Dawn Autumn (21 page)

She frowned. “But we haven’t picked it, yet.”

“It only takes a week to prep the site and pour the house once you’ve bought the package. I decided it would be easier than buying from a seller. Not that I want to rush you, but I’ll bet you can find something to please you in the showroom. If you don’t like it, we can always sell it later or remodel.”

She had her doubts that it would be so easy to settle on a house, but she hadn’t bargained for the convenience of a holographic showroom. A salesman walked them through a dizzying array of homes ranging from palatial to out-right weird. She could choose a house that floated on air currents or sailed on water like a yacht. After a while the sheer number of choices overwhelmed her.

Kutlazx glanced at her and then gave the salesman some specific instructions. She smiled as a castle appeared on the panorama screen. “It’s a little much, don’t you think?”

Another house replaced it, this time a rambling Victorian. She sucked in a breath and got out of her chair. “I didn’t think they had these here.”

“I uploaded a few models into the system. Would you like to walk inside?”

She’d never realized how comforting it would be to walk into something so familiar, so
earthy
, after experiencing so much alien. Earthy. The word took on new meaning as she viewed the spacious, French country style kitchen. It flowed right into an airy, light filled sitting room with built in bookshelves and a fireplace. She didn’t need to see the rest. “You read my mind, didn’t you?” she demanded of Kutlazx.

He smiled. “I paid attention when we talked about dream houses. You remember ... we had Thai takeout that night.”

She snorted, amused. “I love it. I want it.”

He grinned. “At least walk through with me and decide if you’d like to change anything. It will save time remodeling later. You haven’t even seen the wine cellar or the attached greenhouse.”

A happy sigh escaped her. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it.

They made a few changes—she wanted a smaller, more intimate bedroom and they both wanted a bigger tub. They also changed the tiles in the large shower to stone. Except for a few minor changes, that was it.

“Excellent,” the salesman said as the finalized the specifications and signed the contract. “The house will be poured in two weeks. It should be completely furnished and ready for you in a month. All you have to do is look over the interior design notes and finalize your landscape decisions in the next two weeks. Here’s my contact number if you have any questions or comments. Congratulations on your new house!”

Jay walked out on Kutlazx’s arm, exhausted and dazed, but happy. She was getting her own house! Granted, she wasn’t sure what world it was going to be built on or what the neighbors would be like, but still—! She’d have her own garden and orchard, and her pendragon would have plenty of room to fly. Best of all, Kutlazx would be there.

He smiled down at her. “Happy?”

“Very.” She stifled a yawn. “I think I could use a nap after all that, though.”

“One last stop. We need to pick up a few clothes and things, then we can return to the ship. We’re done here for now.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure if that was good or not. She’d just started to appreciate this world. At least the food would be better this time out, thanks to his stocking up. He was right, though. They did need more than the clothes on their back. Even if the ship’s cleaner refreshed them every day, she’d like to have a change of clothes and a hairbrush.

By they time they got back to the ship, Jay was ready to crash. She let Kutlazx stow their takeout and threw their clothes in the closet, bags and all. He’d assured her that she’d be fine for takeoff as long as she webbed in. By the time he stepped in to check on her, she was already asleep.

Chapter Fourteen

Kutlazx made arrangements for her to stay on a pastoral world full of friendly, furry aliens. The natives reminded her of walking teddy bears. Not one of them topped five feet, and she regarded them doubtfully. Surely these guys couldn’t protect her?

Kutlazx smiled reassuringly at her. “The safety is in the remote location. Nobody goes here, and the Dabu are very friendly. Kok is going to stay and keep an eye on you. He says he needs a vacation anyway.”

She felt somewhat better as she looked at Kok. There wasn’t much that would tangle with a living rock.

Kutlazx kissed her. “Be good. We won’t be gone long. Your supplies are stowed in a hut, the weather is going to be tropical for months, and if you need anything ….”

“I know. I know.” She laughed and put her fingers on his lips. You’ve said it a hundred times.”

His lips curved. “Two hundred. Kok will get you anything you need. I’ll be back soon.”

She sobered, but she wouldn’t ask for details. She wasn’t ready to ask if he planed to kill anyone.

Maybe she was a coward.

His eyes were guarded at he bent to kiss her again. “I’ll be back soon.”

“You said that,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” He reluctantly let her go and headed for the ship.

Jay felt a chill touch her heart.

* * * *

“You all right?”

