Muka tromped down the stairs, followed by Mak. “These are fancy digs.”
“Nicer than the army barracks, that’s for sure.” Mak grinned before he met Pip’s gaze over Muka’s head.
Pip narrowed her eyes back at him. She didn’t need her brother rushing her. She’d get to her news when she got to it.
Dacha slid into a seat at one of the largest tables, this one with four chairs already around it. “We have some time before supper. The two of you should tell us what has happened since we last saw you.”
Pip forced herself to pull out a chair and sit across from Dacha. Muka and Mak sat to either side of her.
Mak met her gaze, then tilted his head toward Dacha.
Pip sucked in a breath, opened her mouth, closed it. She swiped her hands on the front of her trousers again. “I have news.”
Dacha’s gaze searched her face, his eyes warm and brown. “That sounds serious.”
“I…” She chickened out. “I’m the head mechanic for my squadron.”
“That’s my girl.” Muka punched her arm, grinning broadly.
“Well done, sena.” Dacha tilted his head in a nod that was almost a salute.
Mak narrowed his gaze at her, crossing his arms. “That isn’t all.”
“Mak!” Pip scrubbed her hands against her trousers yet again. She was going to either leave large sweat stains on the fabric or wear a hole right through it.
Why was she so scared? She loved Fieran. And he was a good guy. It wasn’t like her parents were going to disapprove of him.
“So…I’m…” Pip’s voice squeaked. Ugh. Why was this so difficult? She’d faced bombings. Sneak attacks. Crashing aeroplanes. Her courage shouldn’t fail her now, not when all she was doing was telling her parents about her new boyfriend. “I’m courting.”
Her parents blinked at her, their expressions not changing from mildly confused.
She’d probably blurted that out so fast the words had been unintelligible.
With a deep, steadying breath, Pip fixed her gaze on the table instead of looking at either of her parents. “He’s one of the flyboys from Fort Linder. Fieran. I think I mentioned him in my letters?”
When she peeked at Dacha, he tipped his head, though his expression had gone neutral. Muka’s beard was twitching with the beginnings of her grin.
“But I didn’t tell you his last name.” Pip blew out a breath. She couldn’t. That was a bit of a military secret. “He’s Fieran Laesornysh.”
Dacha bolted upright. “Son of Prince Farrendel Laesornysh?”
“Yes.” Pip’s voice squeaked.
Muka’s guffaw made Pip jump. Muka gave Pip a light punch to the arm. “Now isn’t that quite the unlikely vein of gold in the rubble. You’re courting the son of your childhood hero. Have you met his dak just yet?”
“Yes.” She wasn’t going to mention she was still working on trying to actuallytalkto Prince Farrendel.
“Is this Fieran a good man? Is he respectful?” Unlike Muka, who was still grinning, Dacha was frowning, grooves lining his forehead and bracketing his mouth.
“Of course.” Pip squirmed, shooting a look at Mak. He’d helped start all this. The least he could do was help her out.
“He is. I haven’t had to beat him up or give him more than atreat my sister rightspeech.” Mak’s arms were crossed, but he was grinning. Getting far too much enjoyment out of her squirming, no doubt.
“I can invite him to supper tonight.” Pip popped to her feet, nearly tripping over the chair in her haste to back away from the table. “Why don’t I go right now? Mak can fill you in.”
She didn’t wait for her parents’ agreement. She all but bolted out the door.
Chapter
