Rebel Heat by Cyndi Friberg

her back. She had no idea how long he’d be gone, so she had no time to waste. She searched for the keys to the SUV and/or his Rodyte communicator. Nazerel told her it was basically a two-way radio, but she didn’t believe him. The Rodytes were one of the most technologically advanced races she’d encountered. They wouldn’t manufacture something as limiting as a two-way radio.
    After looking through the crates and inside the cooler, she spotted his boots near the doorway. It was as good a hiding place as anything else. She picked up his first boot and turned it upside down over the cooler. The SUV keys came tumbling out. She quickly overturned the second boot and was rewarded with the communicator, which looked very similar to a cell phone. No one would think twice if they saw him using it on a public street.
    Her clothing was in the SUV, but she needed to put some distance between them before she bothered dressing. She ducked through the open entrance and slammed into Nazerel.
    “You’re free. You have no reason to keep me now.”
    He ignored her plea, grasped her upper arms and pushed her back inside the tent. “I don’t like liars.”
    “I didn’t lie. Lor is the owner of the collar.”
    He shot her a disbelieving glare. “Then how were you able to unlock it?”
    “I’m also the owner. The Bilarrians made some improvements when they helped us reset the programing.”
    He left her standing in the middle of the tent as he found a clean shirt and clean socks.
    “All I’ve tried to do is escape,” she pointed out. “You would have done the same.”
    He pulled on the socks, donned the shirt and tugged on his boots all without saying a word. Then he held out his hand expectantly.
    “Leave me here.”
    “Give me the keys and the comlink,” he snapped. “I’m finished playing with you.”
    Hope fluttered through her being. Did that mean he’d do as she asked? The anger in his gaze promised something much more dangerous.
    She tossed him the keys then held out the communicator. Another wrestling match held zero appeal.
    After tucking the keys into his front pocket, he activated the comlink and spoke in rapid Rodyte, or Bilarrian, she hadn’t heard either often enough to distinguish one from the other.
    “Thank you, again. I’ll see you shortly.” He put the comlink away and grabbed her arm. “Come on.”
    “Where are we going?” When he said nothing she dug in her heels. “There is no reason for you to take me with you. I insist you leave me here.”
    “No.” He dragged her outside, ignoring her frantic tugging against his grip. He shoved her up against the SUV as he unlocked the vehicle and grabbed her pants off the backseat. “Get dressed.” He dropped her boots in front of her and handed her the pants.
    If she refused, he’d likely drag her around half naked, and being barefoot was a definite disadvantage. Despite her very real need to rebel, she did as she was told.
    If the beckon had activated, someone should have been here by now. But any chance of assistance she had would be abolished if he teleported her away from this location. “Nazerel, you need to listen to me. Right now you’re in trouble with the Ontarians. If you let me go, I’ll make sure the humans stay out of it. If you harm me, I no longer have that option. Do you really want to be a fugitive on two different planets?”
    “I’ve been a fugitive my entire life. Why should that change now?”
    Without further argument, he pulled her into his arms and teleported off the mountain.
    * * * * *
    Varrik walked around the campsite, his empathic receptors wide open. He could detect Nazerel’s energy, but the pattern was faint, barely discernable. Elias hadn’t been sure the momentary blip his people detected had been a legitimate signal. Still, it had been worth checking out.
    Scanning together, Varrik and Echo had located the lake, but there had been no sign of Nazerel. Worse, they weren’t even sure the energy pulse the humans