles looked around the frame. “A returning customer is always a sign of good service.” His smile was broad. “Come on in.”

She crossed the doorstep and took a position in front of the desk where the camera would have a good angle on the shelves stocked with medicine.

“The same?” he asked.

“Yes. I’ll take two boxes.”

“You’ve got the money?”

“Of course.”

She didn’t have three thousand rand, but it didn’t matter. The minute he handed her the medicine, the charade was over.

While he unlocked the cabinet, she asked in an even tone, “Where does your stock come from?”

“Here and there.” He smiled at her from over his shoulder. “I have my regular suppliers.”

Staff members at the hospital, no doubt.

“How much do you pay?”

“Why? Are you a supplier?”

“Maybe. I’m a nurse.”

“If you’re a nurse, why are you here?”

She fiddled with the strap of her handbag. “We’re out of stock.”

After considering her reply for a moment, he said, “Thanks, but I’m good. If I need something in the future, I’ll let you know. You can leave your number.”

“Good.” She swallowed.

She’d done it. He’d admitted to be willing to buy stolen goods. All that was left was for him to hand over the medicine, and Carte Blanche would have a solid case.

“I only have one box here,” he said with his head in the cabinet. He shut the door and locked it. “Let me get another from my stockroom downstairs.”

“That’s all right,” she said quickly. “I’ll come back for the other one later.”

“It’ll only take me a minute,” he said with a smile.

Whistling, he left the room. She wrung her hands together. The minutes ticked on. She could almost hear the second hand moving in her mind. Why was he taking so long? Maybe this was a mistake. She was about to step into the shop front when he returned, carrying the Rifampin in his hand. She let out a shaky breath. Thank God. She opened her palm, waiting. He held out the medicine, the smile on his face unfaltering. She closed her eyes briefly. Almost there. As her fingers folded around the box, the curtain flew open. A blur of movement and shouting followed. A bag was thrown over her head. She screamed at the top of her lungs, but it became more difficult to breathe without gagging. The smell inside the terrifying confines of the bag was sharp. Chloroform. Before claustrophobic hysteria could overcome her, darkness scooped down and swept her along.

* * *

Ilse’s throat ached. Her tongue was thick. At first, she thought she was in the den where Drako had taken her. Stupidly, her heart started beating faster in twisted anticipation. Only when she opened her eyes and managed to focus did she realize the cruel trick her hope and memory had played on her. She was in the cell where the SS had kept Drako, chained to the wall, albeit still dressed.

Panic overwhelmed her. She jerked her head toward the mirror. They were watching. She might as well let them know she was awake. There was no point in prolonging this. As she’d expected, the door opened.

Frik entered with Pete on his heels.

“There’s my bitch,” Frik said with a sneer. “I knew you’d eventually go back to the black market. All I had to do was wait.”

The dealer had betrayed her, after all. He’d probably called in after her first visit, trying to claim the reward.

Frik advanced until he stood in front of her. “You thought you could help that cocksucker alien escape and get away with it? Where is he?”

She fought her nausea, an after-effect of the chloroform. On second thought, maybe she should vomit on Frik’s shiny shoes.

“Answer me!” Spit fell from his mouth on her face.

She turned her head sideways. “He made it back to his planet.”

“You know this how?”

“He told me.”

“He called you from space?” he asked mockingly.

She looked back at him with defiance. “Yes.”

“Don’t you use that cocky attitude with me. You fucking drugged us. What you did is a federal offense, not to mention your drug trafficking history.”

“You framed me so you could catch me.”

His shoulders shook with a cold laugh. “It worked, didn’t it?”

“What about the black market? Charge me with whatever crime you think I committed by helping a kidnapped and tortured man you would have allowed to die from his injuries, but do your job. Shut down the black market.”

He snickered. “Thanks for the lead. More payback for us.”

Her shoulders sagged, making her arms draw tight in the chains.

“That’s right, sweet tits. The dealer isn’t going down, and we’re not laying charges against him.”

“You mean you’re just going to kill me.”

Pete stepped forward. “Unless you tell us where the alien is.”

“I already told you, he went back to his planet.”

“All we have to do is keep you,” Frik said, “and use you as bait. He has the hots for you. He’ll come.”

“No, he won’t.”

If he was prepared to give her away like a second-hand piece of furniture, he wasn’t going to risk his life to save her. He’d cut all ties after leaving her with Kahvissar. He wouldn’t even know she was dead.

