Closing the cupboard with more force than necessary, she levels a tired expression on me. “Since I’ve been arguing all morning with a bratty teenager.” Throwing her arms up, she makes a strangled noise. “God, did I ever act that way when I was Skylar’s age? All of a sudden I feel like I need to call my mother and apologize for my entire childhood.” Her hands go over her face, and she mumbles through her fingers, “And to think I let Rovos take my implant out so we could have a kid of our own. I’msorethinking that right now. Big time!”
I’m frozen, taking in everything she just dumped on me. For a moment, we just stand and stare at one another, then I bend down and move the loose floor panel, where I hid the half-full bottle ofTodella-Vahva. At the time I thought it best to remove all alcohol from theShadewhile I’m stuck with Brox.
The very thought of him brings his stupid handsome face to mind. The way his smokey blue eyes, ringed with dark kohl, stand out against the bronze tones of his skin. The way his dark, rippling striations—thanks to his Vereopian ancestry—blend into the thick lines of ink that run down his heavily muscled arms that my fingertips itch to trace. I wonder how far up his arms they go? Is his chest covered too? I quickly shake those thoughts away.
Of all the males in the universe, what is it about him that affects me so much? I’ve hardly given another male so much as a second look in—far too long. So why now? Andwhy him?
Considering the conflicting ways he makes me feel when he’s around, the last thing I need is either of us drunk and not thinking clearly. But the thought of an entire mission, stuck with a male who makes my head want to explode, without some kind of escape?
Instead of getting rid of it, I hid the bottle somewhere only I knew about.
“Igid, you’re a lifesaver!” Anna moans as I pour each of us a shot.
Lifting my glass, I tap it against hers before tipping it back and letting it burn down my throat to warm my stomach.Mmmm, perfect.
Beside me, Anna coughs like she poured it straight into her lungs.
“I’ll never know how you drink this shit and not die,” she gasps.
Closing up the bottle, I shake my head as I hide it under the floor once again. “It’s an acquired taste.”
Anna gathers up the glasses and sets them inside the replicator, reminding me that I need to finish refilling it. There’s no way to know how long our mission might take, so I want to make sure theShadeis fully stocked.
The plan is for Brox and me to leave for the asteroid auction before the sun sets. The hidden auction house was the last known place where the group of humans, who were captured by Xar’ad slavers, were together.
Treto was able to rescue Bela and Skylar, leaving another female behind at Madame Athea’s pleasure station—by her choice—which may not be a choice I understand, but who am I to dictate how another female chooses to live her life?
Our hope is to find record of whoever might have bought the other three females. Depending on what we’re able to find out, we’ll go after them or regroup and plan a rescue.
“I swear, Skylar is probably one of the smartest teenagers I’ve ever met, and yet she isn’t using a single brain cell when it comes to the decision she’s determined to stick with,” Anna continues her tirade as she hands me the packets for the replicator. “She has a chance to go back to earth! To a family who loves her and probably misses her like hell, but she wants to stay here because of thetechnology!Can you believe it?”
When she’s quiet for a moment, I look over at her and realize she’s actually expecting me to answer.
“Oh. Well, maybe her family isn’t as they might seem?” When I reach for the next packet, Anna is giving me the strangest look.
“But they are herfamily.”
I clench my teeth tight and turn back to loading the last of the packets into the replicator. Myfamilysold me for coin. Not that it was much of a family, really. I was born in a brothel to a Niveron mother who was an indentured whore. The Gods only know who—or what—my father might have been since I’ve mostly taken on the characteristics of my mother’s ancestry.
I knew my mother’s fate would be mine someday, but no one expected them to take me so young.
Shaking that memory from my head, I slam the replicator shut and turn on Anna. “She’s hardly a kit. You’ve told me before that she’s nearly grown and only lacking maturity from life experience. I’d say she’s had plenty of time to know if she wishes to return to her family.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. Especially the way Anna is looking at me, her mouth slightly open and clear blue eyes bugged wide. Taking a deep breath, I tamp my temper back down, shoving my own painful memories deep.
Anna folds her arms across her chest. “You know what?”
Inwardly I grimace, kicking myself for speaking my mind about something I have no right to address.
“You’re right.”
My eyes snap to hers, an apology on the tip of my tongue. “I’m—did you say, I’m right?”
She nods. “You’re right. Skylar is plenty old enough to make this decision for herself. It’s me who’s projecting, because I would love to be able to let my family know I’m safe and happy andalive.”
Her words are without sarcasm or heat, and yet they hit me like a fist to the chest.
“But that’s me, and her family isn’t mine.” She leans back onto the counter and smiles at me. “What, did you think I’d stomp off and cry like a girl?”
