Page 290 of Reaper Said Mine

"I outrank you."

"You absolutely do not."

A faint smile touches his mouth.

God, I missed that smile.

He lowers himself into the chair. The metal frame creaks ominously beneath his weight.

"I should have gotten a stronger chair."

"You should have gotten a stronger station."

"I'll add it to the list."

His smile fades.

The room grows quieter as the humor drains away. Neither of us can avoid what brought us here. Too many things have gone unsaid for too long.

I study him. Shadows darken the skin beneath his eyes. Tension still lingers around his mouth. Even sitting in a medical bay, he looks ready to rise at the first emergency transmission.

The war has carved pieces out of him. Not flesh or bone. Something deeper. Something far harder to replace.

"You look terrible," I say softly.

He exhales.

"I was thinking the same thing about you."

"I got boarded."

"You ran toward a war zone carrying enough evidence to destabilize three governments."

"I had a schedule."

"You had a death wish."

"No."

His eyes lock onto mine.

"Ursa."

"No."

The word comes out firmer this time.

"I wasn't trying to die."

"I know."

"You really thought I was?"

For a moment he says nothing. Then he looks away, and the answer is written plainly across his face.

"I thought you were willing to risk more than you should."

I stare at him.