“Hey. It’s ok. I’ve got you.” T’arq was right there, at her side, skilled fingers releasing the catch and lifting her from the seat.
She stiffened against him. “You can let me down now.”
He did immediately, letting go and stepping back. “I’m sorry.” His eyes seemed to plead with her to understand.
To understand what? He had lied to her.
She pressed her lips together and shook her head, turning away to follow Amelia and Oren from the shuttle. They walked down the ramp and onto the shuttle bay floor to a small welcoming party. Domik greeted his brother Oren with the close head touch of friends before bowing low to Amelia. The doctor shot a confused look at Oren, who laughed, shaking his head and pushing his brother lightly on the shoulder.
Laila rushed toward her and threw her arms around Krystal, Zac following closely behind her. Krystal extracted herself from her sister’s embrace and took a step backwards. “I’m fine, Laila. Really.”
The difference between the two was striking. Laila was tall, where Krystal was short. Laila was Amazonian in her stature, where Krystal was what she would call dumpy on a bad day and curvy when she was feeling generous. Laila walked with a confident stride, a woman who knew her place in the world. Krystal carried a step stool.
Laila grasped her by the shoulders and looked down into her upturned face. “Really? Because we both know how you feel about—”
“I said I’m fine.” Krystal forced a smile. “Really, I am.”
“Why do I not believe you?”
“If she said she’s fine, then she’s fine.” T’arq almost growled.
Krystal stiffened, the heat of his body on her back making her acutely aware of just how close he was standing. She whirled to face him, her eyes hitting him smack in the middle of his chest.
His very broad chest.
She stumbled, taking a step backwards, and his hand shot out to steady her with a gentle but firm grip on her elbow. Her skin burned with the touch of his fingers and she jerked out of his grasp. He wouldn’t tell her the truth, but he hovered over her like it was his right to be her protector? She shook with anger at his presumption.
Zac spoke to Krystal. “Your cloak was so successful that the Supreme Commander himself wants to talk to you about it.”
“What?” Both Krystal and T’arq spoke in unison. She felt his eyes on her, but refused to look at him.
What would the leader of the Taurean people want with her? Just one small piece of technology. One small piece of technology that had not been as successful as they seemed to think. The Xakul drone had found them, after all. And she was still trying to puzzle out how that had happened. And she was still so annoyed with T’arq that she couldn’t think straight.
Krystal swallowed; her mouth as dry as a desert. “When?” She choked out.
“Right now.” Zac’s expression was grim.
Shit.She paled.
“Both of you.” Zac gestured to her and T’arq. “Now.”
She shot a look at T’arq, whose normally golden skin had paled, his hands in fists by his side.
Double shit.
