Page 142 of Starborn Husbands
“For once, that’s not my fault.”
His lips press together in a line. He knows I’m right, but damn, that doesn’t change his cold demeanor. I can’t deal with his feelings right now. “Let’s go so we can get back before Boone wakes up.”
“Why do you want to be here whenBoonewakes up?” I don’t miss Zhang’s mocking tone.
“Dunno, maybe we’ll rekindle an old flame, huh?”
Gem snatches Zhang back by one of his long coattails before he can get his hands on me, and I slip behind my brother. Not the best choice when he’s ready to wring my neck too, but the only one I’ve got.
“Enough. We’re leaving.Now,” he says, so done with us.
“Treyu, for the love of the Gods, don’t provoke Zhang for five lousy minutes,” Atlanta says. His tone says that’s an order.
“He’s my husband. I’ll provoke him if I want to.”
Atlanta pushes me against the wall, his hand around my neck. “Did I not spank you hard enough?”
“I’m fine,” Zhang says in a voice that tells me he’s far from fine. He adjusts his jacket. “Let’s go.”
I don’t like it, though. He feels far away. I’ve gotten used to having him within reach. He’s been no more than two arm lengths away from me all week. Physically, he’s not far, but emotionally he is. When the fuck did I start caring?
Whatever.
* * *
We trudge over the colorful landscape. Alcyone’s a vibrant planet that’s gone through multiple upgrades. The pinks, purples, and blues are brighter than in the Tauri Nebula. It’s like one giant neon sign. The very air moves, and life in the form of varied two and four-legged creatures stir the leaves.
I should be thinking about what the hawthors are going to be like, what they might do to us, instead I’m agonizing over my weird relationship drama. I’m only getting a taste of my own medicine. How many times have I been irrationally pissed at Zhang in our centuries-long frenemieship? Loads.
Just the other night I had a dream that he fought a shadow demon without me. I was pissed when I woke up. It was my version of being cheated on. I ignored him all through our morning meal. I wouldn’t even look at him until he apologized profusely.
Okay, so he didn’t apologize profusely. He turned me straight over his knee, but that’s not the point. The point is, he’s the rational one. It doesn’t work to have two irrational people in a marriage. I guess it’s supposed to go back and forth. I guess I should try my hand at emotionalizing like an adult. What happened isn’t my fault, but I can understand him being hurt by it. I would be.
Zhang insisted that he be the one to lag behind us, so I let Gemini keep his pace and joined my quiet husband.
“What are you doing?” His voice is gruff.
My hackles rise, but I remember, adult. I’m going to be the rational adult. I slip my hand into his and squeeze before releasing it. “Sorry.”
He sighs. “You didn’t do anything.”
“I didn’t, but you’re hurt and it’s because I remembered Boone, and not you. Iamsorry that I remembered him first. I want to remember everything with you. Maybe I’m saving the best for last, huh?”
There’s nothing but the crunch of our boots over the flora-covered terrain for several heartbeats and the growing glow of the massive star beside me. He shuts his sparkle down fast, though.
“I didn’t think I would react like this if I ever saw that man again, but he took…” Zhang trails off, hindered by the spell again. A frustrated grunt exhales from his lungs. “What do you remember?”
“Everything’s hazy, but he’s there and we’re near a cave made of sandy-toned rock. I can’t make out what he’s saying, but then I say, ‘I’ll do it, Boone’. Whatever I did to me, I told him I would do it.”
“You don’t know that. When we’re back at the ship, as soon as we find out what we need, I’m going to pull his innards out nice and slow.”
“Gods, babe. Be more jealous.”
He smirks. “You like it when I’m jealous.”
“Yup. Hey, we just had our first real married-person fight.”
“Hardly.”