Kutlazx looked away from the view screen to glance at Tayl. They hadn’t lifted off yet, and he could just see Jay’s face, though she’d moved to a safe distance. She looked troubled.

“Yeah. Why?”

Tayl opened his mouth, then shook his head. He went back to the pre-launch checkup.

Kutlazx looked back out the window. Something was boiling inside him, but he didn’t know what. Something to do with Jay’s shadowed face. He didn’t want to leave her, not when she looked so ....

Was he doing the right thing?

* * * *

A hard blue sky arched overhead, but it couldn’t bring Jay peace. The light was growing golden with approaching twilight, though the sun never set on this planet. Even the hour of golden, slanting rays didn’t soothe her. She sat in a field of flowers, her skirt spread around her, and gazed over the grasslands. Her husband was doing something wrong and she hadn’t even tried to dissuade him. She was a coward.

Had she thought she loved him so much she couldn’t risk loosing him by telling him how she felt? She was loosing him anyway. She’d let him return to the darkness that had consumed him before she entered his life, without saying a word. She knew she wasn’t his savior, but he’d been happier with her, been free. What she’d glimpsed when he left was a prisoner sinking back into chains of darkness. If she loved him, she’d fight to keep him free. She’d say something, do something...but he was gone. What could she do now?

In despair, she bent her head and prayed. Oh, my love. Come back to me.

* * * *

He couldn’t shake the feeling he was doing something wrong. A strange lethargy griped Kutlazx even as they wrapped up the meeting. Red and Nightbird would deal with the electronic sentinels. Tayl would cover his back while Kutlazx sneaked in and killed the commissioner. It should go down like lightning on a rod, but he wasn’t feeling enthusiastic. He tried to shake the feeling as he headed to his room for a weapons check, but couldn’t loose it.

Tayl caught up to him and swung him around by the shoulder. He ignored Kutlazx’s peeved look and searched his face. “What is with you? You’re the one who started this kill, but you’re light years away. I’m not risking my butt for a man who’s nowhere near the game.”

Irate, knowing he was right, Kutlazx shook him off. “I’m in the game. I’m just ….” He shut his mouth, impatient with himself. “Look, it’s going to go down just like we planned. Stop worrying.”

Tayl’s eyes narrowed. “You’re thinking of Jay, aren’t you? You know she doesn’t exist right now. Only the moment matters if you want to stay alive.”

Kutlazx almost argued. It had been pounding through his brain in the last two days that the future mattered, too. What he did in the moment impacted that. He wanted Jay’s love and respect. He wanted to look in her eyes with no secrets between them. He wanted to hold his child in his arms and not feel like a bloody animal.

Tayl gripped his arm. “Are we a go or not, Kutlazx? Do you want out?”

Kutlazx snapped out of it. “We’re a go. I want the commissioner’s head on a plate. He won’t stop until I stop him.”

Tayl’s face cleared. “All right. For a moment there ….” He shook his head. “Let’s go pay the bastard a visit.”

* * * *

Unable to sleep, Jay lay in her bed and stared at the ceiling. “Please,” she whispered. “Please ....”

* * * *

Kutlazx stiffened in the airshaft. He shook his head and raised one hand to his earpiece. No, that wasn’t what had distracted him. “Kutlazx, are you okay?” Red’s anxious voice came over the communicator. “Why did you stop?”

“I don’t see anything,” Nightbird chimed in.

* * * *

Kutlazx shook his head impatiently to shut them up. He couldn’t think with all these people in his head. He flexed his hands in his fingerless black gloves, feeling the cool metal underneath.

“It was nothing,” he muttered, continuing his crawl. He reached the grill above the commissioner’s bedroom and peeked in. He rolled his eyes and sat back in disgust. “Are you getting this?” he hissed into his communicator, knowing the others could see and hear.

“Ew. Pity her,” Red said in distaste.

“He must pay well,” Nightbird chirped.

Red sniffed. “Wonder she can find it.”

Kutlazx tapped the communicator for silence and aimed a small laser gun through the grill. One shot would knock the girl out. With the flick of a switch, the other would kill the commissioner. He looked down the sight, started to pull the trigger.

Hesitated.

He closed his eyes and swore silently, but nothing changed. He wasn’t going to kill him.

“Kutlazx?” Tayl asked, low and serious. “You didn’t come all this way to leave him alive.”

Kutlazx mouthed more curses and raised the gun. Tayl was right.

* * * *