She burst into a fit of hysterical laughter, tears of laughter mixing with tears of sadness. Poor Mosa. Without medicine, she’d die. She’d failed her. She’d failed all the other thousands like Mosa. She’d failed her planet. The Krinar would invade Earth and wipe out mankind.

“Drako,” she said through dry lips, “he believed I betrayed him. He thinks I worked with you. His leaders are going to issue an order to invade our planet and wipe out the human race. He thinks we’re all cruel and deceitful. We have to convince him otherwise. He has to convince his leaders to give us a chance.”

Frik laughed again. “Nice try. If you think that bullshit story is going to win you time, you’re making a big mistake. Your hourglass ran out the day you tricked us. As it turns out, the motherfucker is infertile. We can’t do shit with his sperm. He’s a liability to us and so are you. If he’s left our hemisphere, our satellites would’ve picked up a foreign flying object, but it didn’t. He’s still here, on this planet, hiding somewhere. The minute he crawls out of his hole, you’re both dead.”

She shot a pleading look at Pete. “He’s not coming back. You have to believe me. Help me, or we’ll all going to die.”

“Sorry.” Pete shook his head, his expression grave. “We’ll give it twenty-four hours. If he doesn’t show up, we have no choice but to kill you.”

Frik put his nose inches from hers. “It’s not going to be quick. No, sweet tits. You can count on it being slow.”

* * *

The tracker Drako had planted on Ilse when he’d healed her pinpointed her current location. The coordinates made him go cold to his core. She was back with her associates, those human filth SS agents. Maybe she was back with her lover, Frik. Maybe that was why she’d risked her life by running from the safety Kahvissar had offered. Maybe she loved Frik.

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Maybe he’d look like a fool, barging back into her life to save her. Maybe he should turn back.

To the seven moons with that. He didn’t care that she’d lied, cheated, and deceived her way into his heart. If she regretted what she’d done, even with a tenth of her soul, he was willing to work on his forgiveness. He’d learn to trust her. He’d give her another chance. Wasn’t that what love was about?

Yes, damn it. He was going back not only to ensure she was safe, but also to beg her to try with him. They’d shared something beautiful, powerful, fierce. He’d been around for long enough to know that kind of chemistry didn’t happen every day. Only once in five hundred Earth years if a Krinar was lucky.

“Course steady,” he instructed the pod with renewed resolution.

Kahvissar’s face appeared on the communication system screen.

“Accept call.”

A hologram appeared in front of him. Kahvissar looked uncharacteristically nervous. “Still heading toward Earth?”

“Yes and no one is going to stop me.”

“I explained your situation to the Elders and got you the go-ahead.”

“Thank you. That’s most considerate.”

“Uh, I also followed the signal of Ilse’s tracker and hacked into Earth’s satellites to see if I could locate her, and you’re not going to like this.”

“I know.” Drako shifted in his chair. “She’s back at her HQ.”

“I think she told the truth.”

“What?” He moved to the edge of his seat. “What did you see?”

“You better check for yourself.”

A feeling of dread made Drako’s legs turn to lead. Another image flickered to life next to the hologram, and the recording he saw made him howl in fury.

“Told you it wasn’t pretty,” Kahvissar said.

“I owe you.”

“I’ll collect.”

Drako cut the hologram of Kahvissar, but kept the other feed alive. It came from a sat that belonged to an Earth news station. The longer he watched, the more infuriated he became, until his vision was a maelstrom of sizzling black. He’d kill those bastards.

Landing on the roof of the old SS building, he made his way through the warehouse that once housed the wreck of his pod, now empty. He easily deactivated their alarms as he went by using his palm device. He charged down the stairs, expecting to see a small army, but instead a big one met him. The humans came well prepared. Before they had time to react, he released the gas from the special pocket of his flight suit. In a nanosecond, they were flat on their backs on the ground, snoring.

He flung back the deadbolt and kicked the door open. At the sight of Ilse hanging in the very chains that had once detained him, his body went colder than the seven moons. His fury spiked. His vision turned dark. He took in everything in a flash. Frik had a weapon trained on Ilse, and Pete was standing a short distance behind him, a gun in his holster. The immediate danger was Frik. The agent’s eyes turned big as his defective, rotten brain took in Drako’s speedy entrance. He swung the gun in Drako’s direction, but Drako was faster than the human’s trigger finger. Before Frik could react, Drako grabbed his arm and flung him through the air. He hit the wall like a fly. His motionless body lay on the floor, the gun bent and useless.

