weren’t watching the clock when the five-minute jump alert went off. “I need to get to the flight deck,” I said. “If I don’t start talking as soon as we jump, Benedict is likely to do something unfortunate.” Like blow us up.
Ian stopped me before I would’ve dashed away. “Do you regret this?” he asked. He waved a hand between us, in case his question hadn’t been clear. His expression was guarded.
“No!” I hesitated, then steeled my spine. “Do you?”
He shook his head. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. But you’re a von Hasenberg and I’m an orphan from nowhere who’s been genetically modified. You could do so much better. Once you return to Serenity, you’ll see that.”
This was an important conversation that needed more than five minutes. Still, I had to try or I’d lose him forever. “Ian, I let my husband burn to death. I’m a walking science experiment gone wrong. Being a von Hasenberg has more downsides than you might think. You can do far better than me. I’m terrified that you’ll realize it at any minute and then leave me bereft.”
He leaned his forehead against mine. “We’re perfect for each other,” he said, but it sounded like a question.
“We’re perfect for each other,” I said firmly, so there was no question. “I won’t let you go without a fight, just so you know. And I fight dirty.”
He rubbed his nose against mine. “I like you dirty.”
“Good, because you’re stuck with me,” I said. “Now let’s go prevent Benedict from shooting at us. I don’t think this flying garbage bin can take it.”
I slid into the captain’s chair just as the engine noise changed. As before, it took longer than I expected before we jumped. I knew we’d made it when the ship intoned, “Incoming communication.”
I accepted the communication on my console.
A young man appeared on screen in a von Hasenberg uniform. “This is Transcendence. State your—”
I interrupted him. “I’m Lady Bianca von Hasenberg, here to see my brother. Put Benedict on the line.”
He blinked and squinted at me through the camera, then his eyes widened. “Right away, my lady.” He gestured frantically at someone offscreen.
It took another thirty seconds before the video changed and Benedict appeared. “Bianca?” he asked. His light brown hair was rumpled, like he’d been running his hands through it, and he wasn’t in his uniform jacket. It was half past nine, so he was likely off duty already.
“Yes. Did Ferdinand make it? And the others?” I wasn’t sure what names they’d be using, so I didn’t name them.
“Nice hair,” he said. I touched my darkened locks. I forgot I didn’t look like myself. He continued, “Yes, all three of them are here. What took you so long?”
“I’m in a planet hopper. Took two jumps.”
Benedict grimaced in sympathy. “Park it in landing bay four until we can dispose of it. Port side, second bay.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “I remember,” I said. “And before I forget, I have Director Bishop onboard. He’ll be bunking with me.”
Benedict’s eyebrows rose. He gave me a look that said we would definitely be revisiting this conversation later, but all he said was, “I’ll meet you in the landing bay. Flight control will guide you in.” He paused. “It’s good to see you, Bianca.”
“You, too, Benedict. You, too.”
Benedict disconnected the call. I peeked at Ian to gauge his reaction to my declaration. We hadn’t really talked about whether or not we were going public with our relationship, but I refused to hide him like a dirty secret. If that was going to be a problem, better to find out now. Benedict wouldn’t rat me out. Well, he wouldn’t rat me out to Father. The sibling gossip network was another matter entirely.
Ian met my eyes. “You told him.” His neutral tone didn’t give me any hint of what he was feeling.
“Yes. Should I not have?” Doubts crowded in. I wasn’t ashamed of him, but maybe the opposite wasn’t true. Perhaps he would’ve preferred to keep me a secret. I glanced away. “I can tell him to keep it to himself if you prefer.”
Ian stood and closed the distance between us. He tipped my chin up. “What’s going on in your head?”
I gave him the truth. I owed him that much. “I don’t want you to be ashamed that people know we’re together. If you’re going to be, I can’t do this. I just can’t.”
He knelt beside me, so we were eye to eye. “Bianca, you