Page 47 of Alien Burn

“I thought you might.”

He looked at her, caught by the warmth in her voice.

“That's a generous conclusion from a conversation that began with you accusing me of using you.”

“You admitted it.”

“And that helped?”

“Yes.” She smoothed a fold of her tunic. “More than pretending I was foolish to notice would have.”

He looked at her hand beside the cup. She had asked him a plain question when he arrived. He had nearly spent their whole conversation avoiding the answer.

“There is something else you should know. About why I stopped.”

Her fingers went still. “Roemary?”

“You.” He turned toward her. “My armor has been responding to you since I saw you on the ramp. Before the explosion.”

Sereya glanced at his shoulders. “I wondered what happened to your robes.”

“I was wondering the same thing. Rather less sensibly.”

“What does it mean?”

The practiced answer would have been easier. A little science, a little charm. He had given enough speeches today.

Yet that's not what came out. Not for her.

“You're my mate, Sereya. My body recognized you before I had the sense to believe it.”

She stared at him. He made himself wait.

“Like Khalzin and Janae?”

“Yes.”

“But you didn't come to me.”

“I was about to. Then the platform broke. Afterward I blamed the danger, the shock. Until you were sitting downstairs drinking tea and I could barely remember why I had entered the room.”

“You caught your sleeve.”

“You noticed that too.”

Her mouth trembled toward a smile. Then she looked down at the cup between them.

“You sound surprised.”

“I went to support Khalzin. I thought I could decide whether anything happened to me. I've been very confident about it, in front of people who will enjoy reminding me.”

She let out a small breath. “And now?”

“Now I'm asking whether you will have me.”

The only sound was the water gurgling in the basin. It seemed to echo between them as he waited for her response.

Why did it feel like an eternity?