Lacey paced near Oliver, who was curled up on a bed in a room on a world where they didn't belong. They were inside one of InterGlax's big ships that had landed outside the Avakur compound. This ship was along the lines of a Death Star. Or at least an Imperial Destroyer. After seeing the massive ship with all its technology, she felt like she was holding on to a thin wisp of reality that could go poof at any moment.

Every once in a while, one of the InterGlax doctors would check on her with the kind of smile that made her feel as if she were a specimen in a zoo. None of them spoke English, and since she didn't speak alien, they had communicated via hand gestures and expressions. But there was one question she couldn't seem to get through: Where was Zain?

She hadn't seen him since InterGlax separated them in the courtyard, with Reene burning behind them and her plan to get them free a disastrous failure. Poor Reene. The way he'd looked ... She stopped pacing and rubbed her forehead. He hadn't made it, she was sure. His data storage must have been destroyed. No system could survive that kind of destruction. He'd coordinated the entire rescue and sacrificed himself to save them. He should be the hero and no one even knew he existed.

Tears stung her eyes, but they didn't fall. She was too numb and too lost to cry anymore.

Zain had been taken away, surrounded by a small InterGlax army-the last thing in the universe he needed. She recalled what he'd said and how badly they wanted him.

Dammit, what had gone wrong? Her plan was perfect. She'd thought of everything -even the krudo luring the Bobzillas to the portal pads with the bodies of the dead guards and then disabling the roof turrets, giving her and Zain a chance to escape. And it had been executed flawlessly.

She must have screwed up somewhere. And now Zain was in worse danger than if she'd just left him alone. She hoped he wasn't seriously hurt. With luck, he was being treated well.

He had said he loved her. Of course, it didn't exactly count, because he just loved her devious mind for planning the rescue. That was, until it had all fallen apart. But still, those three little words and his proud grin had replayed in her mind until they were a permanent memory-which was very well how they might stay. Where was he?

"I want to go home, Oliver," she whispered.

The door to her room opened, and an InterGlax guard walked in. He was the same one who had initially arrested them. This time, however, he was wearing a translator.

"My name is Major Wyatt of InterGlax. Please come with me," he said.

"Where's Zain?" she asked, not moving.

"I'll take you to him now."

So he was alive. Thank God. "What about my cat?"

Wyatt eyed Oliver with a mix of apprehension and distrust. "You may leave it here. You will be returning after we finish our meeting."

They exited the small room into a long, empty corridor. Metal walls gleamed, and fluorescent light flooded the ceiling and floor. Wyatt stopped at a doorway, pressed his palm to a panel, and the door opened. He and Lacey stepped into a large round chamber ringed by a long, curved table. Only the center of the room was lit, casting a silent row of men in a ghostly glow. Lacey stepped into the chamber, aware of the numerous strangers who focused on her. Straight ahead, alone in a pool of light at a round table, sat Zain. His dark, cool eyes gazed at her indifferently.

This was no meeting. This was a trial.

"Have a seat, please," Wyatt said. She sat in the empty chair he pointed to, and he moved behind her.

Another man stood up, drawing her attention. He said, "I am General Lundon of InterGlax. Please identify yourself and your planet of origin."

"Lacey Garrett," she answered. "Earth."

He walked behind the other men at the table. "Do you know this man?" he asked, sweeping a hand to Zain.

Her gaze flicked to Zain's, but he still didn't acknowledge her. Was he drugged?

"Yes. Zain Masters."

"And how long have you known him?"

She squinted at Lundon, who walked around the table toward her. "A few days. Why?"

Lundon stopped in front of her. "During that time, did he have any contact with the Avakurians or a man named Schuler?"

"No," she snapped. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Please state your involvement and knowledge in this matter," he continued stoically.

Her voice rose in frustration. "I helped Zain uncover your operation to attack juvenile planets. And don't even think about messing with Earth." She stabbed a finger at him.

His thick eyebrows lifted for a brief moment. "I am happy to report that InterGlax was never part of that operation. The Avakurians, with the help of a traitor within our organization, stole our ships and impersonated us. Schuler's operation would have killed many more people and wreaked untold havoc across the quadrant. InterGlax will be forever grateful for your help in stopping them."

Was this for real? Lacey's gaze moved to Zain, who was now watching her intently.

"Then how did you know to find us on Avakur?"

Lundon widened his stance and placed his hands behind his back. "We have been watching multiple suspects for some time, including several Avakurians. The recent massive portal activity gave us what we needed to move."

She eyed him skeptically. Maybe InterGlax really was innocent. And if they were the good guys, that meant Zain was safe with them. Relief trickled into her.

