Page 141 of Tethered

Wrong.

Sliding my traitorous hands under my thighs, I tilt my head back so he can see how deadly serious I am when I say, “No, thank you.”

It’s not what he expected, and it takes him a few seconds to process. He doesn’t so much as blink—his poker face is too damn good for that—but I can practically feel him scrambling for a counteroffer.

“Lowe, don’t be—”

I leap to my feet. “Donotcall me that. Do you know what you’ve done? Never mind that you abducted him, putting Vee on that ship alone was irresponsible, and in turn, I ended up making irresponsible choices too. I’ll never forgive you for that. We ran into a micrometeorite swarm, and the crew didn’t have their engineer becauseyouforced them to launch without one. It could have been fatal.

“All of this because you have an ego problem. News flash: it’s not because your dad died. Go to fucking therapy! You blackmailed me. You had me followed. The anxiety I’ve suffered the past few weeks—the fear and the anger—I lay it all at your feet. And if I’ve lost my job when I get back home? Dominik, I’ll sue you for everything you have. You’re tearing through lives like they mean nothing, and it’s fucking sociopathic.”

Chest heaving, feeling high with righteousness, I look into his shocked eyes. “Don’t ever contact me again.”

In the entryway, I bump into Hina and Ell, both carrying stacks of containers. A smear of jam sits at the corner of Ell’s mouth, and despite myself, I laugh.

I drop the bags off, walk into Yimirisé’s kitchen, and end up tugged into a group hug. It takes me a good moment to realise the group is comprised of Beau, Dev, and Khrys. I gasp, and my heart swells.

Khrys giggles into my ear. “Hey, girl.”

“Where are the brothers?” I ask as I disengage, only to see Maximus and Julian standing off to the side. Probably unsure if we’re close enough for embraces. It’s so nice to see everyone that I pull Maximus into a hug anyway. I don’t force that on Julian, instead touching a hand to his forearm and giving him a little squeeze.

I thought I’d never see them again, and I really grew to adore them all. Vee must’ve been over the moon. I spot Tanisira on the other end of the rather cramped kitchen. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She throws her hands up. “I didn’t plan this. I called the ship to check in and was bullied into hosting dinner.”

“Bullied.” Beau shakes their head mockingly.

Vee runs into the kitchen. “Yimirisé says we can use whatever we want except her baking stuff. Hey, mum. Look!”

Joy shines from my boy’s every pore. I manage to kiss his temple as he flies by, nearly losing a layer of skin in the process. “Yes, baby, I saw.”

“We’re making dinner because Tani said it’s rude to expect Yimirisé to cook for so many people on short notice.”

Tani?

A few hours around Kiran and she’s already broken him of his habit of calling Tanisira, Captain Sekmith. I didn’t particularly get the vibe she was good with kids, but maybe I shouldn’t have been quick to assume. I turn to look at Dev, but he holds his hands up, mirroring Tanisira.

“I’ve been banned from cooking,” he says, eyes twinkling in Julian’s direction.

“I’m happy to volunteer,” I offer, in case no one’s been nominated yet to cook for ten people. It’s the least I can do, honestly.

But Tanisira shakes her head. “Beau and Khrys are up. They have some atoning to do.”

The two in question smirk but don’t refute it. It’s barely been three days and they’re already in trouble. Then again, Beau could make a saint curse, and Khrys pretends to be mature but she’s down for chaos if you get some drinks in her.

Damn, I missed them. And now they belong to a new ship.Homebound, wasn’t it? I look to Tanisira, biting back laughter. “So, this is your crew?”

She’s taken a lot from Dominik. The gleam in her eyes tells me she’s thinking the same thing.

“Hey Vee, did Kiran want to join us?” Beau asks.

Tanisira’s face morphs, and she pins them with an icy stare. It’s a little undermined by the fork she uses to point at them. “Don’t you dare, Beau. Not my little sister.”

Beau, impressively, looks serious. “I didn’t mean like that, Cap. I feel like I know her a little, you know, because of Kit? I just thought it’d be nice if we got to know who she actually is.” A grin cracks that unnatural expression. “And get some juicy, embarrassing stories about you.”

That sends up a chorus of agreement. Tanisira shakes her head and turns away, but I know she’s glad Beau doesn’t have romantic designs on Kiran.

I think about earlier, her adamance that Tanisira can’t help sacrificing herself. In the moment I’d agreed, but I don’t think I wholly do, actually. Tanisira may want to help—save, even—the people she loves, but she respects their wishes. She doesn’t just run roughshod over everything, and that’s important.