Page 19 of Close Encounters of the Hot Kind

The stars glitter above Chicago's skyline, so different from Vakuta's night sky. Back home, three moons paint the darkness in shades of amber and blue. The constellations tell ancient stories of conquest and glory - tales every Vakutan child learns at their parent's knee.

"Feeling nostalgic, sir?"

"The stars are wrong here, Teletran." My claws scrape against the rooftop ledge. "Everything's wrong."

"Except Ms. Marella?"

The image of Aileen floods my mind - her scent, her taste, the way she looked at me even after seeing my true form. My chest tightens.

"When we first arrived here, all I wanted was to complete the mission and return home. Find the Grolgath device, neutralize it, stabilize the timeline."

"And now?"

"Now..." The word catches in my throat. "Now I look at these alien stars and wonder if home is still where I belong."

"Your loyalty to Vakuta-"

"Remains absolute. But Aileen..." Her name comes out like a prayer. "She changes everything."

The cool night breeze rustles through the city below. Somewhere down there, she sleeps, dreaming human dreams. What would she think of Vakuta's triple moons? Of the crystal spires of the capital city catching the dawn light?

"The mission requires we return to our proper time once the Grolgath threat is neutralized."

"I know."

"There can be no deviation from-"

"I know!" My fist slams into the ledge, cracking the concrete. "But for the first time in my life, completing the mission means losing something I..."

The words die on my tongue. Something I what? Love? Can a Vakutan warrior even feel such things for a human?

The stars offer no answers, just cold light from distant suns. But when I close my eyes, I don't see Vakuta's moons anymore. I see Aileen's smile.

CHAPTER 7

AILEEN

"Tessa!" I wrap my arms around her. The coffee shop buzzes with the lunch crowd around us.

"Girl, where have you been hiding? Two weeks without a peep!"

"The pizza place has been crazy busy." I slide into the booth across from her. "Plus... other things."

"Spill." Tessa leans forward, her green eyes sparkling. "I heard through the grapevine some fancy car's been spotted outside Papa Marella's."

The ceramic mug warms my hands as I try to hide my smile. "Maybe."

"Don't maybe me. Details. Now."

"His name is Charles. He's... well, he's a billionaire."

"Shut up!" Tessa's squeal draws looks from nearby tables. "Like, actual billions?"

"Yeah. Real estate developer." I take a sip of coffee. "He took me to Alinea."

"The impossible-to-get-into Alinea? Okay, now I need to know everything."

"We might have... ended up fooling around in his limo."

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