The Falcon Prince

Chapter 21

Ria flung the cover away and swung her legs off the bed. Her body didn’t follow. With supreme effort, she forced herself to a sitting position. But when she tried to open her eyes, they wouldn’t cooperate. She was tempted to lie back down and pull the cover over her head, but she knew from past experience that she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep.

She’d had a horrible night, filled with nightmares of Kristor flinging her over his shoulder, and forcing her to return to New Symtaria with him. Her mother and father had been smiling, and waving her off as if she were only taking a short vacation.

That nightmare had ended only to go into another one where Kristor didn’t fling her over his shoulder and force her to return with him. She’d been left all alone and wishing for something more.

She was so confused. What was she going to do? It would seem she was damned if she did, and damned if she didn’t.

She closed her eyes for a moment and slowed her breathing. Flying might not be so bad. She’d been a little girl and the explosion had scared the crap out of her. She really should get over it. Other people overcame their phobias. Why not her?

What would it feel like to have the wind currents lift her higher and higher?

Something banged in the kitchen.

Her eyes opened wide.

Ruffles? Nope, the cat’s tail swished out from under the bed to tickle Ria’s heel.

Burglar?

It’s nothing, Shintara screamed inside Ria’s head. Go back to concentrating. Think hawk. You can do it.

“Shh.”

Ria’s heart banged against her chest wall. She grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand and punched in 9-1-1.

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency,” Tilly’s voice came over the line.

Ria grimaced. “This is Ria Lancaster. I think there’s an intruder in my kitchen,” she whispered.

“Are you sure it’s not a naked alien?” She snorted.

“Do you want to start looking for another job when they replay this call after they discover my lifeless body?”

“I’ll send Heath over,” she said, but Ria thought she still sounded snarky.

“Tell him to hurry.”

Ria closed her phone, looking around. Her heavy flashlight was in the other room. She stood and tip-toed to the bathroom, picking up her hairbrush. Yeah, right, that would scare the hell out of the intruder. Hairspray? It might work like mace. She supposed it was better than nothing.

Holding the can close to her chest, she crept into the hallway wanting to get to the living room, and then outside where it would be safe. She could hide around the corner until Heath got there.

“Ria, you’re awake. Good,” Kristor spoke from behind her.

She jumped, whirled around, and without thinking, sprayed toward his face.

He coughed. “Ugh! That’s awful tasting. Worse than the stuff you sprayed in my eyes.”

“Oh, Kristor, I’m sorry. I thought you were a burglar. How the hell did you get in here, anyway? I know I locked my doors and windows last night.”

“Mind over matter.”

“Oh. I forgot. Where did I spray you?” Dammit, she needed more sleep. And coffee.

“My mouth and my cheek. What is that stuff?”

“Hairspray.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him along with her as she hurried to the kitchen. “You need to rinse your mouth. I’m so sorry.”

She grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with water before handing it to him.

He took a big gulp, then spat water into the sink and rinsed again.

“Why are you here? You weren’t that happy when you took off last night. I didn’t think you would show up until later in the day.”

“Coffee.” He rinsed some more.

She brought the orange juice out of the refrigerator and poured a glass. “You don’t like coffee.” She handed him the juice. He drank half in one gulp.

“I was going to surprise you.”

“You did.”

“I guess the burglar is gone?” Heath said as he stepped into the kitchen, gun drawn.

Ria screamed and aimed the hairspray, but Kristor jerked her arm down and away as she sprayed so the spray didn’t land on anything except the floor.

“You called me, remember,” Heath said as he holstered his gun. “You’re not supposed to attack the good guy.”

Kristor took the hairspray away from her and set it on top of the fridge. God, she’d probably aged ten years this morning. “I’m sorry, Heath.”

“I take it this is your burglar?”

She nodded. “Kristor was going to surprise me with coffee this morning.”

“Not the first time that I’ve almost plugged a boyfriend who wanted to surprise his girlfriend.” He pushed the button on his radio. “Tilly, no problem at Ria’s.”

Static, then, “I didn’t think you’d be discovering her lifeless body.”

Funny.

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked Heath.

Heath eyed the pot. The coffee was so thin you could read a newspaper through it.

“I think I’ll pass.” He tugged on the brim of his hat. “Try to stay out of trouble today.” He headed for the door.

She followed him out to the porch. The neighbor was watering her plants. Ria smiled and waved, then realized she was still in her pajamas. Great. At least she’d worn a T-shirt and shorts to bed.

Well, except the T-shirt was really big so it looked as though that was all she had on. More gossip. Not that Tilly would stay quiet. No, she’d be eager to tell everyone the latest news at her canasta club.

Ria turned and went inside to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She added sugar, but skipped the cream. Kristor went to the refrigerator and refilled his glass with more orange juice. Lord, they acted like they were married or something.

“I thought you were angry with me because I said I wouldn’t leave with you,” she said.

“I’m no longer angry.”

“Then you’re fine with my decision?”

“No.”

“Oh.” He confused her. But then he turned that devastatingly sexy grin on her and she melted.

“Do you work today?”

She shook her head, more to clear it of the visions she was starting to have. “We’re closed today.”

“Then change. I want to take you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Go change.”

She might as well. The coffee tasted like crap, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings by telling him. She would only hope there was a Starbucks nearby.