"What about the allegations against Zain?"

Lundon cast a quick glace in his direction. "He will be given a fair trial."

"Trial?" she gasped. "He just saved your butts with CinTerr, and you want to put him through a trial?"

"It is our standard procedure," Lundon said, his face dark. "In addition to a complete statement, Zain has agreed to cooperate with the continuing investigation and cleanup in exchange for your freedom. He has informed us that you are an accidental transport from a juvenile system. Therefore, you are no longer under custody and are scheduled to return to your own planet."

As Lundon talked, Zain watched Lacey's expression harden. She gaped at the general in disbelief and then turned to him. He watched the flash of pain in her eyes. She knew what he was doing. He was dismissing her. Without a discussion, without an argument, without any input from her.

He folded his hands on the table and kept his head down. It was too tempting to look her in the eye and give away that he wanted nothing more than to walk over and scoop her into his arms. She'd faced untold fears to save his life, unleashed a complex plan that astonished him, and given him a chance to reclaim his honor. He owed her everything, but instead he had to pretend she didn't exist. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done, but it was the only way to set her free.

Her tone was steely. "How very kind of you, Zain, to determine my fate without my input."

Zain lifted his gaze, careful to keep an indifferent facade. "Your presence here was a mistake from the beginning."

"A mistake," she repeated slowly. More pain. He hoped it faded fast.

"How bluntly put. So, I guess that my rescuing you was a mistake, too?" she continued icily.

Lundon's turned to her, apparently intrigued. "You launched the rescue?"

Zain laughed to cover his unease. "Look at her. Do you really think she is capable of coordinating a mul-tifaceted attack like that?"

A chorus of laughter reverberated through the room, and Zain watched Lacey flinch. "No, she was simply a spectator. I planned the attack on Avakur, as well as the recovery operation if I were captured. That backup plan went into effect."

She speared him with angry eyes. "That's not true and you know it!"

Zain's hard gaze met hers, and he prepared to finish her off. If he didn't, InterGlax would keep her here and put her on trial. Knowing InterGlax's sluggish procedures, it could take months for her to get back to Earth, and he wouldn't put her through that. He'd already taken enough from her. She didn't belong here, she never did, and she never would. She was destined for a life that she desperately needed to get back to. He knew she had her own battles waiting there. Everyone deserved their chance to stand and fight. He was about to get his chance. He wouldn't stand in the way of hers.

He braced himself and uttered, "I let you think you came up with that plan, but it was all programmed before I left. Reene was following my orders. You had no effect on the operation." Zain looked at Lundon. "She's incidental. Send her home."

Then their gazes locked one more time. He saw the moment when the light snuffed out in her eyes, when he'd lost her forever.

Lundon finally seemed convinced. He motioned Lacey out the door. She didn't say good-bye, didn't give Zain even one final look. The door slid shut behind her, and his world became very small and very lonely.

There was no forgiving him for what he'd just done. But there was forgiveness, and then there was freedom. He'd just given her freedom.

Lacey sat on Torrie's ship, stroking Oliver's head as the planet of Avakur fell away below them. It would have been a spectacular sight for most Earthlings, but not for her. This Earthling didn't care. She just wanted to go home to her own little world with all its little problems. The rest of the galaxy could go to hell. And Zain could, too.

Her eyes stung with the threat of tears, but she vowed she wouldn't cry because the only person she could cry for was herself. Even if she wanted to hate him, she couldn't. There was no reason. He had promised he'd come back. He'd promised he would protect her. But he had never once promised to love her when it was all over.

Pain seared a path through her chest: the sorrowful, silent wail of a heart in mourning. Whatever pain she felt, she deserved-justice for a risk she had taken with eyes wide open.

"The krudo said good-bye," Torrie remarked, interrupting her thoughts. "Cute little critters. They were very happy to be rid of a few more Bobzillas."

Lacey shook off her self-pity. "Thanks. I lost track of everyone after InterGlax showed up. What happened to the two Bobzillas in the compound?"

Torrie checked her readings. "IG packed them up and shipped them back to their home planet. They will be dumped far away from the crater. Pio and the krudo will be safe from them."

"Good," Lacey said wearily. "I hope Earth is as safe."

"IG will shut down what's left of the other installations, now that they know where they are and how to access them." Torrie grinned. "You put on one hell of a show, Lacey. In case no one's said it, thanks for saving the galaxy."

Lacey gave a weak laugh. "No problem. But I think I'll leave the galaxy in your hands from here on in. I've decided that I really hate space."

"Really?" Torrie asked, looking utterly shocked.

"Don't you want to explore the great unknowns? To see what is waiting to be discovered?"

