Total pages in book: 175
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
“So basically you were avoiding us,” Dora says knowingly.
“I didn’t want Bethiah to feel smothered.”
“She won’t, because I won’t let her.” Dora gives me an exasperated look. “How’s she going to get used to a triad if one third isn’t in bed with us at night?” She moves behind me, rubbing my neck, and I groan and lean into her touch. Kef me, that’s good. “I get what you’re trying to do, but she’s going to have to be a little uncomfortable from time to time. I’m not going to choose catering to her over you getting some sleep.”
I manage a small smile, because I’m being properly scolded. “Yes, mistress.”
She laughs and wraps her arms around me from behind, her face tucked in perfectly against my neck and managing to avoid my horns. “I like the sound of that. Now I just need my turn in charge and —”
A throat clears behind us.
“Please,” Bethiah says in a dry voice. “Don’t let me interrupt the cuddle session.”
Dora jumps away, releasing me. “Oh! You’re awake.”
“Surprise.” Bethiah saunters onto the bridge, her expression shuttered. “You can go back to mauling each other. I just needed to check my messages.”
“We’re not mauling each other!” Dora declares, glaring at her.
Bethiah shrugs, moving to the message station. She won’t look either of us in the eye. “I could have sworn one of the rules of the triad was to not do anything when one member was absent. Looks like that went out the door pretty fast. Did you two have fun last night after I left?”
Dora makes an angry sound in her throat, her fists clenched. “Why do you immediately think everyone is up to no good?”
Bethiah gives us both a caustic smile. “Because they usually are?”
Forty-Nine
BETHIAH
Less than a day and they’re already forgetting I exist. Typical.
It shouldn’t hurt my feelings that they’re all over each other this morning. It’s what I expected, right? That eventually they’ll realize they don’t need me in this relationship and they’ll find ways to work around my presence and boot me out of our triad.
Because triads don’t work.
I just thought it’d take longer than an evening. Damn.
Dora releases Jamef and moves to my side, all smiles. “Good morning.” She beams up at me and tilts her face in my direction, clearly waiting for a kiss.
And I’m a sucker because I lean down and kiss her, even though she’s already forgetting about me. “Morning,” I grump. “Are we almost at this moon base?”
“Almost,” Jamef says. His tone is neutral, and he doesn’t get up from his seat to greet me. He watches me with those too-knowing eyes and I suspect he thinks I’m being ridiculous. Joke’s on him, I know I’m being ridiculous. I just don’t trust this entire situation. “Have you ever worked with Kaatir va’Nik before?”
I shake my head. “Any time I need something done to a ship, I go to see my cousin. He lives on an abandoned station and takes odd jobs, most of them junk-scrapping.”
“Well, that explains the appearance of the ship after you got a hold of it,” Jamef drawls, deliberately fingering one of the rusty-looking repurposed panels on the bridge.
I point a finger at him. “My cousin does a good job. And besides, would you want to rob this ship? Which is my point exactly. If we look like we’ve not got two credits to rub together, then we’re safe. And besides, he gives me a great discount on his work.”
“So why didn’t we go to your cousin this time?” Dora asks, her voice sweet and innocent.
I shrug as if I’m totally casual about all of this. As if it’s no big deal. “Jamef wanted to see his friend.”
And I’m leery of bringing anyone to visit my cousin. He’s my family. One of the few people in this universe I trust unconditionally. Bringing Dora and Jamef would show that they’re truly my partners, and that we really are committed to one another…and it’s going to make me look incredibly stupid when they leave me.
So no, they don’t get to meet Jerrok. Not yet.
“Friend?” Jamef gives me an incredulous look, crossing his arms over his chest with a creak of cybernetics. “Kaatir doesn’t have friends. He has targets.”
Dora steps a little closer subconsciously, and a small part of me feels gleeful that she’s coming to me for comfort. I put a hand on the back of her neck, and she slides an arm around my waist, oblivious to my smug thoughts. “If he’s not friendly, why are we visiting him?”
Jamef raises a finger in the air. “He’s close by.” He ticks off another finger, and then another as he lists the reasons. “He can keep a secret. He doesn’t ask questions. And…he’s cheap. Plus, with all the wives he’s got lurking around that station, he’s not going to be interested in acquiring more, which makes Dora safer.”