“They’re fine.”
“They are not fine. But we have no time to acquire proper ones before we depart.” He settled into the pilot’s seat, his wings shifting to accommodate the backrest which was clearly designed with them in mind. “Hold on.”
The engines hummed to life with a purr. The shuttle lifted and the terminal shrank away, becoming toy-sized as we climbed. Andrek handled the controls with practiced ease, his tail curled around the base of his seat, his large, clawed hands moved across the holographic displays.
“You are younger than I expected,” he said, not looking back at me.
I stiffened. “The ad didn’t list an age requirement, but there was a question about my age.”
“No, it did not list a requirement.” He banked the shuttle, turning north toward the red cliffs that rose like jagged teeth from the landscape. “And your references seemed adequate. Five years of experience, you said?”
“Yes.” The lie sat heavy on my tongue.
“With infants specifically?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”Did I hear doubt in his voice?“Pip is challenging. Not all nannies have been able to handle her needs.”
Her. The baby was female.“How old is she?”
“Approximately eight months, by human developmental standards. Though Yxian aging does not correspond directly to human years.”
Yxian. Great. Another species I’d never heard of.I wanted to ask more, but Andrek’s attention fixed on the viewport as we approached the cliffs. Even more massive up close, wind and time carved the towering red stone formations into fantastic shapes.
“There,” he said, and I followed his gaze.
The estate seemed to grow from the cliff itself, built into the rock face with natural stone forming half the walls. It was sprawling but not ostentatious. Organic architecture worked with the landscape instead of dominating it. Terraced gardens cascaded down the cliff side, green against red. A landing pad extended from the main structure, its surface gleaming in the golden sunlight.
It was beautiful. Isolated. And very, very far from the main colony. Anyone with any sense of self-preservation would have run. I, however, had no option but to move in with a complete stranger.
Andrek brought the shuttle down without so much as a jostle. The engines cycled down, and he unbuckled his harness before turning to face me. In the confined space, he seemed even larger.
“Before we go inside,” he said, “I should tell you that Pip may react poorly to a new caregiver. She is particular about who she trusts. The last three nannies all left within the first week.”
My stomach clenched. “Why?”Dumb move, Dani.
“Because they could not handle her crying. Or my appearance made them uncomfortable. Or they found the isolation too much.” His tail flicked. “I do not know which will be true for you. But I am desperate enough that I hired you despite your,” he paused, golden eyes studying my face. “Despite the significant gaps in your application.”
My blood turned cold. “What gaps?”
“The childcare center you claimed to work for does not exist. I verified this morning. Any references you could have shared would be fabricated. Your educational records show a liberal arts degree, not early childhood development. And your body language when discussing your experience suggests significant discomfort with the subject.”
I couldn’t breathe.He knew. He’d known from the beginning, and he brought me here anyway, to this isolated estate where no one would hear me scream…
“I am not going to hurt you, Danielle Slater.” Andrek’s voice was gentler than I thought it would be. “You are terrified, and I do not blame you. But I need you to listen. Do you know why I hired you despite your obvious lies?”
I shook my head, unable to form words.
“Because you were the only applicant.” He looked away, out the viewport toward his home. “No one wants to work for a Torzi in an isolated location, caring for an alien child. No one wants to be this far from civilization, this dependent on a single employer who could, as you are clearly imagining, do terrible things without witnesses.”
“Then why did you advertise at all?” I whispered.
“Because I am desperate.” He turned back to me, and for the first time, I saw something other than intimidation in those golden eyes. I saw exhaustion. “I cannot care for Pip alone. My work requires extended absences, and she cannot be left with just anyone. She needs someone who will stay, who will commit, who will…” He trailed off. “I thought perhaps someone fleeing their own situation might understand. Might be invested enough in their own freedom to fight for hers as well.”
“What do you mean, her freedom?”
“That is a conversation for later.” He unbuckled my harness, his movements careful and slow so as not to startle me. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to answer with the truth. Can you do that?”
