She hugged the tiny drone to her chest. “Yes I will.”
Xexis chuckled, “Well, it is time for a break. I hunger and I know your body requires nourishment. Let's eat. Depending on how close we are to the station, you may have to wait another day to start work.”
“What? Why?” she squeaked, glancing at all her tools spread over the table. “I need to put my station back together.”
Xexis cupped her face and brought her attention back to his face. “After dinner. I require my mate, please.”
She could hear the pain in the words. Nodding, she slipped to her feet. “Yeah, it can wait. Buddy, do me a favor and stay here, watch the tools, make sure nothing rolls away.”
Buddy zipped out of her hands and bobbed back to the station. Aphrodite looped her arm through Xexis’. He led them awayfrom the lab, winding through stations and empty tables. He cocked his head toward her, “You know no one would dare steal from your station, my mate.”
She raised a brow at him, “Ah, so you just leave your armor wherever you like, unattended?”
He squinted, the cogs in his head turning as he continued to lead them out of the lab. “Point taken.”
Grinning to herself, Aphrodite let him guide the two back toward the mess hall. The entire ship was too quiet. Lights were lower than normal, as if the technology mourned their loss. They entered a usually jovial space and found it empty except for the pack. Aphrodite let Xexis go to the table while she grabbed a tray for them to share. She’d studied his choices last time and tried to find things for him to indulge. Pain and loss aside, he needed to smile again, and she’d do whatever she could to fix it back on his face.
Aphrodite set the tray down and slid onto the barstool between him and Reevar. Grooug and Kiefgr were staring at the tabletop, poking at their grape-looking vegetables. Aphrodite would have normally asked to try it, but she was worried they wouldn’t eat. Worried that they wouldn’t smile again. With a sigh, she put something before Xexis, then put a large, fluffy roll to her mouth. As if guided by her movements, Xexis brought a meat roll looking object to his pincers. Reevar stuffed a fruit into his maw and filled the room with a loud crunch. Grooug and Kiefgr popped their vegetables in their mouths. It made her chest ache to eat in silence.
“When we get to your home station,” she cleared her throat of the bread before washing it down with a goblet of sparkling water, “are we going directly to your dad or?”
Reevar snorted, “It will be hard fighting through the crowds.”
Grooug nodded. “Busy.”
Kiefgr smiled softly up at Aphrodite, their sadness seeping away for only a moment. “It’ll be nice for Mphronatch, the station is massive and full of cool technology. So much for you to break and make from stuff.”
Aphrodite chuckled, “That sounds amazing.”
“We need a hunt,” Grooug murmured.
“Agreed,” Reevar sighed.
“Before Kannatch becomes official Kannatch.” Kiefgr nodded vigorously.
Xexis rumbled with a warmth she hadn’t seen in him since this morning. “One last hunt as pack would be nice. After we’ve spoken with Korzavic, I will find us a hunt.”
Aphrodite furrowed her brows, looking between all of them. “What do you mean? Are—” She glanced at Xexis. “Are you not hunting anymore?”
“I am Kannatch.” He took a massive bite into his meal.
Reevar put a hand to her shoulder, squeezing it. Then, like Aphrodite suddenly understood, her heart broke.Xexis was mated now, he would only hunt with her…mates hunt as a pair.She glanced at the crew. They were all soft and staring at their food with sorrow. Her voice cracked, “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Reevar cocked his head to the side.
“I’ve broken the stag party,” she whispered.
Xexis blinked rapidly in question, “The male deer?”
“No, she means friend group.” Reevar peeked over Aphrodite’s head at Xexis before returning his attention to Aphrodite. “Mphronatch, we are happy Kannatch has found his mate. We all worked together to help him craft your mating hunt, both times.”
Grooug snickered but said nothing as he popped more vegetables in his mouth. Kiefgr offered her a better smile and sway of their body as they spoke, “It was an honor to stab.”
Aphrodite sputtered, laughing and pitying them in the same weak sound. Xexis wrapped an arm around her and brought her close to his body. As the group mourned their lost crew, the pain of defeat over Fqa’s illness, and the slow breaking up of their pack, Aphrodite sat there. She didn’t want to regret finding Xexis.It stings to see them so heart broken.Laying her head against him, she sighed. “So, I guess I need to put new armor up to the top of my list, huh?”
“Once we have settled the human issue, armor would be good idea, yes.” He nodded, rubbing her side affectionately. “We could craft it together. Younglings make their armor with their mentor, but as you never had a mentor to make armor for you, it would be my honor.”
Kiefgr sighed dreamily, “I can’t wait to find my mate. I wish to make armor with someone.”
