Page 65 of Stone Cold Alien

Cairn landed several paces away and studied both of us. “Have you finished arguing?”

“For now,” Robyn said. “We need to get back to the lodge before Sten turns to stone again or I freeze to death.”

“I will carry her,” I said. “My wings are unharmed, and her blood has restored my strength.”

“You have only just regained that strength,” Cairn replied. “Fly beside us. If anything starts to stiffen, I want you able to land without worrying about Robyn.”

I disliked the suggestion, but he was right. That did not make accepting it easier. I hated the idea of another male carrying Robyn, even Cairn.

Robyn squeezed my hand. “Please don’t argue. I’ve already donated enough blood and patience for one afternoon.”

Cairn crouched so she could put her arms around his neck. I waited until he had a secure hold on her before releasing her hand.

“Back to the lodge,” she told him. Then she looked at me. “And when we get there, you’re asking me again.”

“I will.”

Cairn launched into the air with Robyn held safely against him. I followed close beside them, near enough to feel her clearly through the bond.

Soon, when we became mates once and for all, the bond would be even stronger.

Chapter 11

Robyn

The journey to Glasgow took almost two hours. Sten spent most of it in the back of the people carrier with his wings pressed against the blacked-out windows and his tail wrapped around my legs. Joseph had chosen the largest vehicle the agency owned, but it had clearly been designed with humans in mind. It was strange that a dating agency that regularly worked with aliens didn’t have anything more suitable. Or maybe they’d not found something at such short notice.

Sten shifted for what had to be the hundredth time. “How much further?”

“About ten minutes. You asked me that five minutes ago.”

His attention dropped to the bandage around my wrist. He had checked it repeatedly since we left the lodge, even though the punctures had already closed. I’d take it off as soon as we got home.

Joseph glanced at us in the mirror. “Pam’s arranged a meeting at the agency in three days. She’s hoping the Intergalactic Authority will have got back to her by then.”

“Hoping?” Sten asked.

“That’s all she could promise. She’ll contact Robyn if she hears anything sooner.”

It wasn’t much, but there was nothing else we could do tonight. The camouflage suit was damaged, the IA worked at its own speed, and nobody knew whether the gharrgoils on Spiris were receiving Pam’s messages.

“Why won’t she contact me?” There was something like jealousy in his voice. Silly gharrgoil.

I chuckled. “Because you don’t have a phone. Unless you’re hiding one somewhere?”

“You could check my battle wrap for it.” He wriggled his eyebrows.

I slapped his shoulder, almost hitting the wing. “Are you always just thinking about one thing?”

He grew serious. “No. I’m only ever thinking about one person. One human female.”

My cheeks flushed.

Joseph turned off the main road and drove through the residents’ car park behind my building. It was almost dark, and the rain had kept most people indoors. He stopped close to the rear entrance, then got out to make sure the corridor beyond it was empty.

“You’ll need to move quickly,” he said when he returned. “I can’t stop anyone coming through, but you should have a clear run.”

Sten looked insulted. “I do not run from humans.”