Page 209 of Commander’s Mate

“About him.”

“Yes.”

“Same thing.”

Nora leaned toward Scarlet.

“She is allowed to consider the person she loves.”

I stared at her.

“I did not say love.”

Nora drank her coffee.

“I did.”

Zoe’s eyebrows rose.

Scarlet grinned.

I wanted the pavement to open.

“Can we please discuss literally anything else?”

“No,” Scarlet said.

I glared at her.

She sobered.

“Real question. If Zared wasn’t on that ship, would you stay on Halor?”

That stopped me.

I looked past them.

At the bright city.

The safe city.

The planet with addresses.

Maybe.

“I don’t know.”

“Then figure that out before you decide.”

She was right.

I hated everyone.

After lunch, I went alone.

Not far.

Guryon’s people had given us temporary visitor bands and a map. The central district was safe, monitored, and apparently crime-light enough that four rescued Earth women walking around did not trigger panic.