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Logan snorted, and then suddenly we were both giggling like little kids. I was glad to know I wasn’t the only one addicted to a Norlon to the point of doing dumb things when I shouldn’t. I also laughed thinking that the captain of the ship and a prince of their people were setting one hell of an example for everyone else.
Py looked over, one eyebrow raised curiously, and I winked at him. He grinned at me and returned to talking with the prince. His pleased attention put a warmth in my chest and made me sigh.
“You’ve got it bad, too, huh?”
I looked to Logan, confused. “Got what?”
He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Him. Captain Tight-pants. I made Alam wait over a week, but he could’ve had me in a day if I hadn’t been stupid.”
My blush returned, but I wasn’t completely embarrassed to have given in to the temptation of Py in less than twenty-four hours. “As bad as things have been,” I said quietly, “he’s the best person I’ve ever known.”
Logan leaned over and gave my arm a squeeze. “You have my condolences, too, by the way. For your dad.”
“Thanks.” I sipped my drink.
“Are you going to the funeral this afternoon?”
“Oh, um, I didn’t know about that.”
He winced a bit. “Sorry to spring it on you. That’s why the captain’s here now. They’re discussing their parts in it. Mostly, the funerals are for the Norlons who died, but they’re going to include everyone.” Logan shifted in his seat. “Then afterward, they’ll be sending the deceased humans back to Earth. And anyone else who wants to go, too.”
Which wasn’t me. Even though my father would be going, I knew right away that I didn’t want to go with him. It was probably my duty, there would no doubt be a funeral for him on the surface, and I knew several someone’s would make note of my absence—but I wasn’t going to go. I could mourn what could’ve been between us and the good memories I had, find some kind of closure, but it wouldn’t be down there. At the moment, it felt like leaving heaven for hell.
“Yeah, I’ll go to the funeral up here.”
Logan seemed to get my meaning and nodded. “So, Alam said you might be interested in joining the delegation.”
I was glad for the subject change and shifted in my seat to give him more of my attention. “If there’s something I can help with, I’m happy to join up. I was pre-law and worked on my father’s campaigns for a few summers in high school. Obviously, I’m not advocating for his conservative agenda or anything, but I know how those people work.”
“And you know what language will and won’t work for them.” Logan grinned at me. “You’re like a double agent in a way.”
I huffed a laugh. “I guess I can speak conservative. I’d be happy to help with that, even though it often makes me want to gag.”
Logan nearly spit out a mouthful of his drink, gulping and choking as he chuckled. That he cut his eyes over to the prince, made me wonder if Logan was thinking about other things he could gag on. Which made me glance at Py and start blushing all over again.
When Logan was finally able to clear his throat, he said, “Welcome to the team, Owen. I think you’re going to fit in perfectly.”
I smiled and thanked him, already feeling like it was a team I could fight for.
CHAPTER 11
PYSINA
Though I was far from the spiritual leader on the ship, hearing my thoughts had seemed to offer some comfort to those who had attended the funeral for our fallen comrades. It didn’t matter how many of these I attended throughout my career, I couldn’t bounce back from the depression as quickly as my responsibilities required. With so many of my crew seasoned warriors or green recruits, I was certain I wasn’t the only one struggling with the losses. I put the entire ship on minimum functions for the next twenty-four hours, with essential crew working only two-hour shifts at a time. Hopefully, that would help everyone.
Owen had attended the funeral with Logan, and I’d been glad that they were getting along so well. When I had watched the two of them leave with the prince’s entourage, it was the first time that I didn’t dread letting Owen out of my sight. Because I knew he was mine? Because I had claimed him in every way I could?
And yet I wasn’t entirely sure he was mine.
Would he want to take his father’s remains—what little there was—down to the surface? I didn’t doubt that that staff chief he had mentioned would make things difficult for Owen. Possibly to the point of taking over in every way. I wasn’t versed in how human’s mourned, but surely a son had duties or at least societal expectations where a deceased parent was concerned. The division between Owen and those loyal to his father probably meant a fight would await him on the ground.
I would have to be supportive if Owen chose to go. I couldn’t go with him—my presence would only exacerbate the conflicts—but I would make sure he knew I’d wait for him.
Goddess, I didn’t want him to go.
It turned out that I wasn’t entirely at ease with his absence as I retreated to my quarters. I wasn’t snarling in possessive pursuit of him, but I wasn’t completely comfortable either. As I changed into a thick robe and prepared some tea, I considered and dismissed asking security to look for Owen. He could still be with Logan—hopefully, he was—because he didn’t know his way around the ship. Yet he was also a grown man, and I shouldn’t hover over him.
The door suddenly signaled, and I leapt over a chair to reach it.
