Had he failed her in some way?
Hurt her?
"I don't understand," he whispered.
Wrathin looked at him. "What is wrong? Is the ship working?" He started hitting the controls on his side, but all the panels were reading nominal.
Jedriek scanned space around them as they moved. The other Terran ships were ignoring them still, which was what they needed. They had to get back and land safely.
He shook his head. "Females make no sense."
Wrathin grinned. "They do not. I do not understand half the things that Veta has told me about her life and the society."
"Such as?"
"There's Terrans who seek out women to hurt them. They wear special armor that protects them from being attacked by a male who wants to force his Craving on them."
Jedriek growled. "Those men should be reprogrammed."
"She said they don't do that. Not exactly. It was strange. It made me very angry."
Jedriek nodded. "I would be angry too. It makes me more determined to protect her."
"Eleanor?"
Jedriek nodded.
"Has she experienced your Craving?"
Jedriek nodded. "She is most beautiful in those moments."
Wrathin smiled. "I think many humanoid females are in those moments."
"What other humanoid females are beautiful," Veta asked as she came back.
"You are the most beautiful, so it matters not," Wrathin said.
She raised her eyebrow. "Good answer." She stepped around and took a seat on his lap. "So, what are you boys up here gossiping about?"
"Jedriek craves Eleanor."
"Oh," Veta said. "Well, she craves you too."
Jedriek smiled. "I hope so."
"You two will be cute together," Veta said.
"We won't be," Jedriek replied.
"Why not?"
"Because she does not think that we could be. Beyond this time."
"How do you know that?" Veta asked.
"The words came from her lips."
Veta snorted. "Eleanor worries. You two can figure something out, I'm sure."
