Eye on Orion (15 page)

It was such a sudden change I wondered if he was serious or if he was trying to tell us what we wanted to hear.

Amira looked at him for a few moments. No one spoke as she watched him. I waited for someone to make some comment, or even move, but all eyes were on Amira as if waiting for her response.

“I want to believe you, but you will be watched closely to make sure we can trust you,” Amira replied.

Ryad nodded his head in acceptance and then looked at me. “I'm sorry that I thought you were the princess. I apologize for frightening you.”

I didn't hold it against him that he mistook me for Amira. I was glad I helped stop him from taking her. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something. I looked around the room, and everyone else was watching me too.

“I'm sorry I almost killed you,” I said.

He laughed. “I'm glad you didn't.” He seemed to be more at ease. The others looked back at him.

“What will Shander do when you don't return with Amira?” Jai asked.

Ryad said, “I don't know.”

Delilah crossed her arms over her chest. “Knowing Shander, I don't think we should underestimate him on anything. It will be only a matter of time before he sends someone else to get you.”

The grandfather clock against the wall chimed the hour. I looked at Jai and thought to him,
“I've got to go. Will you let me know what you decide? Can I come over here before work?”

“Of course. Let me walk you home,”
he thought to me.
“Watch him closely,”
he added to Marshal and Delilah.

“I'll be back in a few minutes,” he said aloud for Ryad's benefit. “I am going to see Holly safely home.” He held the door open for me and took my hand in his, giving one more penetrating look at Ryad. I wondered what was so important about walking me home that he would leave Amira with Ryad.

Bonded

“I am proud of you,” he whispered to me once we were outside. “You did awesome.”

“I was terrified at first,” I admitted. “I could barely scream. I tried yelling for you in my mind, because I couldn't get any words out.” My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard as the memory came back. My body started to shake again.

Jai stopped walking, gathered me in his arms, and held me for a minute in the middle of the street. I trembled until his presence calmed me down. I felt safe in his embrace. His heartbeat on my cheek as I rested my head on his neck soothed me. I heard him swallow then take a deep breath. He spoke quietly, but I heard every word.

“I was so worried when I came to my senses there on the floor. I ran out and couldn't find you anywhere.” He hugged me tighter. “You have become more important to me than almost anyone. If I were forced to choose between saving you and saving Amira, it would tear me apart.”

He took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “When I found you there on the side of the road, I was ready to kill Ryad. But you were so concerned for his well-being. How can you still be that good to someone who doesn't deserve it?”

I shook my head. “I almost killed him.”

“Your goodness is more amazing than you know. You have such an aura around you that makes whoever you are with comfortable and susceptible to your charm. Even now I am under a spell.” He spoke the last in a whisper.

“A spell, huh?” I smiled shyly then admitted, “I feel the same way when I'm with you.”

“I hate to ask this of you, since I don't know what will happen next with this whole situation…” He hesitated a moment. “May I kiss you?”

I looked up at him in surprise, seeing in his eyes the courage it took him to ask me that. He might be leaving to go home soon, but I wanted to have something to remember and think of when he did go. If there was any way I could convince them they would be safer here, I would do it, but they were deciding tonight. If this ended up being their last night on Earth, there was no way I was going to miss out on a kiss.

“Yes,” I whispered. I could barely make the word come out, even though I desperately wanted him to kiss me.

He smiled, looking relieved. How long had I paused before answering him?

All other thoughts left me as he leaned in closer.

When our lips met, I felt electrified. It wasn't like a shock you get when you drag your feet across the carpet and touch someone else. It was ten times as powerful as that all over my body, yet it lasted only a fraction of a second. As he continued to kiss me, my arms came around his shoulders.

I felt a glow start from the top of my head, traveling slowly down to my toes. Warmth moved across me where we touched. He gently moved his lips over mine. They were only slightly parted and so were mine, but the kiss felt stronger than that. I didn't have any experience with kissing, but it was much more than I had ever expected from watching movies.

He moved his face slowly away from mine, a look of intense surprise in his eyes.

“What?” I whispered.

“I am so sorry,” he choked.

“Sorry? For what? That was amazing.” The expression on his face worried me.

“No. Not that. It was unbelievable. It's just that… we… I…” He stopped and closed his eyes tight. He took a deep breath and tried to speak again, but stopped.

“What?” I was alarmed now.

“Holly,” he nearly cried when he looked at me. “We just Bonded.”

“Huh?”

“It's something that happens on my planet,” he explained. “It isn't really common, but it does still occur. I never thought it would be possible here.” He rubbed his hand through his hair and gripped the back of his neck like he was freaked out.

“When two people who are meant for each other Bond, they are Bonded for life.” He hesitated, swallowing hard before saying, “It's like I now belong to you, and you belong to me and no one else.”

“Bonded?” I asked, still confused.

“Yes,” he said, with sadness in his eyes. “I have just ruined your chance of finding happiness with anyone else on your planet if it works the same way it does on mine. I should never have kissed you.” He closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands.

The sight of him completely miserable and concerned for my happiness tugged at my heart. I lifted his chin with my hand so I could see his face again. I felt a surge of tenderness come over me, and without thinking, admitted what I'd known deep down for a while.

“I think the chances of me finding happiness with anyone else here was next to nothing once I got to know you.”

He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. I returned the hug, feeling fear and excitement at the same time.

“This complicates things,” he whispered. My heart clenched as I remembered how he thought I was a complication before. What would this do to them now?

The porch light at my house started flickering on and off. I stepped away from him. “I'm sure my Dad has been watching us out here.” I shook my head. “I should go.”

Jai took me by the hand and walked to the door with me.

“
Come over in the morning before work, and we'll let you know what we have decided. I doubt we'll make any decisions before morning,
” he said, sounding distracted.

