“You’re still light-headed,” he murmured.
“A little.”
He shifted closer — not touching, but close enough that she felt steadier. “Is it good? If it’s not to your taste, I’ll get you something else.”
She nodded and took a small bite. The food was hot, comforting, and delicately flavored. “It’s good... delicious.”
His shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad.”
A soft chime sounded overhead. Crew members paused, glancing up. Darren stiffened beside her.
“What is that?” she whispered.
“A systems alert,” he said. “Not dangerous. Just—”
The lights flickered.
Kora froze mid-retort. Nayli’s hand tightened on Blayze’s sleeve. Aelanna’s pulse spiked.
Darren was already on his feet, scanning the room. “Stay seated.”
The lights steadied, but the hum of the engines shifted — subtle, but wrong. Aelanna felt it in her bones.
Darren tapped his comm. “Bridge, report.”
Static crackled. Then a voice: “Minor fluctuation in the forward stabilizers. Adjusting now.”
Darren’s jaw tightened. “Define minor.”
“Working on it,” the voice replied.
The lights stuttered again.
Aelanna’s breath caught. Darren turned to her instantly.
“You’re safe,” he said, voice low and steady. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her fear eased — not because the ship was stable, but because he was.
Kora stood abruptly. “Should we be worried?”
“No,” Darren said. “But stay close.”
Lero moved to Kora’s side, posture protective despite his scowl. Blayze shifted nearer to Nayli, who didn’t seem to mind at all.
Still seated, Aelanna looked up at Darren. “Is this normal?”
“Not ideal,” he admitted. “But manageable.”
The lights steadied. The hum returned to its usual rhythm. Crew members resumed their meals, though more quietly than before.
Darren exhaled slowly. “Stabilizers are correcting. The danger has passed.”
Aelanna let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.
Darren sat beside her again, closer this time. “You handled that well.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
