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But laying here still as death, her dad looked so vulnerable—so human, and there were some things in life you couldn’t battle with your fists. In fact, in the last year, since Pro went missing, she’d seen how truly vulnerable he was. She watched him struggle with the devastating realization he couldn’t hold back the dark. That almost killed her more than losing her sister.

Abby barked out an incredulous laugh as things clicked in place. Ash and her dad weren’t that different.

“Are you okay?” Hope asked with a concerned frown.

“Yep.” She stood and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To knock some sense into my husband.”

“Good and he could probably use help retrieving Mom. If Ash thinks we’re a handful, he hasn’t met Carol Murray.”

“No doubt. Who else could put up with our stubborn SOB of a father?” And I learned from the best.

She jogged to the loading bay to catch Ash before he could take off.

“This discussion is done, Aculus. I need to leave,” Ash growled.

Abby stepped around the back of the cruiser to see her husband squaring off against Aculus. She didn’t need to see his face to know he was agitated. Ash’s shoulders were stiff, his tail flicking rapidly. The state he was in he wouldn’t hear a word she had to say, let alone permit her to tag along.

Stowaway, party of one. She tiptoed toward the cruiser ramp.

Aculus glanced past Ash’s shoulder. She put a finger to her lips and shook her head, hoping the bony warrior would keep silent.

“Fine. It’s your life to ruin, Ashtoret. Here.” Aculus tossed Ash a package. “Cartil thought you might need a tranquilizer once you locate their mother.”

“I’m not tranquilizing their mother. That’s reprehensible,” Ash snarled.

Aw, isn’t he sweet. Abby smiled as she ducked into the cruiser then hid.

Ash stomped up the ramp and entered the cruiser. She held her breath when he paused in the loading bay, then let it out when he moved on to the control room. The cruiser takeoff was so smooth she almost didn’t notice. It took less than ten minutes to reach Earth, so she counted it off. If she emerged too soon the stubborn man would probably just turn around.

Four hundred and ninety-eight, four hundred and ninety-nine, five hundred. Ready or not here I come.

Abby stood and made her way to the bridge. Ash swung around the instant the door slid open.

“I thought your scent was too strong,” he rumbled.

“Well, you shouldn’t have been so stubborn,” she countered and sat down.

“You are the stubborn one. You will stay on the cruiser. It’s not safe for you.”

“Funny, cause you were just saying I should come back home when Dad gets patched up. Which is it, Ash? Is or isn’t my home safe enough?”

“You’re staying on the ship,” Ash growled as he walked over to the wall and opened a hidden panel.

“And how do you plan to make me once we land?”

“We’re not landing.” He cast her a smug smile then peeled off his kilt and clapped on the weird bony armor. It was freaky watching it grow and slide over his skin when he squeezed his wrist.

Two can play at this game.

Abby got up and stalked over to the recessed closet and began stripping off her clothes.

“What are you doing?” Ash’s eyes widened as she placed the armored plates on her arms and legs. The pieces were a bit large but she made them work.

“What does it look like?”