“
I will,
” I promised.

He didn't kiss me again, just squeezed my hand then let it go and walked away. I was relieved he didn't because my dad was probably watching out the window, but I also felt disappointed. Would each kiss feel like that, or just the first one? I reached up and touched my lips, longing to keep the feel of the kiss there, knowing all the while I wouldn't be able to hold it with my fingertips.

When I walked in the front door, I was surprised to see my dad sitting on the chair facing the door. I half-expected him to be standing by the window.

“So, how was the movie?” he asked.

“Okay,” I answered with the same casual tone.

“How was the date?” he asked with a knowing smile.

“Better than the movie,” I admitted, fighting the smile that threatened to come.

“Uh-huh. I'll bet it was.” Dad looked at me with one raised eyebrow.

I smiled and blushed. “Goodnight, Dad.”

“Night.” I barely heard his response as I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time in my rush to escape any further discussion.

In my room I closed my door, then leaned against it and lowered myself to the floor with my knees drawn up. I wasn't usually one to fall to pieces. Tonight was an exception. I'd been mistaken for a princess and kidnapped in her place. I'd nearly killed my kidnapper trying to get free, and then I'd felt sorry for him for being captured by the good guys. I had just been kissed by the most gorgeous guy I'd ever met, and had promptly been told that he was meant to be mine forever and I was his. And who knew how long that forever would be. I might have to say goodbye to him tomorrow.

If he did have to leave tomorrow, there wasn't anything I could do about it. I couldn't even wish to be selfish and have them stay. That could be dangerous for the girl I felt was becoming my friend. I grabbed my old stuffed bear I'd had since I was four, then lay on the floor and cried for how unfair life could be.

Once the tears ceased to flow, I felt much better. I returned my bear gently to his place of honor in the center of my pillows then climbed into my bed. Now I could think things through more clearly.

My thoughts, of course, went to the kiss. I replayed it over and over in my mind. Something definitely had happened when we'd kissed. Jai said we'd Bonded, but what did he mean by that? If it was like love at first sight, I wasn't too worried about it. That's what happened to my parents. They'd fallen in love right away. They'd been high school sweethearts, dating all through school and getting married the summer after their senior year. But what if it was more like what happened to animals where they imprint on each other and they mate for life? When the one mate is gone then they never mate again.

If Jai left, did that mean I would never be able to love another? Would he never be able to find someone to make him happy back home on Rommader? I hadn't ever thought of other guys the way I thought of Jai. I hadn't felt ready to begin a serious relationship with anyone. But now it was kind of forced on me.

I sent a prayer heavenward. “If you are a merciful God, please help us find a way to work things out. If you created his world and mine, there has to be some way for us to be together.”

It took me awhile to fall asleep, but eventually I did. As I slept, dreams flowed. I saw Jai and Amira together. They smiled at me and waved, then they disappeared. Sorrow overwhelmed me, yet I also felt peace. I woke up in tears but clung to the feeling of comfort. Somehow things would be okay. I would be able to survive the sorrow, even though it would be hard.

The night continued much the same way. I'd fall asleep, then dream and wake up crying again. It played out in different ways, but each time they left and I cried. Sometimes they left on their own, sometimes pursued by Shander, sometimes they went separately, but they always left. I remained alone each time.

When dawn finally broke, I was spent. I felt emotionally drained from being left over and over again. Each time he left in my dreams, there was an emptiness inside me. When I awoke, I felt complete. Would there be a permanent hole inside me when he left for good? Even though he was nowhere near me, I felt his presence.

I knew he was well.

I knew he was still here.

I knew he was mine.

Awareness

As soon as my parents left for work, I ran over to Jai's house. Before I reached the first step, Amira opened the door and enveloped me in a hug.

“Jai told us about the two of you Bonding. What a wonderful thing.” She hugged me tightly again.

I murmured through her hair, “But Jai is worried. This could complicate things. You have to leave here before Shander can find you.”

She let go of me and looked me in the eyes. I thought I saw worry there before she fluttered her lashes and said, “Nonsense.” She grabbed my hands, holding my palms together, sandwiched between hers. “It will not cause problems for us. We've had to discuss our options, but I'm happy Jai has found you. He is so focused on my safety he never had time to find someone special for himself.”

Her evident joy made me smile. “Thanks, I think.”

“Come. We will tell you all about what was decided,” she said, releasing one hand and pulling me by the other up the steps and into the house.

Before stepping inside, I knew exactly where to expect to see Jai. The sureness of his location surprised me. I would be able to find him in a dark room or if I had a blindfold on. It felt strange, yet right, at the same time.

Jai took my hand out of Amira's like it was the most natural thing in the world. When our hands touched, I felt a surge of joy from him, and my eyes opened wide at the response my body gave. He felt happy to touch me, and my soul felt his joy and responded to it by sending out my own signal of joy. When he received my joy, his soul sent out another signal and mine responded again.

I half-expected the cycle to continue over and over, but it eventually faded. Or had I become used to it? He smiled a crooked smile, and I gave him a smile in return.

We were stuck in our own little world for a few moments. We studied each other, not speaking. I looked at him and felt something through our connected hands. I didn't know what to make of the sensations bombarding me. Most of them were pretty foreign, but something surprised me more than the others. What could he possibly admire?

I was so busy thinking of his emotions I wasn't sure what my own were. I looked deeper into his eyes and got lost in them.

When I came to my senses, everyone was watching us with happy smiles. I blushed at how completely absorbed I'd been with my feelings and Jai's. I wanted to take my hand away and fold my arms across my stomach to settle the butterflies, but Jai wouldn't let go when I attempted to pull it back. No matter, I enjoyed the feelings radiating from him, even if I didn't understand all of them.