Page 45 of Starfallen
For a minute, his face screws up, like he’s thinking about arguing then it smooths. “Yes, sir.”
“It’s yes, Your Majesty,” Jayla whispers.
The little cretin only gives me a bland look as Jayla pulls him down the hall.
“And Jayla,” I call out.
She throws a glance over her shoulder.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d not mention my presence.” I laser my eyes to hers and don’t blink.
Her stare cuts to Tilly, then back to me. “Of...of course.” With a renewed step, she tugs the kid in her wake.
“So, everything’s okay?” Tilly cuddles KJ in her arms, who opens an eye and gives me a lazy stare, as if I’m the reason his nap has been interrupted.
I scratch his head. “Yeah, let’s go home. I’ll need to send a crew to repair the structural integrity of this entire zone.”
“You mean Granny Eva will need to send a crew.”
Cupping her elbow in my palm, I guide her toward the bay holding our Vapor. “Well, I need to run some diagnostics to figure out why the weather warning and array aren’t communicating properly, so I might as well ease some of her burden while I’m here.”
“Is that a good idea?” She worries her lower lip. “I mean, I thought you brought us here to keep a low profile.”
Shrugging, I open the door to the vehicle and usher her inside. “I brought us here to protect you. And part of that protection is ensuring everything works like it’s supposed to, so if that means I must show my face on theStaleth, so be it.”
She gives me an unreadable glance, then flips her ponytail over a shoulder and slides inside without a word.
“What?” I ask as I slip into the vehicle.
“Nothing,” she mutters, casting her stare towards the craggy gray mountain range.
“Red, come on. Spit it out. It’s not like you to hold back.”
With a wave of her hand, she shakes her head. “I just thought...” A long sigh escapes her lips. “It doesn’t matter. Can we just go home?”
Home.She just called our habitat home. I give her hand a squeeze and smile.Maybe she’s finally coming around.
