Page 64 of Crossing Quinn
“About a week, if the Tai-Kok don’t eat him first,” I answered.
“From my research, prisoners don’t survived longer than a day on a Tai-Kok ship,” Quinn said.
I put in blithely, “Let’s hope they get a bad case of the munchies.”
“Or I can always gift them with more var bugs,” Adan quipped.
Papa’s features held a merciless rage. “An excellent idea. With the right tools and parts, I can fashion a suction device and an ultrasonic bug caller.”
“I have tools and a small workroom,” Quinn responded.
“Sounds like a plan.” I loved male bonding.
Papa placed Mami in the copilot’s chair. “If she starts to make a fuss, summon me.”
“Will do.”
Adan handed me Clio. “You need to care for her.”
“Wait! What if she gets hungry?”
Adan stuck a tentacle in his mouth and made a retching noise.
“Oh hell no.” Quinn backed away.
Adan’s throat bulged weirdly, and he pulled out a goopy arm.
Nausea rose in my throat. “Was that necessary?”
“The child must be fed.” Adan held the arm out to Clio.
With a happy squeak, Clip grabbed it and stuffed it in her maw.
Tai-Kok juices dripped in my lap. “Ugh.” I clapped a hand over mouth. I will not puke. I will not puke. I will not puke.
Clio held up a bloody finger. “You want? Me share.”
“No!” I shook my head violently. “I’m full of chocolate.”
“Tastes good.” Clio pressed the finger to my lips.
Papa snatched the finger. “Can I eat it? I’m very hungry.”
Clio giggled when my father used sleight of hand to make the finger disappear.
I wiped the crap off my mouth and gratefully took the piece of chocolate Quinn held out. “Love you.”
“You are my heart.”
A sigh of content slipped from me. Color me lucky.
Clio pointed at my father. “Who he?”
“He’s your grandfather.”
“Gumpa?”
Papa laughed. “My first grandchild is a Katanic shapeshifter.”
