Page 50 of Bernadette

She was there. In his bed, naked, asleep, snuggled in his arms. Bernadette. A true miracle. He could hardly believe it, but there she was.

She wore a slight smile as she slept, a balm to his soul. How many times had he replayed their goodbye in his thoughts? Her standing before him, her expression set. Eyes glassy with tears she refused to let spill. Seeking refuge in that stubborn strength of hers, though her heart was breaking in concert with his. He’d been in agony, but he’d been proud of her too. She’d reclaimed the person she’d left behind, unafraid to face an uncertain future. She’d told him he’d woken her, but it had been all her. The power of her personality had awed him. He’d wished he had half her grit.

He wished for it even more so now. Tumsa and Halmiko were on Lobam, and they knew where to find him.

He was relieved they were alive and well. They’d haunted his dreams and thoughts as often as Bernadette. However, he could never go back to his clan. It was impossible. He’d done too much damage, had destroyed any hope of regaining their trust.

Some dreams weren’t meant to be. Looking at Bernadette, however, Doljen prayed at least one might come true.

* * * *

Tumsa watched Halmiko pace in their shared quarters and grumble a stream of complaints in a low undertone. The Nobek’s frustration wasn’t exactly a thunderstorm, more of a squall.Tumsa had the sense of déjà vu. It reminded him of when Halmiko had read his opponents wrong on the kurble field or he’d executed a play poorly. If not for their surroundings, he could have almost believed the past years apart were a bad dream.

“The fact she hasn’t returned yet should be taken as a good sign,” he counseled. “It might mean Doljen is willing to hear what she has to say. Their reunion could be a happy one, which allows us a better chance to talk to him.”

“Ifshe bothered mentioning us to him. What if she decided her chances were better if she kept our presence a secret? What if they run off together?”

“Do you really think she’d give up her ship? More likely, she’d order us off. If she does—” he held up a hand to fend off the angry protest he could tell Halmiko was ready to voice “—I don’t think she’s the type to do so.But, if she does tell us to leave, we’ll insist on talking to Doljen first.”

“We should be there. We have to force Doljen to listen.”

“We can’t force him to do anything. Give the floor a break, Halmiko. You’ll wear a rut in it.” The old advice fell out of Tumsa’s mouth too easily.

Perhaps Halmiko thought so too, because he halted and blinked at Tumsa before annoyance returned. “We’re so close to him. I need to see him and confirm he’s okay.”

“We’ll hear soon. Bernadette wouldn’t keep his condition a secret.” As short as their acquaintance was, Tumsa was sure of that. She was as reliable as she was no-nonsense. “It’s almost as if you’re jealous of their connection.”

“Why shouldn’t I be? I have more history with him than she does, and therefore, more right to him. Besides, in the past few weeks, it’s me she’s been—”

He broke off and abruptly headed for the door, triggering it open. Alarmed he might do something foolish, Tumsa hurried after him into the corridor. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know, but I can’t stay in here any longer. I need some air, at the very least.”

What he didn’t need was to be alone. When Halmiko was upset, he had a tendency to act before thinking.

Tumsa refused to question why he was ready to take responsibility for the other man, or why it still felt as natural as breathing. He followed Halmiko outside. The spaceport was humming with cargo transports touching down and taking off. The open sky was a clear blue over the docking pads.

Nobek Kom was outside the hatch as they exited. Halmiko and Tumsa paused to greet him. He muttered in return, frowning at the ship on the next pad. It was Fod’s transport.

“Why hasn’t the captain returned? She isn’t concerned about those gurluks following us here?” Halmiko snarled. “Did you even tell her they’d arrived? That she needed to get her ass to the ship?”

“I informed her Fod was here. She trusts me to handle it. As for telling her to return, no man commands that woman.”

“Except in the bedroom.” Halmiko’s voice was so low, Tumsa was certain he hadn’t intended to be overheard.

Kom had caught it too. “I wouldn’t have any idea about that. It’s hard to imagine.”

Tumsa studied his clanmate. He’d deduced there’d been physical intimacy between Bernadette and Halmiko. The possessive manner the Nobek had spoken of it caused him to wonder how close they’d gotten emotionally. He’d noted when they were barking at each other, there was an undercurrent of passion beyond what he’d expect from a casual friendship with benefits.

Had Halmiko fallen for her? What were her feelings toward him?

“Why is theRogueso long in port without loading a cargo? Did your garbage Earther wreck finally break down for good?” A Dantovonian hopped on his bent, insectile rear legs into view from Fod’s hatch.

A calico Adraf, its neck freshly shorn of its prized fur, stalked down the gangplank behind it. “Or Captain Slut hasn’t slept her way to the next shipment yet.”

With a growl, Kom stalked in their direction, despite the glossy black Adraf and the silver-skinned Beonod twins sporting knives who’d also left the ship.

“Get back on theRogue,” Halmiko told Tumsa.

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