Page 288 of Commander’s Mate
That answer followed me back to Dreadnought One.
Zared was in medical.
Of course he had tried to leave.
Of course Nora had threatened him.
Of course he claimed his injury was minor.
I found him sitting on a treatment platform without his armor, one side bandaged, his expression deeply offended by medicine.
He looked at me.
The irritation vanished.
“Harper.”
I walked straight into him.
Carefully.
His arms closed around me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he murmured, “I came back.”
“Yes.”
“You obeyed orders.”
“Don’t ruin the moment.”
His chest moved under my cheek with a laugh.
I pulled back.
“I have something.”
He saw my face.
“Earth?”
“No.”
“Family.”
He went still.
I gave him the slate.
He read Meya’s name.
Again.
Then the destination.
Julconi.
