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Sophie’s face glows with pleasure as I mention her pets. She grabs the closest one by its huge head and squeezes it to her chest like it’s a teddy bear. “I spoil them. They’re supposed to be attack pets but they’re my babies.” She squeezes the thing’s fat jowls. “You’re my baby, aren’t you? Yes you are.”
I giggle at the thing’s expression. It looks disgusted at Sophie’s baby talk, but remains perfectly still so she can keep squishing its face. “Those are some big babies.”
She scratches at the carinoux’s head, giving special attention to the ear buds. “Sleipnir—that’s the boy over there”—she points across the room where one is flopped in front of the door—“is naturally big, but Freyja here is a different strain and she’s just a big fat, lazy sweetheart.”
She squeezes the jowls again and then rewards Freyja with a kiss on the side of her snout.
“And they don’t mind living on station with you?”
Sophie shakes her head. “Carinoux are pretty adaptable. They imprint on their people and as long as their people are happy, they’re happy. Freyja wouldn’t be able to go back in the wild because of her breeding.” She kisses the carinoux’s nose again. “And Jerrok likes that I have plenty of protection. But as for them being happy on the station, they don’t seem to mind it. They do all their bathroom duties in my garden, and the terrarium is big enough that it can handle two aggressive diggers.”
I perk at that. “You have a terrarium on station?”
“A huge one,” Sophie agrees, beaming. “I love plants and so Jerrok gets me seedlings from all over the place. I grow fresh vegetables so we have nice, delicious things to add to our noodles, but I’ve also got a bed of flowers. Do you want to come see?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to blurt out that yes, I would love to see her flowers, when I remember that I’m keeping watch over Jamef. I touch the glass cylinder where Jamef rests, far too still. “Maybe once my mate is awake.”
“Oh, of course. My apologies.” Sophie gives me an understanding look. “The plants aren’t going anywhere.” She holds another sandwich out to me, and when I decline, she tears it into pieces and feeds a chunk to Freyja, who does look a bit plump compared to the other carinoux. “So…can I ask how you two got together with Bethiah? I’ve been telling Jerrok for forever that she needs someone in her life, but she’s very good at pushing people away.”
I warm up at discussing my favorite topic—my family. “Bethiah was there when I was rescued from slavers.” That much is the truth, at least. I don’t need to tell Sophie they were slavers purchasing clones on the cheap. “I was scared of everyone and everything, but Bethiah was so kind to me and went out of her way to make me feel comfortable. Like I had a friend in her.”
“She’s always had a soft spot for human women,” Sophie agrees, smiling.
“I was offered a chance to go with the crew on Lord Straik’s ship, or head to Risda, but I wanted to stay with Bethiah. And one thing led to another.” I shrug. “As for Jamef, well, we just clicked right away, which is good, because he and Bethiah love to argue and imprison one another, it seems. But we work well as a triad.” I trace my fingers over the glass over Jamef, missing him desperately in this moment. “More than well, actually. Everything is perfect when the three of us are together. There’s no jealousy, and no one’s left out of anything. Each of us smooths out the edges for the others, you know? We don’t fit right when it’s just the two of us. It feels like something’s missing.”
“I understand,” Sophie says in a gentle voice. “And we’ll get you your mate back, I promise. Jerrok likes to bluster about everything, but he really does care for Bethiah. He just worries that she’s going to bring trouble with her and that it’ll somehow affect me.” Her cheeks pinken with a blush. “He’s extremely protective of me.”
“I’ve heard.” I manage a smile as she feeds another chunk of sandwich to Freyja. “And I know what it’s like. Jamef is protective of us, too. Now we have to be the ones to take care of him.”
“Well, you can stay with us as long as you need. Ignore any griping that Jerrok might make.” The look on Sophie’s pretty face turns to one of sheer determination. “We’re family, and whatever you need, we’ll help with. We’ve got some connections we can pull, for all that we’re in the middle of nowhere. Things will work out. You’ll see.”
“I know they will.” Because I’m determined not to think of the alternative.
