Nicole Krizek Read Online Free PDF

without smaller plates to serve onto. Before she could ask how to proceed, Kor grabbed a bite-sized morsel with his fingers and slowly brought it to her lips.
    “Here, try this. It’s Frivolian meat.”
    She was afraid to ask what a Frivolian was, and thought it better to remain ignorant as he popped the piece into her mouth. It was warm, delicious, and seemed to melt as she chewed. It felt like she hadn’t eaten in ages and thankfully, between Kor and Ty, they kept the pieces coming and didn’t allow her to grab anything herself.
    Finally she had to push herself away from the food. “I can’t eat another bite!” Only then did they eat.
    She sat and thought that it was odd that they fed her with their fingers and only once she’d had her fill did they eat. These men were certainly an enigma.
    Once they had cleaned the plates, she gathered her courage. “So… What are you guys? I mean, I know your names, but you’re not human… right?” The question made them both pause, probably to gather their thoughts. She’d been silent for so long that her question must have been a surprise.
    After a moment, Kor finally replied. “We are on a mission for our planet, Arath.  I am the captain of the Adastra, a science ship. Ty is the chief geneticist on our planet.”
    Wow, so the guys were important on their world, she thought. “What are you going to do with me?” she asked.
    “We will take you back to our ship and keep you safe.” Ty said, without hesitation.
    Being kept safe sounded like a good plan, but what she really wanted was to go home, and to pretend that the last few days had never happened. Maybe hire a really good shrink to help her convince herself that this had all been an elaborate dream. Brought on by exhaustion. Or something.
    “Won’t I be less of a bother if I’m back on Earth? Why don’t you just take me home?” she asked.
    The men shared a glance then Kor slowly explained, “We cannot, little Lacy. The Galactic Council has decreed that any Earthers found off-world are not allowed to be taken back to Earth. The council is worried that they will tell other Earthers about what they have seen and influence the natural progression of your world. Even if it were allowed, Earth is very far from here and, unfortunately, we can’t spare the time to take you there.”
    Lacy felt her heart begin to race. Who the hell was the Galactic Council  and how dare they decree anything to do with Earth? “But we can’t be that far from Earth!” Lacy said, starting to panic, “Why don’t you secretly take me back? I promise I won’t tell anyone what’s happened to me.” She looked back and forth, between the men, and saw twin expressions of sadness.
    It was Kor that spoke first. “We are farther from Earth than you think, Lacy. Even aboard the Adastra it would take us nine months just to reach Earth.”
    Lacy was stunned. “Nine months! How is that possible? I was only on that Bastard’s ship for about two days!”
     
     
    Ty could see Lacy’s panic rising and started rubbing her back soothingly. When she turned to him he saw the tears gathering in her lashes. He wanted to break down and promise her anything to get that look of utter sorrow out of her eyes. “I’m so sorry, little Lacy. I could tell from your medical scans that the Blattarian put you into a cryochamber while you were transported. For you it would have seemed like you had just fallen asleep, while in reality months went by, perhaps longer.”
    “I’ll never go home then.” She sat quietly, staring at the table, and Ty could tell that she was trying to process what he had told her.
    “I’m sorry.” Ty could see her crumble before his eyes and a part of his heart broke right alongside hers as she began crying into her hands.
    He gathered her onto his lap and she buried her face into his chest, quickly soaking his shirt with her uncontrolled tears. He held her to him tightly while Kor watched, sadly, from