Page 140 of Alien Burn

“And me.”

“Yes.” He disliked having to say it. “She watched you with Adryel, and she has watched us together. She may already suspect you warned her.”

“I'm having her outgoing messages stopped at the refinery relay. Her Alliance comm has a fallback connection; I need that checked too. Until then, don't assume she can't reach anyone. And it won't bring back anything she's already sent.”

Sereya set the tea down before it could spill.

“She's going to be very angry.”

“You don't have to receive her. If she calls, send it to me. If she comes here, the guard turns her away.”

“And if she says something about who I used to be?”

He moved closer. “Then you tell me what you need to tell me so I can help. She doesn't get to decide whether I believe you.”

She looked down at the space between them.

“I keep thinking there's a version of this where I handle her well enough and she stops.”

“Has she ever?”

Sereya shook her head.

“Then we will try something else.”

“We.”

“I can repeat it, if you like.”

She put her hand on his chest, in the place where he'd held it earlier. This time she found it herself.

“I like it the first time.”

He covered her fingers. Heat spread under her palm, deep enough to make his next breath catch. She was here, leaning into him, and he had to leave her again. His hand tightened before he made himself ease it.

“You should sleep,” he said.

“So should you.”

“I'm considerably less reasonable.”

“I've noticed.” She leaned forward until her forehead rested against him. “Will you tell me before you go anywhere?”

His hand settled at the back of her head.

“Yes.”

She stayed there for three breaths, perhaps four. He counted because he had work waiting, and because he wanted to remember the exact length of time she chose to lean on him.

When she drew back, he let her.

At the door she caught his sleeve.

“Dhomhes. Being frightened isn't the same as wishing you hadn't come.”

He looked at her.

“I thought you should know,” she said.