Page 54 of Commander’s Mate

Nora’s expression sharpened. “Alone?”

“Yes.”

Zoe leaned forward. “Do you feel safe with him?”

I thought about it carefully.

“Yes,” I said. “I do.”

Scarlet studied me. “Want me outside the door?”

The offer nearly made me cry again.

“I might.”

“Good. Because I’m doing it whether you want me to or not.”

A laugh slipped out of me.

For the first time since learning Earth could not be found, I felt something besides grief.

Not hope exactly.

Choice.

Small, fragile, and mine.

“I’m going to ask for him,” I said.

Scarlet squeezed my shoulder. “Then this time make him come because you called.”

Chapter Twelve

Harper

The first person who refused breakfast did it politely.

That was somehow worse.

She was one of the silver-skinned women from the auction house, narrow-faced and elegant even wrapped in a borrowed green shirt. She accepted the tray from the Farseek crewman, stared at it, and then handed it back.

“No.”

The crewman looked confused. “The food is compatible with your medical scan.”

“No.”

“You need nourishment.”

Her hands began to shake.

I was close enough to see it.

“Hey,” I said.

She turned toward me.

I pointed at the tray. “Do you not like it, or do you not want it?”