Page 323 of Commander’s Mate
“Yes.”
“You did not invoke my rank.”
“No.”
“You did not invoke our bond.”
“No.”
“Then you did the job.”
I exhaled.
“That’s it?”
“That is most command.”
“Making people angry?”
“Frequently.”
I leaned back.
“This title is terrible.”
“You chose it.”
“You helped.”
“I accept no responsibility.”
“Coward.”
His mouth curved.
The door remained open.
People could see us.
Good.
Zared touched my hand.
Not taking over.
Not endorsing me publicly because I was his mate.
Just there.
I had wanted a job that mattered.
Apparently mattering meant there were no perfect routes.
Only people you tried very hard not to lose.
The cargo bay meeting started because people wanted answers and ended because they wanted a future.
Every rescued Farseekian who could stand was there. Those who could not were linked in from medical. The non-Farseek survivors were invited too. No one was required to attend and no one was required to vote.
