Page 134 of Commander’s Mate

His gaze snapped to mine. “Yes. Clear words.”

“Yes.”

“Rule two,” I said. “Even if it hurts you, you stop.”

“Yes.”

“Rule three. I am not staying hidden in your quarters while everyone else figures out our future.”

I pointed at him. “That face is why it’s a rule.”

“You are newly rescued and exhausted.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to lead a combat raid before breakfast. I said I’m not being tucked away like your private consolation prize.”

He flinched.

“I know you don’t mean it that way,” I said. “But I need you to understand how it could feel that way.”

He looked down at his hands. “I understand.”

“Do you?”

“No,” he said after a moment. “Not fully. But I am trying.”

“Okay.” I drew a breath. “Rule four. Scarlet, Zoe, and Nora are my people. I won’t abandon them.”

“I would not ask that.”

“You might accidentally make it easy.”

He considered that. “Then we make it difficult.”

“Rule five,” I said, then hesitated.

“What is rule five?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Then rule five is that you may add rules.”

I laughed softly. “Convenient.”

I threw the edge of the sheet at him. He caught it, smiling, and for a second we were just two people in a bed after an intimate night, teasing each other like the universe had not blown a hole through both our lives.

Then the ship’s wall panel chimed.

Zared’s smile vanished. Commander again.

“Maktu,” he said.

“Commander,” a voice replied. “Admiral Degatu requests your presence within the hour. Also, passenger Scarlet Andrews is outside your office door with two other Earth females and has asked whether Harper Avery is alive, safe, or too satisfied to answer.”

Zared closed his eyes.

The voice added, carefully neutral, “Her phrasing was not exactly that, sir.”

“I understand.” His voice was dry. “Tell Scarlet Andrews that Harper Avery is safe and may answer for herself when she is ready.”