Page 64 of Crossing Quinn

“About a week, if the Tai-Kok don’t eat him first,” I answered.

“From my research, prisoners don’t survived longer than a day on a Tai-Kok ship,” Quinn said.

I put in blithely, “Let’s hope they get a bad case of the munchies.”

“Or I can always gift them with more var bugs,” Adan quipped.

Papa’s features held a merciless rage. “An excellent idea. With the right tools and parts, I can fashion a suction device and an ultrasonic bug caller.”

“I have tools and a small workroom,” Quinn responded.

“Sounds like a plan.” I loved male bonding.

Papa placed Mami in the copilot’s chair. “If she starts to make a fuss, summon me.”

“Will do.”

Adan handed me Clio. “You need to care for her.”

“Wait! What if she gets hungry?”

Adan stuck a tentacle in his mouth and made a retching noise.

“Oh hell no.” Quinn backed away.

Adan’s throat bulged weirdly, and he pulled out a goopy arm.

Nausea rose in my throat. “Was that necessary?”

“The child must be fed.” Adan held the arm out to Clio.

With a happy squeak, Clip grabbed it and stuffed it in her maw.

Tai-Kok juices dripped in my lap. “Ugh.” I clapped a hand over mouth. I will not puke. I will not puke. I will not puke.

Clio held up a bloody finger. “You want? Me share.”

“No!” I shook my head violently. “I’m full of chocolate.”

“Tastes good.” Clio pressed the finger to my lips.

Papa snatched the finger. “Can I eat it? I’m very hungry.”

Clio giggled when my father used sleight of hand to make the finger disappear.

I wiped the crap off my mouth and gratefully took the piece of chocolate Quinn held out. “Love you.”

“You are my heart.”

A sigh of content slipped from me. Color me lucky.

Clio pointed at my father. “Who he?”

“He’s your grandfather.”

“Gumpa?”

Papa laughed. “My first grandchild is a Katanic shapeshifter.”

---