“Shut up and come eat.” Athtar turned and stalked away, leaving Doren shaking his head.
“He’s right,” Faith said. “We’re not going to solve any mysteries tonight. Let’s get some dinner and then you can both get some real sleep.”
She handed Ari back to her, along with the now-dormant disk. “We’ll talk more tomorrow. I have a lot of questions.”
“So do I,” she admitted.
Faith smiled and headed for the door, pausing next to Doren. “I like her,” she said quietly, pitching her voice so Emma could barely hear. “Don’t screw this up.”
Doren muttered something in response that she couldn’t catch, and then Faith was gone, leaving the two of them alone. He stepped further into the room, letting the door slide closed behind him. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m...” She considered the question. “Overwhelmed. Scared. Amazed. Take your pick.”
“All reasonable responses.” He crossed to where she stood and reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “You can trust Faith. She’s brilliant, but she’s also... kind.”
“I know. I liked her immediately.” She leaned into his touch. “She said you don’t share easily. That the fact you told me about your past is significant.”
His hand stilled. “Faith talks too much.”
“Maybe. Or maybe she’s just observant.” She met his eyes. “Is it true? Is it significant?”
He was quiet for a long moment, his blue eyes searching her face. Then he sighed, a sound of surrender.
“Yes,” he said simply. “It is.”
Ari chose that moment to yawn hugely, her tiny mouth stretching wide, and she laughed despite herself. “I think someone is ready for bed.”
“Someone is not the only one, but dinner first.”
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it, and the heat rose to her cheeks. But she didn’t take it back. She was tired of pretending she didn’t want him, tired of maintaining distance that felt increasingly artificial.
His expression softened. “If you want me to.”
“I always want you to.”
Something flickered in his eyes—heat, and something deeper that made her breath catch.
“Then I will.” He swept her an elaborate bow. “May I escort you to dinner, my lady?”
“You may.”
But as she took his arm, she was already thinking about what would happen after dinner. She looked up at Doren, with his golden mane and brilliant blue eyes and the way he held himself as if he was always ready for a fight, and her heart felt full in a way she hadn’t known it could.
She was on an alien planet, caring for an alien baby, falling for an alien male, and nothing had ever felt so right.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Tell me what’s going on with you and your female,” Athtar said, not looking up from the vegetables he was chopping with rather terrifying speed. He’d intercepted Doren on the way to dinner and insisted that he needed his help in the kitchen. Apparently what he really needed was an opportunity to cross-examine Doren about Emma.
“There’s not much to tell. She was a captive on the Ithyian ship. She found the baby before I did.” He studied his fingertips. “She’s been useful.”
“Useful.” Athtar’s pale eyes glinted with amusement. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“What else would we call it?”
“I could smell your scent all over her the moment you stepped off that ship.” Athtar shot him a quick look before returning to his chopping. “And hers on you. So don’t fucking bullshit me, Doren.”
