Page 14 of Star Defenders (My Alien Mates 2)

J'avet muttered something and waved us inside.

Zarex's eyes followed me the entire way; I saw him in the corner of my eye.

He followed us in and J'avet came behind him.

The door shut with a soft whoosh, locking us in.

4

"Isit everything you thought it would be?" I trailed a finger down the back of Slek's hand.

"You always are," he replied smoothly. He gave me a lopsided smile which didn't waver when I poked him hard in the back of the hand, fingernail and all.

"I meant the ship, smart ass," I said. "You've practically been drooling since we boarded."

"Who says that has anything to do with the ship?" he asked. He added a brow wiggle to his playful expression.

I cocked my head until he held up a hand in surrender.

"Fine. She's a beauty. Part of me wishes I could stay on her longer." He sighed, then his boyish grin was back. "But then I remember I'd rather stay on you."

I was about to respond when Danec swore at the nearby beverage dispenser.

"Bloody microns," he growled. "Come on."

"We really need to teach that boy to swear properly," Slek remarked.

I chuckled and got to my feet.

"Is everything okay?" I put a hand on Danec's shoulder and startled when he jumped in surprise.

"Oh, s-s-sorry," he stammered, more pronounced than usual.

I hadn't heard him do that in a while. That he did so now was concerning. What had him so anxious?

"Nothing on this ship will work for me," he said. "It's like I don't exist. It doesn't know my palm print, fingerprints or retinas."

"It's a new ship," I said. "It's probably a glitch. It could be that you need to be added into the system again." That was odd though. We had all been scanned and added to the system while on Dendra Station. Yeah, computers still weren't infallible.

I glanced over my shoulder. "Slek, can you do it?"

"Of course I can. Anywhere, any time," Slek replied.

I rolled my eyes. "I meant can you add Danec into the system?"

"Sure, but get the boy a drink first." Slek rose to his feet.

"Oh, right." I looked questioningly at Danec.

"I only wanted a drink of water." He gave the dispenser a dirty look.

"Okay." I put my palm on the pad beside the machine. "Glass of water, please."

A green light blinked. In the front of the machine, a claw lowered a glass and water trickled into it.

I picked up the glass and handed it to Danec, who accepted with a smile and nod.

"All that technology and I can't get a drink of water without help." He looked more embarrassed than annoyed.

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