Page 105 of Commander’s Mate

Not slammed.

Not locked.

Opened.

My body did not care about the difference.

I came awake with my heart racing and both hands clenched in the blanket before my brain caught up.

Zared’s quarters.

Safe.

Mostly.

The sitting room beyond the sleeping alcove was dark except for a thin blue strip of floor light. The door to the corridor had opened because Zared was coming back from duty.

He stopped the moment he saw me upright.

“Harper?”

“I’m fine.”

He did not move.

It helped.

I forced my fingers open.

“Door.”

Understanding crossed his face.

“I should have warned you.”

“No. Doors are allowed to open.”

“Not if they make you look as though someone has fired at you.”

“That’s a very military way to describe panic.”

“It was accurate.”

I looked toward the time display on the wall, which I still could not read without the translator help.

“What time is it?”

“Late.”

“Helpful.”

“Four hours before morning meal.”

I groaned.

“You were asleep less than two hours.”

“Even better.”