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To make matters worse, I'm pretty sure Rektar isn't interested in me at all He won't look at , and tries to keep a distance between us It's distressing, because if I had a guy like hi Instead, it looks like that will never happen, and I' to have a hell of a lot of trouble on my hands

"What do I do?" I ask Rektar again, worried

"We will help you, of course The port authorities will not allow you to be harassed" His answer sounds stiff and rehearsed "I will look for this Mezzak Sta'Iq and bring hi"

I stare at hies "And then what? Questioning hi to scare him off"

Rektar seems momentarily puzzled, as if it hasn't quite occurred to hiuys won't listen to reason "I shall…tell hih "You have a point I could arrest hi, but it won't stick Someone will claim that his DNA landed in your barn by mistake—a stray hair blown in the wind, perhaps—and he'll be free and back on the streets"

I hugkidnapped by aliens, but this is probably the most utterly alone I've ever felt "Then you can't help hbor—the woman who lived there before Tessa I met her twice before news of her murder went around Port She'd been killed by land squatters, who think that us hu more Or heck, not even a deterrent All soht around and convince sohtened, unprotected woets the farets to put up with her new husband or she gets ly situation, and I've been so, so lucky to avoid it thus far "I' duck out here"

"I will not let you be a Doug," Rektar says fervently He jumps to his feet "Not on my watch"

Gone is the aard, oversized giant ants nothing to do withover for the last few litter with deter line He looks over at me and there's an expression of such ferocious protectiveness that so to protect you, Lucy You will not be a Doug if I have anything to say about it"

"Duck," I correct automatically God, he's cute when he's upset I wish he was e of excite to demand to marry me? "What will you do?" I ask him, excited

"I a to reives me a determined look "I will remain in the barn and establish a temporary perimeter with equipment we have back at the station If he comes to bother you, I'll be here to take care of him

I sluetting a protector "You don't have to stay in the barn—"

"I do," Rektar vows "It will be best"

I'et

6

LUCY

We drive his sled back into town, because Rektar doesn't want my stalker aware of his presence If he sees a port official's vehicle, he won't come by It makes sense, and so I return to the office with him

Khex listens to his plans with an alances over at me, but I'm too tired and defeated to s with all kinds of worried thoughts Like…what if this Mezzak guy saw Rektar at my place and just doesn't show up? Rektar can't stay forever, especially not out in my barn Even if I establish a perimeter alar me out My problem is that I don't have anyone to defend me except…me

I need a backup plan If Rektar can't catch un of soet a husband

My sled's waiting where I left it, but it feels like the world's falling apart at this point To think that earlier today I was excited to coet a chance to flirt with hie under his nose and win his heart withat ot out of it was Rektar in it stalker