I hadn’t ventured far outside the Skylar home yet. I’d just finished taking a walk in the forest behind the Maddox estate, guarded by Zeal, the head of their security.

It was a strange outing—every tree looked different from those on Earth, somehow larger and more intimidating, or maybe it was the weird shimmering of the trunks. The birds were even creepier—humanlike robins with feathers in every color of the rainbow.

I was back in my room in under half an hour. Four weeks had passed since I left Earth, and I was finally semi-ready to venture out into this strange planet.

I hadn’t even realized until now that I had an entire new planet to explore. Did they have continents? Airplanes, trains, other ways to travel? Oceans? Beaches? I still had so many questions.

Kai was walking ahead of me toward the front lawn of the massive estate that Jax could now call home. He was in dark blue jeans, a fitted blue striped shirt, and a blue jacket. He still wore his black All-Stars from our escape from Earth.

I spotted Jax and the twins already waiting in front of us. I guessed all of us were enrolling in Rivellin College together, which made sense since we’d been in school together on Earth. I guessed they’d also lost that part of their lives.

The truce between Jax and me was over almost as soon as it began. I noticed his truce with Kai was still holding, though. They exchanged polite nods, that silent communication still intact, then went their separate ways. Jax didn’t even glance in my direction.

The grumpy bastard.

"They’re not joining us?" I asked Kai, dumbfounded, reaching for his hand. He noticed, grabbed my hand, and pulled me close.

"They’re using their teleporter. I don’t want to use that on you yet, so we’re taking the Helicar." He waggled his eyebrows at me, leaving me to puzzle over what he’d just said.

"Okay... that’s not weird at all. So they’re teleporting? Like, Battlestar Galactica style?" He walked me over to another of those spaceship-like cars we’d used to evacuate Earth, not answering.

"Oh no, not that one again. You’re not drugging me again, are you?" I protested, trying to pull my hand free. He squeezed my hand, his thumb tracing reassuring circles on the back of it.

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"Babe, no. That was to get you interstellar. Your body wouldn’t have survived the trip otherwise. Today we’re not traveling that far." He pulled me close. "I’ve got you," he said, kissing my nose.

"You know that, right?"

I hugged him back and nodded against his chest. "Yeah, but still a little wary of you, lying bastard."

I playfully pushed him back, and he laughed out loud.

"Get in, grudge." He slapped my ass and practically shoved me into the Helicar.

"Did you just call me grudge?"

"It’s a new nickname!" he winked and started the engine.

We took off so fast I yelped in surprise. I was never going to get used to this.

"Asshole! A little warning next time, please!" I held my hand to my chest, my heart pounding like it was going to jump out. Kai just chuckled, as if it were the funniest thing ever.

After about half an hour, we arrived at what I assumed was Rivellin College. It looked like the Disneyland Main Hotel—all pink marble with red roofing, surrounded by crystal-blue water and sparkling waterfalls. Behind the main building, I could see several smaller structures of the same style and another of those strange forests.

"Home sweet home!" Kai parked the thing in a huge lot next to a fleet of colorful flying Teslas in shades ranging from red to yellow and beyond.

He opened my door and offered me his hand. I took it, and together we walked to the main entrance.

My jaw dropped. Up close, it was even more impressive. "No way…" I whispered. "What a building…"

Kai was loving the shock on my face. "I need to get us some Telvices. I should record your awe at every new thing you’re about to discover."

I nodded, not really hearing what he was saying. I assumed a Telvice was some kind of phone here since I’d heard Jax mention one earlier.

I was busy staring at the local "insects," each at least ten times bigger than their Earth counterparts, hovering around the three-story water fountain in the lake by the main entrance. I was this close to having another panic attack. I was not dealing with wasps the size of chihuahuas—nope, not happening.

He grabbed my face and kissed me softly. "You ready to go inside?"

I straightened his shirt, plastering on a fake confident smile, and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

"Let’s do this."

He kissed my forehead and murmured against my head, "You know to keep either Jax or me in sight, right? At least in the beginning…"

I looked up at him, squinting against the sunlight directly above us.

"It’s not that dangerous, is it? Like you and Jax keep trying to tell me?"

He lovingly tucked my hair behind my ears, considering his words carefully. A deep frown crossed his face.

"It’s not dangerous… but… you’re going to really stand out, and a lot of Rainers won’t like that. We’re a proud species, especially the females. So, yeah, in a way, it could be dangerous for you. They don’t exactly want competition around here. Rivellin is a town with very few human women, so I’ll feel better if Jax or I are there to keep an eye on you. Okay? We’ll see how the first few days go and re-evaluate."

He held my face, looking for confirmation. I nodded, my face nestled between his hands. He smiled, satisfied, and pulled me into a warm hug.

"I’m not letting anything happen to you, babe. Never."