I insisted.
Crossing my legs, squeezing tight, I commed,
He chuckled over the comm.
It had been over twelve hours since we’d been horizontal. An inexcusable length of time.
While he stared down at his clasped hands on the table, looking politely uninterested for anyone else who might be watching, his lips twitched.
“Finally,” Elanie grumbled when Chan arrived.
While he cruised to his spot at the head of the table, I frowned. Something was up. I couldn’t put my finger on the change, but Chan hadn’t been himself lately. He’d been intensely focused and staunchly professional, and he hadn’t made a single wrong move since the FFKs boarded. He was either angling for a promotion, getting ready to quit and looking for a glowing recommendation, or—and what I considered most likely—he was worried.
I commed Freddie.
he commed back.
I didn’t think so. The FFKs had been pleasant enough, and they were set to disembark in a few days. If they were going to cause any trouble, wouldn’t they have done it already? Sitting back in my chair, watching Chan adjust his hoverchair to table height, my heart sank.
I nodded. I’d been so wrapped up in my own life that I hadn’t considered the possibility that Chan might have developed genuine feelings for Makenna. And when the ship reached Portis next week, Makenna would leave with the other wizards, with Sonia and Lena and Sai, and Chan would be alone again.
“Welcome, everyone,” Chan said, his voice clear but tired. “I’ve called this meeting to present our special guests with their certificates of completion for this week of training with us. I realize we still have a couple of days left, but with New Year’s on the horizon, this may be the only time we aren’t all too busy to meet. So without further ado…” He leaned over, reaching into one of his hoverchair’s pockets. And this time, nobody flinched, nobody tensed, nobody rose from their seats or reached for their chuck-cuffs or flash grenades.
Pulling out four digital certificates, Chan said, “Everyone, please join me in congratulating our trainees.”
While the Kravaxians accepted their certificates, everyone applauded—even if Rax’s and Morgath’s hands came together in more of a golf clap. But then Tano stood from the table, and I huffed a laugh when Rax’s fingers dropped to his paresis darts. Some things never changed.
“We wanted to thank you all as well,” Tano said, either unaware of Rax’s attempt at intimidation or unconcerned, “for your kindness and hospitality.” He motioned to Axel, who placed what looked like seven shards of glass onto the table, each one a few inches long, slightly curved, with tips sharpened to a fine point.
“These are known on Kravax as Orion’s Teeth,” Tano explained, picking up a tooth, twirling it back and forth so it caught the light. “They are the first teeth of the sikka andonly found by swimming to the bottom of the Rustiun Sea and digging them from the sand.”
“What is a sikka?” I asked, taking my tooth from the table. It was light as air but felt strong as steel.
“Sikka are carnivorous eels that rule the seas on Kravax,” Axel answered. “They are highly poisonous, deadly if eaten. But they are also cunning, merciless, and resilient—all traits highly prized by our people.”
“When you possess Orion’s Tooth,” Tano said, “it is believed the spirits of our planet will pass these traits on to you.”
When I hovered my finger over the tooth’s tip, Axel warned, “Careful, Sunny. They’re sharp.”
“Thank you.” I placed the tooth gingerly back on the table. “It’s beautiful.”
“You are welcome,” Tano replied, his brown eyes sparkling, his gaze lingering on mine a second longer than necessary. Marisia, noticing the eye contact, squinted at me before glaring at him. “While we are looking forward to your New Year’s celebration,” Tano went on, oblivious to the fireballs shooting from Marisia’s eyes, “we are not looking forward to leaving this ship.”
Beside me, Reya’s chin dropped, and I watched Tig squeeze her hand under the table, giving her a devastatingly sad smile. They would miss each other. It would be difficult for Tig to stay in touch with someone on Kravax since their tech was so primitive. But why couldn’t we offer Reya a position on the ship? Tig could use the help. Maybe they’d work together all day, spending their afternoons sharing tea and pastries at the bistro. What started as an innocent friendship might grow into?—
Freddie commed,
I coughed so hard and for so long that I had to wave off half the table when they stood—or raised their hoverchair—asking if I was all right, offering me water.
I scolded over the comm.
