“You’re being stubborn. There’s always another solution, another plan.”
“This is the plan B. I was never supposed to be captain this soon. I’m making that work. How many alternate plans do you think I can support. Eventually, I just have to go forward. Maybe it isn’t the best decision. Maybe I’ll regret it later, but this is what I have. This is what Auvi left me. He knew me better than anyone.”
“Better than me? Really?”
“No. Not better than you. You’ve been my best friend. You are my best friend. I just…”
“I get it. He was your savior. He left you this ship and you think it’s your only lifeline. Maybe that’s true. But maybe Dez can be a part of that. Maybe he’s your next great thing.”
“He can’t be.”
“You don’t know that. You at least owe him a thank you for the transport contract, for feeding us and for being honorable. He kept his word to you.”
“If I promise to take him to dinner, will you let me be?”
“For now.”
Veda left and Cyra was no longer in the mood to prove that she knew what Rhysa was suggesting for stress relief. Rhysa probably didn’t mean for her to relieve her stress alone. But alone was the way she was going to be for a very long time. Dez was beautiful. He could cook, and probably a lot of other things. But the bottom line was the ship was her only safety net. The only way she would keep the ship is to be the best most reliable transporter out there. It was tough enough being a female in a male dominated industry. She couldn’t afford to fail.
Chapter23
The ship dockedin a different sector of Cassan than the one they’d left from. Without the spiders, they didn’t have to pay for the secure dock with additional security—an expense Cyra was happy to be relieved of. Rhysa and Blaize had taken off in separate directions. Cyra was sad that they weren’t becoming closer, but they were so different. At least they didn’t fight. After g-weeks together on the ship, getting time apart was good.
“Veda, I’m going to take care of the Din’Gale delivery and then make contact with some of the bartenders here and see what the gossip is. I need to put out the word we’re looking for a Communications Officer. Do you want to go with me?”
“I’ll stay and keep watch over the thuringies. Why don’t you see if Dez can go with you?”
“Subtle.”
“I can be less so if needed.”
“You aren’t going to let this go, are you?” Cyra huffed.
“You’ll thank me for this some day.”
“No, I won’t.”
Cyra paused in the open entry to Dez’s quarters. He was sprawled out on the too small bunk, reading something on the comm display. “Dez?”
Dez held up a finger to her before using it to tap the screen. “I have been reading the most excellent stories about how other beings find and seduce their mates.”
“Romance?” He was reading romance novels?
He held up the screen and showed her the cover of two half naked beings wrapped in an embrace. “Veda load them to me.” He rose from the bed. “You require my services?”
“I’m contacting the receiver for the Din’Gale goods and then I’ll take care of some errands and grab a meal. Would you like to go with me?”
“It would be my pleasure, my queen.”
“Captain.”
“That, too.”
Cyra stomped off the ship. Between Veda and Dez, she was getting frustrated with them not accepting her decision. She didn’t have time to argue with him. Her errands were critical and if at all possible, she’d try to secure another contract and get back on track for delivering Dez. Kolben wasn’t coming to her. And the cycles before the penalty kicked in were ticking way with alarming speed.
They traced their way through the crowded marketplace filled with vendors and shoppers, laced with the scents of exotic foods and the echoes of too many languages. She found the office of the buyer that the prince had contracted with.
“Captain Cyra. Right on time.” The thick male grasped her hand with stubby fingers. Did Dez growl? She glared at him over her shoulder. “And you are?” The man asked Dez.
