Page 27 of Touch the Stars
“Obviously, they can.”
A silence fell between them.It seemed like Baatar had admired the emperor, but that the emperor’s actions confused him.Hell, they confused her, too, but none of it changed her mind about what she had to do.
She pushed herself up to sit and drew her knees to her chest.No matter what happened, she was going to find Kris.Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked rapidly.
Baatar brushed his long fingers lightly down her left biceps.“Why you cry, Kaitlyn?”
He used English this time.
She swallowed and looked over her shoulder at him.“What do I have to do to get you to go after Kris?”
His gaze seemed to take in every inch of her face.“She means much to you, Kris does.”
“She means everything.”She sniffed and rubbed the back of her hand under her nose.“Our parents died when we were twelve years old.She’s all I have left.”
“Hm.”He sat up next to her.“My brother, Buuren, we also close, I thought.Buuren betrayed empire.Caught and taken to Ragat—this be the grand emperor’s origin planet—after sold he information to the Bajiki Syndicate.Executed there.”
A gasp escaped her as a sharp ache filled her heart.“I’m so sorry, Baatar.”
If Kris died…shit, she wouldn’t survive that loss.Wouldn’t want to survive it either.
“There be more,” he said.“My mission to bring you to Ghara…once complete, my family be granted pardon for his betrayal.”
“But, your family didn’t do anything wrong.”It was Buuren who’d messed up, and he’d already paid the ultimate price.
He met her gaze and clasped his hands together at chest level, fingers interlaced.“Family.We are same.What one does, we all do.This time we are dishonored, but alive.”
“Wait a minute.Do you mean you could’ve been executed for what yourbrotherdid?”
“This be why honor so important to us.”
She gave her head a slow shake.“Man, that’s fucked up.”
“It be honor, Kaitlyn.It be why I am here.”
“To save your family’s honor?”
“Yea.”
Yea?That was seriously biblical old-school, but it fit him in a weird way.“Well, just so we’re clear.I amnotsacrificing my sister foranyone’shonor.”
“I know.”
Shit, why’d she open her big mouth?Now he was going to make things more difficult by locking her in her room.
He lowered his hands to his lap.“This be why cruiser still follow Bajiki freighter’s artificial propellant trail.”
She blinked at him.“Y-you mean we’re still going after her?”
“Yea, that I mean.Until time run out.”His small smile was full of boyish charm.
A bubble of joy rose in her heart, but she suppressed it.“What about your family, though?”
“If you not arrive to Ghara on schedule, my family executed for double treason.”
“What?You’re fucking kidding me.That asshole would do that?”
He held up his forefinger and placed it against her cheek.“Things unchangeable must be worked around.”
