Page 35 of Stars in Aura

‘I’m careful with my patients. Most importantly, I walk them through what I plan to do on them and never initiate procedures without their foreknowledge.’

She arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. ‘Bullshit. So you wake them from stasis when an emergency bleed or tear showsup? Then, unpack their symptoms in a bullet-point presentation on the pros and cons of saving theirfokkin’ life?’

Ki’Remi’s nostrils flared. ‘You know what I mean, Elaris.’

‘Nada, I do not, Sable.’

His patience snapped. His voice dropped, timbred and dangerous. ‘What in Devansi hell did you do to Zera?’

She stared at him, calm. Too unruffled.

‘Was it some voodoo magic shit? Which it appears your distinctive touch is all about?’

‘Voodoo magic shit? That’s a new one.’

He arched a brow. ‘Is it, though? Seems that way. The same goes for the countless other unexplained cases I’ve noted in your files,’ he pressed.

That got her attention.

A flicker of something passed through her eyes, a crack in that composed, unbothered exterior.

‘Did you go through my records?’

‘Damn right, I did.’

She tilted her chin, assessing him.

‘And?’

He took a step closer, voice rough. ‘I detected anomalies. A high number of patients with life-threatening diseases inexplicably healed. Most of them when they were on the edge of losing their lives. Which is giving rise to your wild card reputation on this ship.’

His eyes darkened. ‘What thefokkhave you been playing at? Unorthodox methods can kill and maim when misused. Or are you so desperate for stardom you’ll cut corners for it?’

Issa’s lips twitched into something dangerously close to a smirk. ‘Do you have any evidence of any incompetence?’

Ki’Remi’s neural node ran a quick scan over her files.

No patient fatalities.

Not a single one.

He hated that she was right.

His fingers flexed, curled, and then uncurled.

It didn’t matter. It was still suspect.

She turned, walking off before he could fire another question at her.

The woman was impossible.

As she moved toward the light cruiser, Ki’Remi prowled after her, his mind running through every report, log, and damn case file attached to her name.

She had never lost one subject.

Not one.

It was inconceivable.

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