His stomach swam with distaste. “They were corralled to minimize their impact.”
“Corralled?” The word expelled between her lips in a gasp. “Fucking stars, Iax, they aren’t animals.”
“I know this.” He took her hand in his to let her know he stood with her.
“Who made this decision?”
There was only one answer. “The Four.” They had the final say in all things.
Her eyes narrowed into slits. “If I ever see any of them again, I’ll probably punch all of their beautiful faces.” She let go of his hand and strode toward Atlas, eyes spitting her ire. “You got that? You tell themthey’re weak and useless leaders. And fucking twats. When I see them again, there will be violence.”
The declaration, and the way Atlas backed up from the threat, should have horrified Iax, but warm pride filled his chest.
She turned toward him, her lips pressed together tightly. “Why were they left with so little?”
“They cannot access Calypson technology the way we do.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sakes.” She threw up her hands. “A ship full of brilliant scientists and you couldn’t figure out a way to make the interfaces tactile?” Her voice rose at the end, disbelief coating every word. “To teach them how to speak commands?”
She shook her head, and her shoulders slumped with what he could only call sadness. It paired with the darker emotions swirling around her body. “It shouldn’t shock me. If they sent me and others away just so they didn’t have to deal with us, why am I surprised they would treat these children this way?”
His chest tightened. He did not like that this situation caused her distress.
A deep breath lifted her shoulders, then an exhale relaxed them. With a determined look in her eyes, Wynn turned back to the children. She re-entered their modest space, and he followed, though he left some distance between them. Wynn drew a little closer, then sat on the empty couch. The twins stared at her with open curiosity while the older two regarded her with cautious expressions.
“My name is Wynn,” she said with a hand placed against her chest. “Are you all okay? What do you need?”
The oldest boy’s forehead scrunched; the older girl tipped her head.
Wynn took another deep breath and patted her chest. “Wynn.”
Understanding entered their eyes at the same time. They looked at each other once, then the boys said, “Mack.”
A smile erupted on Wynn’s face, then she looked at the girl. “Bex,” she said, touching her chest.
Wynn’s smile widened, and so did the warm sensation enveloping Iax’s chest.
“Mack,” she said to the boy, and he nodded.
“Bex.” The girl nodded too, tentative smiles curling their lips.
Wynn focused on the younger children.
“Dexxa,” said Bex when she touched the littlest’s head.
“Ari.” The boy gestured to the girl in his lap, who was a little older.
Then Wynn looked at the twins between them.
“Mass,” Bex said, with a tilt of her head to the boy closest to her. Then she jerked her head to the other. “Sam.”
Wynn’s shoulders relaxed, and she nodded to each of them. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”
They gave her a confused look before focusing on him.
“Iax,” he said after a moment.
They all nodded, but didn’t ask the same question of Atlas. Perhaps because they knew him.
