Page 2 of Warrin
Elora forced a polite smile.But she doubted she would change her mind.She quickly decided to spend the week carefully preparing for her trip—packing, acquiring supplies, and getting her solar car serviced.She would also sell the belongings she couldn’t take with her at a flea market.Yes, she reasoned, as her confidence grew, she could accomplish those tasks within a week.Then she could depart Oakdale and never look back.
She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the parking lot.Rory’s bright purple solar car was the only vehicle left.There was no one else around.She could leave the church without having any awkward conversations with the guests.
Where was Tobias?What was he doing?
Was he with his lover?Who was she?
Elora supposed it didn’t matter.He’d betrayed her.Even if he showed up at this very moment, apologized, and begged for a second chance, she would tell him to go to hell.
Her throat burned.They’d spent nearly three years together, and she’d been overjoyed when he’d proposed marriage a few months ago.
She couldn’t believe it was over.
Most of all, she couldn’t believe he’d waited until their wedding day to dump her—in a spectacularly public fashion.
As she stared out the window, an unusual aircraft flying low over Oakdale caught her attention.The sleek silver vessel was disc-shaped, and it was larger than most military aircraft.“Hey, have you ever seen a ship like this?”
Rory joined her at the window.“Oh, wow.No, not in person.But I’ve seen them on the news—and in the commercials that advertise Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides.That’s a Vaxxlian cruiser.”
Surprise flickered through Elora as the vessel descended behind a large apartment building.“Wow, indeed.And it just landed in Oakdale.I wonder what it’s doing here.”
“Isn’t it obvious?”Rory asked with a chuckle.“A local woman must’ve signed up for the VAMOB program.Whoever she is, I can’t say I blame her.Who knows how long until the fighting reaches our neck of the woods?”
Elora scoffed.“The fighting will eventually end, I’m sure of it.I think signing up for the VAMOB program and agreeing to mate with an alien—a complete stranger—is a bit of an overreaction.Besides, I can’t imagine leaving Earth forever.”
“I’ve thought about it,” Rory said in a hesitant tone.
“What?”Elora spun to face her friend.“Are you serious?”
“Yes.It’s always been a thought in the back of my mind.The planet they recently settled on—New Vaxx—is beautiful and unspoiled.Plus, Vaxxlian warriors are said to be honorable and kindhearted.They’re in desperate need of human females because most of their women—and children too, sadly—died in the war they fought against the Irrcons, when the Irrcons destroyed Vaxxlia.It’s very lucky that they found a habitable planet to start over on.”Rory paused and cleared her throat.“Did you know they mate for life and never cheat on their females?They also take an active part in childrearing.”
“I’ve seen a few of the commercials,” Elora admitted a bit grudgingly.If she didn’t know better, she would think Rory was trying to tempt her into signing up for the VAMOB program.It would get her out of Oakdale—but it would also mean she would probably never return to Earth.
She’d just had her heart broken.She couldn’t imagine jumping into a brand-new relationship—a permanent one—with a stranger who came from another planet.That seemed even hastier and more dramatic than fleeing town.
“It’s easy to sign up for the VAMOB program,” Rory said in a gushing tone.“You just visit their website and fill out a form.Then the Intergalactic Dating Agency matches you to a Vaxxlian warrior, and he comes to Earth to fetch you.”
“I know what you’re doing, Rory.”Elora sighed.“Look, I’ll keep it in mind if I ever find myself lonely or in a dangerous situation.Okay?Does that make you happy?”
“Yes, it makes me very happy.”Rory pulled her into a hug.“If you do end up leaving Oakdale, I want you to have a backup plan in case you run into any trouble on the road.”
Elora had a sudden vision of herself crouched behind a building in a strange town as rebel hovercrafts scorched the streets below with crimson beams of destructive energy.For a moment, her resolve to flee Oakdale wavered.Then she pulled away from Rory and looked down at her white wedding dress.Heat flamed across her cheeks, a fresh surge of humiliation at what Tobias had done to her.Her chest ached too—though perhaps it wasn’t her heart that was hurting, but the empty space where it had once been.Surely her heart had shattered by now, in pieces, just like her life.
“Come on,” Rory said.“Let’s go home.”
Elora nodded and followed her friend outside into the sunny but brisk afternoon.Thankfully, there wasn’t a soul in sight, and they made it to Rory’s solar car without encountering anyone.
As they drove back to their apartment building, Elora’s phone buzzed.She glanced down at the message—a text from a former coworker.It contained a screenshot of a breaking news story in Oakdale, and Elora’s stomach seized when she read the headline.
Former Economic Development Director Suspected of Embezzlement
Disbelief swirled through her.
Tobias.Fucking Tobias.He’d probably planted the evidence—and tipped off the local news station—so people wouldn’t vilify him for standing her up at the altar.
She couldn’t wait a week—she couldn’t even wait until tomorrow morning.
She had to leave.Now.