“Drako!”

That voice, the most beautiful one he’d ever heard, called out to him in distress. He swung around to face her, ready to defend, to kill any man who laid his hands on her. What he saw made him tremble with rage. Pete had his pistol pressed to her temple, his finger trembling on the trigger.

“Let me go,” the agent said, “or she dies.”

Drako laughed. “Where are you going to go?” He advanced slowly. “There’s nowhere I won’t find you.”

The barrel of the gun shook even more. “Stop. If you come any closer, I’ll shoot her, I swear.”

Drako paid the man no heed. All he could focus on was the gun against his fragile human’s head. He was acutely aware of her mortality. If anything happened to her, his life would be empty, an endless stretch of pain and torture. Close enough now to reach for the gun, he lifted his arm. At the speed he was moving, Pete would hardly have time to notice, never mind to pull the trigger, but the agent surprised him. He had to have anticipated the move. As Drako grabbed his wrist and forced his arm down, the shot went off.

The horrid sound echoed in Drako’s skull. The stench of gunpowder filled the room with its potent, damaging smell. A red stain blossomed on Ilse’s side. Drako froze in shock, his fingers still clamped around Pete’s wrist, the gun now pointing at the floor. He didn’t realize how hard he was squeezing until Pete’s scream wiped out the faint vibrations of the gunshot, followed by the sound of bones cracking. Pete fell to his knees, howling like a dog.

Drako let go of his wrist. “The key,” Drako hissed, grabbing the man’s face in his hand and applying enough force to crack his jaw.

“There’s a control,” Ilse said in a weak voice, her pain palpable, “in the room.” With much effort, she motioned with her head at the one-way mirror.

Too far. He wasn’t leaving her sight. “The key,” he repeated, shaking Pete like a rag.

“In my pocket,” Pete said through sobs and snot.

Drako’s heart beat sluggishly in his chest as he searched the agent. He felt every thud like a hammer swinging between his ribs, the smell of Ilse’s blood strong in his nose. The dip of the energy as the life force drained from her rendered him weak. His fingers were steady on the key as he finally extracted it from Pete’s jacket, but his gut trembled. He made quick work of unlocking her. Her body sagged when the last shackle came free. He grabbed her around the waist, holding her tightly to him.

“Hold on, little doll,” he whispered in her hair. “Hold on for me.”

“Drako.” A faint smile played on her pale face as he lowered her to the floor. “You came.”

It was hard to speak through the restriction in his throat. “Of course, I did.” He laid her down as gently as he could, reaching for the nano-healer in his utility vest pocket. “Stay with me, do you hear me? Don’t close your eyes.”

She fought to comply, but her lashes were already fluttering. “How did you find me? Wait.” She uttered a pained whimper. “Don’t tell me.” Her smile turned even fainter. “Technology.”

“I planted a tracker under your skin when I healed you. I’m not risking losing you. Ever.”

Her eyes fluttered closed.

“Don’t black out, darling, not without giving me a chance to tell you why I came back.”

He activated the healer and dragged it over her side. She groaned with pain, her cheeks growing paler, but that ghost of a smile didn’t leave her lips.

“Tell me,” she said, her voice unnaturally soft. “Tell me why you came back.”

“I believe I’m addicted to you.”

Her laugh ended up in a cough. “You’re back for more blood, huh?”

“I was referring to the emotional kind of addiction.” He studied his work. The bullet had been pulled out. The wound was closing up and the damaged tissue repairing.

She stared at him with her big, beautiful eyes. “Emotional addiction?”

His body filled with a heat that could only be attributed to utter and complete happiness. “I believe emotional addiction equals love.”

“You love me?”

“That’s why I gave you a ring.” The fact that she was wearing it gave him hope. “You figured it out, didn’t you?” The healer had done its job, though she’d still be weak from shock and blood loss. “I know telling you isn’t enough. I was hoping you’d give me another chance to show you how sincere my emotions are. It would take time, of course. A very long time. That’s what you said, remember?”

“How long exactly?”

“More or less forever.”

“I see.”

“I know it’s asking a lot, but I was hoping you’d forgive me and maybe learn to love me, even if just a little.”

“No biting?”

“Oh, I’m going to bite you. You can count on that.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

He picked her up, cradling her body to his chest. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Yes.” She buried her face in his neck. “Take me home, Drako.”