“My mate wanted to eat dinner in the canteen, so I’m joining him.”
I dragged Kal down next to me, and his tail curled around my ankle. “Your cousin didn’t talk about it that much did he?”
“He did, unfortunately, in great detail. He related it to the entire command crew, multiple times.”
Wyn’s shoulders slumped and his tail curled around his calf. “I’m going to have to be reassigned to another ship. Everyone’s going to call me pukey or something.”
“They won’t,” I lied.
Urgg clapped Wyn’s back. “Ensign Puke, how are you feeling?”
“I told you,” he whispered before fleeing.
“What?” they asked. “Everyone’s calling him that. The story of him puking on Commander Monqilcolnen is going to be legendary. I would love to be so lucky.”
“I don’t think that’s going to comfort him,” I said.
Urgg flopped down across from us.
Kal took my hand and drew my attention away from where Wyn had disappeared. His thumb traced over my knuckles, which sent shivers up my spine. I squeezed his fingers, but my eyes went back to the door. Should I chase after Wyn? We hadn’t known each other very long and he probably wouldn’t want my comfort. I didn’t even know what I would say.
Captain Talvax joined us. She caressed Urgg’s jaw. In turn, Urgg placed a sloppy kiss on her fingers.
Kal pressed my palm flat against his thigh and smoothed his hand over mine, so my fingers spread over his leg before turning it over so my knuckles pressed into him. Slowly, he began to follow the lines in my palm.
I swallowed. His fingertip crested the outside of my fingers. Warmth rushed to my cheeks, and he grinned. “I love your blush, my Mate.”
“I see we’re not the only ones getting along,” Captain Talvax remarked, making me jump.
“Of course not,” Kal said.
Changing the subject, I asked, “Did you really eat the heart Urgg proposed with?”
“I did,” she said.
“It was glorious.” Urgg squeezed Talvax with a brawny, tattooed arm.
“I don’t think I’ve heard that story,” Kal said.
Immediately, Urgg launched into the epic tale as we ate. Not great dinner conversation, but watching Urgg’s enthusiasm and the way Talvax stared at her mate was enjoyable. They were so different, yet they were obviously happy.
Once Urgg finished, I asked Talvax, “You and Kal were at Takzil?”
“We were,” she said before taking a sip of her drink.
“Were you there, Urgg?”
They belched before scratching at their bulging stomach. “No. Talvax was still fleeing from me at that point. She came to me after they colonized Takzil.”
Kal stared at the table, gripping my hand. I tugged on him and flashed him a bright smile to let him know everything was okay.
Shifting back to Talvax, who watched us with narrowed eyes, I asked, “You two became friends there?”
“I have known Kalvoxrencol his entire life. I’m friends with his parents, but when I was assigned to Takzil and Kalvoxrencol was entrusted to me, we became friends.”
“Entrusted?” That was an odd word to pick. It might have been NAID’s translation, but I didn’t know for sure.
Silence prevailed.
