Serix watched Cassie’s hands move deftly over the robot as he waited for her response. She seemed to know exactly to do to make the machine function how she wanted it to. He tried to memorize what parts she changed and what wires she installed, but his concentration was lost on the countless tiny pieces. He suspected it would take many years if he ever wanted to learn how to build a robot like she could.

When she finally answered his question, her response didn’t improve the sense of unease he had been feeling. [b]“I just… think that if we should get caught, one of us should get out alive, and between us, you have the better chance,”[/b] Cassie said, continuing to work on her robot.

Serix stared at her. She would be willing to lie to keep him out of trouble even if her life was on the line? She sounded almost resigned to dying at the hands of the Lunairans. It made sense that one of them should try to survive if they did somehow get caught, and he [i]did[/i] want to live, but at the same time he didn’t like the idea of Cassie’s sacrifice. They had come too far to let it all end like that. Besides, he had already come to terms with the things he had given up to keep her safe until now. He had nothing to go back to anymore.

“Sorry, but I disagree,” Serix shook his head. “We’re in this together. If we get caught, we die together.” He wasn’t sure why he felt so strongly about this. He had only known Cassie for three days, but somehow he couldn’t bear the thought of parting ways again. Strange how quickly bonds can form between two people.

He realized that his statement sounded almost identical to the vows made by mated Lunairans. He was speaking to Cassie as if she was his mate. He absently fidgeted with the bandage on his left arm, pretending that the cloth was suddenly very interesting. [i]It must be all the stress,[/i] he thought nervously. [i]I’m just not thinking clearly.[/i]