Page 70 of Galaxy Between Us

I swallow heavily, annoyed that the question isn’t directly related to operating the stations. Specific scenarios and troubleshooting aren’t typically exam criteria, but I suppose, it’s something Ari would need to excel in if he’s expected to oversee production on this equipment. He takes in a deep breath, thinking hard on the question as the judges stare him down with unimpressed expressions, waiting for him to fail.

His nerves grow through our bond. Reflecting on the question, I try to recount it myself.

Restarting the systems after a reboot is slightly different than restarting them in general. I remember reading this section of our study documents while Luna had decided to drop her frog-shaped pacifier directly into Air’s coffee cup. I laughed and he groaned with disgust. He was too distracted by that to pay much attention to his studies.

But I wasn’t.

After a reboot, turn on the main power switch, then start the program on the computer monitors. It won’t start up on its own, that’s the difference. Once it’s loaded, verify that the station ID number is correct and that the status is in operation mode. I believe that’s all.

Arius takes another deep breath, beginning to fidget with his hands as he searches for the answer. His eyes drift to me with a pleading sheen of desperation and disappointment in himself. Then they widen. I stare into his dark-blue eyes, confused by his sudden expression of shock. Like he’s seeing a ghost in the place that I stand.

Within a second, he snaps his gaze away, facing the judges once more. He clears his throat.

“After a reboot, I would turn on the main power switch,” he begins with far more confidence. “Then, I would start the program manually, because it won’t start up on its own. Once it’s loaded, verify that the station ID is correct and that the status is in operation mode.”

Heart slowing to a heavy thud, I hardly believe my own ears. How the fuck did he do that? Did I just… Did I just tell him the answer? I didn’t say that out loud, did I?

The judges nod, visibly annoyed that he got it right while I stand here, struggling to reign in my shock. They move on and Arius performs the rest of the exam with ease. But I can hardly celebrate by the time we’re heading up to my office with his brand-new certification and the secured future for his Omega operators.

“Baby?”

“I know,” he mutters as we walk the halls, but he turns down a different corridor than I expected.

“Where are you going?”

“To Dr. Ritza! Why on earth are we seeing into each other’s minds, Knox?! That doesn’t happen through normal bonds!”

“You think it had something to do with the quantum transfer beds?” I scan my badge at a pair of white double doors, allowing us through the exclusive area.

“I think it had everything to do with the transfer beds!”

Before I can respond, a tantalizing smell reaches my nose, and it makes my dick twitch with interest. Stunned by the sudden scent of my mate's incoming heat after it’s been gone for a while due to the baby, I hardly register someone else entering the hall.

“Knox and his Omega. How are you?” Dr. Ritza’s impersonal voice greets us as we clash in the hallway. Tablet in hand, hair wound up in a tight bun, she peers at us over the rim of her glasses.

“Knox made me cheat on my test,” Ari throws me under the bus immediately and I look at him with betrayal.

“I didn’t do it on purpose! You looked right at me and read my thoughts, Arius.”

Dr. Ritza looks intrigued, eyes bouncing between us with a sharp eyebrow raised high.

“No I didn’t! He’s been sneaking into my dreams, too! This is impossible!”

“Wasn’t trying to. I just ended up there. And you kept dreaming about the same thing.”

Ceasing the argument, we both turn to Dr. Ritza, waiting for her expertise on our odd predicament.

“Fascinating,” she mutters before turning on her heels. “Follow me to my office.”

Heels clicking away, I share a look with Ari and then we trail after her.

Using advanced technology, she pulls up images across a display of monitors reflecting brain scans from both of us. Current scans, and scans from before the transfer beds. My mate sits in my lap, and I hold him close while she assesses the imagery, trying to determine why we’ve been experiencing telepathic communications that shouldn’t be possible.

“And this only began after your trip to space?” she asks while pacing along the displays.

“Yeah,” I respond, kissing my mate on the cheek.

“Not after you were mated?”