She took a quick shower and changed into shorts and a tank top. When Ria joined him in the living room, Ruffles was curled in Kristor’s lap, purring like she was in kitty cat paradise. She gave Ria a snotty look, then jumped down and padded back to the bedroom.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“You’ll see.”

When Kristor went outside, she followed. He got on his motorcycle and handed her a helmet. She climbed on the back and fastened the helmet in place. Did it really matter where they were going? As long as she was snuggled up against him, nothing really mattered. She sighed. It would take more than a week to say good-bye.

She closed her eyes, resting her cheek against his back. She could hear the beat of his heart, feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt.

She opened her eyes when he slowed. The zoo. Why had he brought her here? It wasn’t even open.

Kristor stopped the bike and turned the key. She removed her helmet and climbed off. He followed suit.

“Come on.” He pulled on her hand.

“Where? It isn’t open. They’re not going to let us in.”

“Yes, they will.”

“You cannot act the warrior and barge your way in. They’ll arrest us.”

“I asked them if we could go inside before the zoo opens.”

Nope, she didn’t believe him.

“I gave them money.”

“And where did you get money?”

“Database.”

Of course. She should’ve known. That was a good way to stay under the radar—flash lots of money around.

They stopped at the ticket booth. The young woman on the inside had her back to Kristor. He tapped on the window. She jumped.

“Oh, it’s you, Kris,” she said, then smiled.

What? Did he know everyone? Sheesh. Ria would admit it wasn’t that difficult. The town was small. The zoo was small. More of a mom-and-pop operation, which was why he had been successful bribing his way inside before they opened.

The girl came around and opened the gate. “Hi, I’m Frannie.” She turned back to Kristor. “Remember the rules I mentioned. And don’t get up against the cages. The animals are wild.”

“Of course.”

“You’ll have about an hour before the gates officially open.”

“Thank you,” Kristor said as she pushed a button that would let them in.

“Now where are we going?” Ria asked when they were away from Frannie. “And why? I don’t understand.” She needed coffee—strong coffee.

“You don’t have to know, only to trust me.” He stopped, leaned down, and kissed her.

Her breath caught in her throat and she automatically moved closer. How could one touch steal her thoughts? Did he have some kind of magic power that made her forget everything except him?

He stepped away, but it took a few moments for her head to clear.

“Labrinon flew over the enclosure. We took a closer look, and after talking to your father, I knew I had to bring you here.”

“Labrinon?”

“My animal guide.”

“Oh, of course. And why did you want to bring me here?” She didn’t even want to know what her father had to do with any of this.

“Have you ever been to this zoo?”

“When I was a kid, but not in years.”

“Then come with me. I’ll show you a bit of New Symtaria.”

She pulled her hand free. “I told you, I’m not going to fly off to your planet. It’s not going to happen.” What, had he left his spacecraft hidden somewhere inside the zoo?

“New Symtaria is here. On your Earth.”

The guy had lost his freakin’ mind. Maybe Symtarians weren’t supposed to breathe too much of Earth’s polluted air. What if it affected their brains or something? She’d humor him. Kristor was fun to be with and, for a warrior, he could be quite sentimental. She had a hard time picturing him slicing and dicing people.

They passed a sign that pointed to the bird sanctuary. She should’ve known that’s where he would take her. He was trying to convince her she should leave with him.

They went inside a small house with cages on either side. “It’s kind of sad that all the birds are caged.” You could put a quarter in what looked like a gumball machine and seed would go into a tray so the birds could eat. She supposed it cut down on expenses.

“Wait.” Kristor led her to the back. He stopped at a door that said NO ADMITTANCE, then placed his hand on the doorknob and closed his eyes. After a moment, he turned the knob, and opened the door.

She only stared, then shook her head. “It’s amazing how you do stuff like that.”

“Come.”

“We’re going to get into trouble.”

“Probably, but I will give them more money.”

“Of course. Just give them more money.” He had learned fast how things worked in America.

They went down a dark hall with a light at the end. Great: Walk toward the light. She felt as if this was her death march. Since she wasn’t quite sure where he was taking her, it could very well be the end.

But when they stepped into the open, Ria felt as though she had entered heaven. There were trees and dark green grass and birds singing everywhere. They were in a large enclosure, but it didn’t feel like a cage.

“Watch.” He stuck his arms out to his sides and whistled softly.

Ria looked around as everything stilled. Then there was a flapping of small wings. Dozens of birds landed on his outstretched arms.

“Good Lord, I feel as if I’ve stepped into a scene from Cinderella.” Except Kristor had suddenly become Prince Charming. This was so not good.

She needed to change her way of thinking. Birdman of Alcatraz? No, she didn’t like that visual, either. Maybe a…a…

She stopped thinking when a little yellow parakeet landed on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned her head and they stared at each other. The bird opened its beak and a pretty melody cascaded over her. It reminded her of Fred. Tears filled her eyes. She rapidly blinked them away.

“You’re so pretty,” Ria whispered.

Thank you. The bird’s thoughts filled her mind.

“The bird talked to me,” she said.

“You only have to listen to hear them,” Kristor told her. “I think you stopped listening to the birds. When your father told me about your pet bird as a child, I knew I should bring you here, so you could reconnect.”

Ria had a feeling she was in deep trouble. No, Kristor wouldn’t force her to leave. But he was tempting her. Oh, dirty pool!