"Can I take you back to your quarters for rest?" Kaedren offered.
I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "I was doing fine until this," I said, motioning at the three of them with both hands. "There is a bond, and yes, I am starting to feel things that all of you are feeling, but do you remember our conversation over lunch?"
All four of them nodded their heads.
"Good. Remember how I said I was really bad at this?"
They nodded again.
"Great. You listen and remember. You are already light-years ahead of every potential suitor I've ever had."
Their smiles grew larger.
I held up a finger. "But if you smother me with affection right now, I will snap this bond in half myself. Are we clear?" I pushed the warning through whatever connection we shared, willing them to feel it.
All four men flinched, then mumbled agreements.
"Okay, so what's next?" I asked.
Torvyn glanced at Vaelix. "Have we received any distress calls?"
"No, Captain. Nothing in the last few days."
"Well, Kira, it looks like we have some free time. Is there anywhere you would like to go? Maybe a planet full of alien ruins?" Torvyn said.
Excitement coursed through me. I could do research again—not research somebody else wanted me to do, but research I cared about. I took a deep breath. This was a little overwhelming. There were so many planets on my bucket list; where to start?
"Captain, we are receiving a priority transmission," Vaelix said.
"On screen."
A familiar face flickered to life on the viewscreen. Ice crystallized in my gut.
"Doctor Vale, it is so good to see you again."
I glared at the screen—at that perfectly combed hair, those gleaming veneers.
"What do you want, Voss?" I asked.
He shook his head and tsked at me. "Now, now, is that any way to address your director?"
"Considering I don't work for you anymore, I don't really care what you think about how I address you. Maybe I can call you by your company nickname? Would you like that, Director Hover?"
"Director Hover?" Voss asked, eyes blank.
"That's right. Because all you do is hover over everyone until they are so uncomfortable they want to quit—you walking, talking HR violation!" I said, my fists balled and chest heaving.
"You ungrateful pile of—"
"Watch your tongue, human." Torvyn's voice could have cut steel. "You do not address emissaries of the Zorathi Reach with that tone."
Voss looked at the Captain, then laughed. "First, Doctor Vale still works for me. You really should read her contract. Hold on, I will send it to you. Second, I will speak to you however I please. Have you checked your sensors yet, Zorathi scum? You are outmanned, outgunned, and out of time."
Torvyn signaled for the transmission to be muted, then looked at Vaelix.
"Five corporate frigates have decloaked, Captain. We are indeed surrounded."
Torvyn's anger didn't just radiate—it crashed into me like a tsunami, dragging me under. For a moment, I couldn't separate his rage from mine, couldn't remember why I hated Voss or if I'd always wanted to tear him apart. The bond amplified everything, turned emotion into wildfire.
