“We’ll be with you.” Jeren grips my shoulder.
They’ve been my sparring dummies, trainers, and nightly sleeping partners for the past week. I don’t know how I’ve managed to resist them every night, but it might have something to do with the fact that after long, grueling days of training, I’m out as soon as I hit the mattress.
A portal opens beside us and Tilda steps through. She narrows her eyes at my Alphas. “What are all of you doing here?”
“We’re her co-captains. Obviously.” Jeren flips a blade and catches it.
“Not a chance.” Tilda loops her elbow through mine. “I’m her co-pilot.”
“We’re a circle.” Ceredes stares down at her.
“Yeah, well, we’re a team, so you fellas are going to need to find some other ship.”
“Lana?” Kyte asks. “Who do you want as your co-pilots?”
I want to seep beneath the concrete and stay there. How can I choose between my Alphas and my friend?
Another portal opens and Uaxin steps out, her red hair pulled back, both of her eyes visible. She scans us, then takes the spot at my other side, linking her arm with me. A little thrill of triumph goes through me that she touched me on purpose. She’s so skittish, and I’ve never pried about what happened to her before the fleet found her, but I’m beyond happy that she’s warmed up to me. One day, we’ll share our secrets. But today, we’ll share the sky.
Tilda glances at her. “Looks like we have room for a gunner. That’s all.”
“Me.” All three of my Alphas say in unison.
Ceredes steps forward. “Lana—”
“If you ask me to choose among the three of you, I’ll go all power-crazy-Omega right now.” I shake my head. “The three of you decide. But Tilda’s right. We Omegas make a great flying team. No point breaking that up, right?”
“Are you certain?” Kyte’s voice echoes around my mind.
“Yes.” I give him a curt nod. My Alphas are everything to me, but I can’t shut out my friends. Not now, when sticking together might be the only thing that keeps the Sentients at bay.
“I should go with her,” Ceredes says. “I’m the strongest.”
“I’m a better flyer.” Jeren stows his blade.
“I’m the best gunner,” Kyte reminds them.
“The last time you fiddled with her weapons, you almost killed her,” Ceredes points out.
“Right. You should stay,” Jeren agrees. “I should go.”
“No.” Ceredes puffs out his chest in his usual Alpha fashion. “It should be me.”
Kyte tosses his head. “That one time was an accident. You can’t really—”
“Oh my god! Just, I don’t know, do rock, paper, scissors or something.” I huff out a nervous breath.
“Do what?” Tilda cocks her head.
“Here, look.” I give a general explanation of how the game works. Then I explain it again. Then I give a demonstration.
No one seems to catch on until Tilda snaps her fingers. “It’s the same as sentient, circle, rift!”
“Huh?” I have no idea what she’s talking about, and by the looks on my Alphas’ faces, neither do they.
“Is it just a Granterry thing?” She scratches her head. “We don’t have hand motions like your game. We just say what we are at the agreed upon moment.”
“So, what beats what?” I’m genuinely curious now.
