Zayn shot Nik a rueful glance and followed Dathan.
“He loves you,” Eos said quietly. “He’s worried.”
“I know.”
She came closer, and he smelled her perfume, something containing jasmina from her homeworld of Vedia. She pressed a hand to his arm, and he saw the delicate, floral tattoo-like designs that she’d been born with on her skin. “I love you, too. We don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Nera won’t hurt me.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that. But it’s whatever you’re barreling into that might get you killed.” She tilted her head, intelligence shining in her dark eyes. “I worked for the Institute, too. I know there are things you haven’t told me about why you left.”
And he wouldn’t tell her. He touched her face. “I’ll be fine.”
She nodded. “Take lots of pictures for me.” Her eyes got a distant look. “Earth. I can only imagine what it’ll be like to pick through the remnants of her cities. Amazing.” Then her face turned serious again. “Come back safely to us, okay?”
He nodded, his throat a little tight. “Count on it.”
Several hours later, Nik stood in the cockpit of theInfinitaswatching the large Institute starship, theMagellan, get larger and larger in the viewscreen. Zayn was at the controls, and in the chair beside him, staring at the screen with her arms crossed was his wife, Ria.
With her athletic build and blonde hair, she could have been anything. What most people didn’t guess was that she was a former assassin, with a past worthy of a multi-million-e-cred, blockbuster holovid. She was also completely in love with her husband.
Nik felt his gut tighten. He loved his brothers, and was happy they’d found amazing women to match them. Eos had smoothed out Dathan’s more ragged edges, and the two of them made a good team. It was the same with Zayn and Ria. Sometimes they loved diving into adventure, and other times Zayn was finally content to stay in one place and take it easy, as long as Ria was by his side.
It made Nik feel acutely alone.
“Infinitas, please use docking clamp alpha-seventeen,” said a voice over the comm line.
“Sure thing,Magellan. Docking clamp alpha-seventeen.” Zayn’s hands danced over the controls. TheInfinitassmoothly changed course. He looked over his shoulder at Nik. “You sure you want to do this? There’s still time to turn around and bug out of here.”
“I’m sure.”
Zayn sighed and nodded.
Moments later, they docked with the larger ship with a muted clang.
“Docking complete.” The female voice came from the ship’s computer. “Someone tell me why the hell we’re letting the big guy do this?”
Nik stomped on his irritation. Everyone had made it clear what they thought about his decision to go on this expedition. He didn’t need an outspoken biocomp giving him a mouthful too. “I’m going, BEll, so save the lecture.”
A huffing noise came from the comm. “It is my job to keep your ass safe. As I have been doing since Dathan acquired me.”
“Stole you,” Zayn said, leaning back in his chair.
“He won me in a card game.”
Zayn snorted. “He cheated, so that’s stealing.”
“Whatever,” BEll said in an irritated voice. “Niklas, please be careful.”
He hefted his bag up. He had his clothes, a few other helpful items for a treasure hunt, and his Sync—loaded with all his notes and records on Earth. “I will.”
“And give that bitch, Nera Darc, a slap from me.”
Zayn snorted again. “Something tells me he wouldn’t slap her in the same place you would, BEll.”
Ria came up to Nik and gave him a hug. “Stay safe and good hunting.”
Zayn pressed a hand to Nik’s shoulder. “Don’t let those Institute snobs take all the good stuff. Bring us something home.”
