Twelve Days of Xanthus

“Smart. So the weather is our advantage. What else can we do? The only plan I can think of is to keep moving from place to place. We’re ending day seven, four more just like it, and we’re home free.”

“Home Free?”

“Safe.”

He paused.

“I will only agree to leave with you if you promise me one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“If Kala catches up to us, you do exactly what I tell you to.”

“That’s not fair.”

“You don’t know the horrors this woman is capable of. I won’t have you at her mercy while I hide behind your skirts like a scared child. I am a warrior and even in this strange land where I’m dependent upon the kindness of others, I refuse to forget that.”

Her mouth opened and he growled. The sound made her jump.

“You have shown me your culture and now-” He tapped his chest with a balled fist. “-I will show you mine. I know war and battle. I was raised in the belly of the beast.” He scowled. “In this, Violet O’Shea, you must trust me.”

She remained silent but the curt nod she issued told him she agreed. He smelled the tinge of fear in the air. She was frightened. That was good, it might save her life. Violet’s lip trembled as she gave him a shaky smile.

“It’s good to see you’ve taken our lessons on independence to heart.”

Xan leaned in to caress her face. “It’s my turn to take care of you, Violet.”

Chapter Five

Ever since they hit the road, things had changed. Xanthus was more somber and closed off. The lust that made it difficult to think about anything more than touching one another had begun to cool. Currently they were on their way to yet another motel in a tiny town. She sighed and watched the road, hating the silence that stretched out in the vehicle. Three days of this and she was ready to pull her hair out and scream. Had she done something to offend him? She combed her mind for the zillionth time and came up blank, yet again. Could alien males have PMS? She used her peripheral vision to cast a quick glance in his direction. He looked casual and relaxed. His arm rested on the console between them and his head was placed against the head rest. She had no doubt he was taking in everything around them. The nonchalant air was a façade.

A high-pitched whine filled the car and

she swore. Violet frowned. Her SUV had never made that noise before.

“She’s here.”

The two words filled her with dread. Her hands tightened on the steering wheel and her heart sounded in her ears as the world around her drifted into the background. The alien bitch from hell had arrived, and Xanthus could sense it. The phenomenon probably worked both ways.

“Does she know where we are?”

“Not yet. My bands aren’t even lukewarm. The closer she gets, the hotter they’ll burn. It’s not in her nature to resist inflicting pain, so we must be out of range.”

“Wait, back up- pain?”

“Yes, she can emit electrical impulses at will once she’s close enough.”

Visions of an incapacitated giant filled her head. Think, think, come on, Violet, you’re a smart girl. There must be something you can do to shield yourselves. Cold!

“You said the temperature scrambles the signal, right?”

“Yes, it’s why she hasn’t found us yet.”

“Okay.”

She turned off the heat and rolled down the window.

“Better?”