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Authors: Kali Argent
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streets of New Orleans. He hadn’t considered a destination when he began walking, but somehow, he wasn’t surprised when he found himself at the banks of the river.
The sun had set by then, bringing another round of ominous clouds that blotted out the heavens and leeched the warmth from the earth. A lazy rain splashed against the surface of the water and plinked off the vessels anchored near the docks. Across the river, lights from the city illuminated the haze, reminding him of his last view of Taldor from his perch on the catwalks.
And none of it mattered, because as he’d been reminded, he definitely didn’t belong here.
His first meeting with Charlotte on the steps of the cathedral had challenged everything he’d once thought about humans. He’d questioned if maybe he’d misjudged them, but after spending the afternoon in the sweets shop, he knew otherwise. His opinion of Earthlings hadn’t changed—with one important exception.
The length of time he’d known the female amounted to a mere flicker in his life. Charlotte was beautiful, of course, but Vane had met many beautiful females from around the universe. She possessed no special skills or unusual talents, unless he counted the ability to talk more than any creature he’d ever met. With anyone else, the incessant dialogue would fray his nerves, but from Charlotte, he found the trait oddly endearing.
Whatever allure she held for him, it needed to stop. He couldn’t allow his fascination with her to jeopardize his mission, his people, and potentially, the lives of countless others. Whatever he thought he felt for her could be explained away as simple intrigue, a brief respite from the redundancy of the norm. It would pass, and in a few years, he wouldn’t even remember her name.
He wouldn’t recall the flush of her cheeks, the way her nose crinkled when she laughed, or how she bit her bottom lip when she became flustered. It would all dissipate into the ghost of a memory, like a dream he couldn’t quite remember after waking.
Knowing what needed to be done, Vane turned away from the muddy waters of the river and followed the winding streets back to Charlotte’s apartment. As he made the trek, he remained alert for any signs of his quarry. If not for the jewel, he’d fry the asshole the next time he caught sight of him. Unfortunately, he needed the diamond more than he needed the Morphling.
As he passed under a streetlamp, Vane checked the timer on his wrist and sighed. Only fifty-four hours remained until his ride home stitched itself back together, and he had come no closer to locating his target. His preoccupation with Charlotte hadn’t helped matters, but he could change that.
Linking his fingers, he rested his hands on top of his head and paced the alley behind her building. It shouldn’t even be a question. No argument he could make justified the life of one girl over thousands of others—even if that girl made him feel things he hadn’t experienced…ever.
He’d been so sure of the answers when he’d left the river, but now, standing outside her door, he wavered. “Fuck!”
Swinging his foot out, he struck the side of a trash bin with his boot, sending the receptacle bouncing down the alleyway. He needed to create distance, to erect a metaphorical barrier between them. As he stared up at the light shining through her bedroom window, every fiber of him wanted to be closer to her.
He’d teasingly thought it several times, but now, he feared it may be true.
Charlotte Rousseau would be the death of him.
CHAPTER SIX
“I didn’t hear you come in last night.” Charli finished stirring the sugar into her coffee and turned to face Vane as she leaned back against the counter. “Did you sleep okay?”
Xavian had left just after sunrise to continue the search for Don—or whoever he was—and Vane had stayed behind to watch over her. Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling he didn’t want to be there. Even dragging him
The sun had set by then, bringing another round of ominous clouds that blotted out the heavens and leeched the warmth from the earth. A lazy rain splashed against the surface of the water and plinked off the vessels anchored near the docks. Across the river, lights from the city illuminated the haze, reminding him of his last view of Taldor from his perch on the catwalks.
And none of it mattered, because as he’d been reminded, he definitely didn’t belong here.
His first meeting with Charlotte on the steps of the cathedral had challenged everything he’d once thought about humans. He’d questioned if maybe he’d misjudged them, but after spending the afternoon in the sweets shop, he knew otherwise. His opinion of Earthlings hadn’t changed—with one important exception.
The length of time he’d known the female amounted to a mere flicker in his life. Charlotte was beautiful, of course, but Vane had met many beautiful females from around the universe. She possessed no special skills or unusual talents, unless he counted the ability to talk more than any creature he’d ever met. With anyone else, the incessant dialogue would fray his nerves, but from Charlotte, he found the trait oddly endearing.
Whatever allure she held for him, it needed to stop. He couldn’t allow his fascination with her to jeopardize his mission, his people, and potentially, the lives of countless others. Whatever he thought he felt for her could be explained away as simple intrigue, a brief respite from the redundancy of the norm. It would pass, and in a few years, he wouldn’t even remember her name.
He wouldn’t recall the flush of her cheeks, the way her nose crinkled when she laughed, or how she bit her bottom lip when she became flustered. It would all dissipate into the ghost of a memory, like a dream he couldn’t quite remember after waking.
Knowing what needed to be done, Vane turned away from the muddy waters of the river and followed the winding streets back to Charlotte’s apartment. As he made the trek, he remained alert for any signs of his quarry. If not for the jewel, he’d fry the asshole the next time he caught sight of him. Unfortunately, he needed the diamond more than he needed the Morphling.
As he passed under a streetlamp, Vane checked the timer on his wrist and sighed. Only fifty-four hours remained until his ride home stitched itself back together, and he had come no closer to locating his target. His preoccupation with Charlotte hadn’t helped matters, but he could change that.
Linking his fingers, he rested his hands on top of his head and paced the alley behind her building. It shouldn’t even be a question. No argument he could make justified the life of one girl over thousands of others—even if that girl made him feel things he hadn’t experienced…ever.
He’d been so sure of the answers when he’d left the river, but now, standing outside her door, he wavered. “Fuck!”
Swinging his foot out, he struck the side of a trash bin with his boot, sending the receptacle bouncing down the alleyway. He needed to create distance, to erect a metaphorical barrier between them. As he stared up at the light shining through her bedroom window, every fiber of him wanted to be closer to her.
He’d teasingly thought it several times, but now, he feared it may be true.
Charlotte Rousseau would be the death of him.
CHAPTER SIX
“I didn’t hear you come in last night.” Charli finished stirring the sugar into her coffee and turned to face Vane as she leaned back against the counter. “Did you sleep okay?”
Xavian had left just after sunrise to continue the search for Don—or whoever he was—and Vane had stayed behind to watch over her. Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling he didn’t want to be there. Even dragging him
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