Page 76 of Star-Crossed Captive
“That’s what I do. I train tyros to become warriors.”
Her eyes widened. “Mace,” she said, her tone stern. “How old were they?”
He thought about it for a moment. “That group ranged from about twelve to fifteen.”
She lurched upright, her breaths shortening. “The stuff the CORE says about child soldiers is true?”
He placed a comforting hand on the back of her neck. “They’ll train for years and won’t be sent into battle until their age of majority.”
“Please don’t tell me the age of majority here is sixteen.”
“Nineteen.”
Tension eased from her spine. “It’s still so young.”
“And the same age as CORE soldiers.”
She shook her head even though she must know he was right, then scrubbed her hands over her face. “Ugh! I hate this. I hate it all. I hate the death and the torture and the violence.” Her breath left her on a whoosh.
Mace ran his hand over her spine. “If I could change reality for you,izar, I would.”
A strained chuckle left her lips, then she looked at him over her shoulder. Her eyes were sad, but there was something else there too. “That’s probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She pushed herself to stand, and his hand dropped away.
“You should receive more compliments.”
“Oh, I’ve received compliments,” she said as she headed toward the washroom. “But no one’s offered to alter the solar system for me before.” The door closed behind her.
Mace remained where he was, listening to her move around inside the washroom. She might have thought his words insincere, but they were true. If he had the power to change this war between their people, he’d do it for her.
Brushing the thought aside, he stood and went to the refrigeration unit for rations. He thought about pulling something for Nia as well, then decided to let her choose her own. She’d never shown favoritism toward her morning meal, picking something different every time he’d shared it with her.
She emerged from the washroom a few minutes later, face pink like she’d scrubbed it clean, then scurried to the kitchen. Grabbing some rations out of the unit, she came to sit across from him.
They ate in silence. It wasn’t awkward like it had been before, but companionable. Nia’s eyes kept darting to him, then away, the small smile she’d given him earlier, returning.
He felt his own curl his lip.
The door to his quarters beeped, signaling someone on the other side. While Nia took their ration containers to reclamation, he strode over and touched the control panel.
Elec stood on the other side and straightened to his full height when he saw him.
“Oh, Commander. I didn’t realize you’d be here.” The younger warrior’s gaze skimmed to where Nia moved behind him, then resettled on Mace—then the scratches at his throat. His eyes bulged.
Mace pressed his lips together. He really needed to get his hands on a regenerator to heal those marks. Just the visible ones, though. He liked the rest.
Nia’s hand slid into his, and his whole body twitched before he returned the squeeze of her fingers. Elec tracked the action, his head tilting to the side.
Mace didn’t look at Nia when he said, “Meet us at family medicine.”
Elec jumped to attention. “Understood.” Then he made a quick and unnecessary salute. “Sir.” Shaking his head, he hurried away.
They followed, but Mace kept their pace slow so they’d ride the next lift. The entire way to the medical bay, Nia kept her hand in his. He remembered how she hadn’t wanted to touch when she’d arrived, even through clothing.
In front of the med bay doors, he turned to her and settled his hands on her shoulders. “I’ll pick you up at the end of your shift.”
Her gaze met his. “You don’t have to if you’re busy.”
“I want to.”
