Page 30 of Lunar Bound
Just as she was considering the risky move of returning to the caves to search for them, she felt a flicker of cold energy, like a shadow passing over her consciousness. Lunar was approaching, but something felt different. His energy signature was altered, carrying another frequency within it.
Poppy moved closer to the cave entrance, staying within the shadow of the rocks. A flicker of darkness emerged from the opening, flowing like liquid night before solidifying into Lunar's more defined form.
“Lunar,” she instantly wrapped her arms around him. “Thank goodness you’re okay. Did you find them?”
He held her against him, as if absorbing the feel of her into his body. “I found Solar’s fire-tamer, Dani. She is injured. I believe she needs medical attention. If it is safe, take her and come back.”
“Where is she?”
Lunar gestured at the opening. “I have to leave you again.”
“But—” He disappeared into a crevice before she could answer.
Poppy went in and found Dani leaning against a cave wall, breathing heavily.
"Dani," Poppy exclaimed, relief flooding through her. "Thank goodness. Lunar said you need a doctor?"
"No. I just twisted my ankle," Dani waved a hand in dismissal as if it didn’t matter, but she winced as she shifted her weight. "I'm more worried about Solar. Have you seen him?"
Poppy shook her head in denial. "Not since the retreat. Lunar's been tracking energy signatures through the caves, but Milano's equipment is interfering."
Poppy reached down to give Dani a hand as she squeezed through the narrow opening, supporting her as they emerged onto the sun-baked ledge high on the canyon wall. Dani limped badly as she found her footing.
“Here, give me that.” Poppy grabbed the backpack Dani was carrying to help.
"That's their tech," Dani said.
"What tech?" Poppy asked, steadying Dani as she stumbled.
"Rowan called Pete from the crystal shop to cause a distraction. Marvin, one of his alien enthusiast friends, managed to grab some items from the suite before Milano took over. Devices, something Lunar called an energy stone... I don't know what they do, but I figured they shouldn't fall into Milano's hands."
"Good thinking. Even seemingly innocuous alien tech could be dangerous if reverse-engineered." Poppy glanced to where Lunar had disappeared. She wanted to go in after him. Instead, she carried the bag. Dani was in no shape to be left alone in the desert. "There's a jeep hidden about a quarter mile from here. We need to get moving. Milano's got helicopters searching the area."
To prove her point, the threat of a helicopter echoed over them.
Seriously, fuck these Milano thugs. Why couldn’t they just let the aliens be?
Poppy guided Dani along the narrow ledge, her hand steady despite her racing heart. Five years of rescuing injured animals from these canyons had taught her how to move efficiently while supporting deadweight. Dani was far from deadweight, though. The fire dancer had a stubborn determination that reminded Poppy of the desert predators she rehabilitated. Wounded but refusing to yield.
Tourists were ever changing, but the local residents tended to stick together. Poppy knew Dani, but not to the point where they hung out or made plans together. Still, she felt a kinship with the woman. They were both in the same boat. They were in love with extraterrestrials.
Love. It was hard for her to admit that.
Still, that’s what she felt. Love.
The path widened ahead, a small mercy that allowed them to pick up pace. Poppy's ears caught the distinctive rhythm of helicopter blades before her eyes spotted the black shape cresting the ridge.
"Down," she ordered, yanking Dani behind a rust-colored boulder that had stood sentinel since before humans wrecked the Earth.
The stone radiated stored heat against her back as they pressed themselves flat. Poppy felt the shadow of the helicopter slide across them like an icy finger, leaving her skin prickling with awareness. Milano's hunters. So close. So determined. Such assholes.
Her thoughts turned to Lunar, still in those caves. Would his shadow abilities protect him from Milano's specialized equipment? The moments they'd shared had created something much more profound than a physical connection. The resonance hummed between them even now, across distance and stone. If Milano captured him...
She couldn’t bear the thought.
The helicopter passed, its sound fading as it continued its search pattern. Poppy exhaled, then guided Dani forward through a labyrinth of rock formations she knew by heart. Each turn brought them closer to safety and further from Lunar. The contradiction twisted in her chest.
The jeep had been hidden in a dry wash, beneath a natural overhang where old flash floods had carved out a hollow in the sandstone. Mack had positioned it perfectly, as always. The old geologist understood the desert's secrets better than anyone except perhaps Poppy herself.
