“I don’t understand.” It was a rather normal question. If they didn’t want any, then I would no longer ask. We didn’t always have children, whether through womb, tube, or adoption, though there were rarely drakcol children available to adopt and adoption in itself was a rarity in our culture. It was up to the individual couple.
“On Earth, people often ask newly mated couples when they’re having children. Sometimes to an annoying frequency,” he explained.
“We ask, but the answer is rather unimportant. It’s simply so we know. However, I will not ask humans in the future, if it bothers you.”
“That’s probably wise. Mindy and I want kids eventually.”
I had no response, and Bartholomew didn’t make further conversation. He watched his mate as he and Seth sparred. Even from here, I could see Seth was getting better. When I started working with him over three years ago, he’d been horrible, though dedicated. His persistence had paid off. Seth was now a decent fighter. He would never match up to one of us—we were stronger and faster than humans—but he would be able to defend himself if the situation ever arose, which, I supposed, was the point.
A shadow drifted over me, and Bobbinvoxlyn reached up with a squeal. Monqilcolnen smiled at the baby, but he didn’t pick him up, probably because he knew it would upset Seth. He did crouch to run a hand over Bobbinvoxlyn’s soft brown hair. The tips of his fingers dragged over my bare arm, his claws scraping. A shiver went through me, and I stared at him, meeting golden eyes. My soul picked up, and my tail wiggled toward Monqilcolnen, wanting to curl around him and draw him closer.
Thatwas unexpected.
“You’re not practicing injured, are you?” he demanded, his voice turning harsher than I normally ever heard from him. His tone didn’t match my dream in its roughness, but it did come close.
“No,” I replied, ducking my head, but my eyes ran over his strong hands with their prominent knuckles. How were they so beautiful? Had I ever thought someone’s hands were beautiful before?
“Good.” He stood and moved away.
Bartholomew leaned toward me and asked, “Did you really puke on him?”
I covered my face. How, by the Crystal’s light, had Bartholomew found out? “Yes.”
He snorted but smothered the sound quickly enough. “Monty told me the story when he was hanging out with Mindy and I, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was true.”
Why? Why? I didn’t understand why he insisted on telling that story, but I wished he would stop. I swallowed a scoff. Beautiful hands? I thought not.
Chapter 8
First day of work.
I checked my uniform for the hundredth time, and it looked as perfect as the first time I’d inspected it. Somehow I still felt as if something was wrong. I didn’t want a cocked eyebrow on my first day. Well, I didn’t want it ever, but especially not today. No, I needed today to go perfectly, to help build some confidence that I could even be his assistant for a time.
My shaking fingers tugged on my uniform shirt again. Nope. It didn’t matter how today went. I wasn’t going to survive the six weeks Doctor Qinlin insisted I take off from my regular duties. Originally, she’d said one week of light duty, and now, it was six. No way in the entire universe would it take six weeks for myhand to heal, but I couldn’t argue with her. Qinlin had made her ruling, and not even Captain Talvax could overrule her.
“It looks fine,” Cencay said, hanging over the edge of their bunk to stare at me. They were a senior cadet who shared my berth. Their white scales were framed by red and purple skin, and pale,palepink hair was in two long braids on either side of their face.
This was their senior trip. Every cadet had to do training on a starship before graduation. Most were assigned to or picked a short term assignment so they could complete the program and move onto permanent placements. Cencay had chosen this. They wanted to see the universe and spend more time with humans, or so they’d told me. This was their first time in space, and they were new. Very new.
My senior lieutenant had asked me to take Cencay under my wing, and I’d been honored by the request. When I’d been tapped for this, it felt as if my excellent work and adherence to the rules had finally been noticed. I always did my best to succeed, and now, it was slowly paying off. Here I was helping a cadet, which would shape their future career in the navy.
“I’m serving the commander for six weeks. My uniform has to be perfect, not fine,” I informed them. This was something they should know, if they were ever in this position.
They laughed, hanging half off their bed to the point I worried they’d crash to the floor. “The commander you puked on.”
I rested a fist against the wall and swallowed a growl. “Who told you?”
“It has been widely spread about. I’ve heard about it from at least three people. Ensign Puke. So hilarious.”
Of course it was common knowledge. That did feel in line with my luck as of late. Hurt hand, then subsequently stuck next to the commander who hated me. Of course the dreaded endearment of ‘Ensign Puke’ continued to thrive.
I smoothed a hand down my dark blue uniform before making sure my wing pip was straight and it as well as the circular one were perfectly shined. The high collar was stiff, the sleeves reached my wrists without the slightest overhang, my trousers were pressed, and my black boots polished. I had put oil on the pink strands of my hair, making them soft and shiny in the braid. I’d even shaved the sides of my head last night. I wanted everything to be perfect today. It had to be.
“Do you want to go running around the docking ring after we’re off duty?” Cencay asked.
TheAdmiral Venhad many gyms and training rooms, but many of the crew enjoyed running around the docking ring. The ship was well suited for that. The center was a perfect sphere, and a ring surrounded the center like a planet.
“Certainly.” I did want to spend more time with Cencay, as well as answer any questions they had. It was my duty. My chest puffed up in pride.
