What if Lucas were hurt more severely than Gaelen had thought? When he'd been in contact with Lucas that one time, the injury hadn't seemed too bad, but...

"Lucas, answer me!"

Where was he? Why no answer?

He couldn't have flown back already, could he?

Heart racing, Gaelen glanced around, making sure there were no humans about. Then he took a deep breath and...

Squa-ooosh!

As a pinpoint of light, he flew over the pyramid and picked up Lucas's incoming trail again.

"Ah-hah!" There, nearly parallel to the first, was a lighter trail, heading west. The puppy had covered his tracks going back. Gaelen would've smacked himself in the forehead if his hand had been material at that moment. He should have considered the possibility Lucas had turned around and flown home right away. The trail was clear enough once he looked for it.

The jerk was probably lounging in his apartment, swilling a beer and laughing at how he'd led Gaelen on a merry chase.

Given the alternative possibility--his little brother was really in trouble--Gaelen seized onto the less grave one. Lucas was fine and the girl had seen nothing. Then he allowed himself to get mad.

"All right, Lucas, big brother is coming. You'd better have a good story."

He'd be back in Chapel Hill in less than ten seconds.

* * * *

"You!" Annabelle shouted. "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"Shhh!" Erin hissed. "They'll hear you."

Ignoring Erin's admonition and Lucas's offered handshake, Annabelle headed for the door, fully intending to pull the chair away and call a guard.

"Oh, no, Annabelle," Lucas said, his large fingers encircling her wrist. "I can't let you do that." He pulled her away from the door and dragged her back to the bed.

"Let me go!" Annabelle struggled, but he was stronger than he looked. In fact, she didn't see any strain on his face as he picked her up and dumped her onto Erin's bed. "Hey!" she huffed in indignation.

Erin giggled. "Isn't he wonderful?"

Lucas stood by the bed and took Erin's hand. Their fingers laced together instantly, as though by long practice, and Erin gazed at him with naked adoration.

Annabelle felt her heart begin to melt and hastened to freeze it again.

"Now, first of all," Lucas said, his voice tinged by a hint of an accent, exotic and familiar all at the same time, "I'm very pleased to meet you at last. Erin has told me so much about her big sister I feel I know you already."

Annabelle glared at him, refusing to be taken in by his charm.

He went on. "Second, I'm very sorry about leaving Erin alone like I did." He turned to face Erin. "I am, you know. I would never have left you, but..." A scowl twisted his handsome features. "Well, I can't explain now. Soon, but not yet. It's safer if you don't know anything."

"Aw, puh-leeeez!" Annabelle scoffed, "What are you, a secret agent?" She moved to get up and open the door and call--no, scream-for the guards.

"Annabelle," Lucas whispered after her. "Please listen. I swear I'm telling the truth."

It was his voice, not any force--because he didn't lay a finger on her--that kept Annabelle in place. And the unreasonable urge she felt to believe.

Lucas took a deep breath. "I would tell you now, but I can't."

"Why not, darling?" Erin asked, her voice gentle, totally lacking in anger.

Annabelle decided to be angry for her little sister.

"Yes, Lucas, why not? Why can't you explain to my sister how you used her then ran off to...what? Laugh it up with your buddies at how she put out for you?"

"No! That's not it at all!"

"Lucas." Erin reached for his arm, her voice soothing in contrast to the edge in Lucas's. "She's just worried about me. She doesn't believe what I told her, about the aliens."

"Aliens?" His brow wrinkled in confusion.

"I saw them take you. Are you all right?" She ran her hand up and down Lucas's arm, as though searching for wounds. "Did they stick things up your nose? Did they put anything inside your head?"

Incredibly, as he stared into Erin's face, his own lightened and an angelic smile spread. His eyes crinkled and Annabelle's animosity melted under the sunshine of his expression.

"It wasn't aliens, Erin.