Page 116 of Trove’s Purpose

“Ah, but my armies are bound by the law. I need someone who… isn’t. I don’t need Tanin and the crew of the Humility. I need the Bloody Shadow and his gang who once ruled Rik-Vane.”

The silence that followed that statement was strained. Trove looked from his captain to Chee, but she was looking down at the desk. She still stood beside Hyde.

Why did she not stand beside him?

“Those people are dead,” Tanin said simply, ice laced into his tone. “They will not live again for any amount of credz you can throw at us.”

“I am aware. You are not moved by money. It’s a very admirable trait. And a much rarer one than you might think.”

“I’m glad you know. Then, we’re leaving. Chee.”

She winced. Like Tanin had struck at her.

But she didn't move.

“Chee,” Trove said, his voice gentler. “Come, my mate. He has the cup. Your job for him is done. We can go now.”

She still didn’t move. She didn’t even look at him.

“Technically,” Hyde said, making Trove glare at him. “Getting the cup was your job. And you have done it marvelously. Chee just brought that job to you for me as a favor.”

And why had she done that?

He didn’t want to know.

He did.

But he really didn’t.

“A favor?” He asked, despite himself.

“Well, it seemed convenient since it was in the process of doing her job.”

“Which was?”

“To mate you, of course,” Hyde said, like it was the most obvious thing in the universe.

Trove opened his mouth, but he didn’t have a response waiting on the tip of his tongue. He didn’t know what to say to that, because it didn’t make any sense.

But Chee wasn’t looking at him.

“You didn’t know she was my mate,” he finally managed to say.

“I did.”

“You can’t have.”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Because that’s not something that can be known! I have to see her before I know. No one can know before me!”

“Well, that’s just not true,” the imposing figure chuckled like Trove was telling a fine joke. “True Match is a business that’s entire purpose is scanning people to find who matches on a subspace level, thereby finding mates across vast distances without them ever needing to meet.”

“I did not scan myself through True Match,” Trove growled.

“You did not,” the Imperium agreed.

There was silence between them, and Trove’s fingers curled. As though he was going to strike this creature. Though he had no claws to do so, the instinct to bare them was ingrained in him.