Page 43 of Solar Bound
"You set a fire to escape?" Solar observed, detecting the faint scent of smoke and accelerant still clinging to her clothing.
“As a diversion." Her eyes widened slightly. "How did you?—?"
"Your scent carries traces of combustion patterns consistent with accelerants. And there is residue on your fingers indicating direct contact with a flame source."
A genuine smile spread across her face despite her obvious discomfort. "That's either really creepy or really hot. I haven't decided which."
Solar was uncertain how to respond to this statement. Creepy was clearly negative, while hot suggested his temperature was pleasing, though humans typically used this term metaphorically rather than literally.
“I am hot,” he finally answered.
“And very literal,” she teased.
Before he could formulate a response, the jeep hit another bump, causing Dani to pitch forward. Solar moved instinctively, his arm wrapping around her to stabilize her position. The contact sent a surge of energy between them, a harmonic resonance that momentarily brightened his golden skin beneath the concealing blanket.
"Sorry," Dani murmured, though she made no immediate move to pull away from his supporting arm.
"No apology is necessary," Solar replied, equally reluctant to break contact. "Your energy signature remains compatible with mine."
She chuckled. "You say the cutest things."
“I do not believe I am cute. Rather, I am manly.” He tapped his implant. “Perhaps my translator is broken.”
“Actually, can I borrow your heat?” Dani reached for his hand and pulled it to her shoulder. She sighed and closed her eyes. “Better than a heating pad.”
The jeep continued its jarring journey across the backcountry, gradually leaving the more traveled areas behind. The terrain became increasingly rugged, the trail sometimes disappearing entirely before reappearing hundreds of yards later.
"How much further?" Solar asked, his form flickering slightly with each major bump. The constant dampening of his energy to avoid detection was taking its toll, and he could feel Dani's body temperature dropping beside him as night settled over the desert.
"About five more miles," Poppy answered from the driver's seat. "We'll be there before full dark."
As they bounced onward, deeper into the wilderness, the conversation turned to Milano and their technology. Solar contributed his tactical assessment, but his attention remained primarily on Dani. Her injuries required treatment, yet she showed no sign of yielding to pain or fatigue. Her resilience was remarkable for a species with such physical limitations.
"This is my fault," Rowan said quietly. "We should never have left the suite."
"No," Solar countered her illogical statement. "Milano was already tracking us. They would have found us regardless."
"Solar is correct," Lunar added. "Their technology is advanced. They were hunting us systematically."
"Which brings us back to how they got that technology in the first place," Dani said. "I mean, energy weapons specifically designed to counter alien powers? That's not something they developed overnight."
"The missing Milano founder," Rowan said. "Darren reminded me of the rumors that Milano's founder disappeared after claiming aliens had abducted him."
"Perhaps not a claim," Lunar mused. "Perhaps fact."
The sunlight faded rapidly, casting the rocks in deepening shades of crimson and purple. Twilight approached. Eclipse's time. Solar felt Dani shiver slightly beside him and adjusted his energy emissions to provide more full-body warmth without risking detection.
"Thank you," she whispered, leaning closer.
A distant sound caught Solar's attention. The high-pitched whine did not sound like Milano's helicopters. Something smaller, faster, approached rapidly from the east.
"Incoming aerial vehicle," he warned, straightening to scan the darkening sky.
Lunar tensed beside them, his shadow form contracting to its most condensed state. "Not Milano's pattern."
“What do I do?” Poppy yelled over the noise. The whine grew louder, and a flickering light appeared over the ridge to their right, moving erratically as if the pilot had limited control of the craft.
"Get off the trail," Solar instructed sharply. "Find cover."
