Page 9 of Claim
“My brother explained to me that the ship needed a distraction from its worries.I feel that was accomplished for everyone there.”His antennae slanted toward her.“Butyouleft.”
She gestured vaguely behind her for the datpad.“I wanted to get some work done.”
“This was the uroondu.Where I was tasked with making everyone feel better.And youleft,” he repeated.
She thrust her jaw out at him the way he was doing his antennae.“So you were working during the play period too.”
He glared at her moment.“Because I am—”
“Apex,” she sighed.“You’ve made that so damn clear.”
He stiffened, affront seeming to add at least a foot to him in all dimensions.She’d have to measure him again.“I can never forget, never put down that burden.”
“I don’t know much about gravity and whatever, so I’d have to double check with Ollie, but I’m pretty sure that while we are in deep space, theDeepWander, like, basically floats.So actually it isn’t always a burden.And even if it is, you could share some of it, sometimes.”
He continued to stare at her, but the glare faded from his faceted black eyes, replaced by something like confusion.“You are a fearless little thing, aren’t you?To speak to me like this.Even my egg-twin would not dare suggest that I abandon theDeepWander.”
She huffed out a breath.“Sharing is not the same as abandoning.Also, I’m not fearless.Sometimes I think I’m anxious about everything.It’s just late, and I’m hungry, which makes me cranky.And I guess cranky looks like fearless to you.”
From the doorway where he still stood, he glanced at the pastry and cooled tea, which she’d forgotten on the counter, engrossed in her semi-naughty sketches.“If you are hungry, why haven’t you eaten?”
“I was making notes for the Luster designs.”
As he finally took a step forward, the door closed behind him.“May I see?”
Thank goodness she’d blanked the datpad.“It’s not ready yet.”She squinted at him.“Or is this your subtle way of wondering if I’m not good enough to do it?”
“You are undoubtedly a better choice than any orc,” he said.“You’ve seen how we dress.”When she snorted in amused agreement, his antennae fluttered then slicked back.“So no, I am not questioning you.Not about that.”
She lifted her chin.“But youaredoubting me about something.”
One of his lower hands fisted, as if grabbing for something that wasn’t there.“My brother did not tell me how much his longing to sing meant to him.And because I did not see it, he left theDeepWanderwith Kinsley, without my sanction.If we had not found the shuttle when we did…” The vibration that emerged from him was part angry growl, part groan of despair; she and the other Earth women had watched thePratorimattack so she could imagine how helpless he’d felt—and how much he’d hated that feeling.“I will not let you go unseen.”
At his claim, June froze.No one had ever considered her in such a way.She made others look good.No one looked at her.
And she was not even one of his orcs, not really.Sure, the IDA contract made him responsible for her (and maybe she’d been a little too snarky about how his burdens weighed on him) but she hadn’t mated or even really dated anyone yet.Everyone on the ship had been too busy, first with the attack on theDeepWanderthen rescuing the shuttle from thePratorim, now getting ready for the Luster.
Of course, Adeline and Teq and Kinsley and Sil had managed to make time to fall in love, but she’d never been great at multi-tasking herself.
While multi-tasking seemed to be Mag’s middle name.Ruling the ship, making deals and handling debts, making sure his orcs were happy.
Checking on her to assuage his guilt about his brother?
“So I’m just another checkbox on your to-do list.”
“Yes.Also, I have decided to make you my wife-mate.”
Very slowly, June turned her back on him and went to the counter.She took a bite from the dewdrop, chewing thoughtfully—definitely more frosting—and washed it down with a mouthful of tea.
Then she turned back toward him; he hadn’t moved another step.“What?”
“Since you have not dated another of my orcs, you are available.”
She took another bite, another swallow.It was that or laugh in a king’s face.Or maybe scream.Either or.
Instead, she said again, “What?”
With a scowl that probably would’ve scared her if she wasn’t so confused, he tapped at the back of his head.“Is this thing on?Maybe my translator isn’t working.”
