CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Treto
Ihave Bela—my mate—cradled gently in my arms before carefully laying her inside the med-bot.
“I’ll be right here when you wake up.” I brush her dark hair back from her forehead and place a soft kiss there before slowly making my way across her temple, down her cheek to her lips, where my kiss turns hungry.
“Mmm, I can’t wait,” she hums when I reluctantly pull back.
My cocks are heavy in my pouch, and I’m tempted to take her right now.Just quick.But then I remind myself she’s hurt.
“Soon,” I say as I slowly close the lid.
Standing there, I watch her eyes grow heavy, and the red light turns on inside the case.
“Estimated time—six hours,” the digitized voice announces.
I’m setting an alarm on my comm when Rovos appears in the doorway.
“Is she settled?” he asks me.
“Yes.” I nod, looking down at her serene face. I hate leaving her, especially after it feels like I just got her back.
“Good. We need to have a talk.” Without waiting for me, Rovos turns on his heel and disappears down the hallway.
I give Bela one last long look then follow after him.
When I arrive on the bridge, Rovos is sitting in the captain’s seat, the spot where Sone should be sitting, and we’re alone. He motions for me to take my spot at the navigation station and then leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Treto, I feel like I haven’t had a chance to really talk with you about—” he swallows and clears his throat, “about what happened.”
Leaning back in my seat, I blow out a long breath and try to blink back the moisture that has suddenly gathered in my eyes. I’ve been both expecting and dreading this moment. After rescuing Bela and Skylar, and I watched Sone’s shuttle—Rovos and I talked, but we didn’t talk about what happened. Neither of us were ready for that conversation then. To be honest, I don’t feel any more ready for it now. But I know it’s time.
“I don’t really know what to say,” Rovos goes on. “We’re all—shocked. Saddened.Vittu,we’re wrecked over what happened.” He lifts shining green eyes to mine. “You were closest to him, though, and I can’t seem to tell you enough how sorry I am. I feel like none of us have even been able to give you a proper chance to grieve. For that I am more sorry than I have words for, my friend.”
My heart clenches in my chest, where the pain I’ve been burying and trying to ignore is breaking through. I swallow, but my throat has closed up until I have to force my mouth open so I can breathe.
I don’t even realize Rovos has moved until I feel his hand on my uninjured shoulder. “We’re here for you, brother,” he tells me. “For anything. Anytime. We’re here for you.”
His other hand clamps around the back of my neck, and Rovos pulls me forward so our foreheads are pressing together. It’s a sign of comfort in his species, but in mine it would be an act of violence. Not that I give a shit what my people would think of this. My species, who eventually became so detached, they refused to evenspeakto each other.
My hands shake as I clap Rovos on his shoulder and put the other hand around his neck, pulling his forehead tighter against mine. “Thank you.”
My voice breaks around the words, and when I close my eyes, I feel a tear escape down my cheek. I’m not sure which of us moves first, but the simple vesen expression ends up with my arms hooked under Rovos’ arms, my fingers digging into his back, and my head buried in his shoulder as harsh sobs rack my narrow frame.
When I look back on this, I suspect I’ll realize this is the moment everything hits me. The reality that Sone is truly gone, and I’ll never have him at my side again.
Neither of us speaks for a long time, even after my tears subside, but neither of us moves from the comfort of the other either. Not until a quiet cough comes from the doorway of the bridge.
Scrubbing my hand across my eyes, I step away from Rovos and turn to where Igid and Brox are standing in the doorway. Without a word, Igid strides into the room and wraps her long arms around me, hugging me with a strength I would have been surprised at if I hadn’t been on the receiving end of it more than once when I let her talk me into sparring with her.
When she lets me go without a word, because there is nothing left to be said that hasn’t been already, I turn to where Rovos and Brox are talking quietly.
“I’ve flown A-class fighters before; theShadeisn’t that different,” Brox is saying, while his strange dark eyes that I swear are a different color every time I look at them roam over the controls.
“You’ll find out soon enough theShadeisn’t like any fighter you’ve ever flown before.” Rovos chuckles.
My already raw nerves bristle at the thought of this boy taking Sone’s place at the controls. My thoughts must show on my face, because he looks sheepish when he steps up to me.
“I know I’ll never live up to the shoes I have to fill.” His shoulders are hunched, and he isn’t quite looking me in the eye. “All I ask is to be given a chance. I may be young, but I know my way around a ship. Just the same, I’d appreciate your guidance rather than your criticism while I get familiar withthisship.”
