Page 5 of Warrin
She glanced at the time.It was mid-morning.Exhaustion weighed her down.Between the constant blasts and sirens, she hadn’t gotten much sleep last night.She also hadn’t bathed properly in several days.She suddenly realized she was a mess, and she rushed to the bathroom and shut the door.
Peering at herself in the mirror, she frowned at the dark circles that rimmed her eyes, as well as the dirt that smudged her cheeks.She quickly washed her face, then used her fingers to comb her hair.
Her clothes were filthy from navigating the streets during the fighting until she’d found refuge at the diner, but that couldn’t be helped.Hopefully Warrin wouldn’t mind the dirt.Hopefully he would allow her to shower before they consummated their mating union.
Heat pulsed through her at the full realization of what she’d done.She’d signed up for the VAMOB program.She’d agreed to marry a Vaxxlian warrior—a complete stranger.By applying for VAMOB, she’d also agreed to live on New Vaxx.
Maybe she was an idiot to think the fighting would eventually stop.Maybe the United States was truly in a decline from which it wouldn’t emerge, at least not during her lifetime.
She exited the bathroom and looked at the boarded-up windows.She didn’t like being unable to see outside.The emergency lights flickered again as she slid back into her booth.
She grabbed her phone and stared at Rory’s most recent texts.Maybe she shouldn’t keep her friend in the dark about what was going on.What if the fighting reached Oakdale?She’d heard whispers of rebels hiding out in the forest near the town.Perhaps it was only a matter of time.
After drawing in a deep breath, she typed a message to Rory.
I signed up for VAMOB yesterday, and I’ve been matched with a Vaxxlian warrior named Warrin.I’m expecting him to arrive soon.Please don’t be worried.I will message you again once I’m safely on his ship—or perhaps on New Vaxx.The fighting is worse than I imagined.I should’ve listened to you.I’m sorry.Please don’t be worried, and please promise you’ll consider VAMOB if the fighting reaches Oakdale.Stay safe.Can’t talk now.Love you.
She hit the “send” button, then immediately shoved her phone in her pocket.Her mind reeled.For a moment, she considered contacting her parents and brother, but she quickly decided against it.Despite living in California—over two thousand miles from her present location in central Tennessee—her father and brother would probably try to mount a rescue mission.She despaired over the prospect of any harm coming to them, and she resolved to stay quiet until Warrin rescued her.
The strong, independent side of her bristled at having to sign up for VAMOB because she needed to be rescued.But perhaps it was for the best.If the country truly was in a decline, it was better to leave while she still had the chance—before it became too dangerous for Vaxxlian warriors to travel to the United States.
She suddenly realized the blasts hadn’t sounded in a few minutes, and people were starting to get up and cast curious glances toward the boarded-up windows.Mr.Parker approached the front window where a small crack in the boards allowed him to peek out.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he eventually said.“The fighting has stopped and there’s a Vaxxlian cruiser parked in the middle of the street.A Vaxxlian warrior is speaking with government forces, and it looks like a friendly conversation.They’re shaking hands.Oh, wait—now the big alien fellow is walking this way.Maybe he heard about our world-famous pancakes.”
Elora felt faint.She started trembling, but she forced herself to remain upright, even when her legs felt so weak with nerves that she feared she might collapse.But she didn’t want Warrin to think she was a coward, so she summoned strength she didn’t realize she had and walked closer to the door.
“I think the Vaxxlian is here for me,” she said, looking at Mr.Parker.“Yesterday, when the fighting was especially bad, I signed up for VAMOB and listed the diner’s address as my pickup location.”
A few gasps sounded behind her, but she didn’t turn around.Mrs.Parker appeared at her side and placed a comforting hand on her arm.
“I’m not going to try to talk you out of this,” the elderly woman said.“I just wanted to say good luck.”
“Thank you,” Elora said, glancing between Mr.and Mrs.Parker.“Thank you for letting me into your diner and keeping me safe these past two days.I know I can’t make any promises, but I’m going to ask Warrin—that’s my mate’s name—if he can help evacuate everyone from the diner.”
“We appreciate the offer,” Mr.Parker said, “but I don’t think there’s anywhere else in town that’s safer.It’s probably best to wait out the fighting.”He hurried to remove the boards from the door, then unlocked it.
Her guilt from earlier returned.She felt bad that she was about to be out of danger, but the rest of the people in the diner would still be at the mercy of the government forces and the rebels.She prayed the fighting would truly end soon.She lamented the thought of anything bad happening to these kind people.
“Somehow, Warrin got the U.S.military and the rebels to pause their fighting,” she said.“Maybe whatever he did to get them to stop can be… extended.”
As she exchanged goodbyes with the Parkers, the door swung open, flooding the diner with light.A massive figure stood in the doorway, and she blinked against the sudden brightness as she attempted to make out the Vaxxlian male’s features.He stepped inside and the door closed behind him, blocking the light.
Then she saw him—really saw him.Her pulse fluttered.He was handsome, ruggedly so, with a square jaw and high cheekbones.Tall and broad-shouldered, his black warrior’s uniform fit like it had been made for him alone, emphasizing every sculpted line of his frame.His skin held a warm, sun-bronzed hue, and he had the most vivid green eyes she’d ever seen.
Why were her hands trembling at her sides?Was it nerves or awe that was making it so difficult to breathe?Her head whirled as heat continued spreading through her—heat that seemed to tighten and pulse in her nether region.She couldn’t help it.She’d never beheld such a strikingly handsome male in all her life.
The tall Vaxxlian warrior closed the distance between them in two long strides.His vivid otherworldly eyes shimmered with hope as he stared down at her.“Hello,” he said in Galactic Common, his voice a deep but soothing rumble.“Are you… Elora?”
The way he said her name—with a faint roll to ther—sent more flutters of heat through her.
“Hello,” she managed, also in Galactic Common, her voice thinner than she intended.“Yes, I am Elora.Are you Warrin?”Just saying his name stirred something in her… an undulating warmth that spread low and deep.Her thoughts scattered under the strength of his nearness.
“Yes, I am Warrin.”He reached for her right hand and clasped it between both of his.
Her mouth went dry as she glanced down at his huge hands, which engulfed hers.Then she craned her neck to meet his gaze again.He was over three heads taller than she was—which put him at about seven and a half feet.Everything about him was large and powerful.But his eyes gleamed with a warmth that put her at ease.
“I am pleased to meet you, Warrin,” she said.“And I am grateful that you were able to get the fighting to stop, however briefly.”Dare she ask him to help the people of this town?Was there even anything he could do?
