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Serge gave me a self-satisfied grin. "South Pacific floor. Nothing but the best for our unexpected guests."

"Oh, that's my absolute favorite!" I clapped my hands together.

"It's everyone's favorite," Serge said with a dismissive wave. “Who doesn’t want to sleep above a turquoise sea?”

I giggled and picked up the tablet. "Some tributes prefer the Swiss Alps environment.”

"Only the ones with a bizarre fondness for lederhosen." Serge leaned closer to the screen, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, tell me, are they a couple? The adjunct and the cadet?"

"What?" I nearly dropped the tablet in surprise. "Not that I know of! He's an adjunct and she's a cadet, so it would be frowned upon.” I tapped my chin. “But they did work together on the rescue mission, so they spent time together. Morgan worked with the maps and plans, which makes sense considering she’s an Assassin.”

Serge’s large eyes widened even more. “But she looks so sweet.”

“She is sweet,” I assured him. “Plenty of the Assassins here are lovely.”

Serge gave a shake of his head and muttered something about being glad he wasn’t in such a dangerous place. “My instincts are telling me there's something brewing there, and my instincts are rarely wrong."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "What about your instincts with Kalex and Zoey? You had no clue they were in love. You even tried to match her with another Drexian."

Serge's face scrunched up like he'd tasted something sour. “That wasn’t my fault. Besides, they were already in a secret relationship when I started matching Zoey with potential mates. She just didn’t bother telling me.’” He sniffed. "But they gottogether eventually, didn't they? Just proves I was right about her being ready for love."

“Were you?”

Serge frowned, his hair turning pinker. Then silence fell between us for a moment, and I traced a pattern on the wooden table with my fingertip. "It's good to talk to you, hon. It’s been too long.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Serge pursed his lips. “Now that I have you, when are you coming back here? These weddings don’t plan themselves, you know."

"Oh, well, I've been helping Noora with?—"

"Noora is married," Serge interrupted. "To a very capable Admiral. She doesn't need your help." He pressed the back of a hand to his forehead dramatically. "But I do! I am on the verge of a complete breakdown. I haven't found a single capable assistant since you left. Not one!"

I smothered a smile. Serge was always on the verge of a breakdown. Nervous collapse was his natural state of being. "Maybe you could visit me here instead? The academy is really quite lovely once you get used to it."

Serge wrinkled his nose. "I've heard about the accommodations, darling. All that stone and those drafty corridors and minimal amenities? 'Castle grunge' is not my aesthetic."

"It's not that bad," I protested, but even I had to admit that after the luxury of the fantasy suites, the academy had taken some getting used to. Even the simplest quarters on one of the space stations was more luxurious than the rooms at the academy. I decided to change the subject since I couldn’t win that argument. “When will Tivek and Morgan be returned to us?"

"They looked a mess when they were found," Serge said, examining his perfectly manicured nails. “Floating in space using only life support systems is no joke. From what I hear, they actually ate Drexian ration packets.” He shuddered. “They need time to rest and recover. A few days in the fantasy suites will do them a world of good."

“Separate suites?”

He didn’t meet my eyes. “Of course. What must you think of me?”

I narrowed my eyes at the screen. “I think you might be trying to matchmake them.”

Serge's eyes widened in feigned shock. "Me? I would never!" Then his expression shifted to something more calculating. "Well, maybe I would if I thought they needed a little nudge. You know what they say, the road to happiness often needs a helping hand. Or a firm shove.” He clapped his hands together. "Oh! I've got to run. I need to pick out some suitable clothing for our new guests. The clothes they arrived in were a horror show.”

And with that, the screen went dark.

I shook my head, a smile playing on my lips. I did miss Serge and the excitement of the space station. Maybe it was time for me to return, especially if Serge was up to his old tricks with Tivek and Morgan.

The thought made me giggle. Poor serious Tivek had no idea what he was in for if Serge had decided to take a hand in his love life. Not even the most elite Drexian training could prepare someone for the matchmaking machinations of a determined Gatazoid wedding planner.

Standing up, I tucked the tablet under my arm and headed for the door. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to pack my bags. Even if only to save Morgan and Tivek from the tsunami that was Serge.

Chapter

Forty-Nine