Page 8

I watched the interaction closely. Seth had made friends.

He’d made a life. Something inside me relaxed.

He was happy. That was all I’d ever wanted.

Maybe I could go home? I didn’t want to leave Seth, but if I went back to Earth, I could be free from my memories.

I wouldn’t have nightmares, because I wouldn’t remember any of it.

It would be like going back in time before all this shit happened. A quick and easy fix.

If Seth and Teddy were safe, then maybe I could go home to lose what I’d experienced.

I sat in the cafeteria with Camden and Brad. We’d invited Pierce and the rest, but they begged off. Pierce had been comforting Shannon, the other woman who’d been rescued from Xome. When she’d been taken from Earth, she’d left her children and wife behind. Now, she was desperate to get back.

Brad and Camden had both already decided to stay. It had taken them no time to come to that decision. Shannon and one of the other men, Randall, had decided to go home. The rest were undecided, which made sense to me. I was still bouncing back and forth, so why wouldn’t everyone else?

Brad and Camden, who were rooming together, seemed to get along well enough, despite their vast age difference.

“So what are you going to do on the drakcol planet?” I asked, leaning as far away from them as possible while I kept glancing around the room.

Brad shrugged. “No idea, but it’s better than whatever I left behind on Earth.”

“I’m thinking something with science. Once I’m a citizen, I can attend school. It would be fun to wander the stars,” Camden remarked, leaning back effortlessly in a model-like fashion. “I like the idea of working on a ship. I mean, it will probably take years.”

“Probably, but if that’s what you want,” I said, “then you’ll like it.”

“Yeah. I think it will be nice. Figuring out how everything works.”

I nodded, but that didn’t sound particularly interesting to me.

If I did stay, which I really wasn’t sure if I wanted to, I’d have to find something to do.

What that was, I had no idea. I had interests, but none that translated into the work field.

Tarot and fashion didn’t scream a job to me, and I didn’t really want to have to turn my hobbies to something for profit.

But I would have to find a job. There was no way I was trusting this government to help me.

“I don’t ever want to set foot in space again,” Brad grunted, crossing his arms. He, like all of us, had been forced to adopt Drakcon fashion, which was plain trousers, boots, and high-collared, sleeveless tunics.

Brad wasn’t particularly muscular, but he was toned enough and his arms were decorated with Classic American style tattoos.

I spotted a ship and anchor on one bicep, an entwined mermaid and merman on the same arm, and a dagger on the other, but he was covered in them.

“It’s not so bad,” Camden replied.

I wanted to scoff as he struck another pose with his chin in his hand. While I looked utterly ridiculous in these clothes, he looked hot. Then again, Camden had the whole Grecian god physique and would’ve looked lovely in anything.

“It’s fine.” I didn’t like or hate it. It just was.

“Well, I like it,” Camden claimed.

“Good for you,” I replied, taking a drink.

Brad cocked an eyebrow at my tone, and I met his stare. I didn’t give a rat’s ass if he liked me or my tone. He frowned, and I simply smirked.

The door opened, and I looked toward it, hoping for Seth. It wasn’t Seth, but I did recognize the person. Don. He was speaking to his second in command, Bimwoxcol. He pointed to something on his tablet, hair falling around his face.

I’d had nightmares last night. I’d woken up a couple of times, hoping Don would come through my door once again.

He didn’t. I’d even asked NAID if he could override the locks, and it had given me an affirmative; Don had an override as the captain.

He and the head of security weren’t supposed to enter my room without permission unless I was in danger, but Don could. Yet last night, he hadn’t.

He possibly hadn’t heard my terror like he had the first night. I’d been given a touchstone, but I hadn’t wanted to bother him.

Don looked in my direction, and I sent him a silent hello plus an invitation to join us.

Lunch would be far more interesting with him, not that I disliked Camden or Brad—both of them seemed perfectly fine—but I was intrigued by Don and his wide green eyes, though my sudden interest confused me.

I knew nothing about the drakcol, but I wanted to.

Like yesterday, I’d seen nothing of him, and I’d kept thinking about him and where he was and what he was doing.

“Oh,” Camden said, “look who came in?”

Brad looked at the door and grunted.

Camden took a deep breath. “Time to think about the food.”

I didn’t quite get what their problem was. My eyes flicked to Don, but he inclined his head and walked toward a table near the long window on the back of the mess hall.

I frowned. He’d heard me and had chosen to ignore me. Asshole .

His shoulders twitched, and I smirked.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, not waiting for their responses. I darted across the room, avoiding the people and the square metal tables. I slid into the metal stool across from him, chin in my hand. “Hello.”

“Greetings, Vince.”

“Why didn’t you come say hi?”

“I didn’t want to disturb your lunch with your fellow humans.”

“I invited you, which I know you fucking heard, by the way. You can just say no. You don’t need to make a big deal about it,” I replied.

He should’ve at least said hi. We were… something.

It didn’t matter what we were or not. He shouldn’t ignore me.

I didn’t like it. Why? Who knew or cared.

I didn’t like it, and I felt safe enough surrounded by people to play with Don.

“I bother them, Vince. They learned of my ability and it disturbs them.”

“What?” I asked with a growl, glancing at them.

Both Brad and Camden were staring at me. I shot them a glare. Camden got busy looking elsewhere, but Brad lifted his eyebrows in clear challenge or question, who knew. Those fuckers; that’s what Camden had meant. Why the hell were they judging Don?

“It upsets everyone,” he commented. “I’m used to it.”

He shouldn’t have to be used to it. It wasn’t Don’s fault. Besides, I didn’t care. Why did anyone else?

Don smiled and the left side of his mouth quirked up higher, making his smile crooked in the most adorable way. “You’re the first. Thank you.”

I shrugged. It was what it was. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d heard my earlier thoughts about the touchstone.

“I did, and yes, you could have pinged me. I would’ve come and assisted you. I apologize I didn’t hear you. If I had, I would’ve come.”

“I know.” I believed him. It was an odd feeling for me after everything, but I believed him. I didn’t trust him, but I sure as hell believed he would’ve come, to at least be able to sleep without me bothering him.

“You’re not a bother,” he said, scrolling on his tablet.

“Nice to know. Now come eat with us,” I demanded. I had no idea why I wanted him to, but I did; that was enough of a reason.

“My presence will upset them.”

“So? Let it,” I said. Fuck them . “Doesn’t mean you can’t have friends or fun. They’ll get over it or they won’t. I want to eat with you. Do you want to eat with me?”

“I do.”

I stood. “Then come on. I’ll tell them to fuck off.”

He got to his feet and tucked the tablet under his arm. “Will you eat well if I come?”

“Are you worried about how much I eat?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head. “Come on.”