"No." She was positive. "By the way, thanks for the lift home. I've had enough teleportation to last my lifetime."

"After InterGlax finished interrogating me and cut me loose, I had a chance to talk to Zain. I promised him I'd get you home safely," she replied. "He's going to be busy for a while."

But happy, Lacey thought. He'd finally got what he wanted. Honor. Freedom. InterGlax. No more looking over his shoulder, or the slow death of a prison cell. He could play space cowboy into the sunset.

Torrie glanced at her and added, "He'll be okay. InterGlax may be a bunch of arrogant idiots but they will give him a fair trial for Crista's death-once they gather all the information from Schuler's operation."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Lacey said quietly.

"You do realize that he lied about who masterminded the rescue to protect you."

Lacey stared into the spectacular view of deep space. Even it wasn't enough to move her. "I know. But I didn't want his protection. I wanted respect."

Torrie pursed her lips. "That was all you wanted from him?"

"He didn't offer any more."

Torrie was quiet for a while, then she said, "I flunk you need to see something."

She rose and walked to the back of her ship. Lacey petted Oliver's head and pushed her heartache back. Zain would be better off without her, she was sure.

But would she be better off without him?

Torrie returned with a flat board and took her seat. When she flipped it over, Lacey gasped.

"I salvaged it from Reene."

Lacey reached out and touched the painting. The edges of the canvas were slightly singed, but the image was unmistakable. It was her, sleeping in Zain's bunk. The colors were ethereal and delicate, the stroke gentle. Gone were his dark, violent colors and slashing style. But it was more than that. He'd painted her, a person. Not a landscape, not some place he'd visited. He'd immortalized her for himself. She couldn't believe it.

If a painting could say a thousand words, then this one said three little ones. He did love her.

Tears rolled down her face. "Take me back."

Torrie's lips pursed. "I'm sorry. I can't. He'll be in InterGlax custody for months. You wouldn't get near him. But once Zain is cleared, he won't have to hide anymore. He'll be free."

"What about your father?"

Torrie's eyes met hers. "Zain will probably want to see him for a while too. But that won't be forever. Then he can come after you."

Lacey looked out the viewport to where the whole galaxy awaited him-more planets to explore, more new species to discover, and a freedom she couldn't compete with. No, he wouldn't come after her. Maybe he did love her, but a man like him needed adventure and excitement. Nothing she offered could match that.

"Give him the painting," she told Torrie. "Tell him not to forget me."

Chapter Twenty-seven.

Zain's home planet of Dun Galle hadn't changed much in fifteen years. The sun still set in red glory over the hills surrounding his parents' home. When he was a younger man, that sunset had reminded him of yet another day trapped on a planet in a family business he'd never be free of. Looking at it now, the sunset reminded him of how very many years had passed without him.

For all their faults, he was grateful to InterGlax for allowing him to stay here for the duration of the trial. It had helped to fill the gaping hole in his soul.

Inside the house, he could hear the family gathered-brothers, a sister, sister-in-laws he'd never met, and children he didn't know existed. His family had grown without him. And he'd missed it all. The last few months had been filled with laughter, dinners, and love-a life he'd forgotten about. One that he wanted desperately to have again.

And he'd discovered that his father was human after all. The disease had eaten away at him, stealing his strength but never his fight. Every day, the man had told his wife, Zain's mother, how he was getting better and that he was winning. It was a hard-fought battle to the end, and during that time, Zain had rediscovered the parent he'd grown up to avoid.

Now his father was dead. It had taken longer than predicted but was faster than Zain had hoped. There wasn't enough time, and he'd had so much to catch up on. It was too late now, and that time he couldn't get back.

Zain watched the last sliver of sun dip below the horizon and the moon take its rightful place overhead. There was an emptiness in his heart, and it was more than just the loss of his father. Reene was gone too, unsalvageable after the fire. He could get another ship, but it could never replace Reene, and he didn't want to. There was no replacement for a friend who'd given his life for you. As Zain stared into the waning light, he knew that Reene would have forgiven him in a second. Forgiving himself would take a lot more time than that. He finally had his freedom, but the cost had been great.

Today, he'd been officially cleared of all charges in Crista's death. Today, he now had the independence of which he'd dreamed. But the burning desire he'd once had to explore the galaxy had fizzled. The adventurist spirit, which had been so much a part of him for so long, was gone with no sign of returning. All these years, had he been running toward his future, or simply from his past? Now there was nothing to run from, and nothing to run to.

In the silence of the hills around him, Lacey's face flashed in his mind-as it did every time he let his mind wander. His actions taunted him. He'd hurt her so badly, and she didn't deserve it.

"I thought I'd find you hiding out here."