“Payment?”
“For the travel, since you won’t be returning with us.”
Adiron glances over. “Kim said you were going back to your home planet and we should take her back to Risda.”
“She is wrong. My place is with her and not on Praxii Minor.”
Mathiras rubs his hands together. “So when do you want to leave? The sooner the better, in case we get hit with one of the surprise inspections.”
I gesture at the bridge. “How soon can we leave?”
“Now?” Adiron asks hopefully.
“Kaspar will return soon,” Mathiras adds, giving me a narrow-eyed look. “Don’t you need to be here until morning? Kim said you had a second meeting with them at dawn.”
My jealous, possessive side does not like how friendly these smooth strangers are with my pretty mate. “If I were a thoughtful, kind man, I would indeed meet with my parents in the morning and tell them of my decision, face to face. But I am a shifty, bitter type, and I do not owe them anything.” I bare my fangs in a menacing smile. “We can leave as soon as possible.”
Adiron whoops and turns back to the nav station. “I like the way you think, my friend.”
Mathiras moves to his captain’s chair. “I’ll message Kaspar and let him know we’re ready to go. Buckle in to the nearest seat.” He gestures at an empty station on the bridge. “Once we’re safely out of the station’s territory I’ll let the humans know it’s safe to come out.”
I strap in, thinking of my Kim. She told them I would be leaving with my parents? Does she truly think I would abandon her—and our life together—simply because someone flashed jewels in front of my eyes? That I would forgive a lifetime of pain because I am promised that things will be different? I know if I return with them, I will never see Kim again. I will be given an appropriate mate, I will be garbed in appropriate attire, and I will spend my days in rich boredom unless I am lucky enough for Praxii Minor to go to war.
It stings that Kim has already given me up in her mind. How quickly she rids herself of me. I know it is because she has been hurt in the past, but it still wounds me…and reminds me that even though she speaks of love and trust, she is not there yet.
She has not reached for me of her own accord. Maybe she never will. Maybe I am hoping for too much from her. She has been damaged from her time in captivity, as have I. These things take time, and I must be patient with her.
After all, once I walk away from my parents and their offer, I can disappear into the universe once more. I will be Nassakth of nowhere in particular, who happens to share a name with a once-famous gladiator. I will be a homesteader and farmer, no more than that.
I will have all the time in the world to woo my human.
72
KIM
The hidden compartment in the Little Sister isn’t my favorite spot to spend a few hours. It’s cramped, and even though there’s a few human books in here—including a copy of Outlander—it’s a little claustrophobic. I know as a human, I shouldn’t complain about the safety measures that the crew has taken. They’re genuinely looking out for me, and I mentally picture the three guys stuffing their poor sister in here on the regular. It’s just that…I’m so tired of all this shit. Not just this ship, not just Bethiah and her money-grubbing smart mouth. It’s everything. I just want to go home where I’m safe and happy and never leave again. At my side, Sophie shivers. There’s one air vent above us, but it keeps blowing so fiercely that the air coming through is ice cold and smells of dust. I feel bad for my friend, because this has to be terrifying for her.
I mean, I feel bad for me, too, but I’m determined not to think too hard about Nassakth until I get home and I can process my feelings alone and in private…and with a lot of wine.
But then the Little Sister lurches, and I panic. I fumble at the straps of the jump seat I’m parked in, trying to free myself. “Why are we moving?”
At my side, Sophie tilts her head, listening, and puts her hand on the wall of the small hidden compartment. “The ship’s vibrating. Are we moving?”
“No!” I yelp. “We can’t move.”
Because if we’re moving, that means we’re leaving the space station.
If we’re leaving the space station, that means Nassakth must have decided to go stay with his family…and I asked the brothers to take me back home.
I didn’t mean so quickly, though. I thought I’d have time to say goodbye.
The thought of never seeing Nassakth again makes me whimper with distress and I claw at the straps. A light flashes on the panel in front of us, probably saying something about the ship taking off and blah blah blah remain seated, but I can’t. I have to stop them before we get too far away. I need to talk to Nassakth.