A server sets our drinks and food between us.
Brynna and I thank him. He bows and leaves.
“Sir,” Fieri says. “Ohni is on approach.”
Sir?It’s strange hearing him address me in such a manner.
As we begin eating, Ohni crosses the room like a shadow, wearing a form-fitted black business suit with a black race badge on her chest.
She walks up to us. “Sounds like you haven’t done your mystery tour yet.”
“No, ma’am,” I reply. “We were planning to do it tomorrow.”
Fieri moves behind my shoulder.
“Well,” Ohni eyes him. “I’m certain you’ve heard of the Nebs movement through the system.”
“Yes,” Brynna replies. “What’s going on?”
“Many have been talking about leaving the races early. If that’s you two, then I suggest you go after dinner. I’ll shut down the challenge. You just go down there, make your way to the end, and pick a prize.”
“Yes, ma’am. Can we help with anything?” I ask.
She gives us a small smile. “We have significantly increased forces since the Mars battle. Just promise me that you stay alive. It breaks my heart every time we get a couple together, and they go off and die in battle. I’m not sure how many more times I can hear about that before I can’t take it anymore and quit.”
Brynna sits forward. “I have not forgotten my promise to you. And I will return. Besides, we have to have good moments to make the bad ones worthwhile. And you give us all that. You provide this as a dream to those who feel hopeless.”
“The same could be said for you.” Ohni steps back from the table, dips her head. “May the universe bless you in your travels and your battles.”
DIA contacts me. “Your friends, Hatchet and Corzin ,are departing ABR with their mates, heading for their home system.”
“We’re going,” Brynna says. “I know you want to.”
“We are supposed to stay. It’s safer here for you.”
Brynna leans across the table. “And yet a Talhuskin still came after me. Danger is everywhere. I’d just rather be hunting it than the other way around.”
I steal her hand from beside the candle, take the finger she’s swiped through the flame since we sat down, and I lick the light dusting of soot from her skin. “Whatever you want, gorgeous.”
Brynna bites her lip and grunts in lust. “I want you, but I say we go fight for our friends. It’s more time critical.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” I look back at Fieri. “Right?”
His face wrinkles with frustration. “It is where I want to be, too.”
“Okay. It’s decided,” I say.
Brynna and I eat quickly in silence, and I sense she feels the same urgency as I do to get this over with.
Fieri looks relieved when we finish. He pats me on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”
We get up to leave but are stopped by a Derorsin, moving into our path. “Do you think these games are a joke? You show up to steal the good stuff, to win prizes, and then just disappear.”
Fieri holds him back while I corral Brynna behind me. “You do not know the struggles of a Drathious, so it is not your placeto have expectations. Now go enjoy your meal with your mate, and let us leave.”
“Something’s going on with him, and I don’t like it,” the knobby brown armor-plated male asserts.
Fingers of green electricity reach out from Fieri’s suit of armor. “Do not challenge me, Derorsin. I am not in the mood.”
