Absolute respect.
This woman was amazing.
“So, is this mutiny?” Virn obviously decided to pretend the last conversation hadn't happened.
“If they call us tomorrow and ask us to bring her back?” Bly put the question out into the tense silence. “And we say 'sorry, we let them go'?”
The possibility of that scenario played out on their faces. Dray realized he was beginning to be able to read them better.
“I'm in for now. For now.” Clin emphasized the last point. He didn't look at Lucy as he moved back to his hover.
“The rest of you?” Virn looked them each in the eye.
No one looked away that Dray could see. They were still very much in rebel mode, but no one wanted to be the first to test the waters. Yet.
“Then let's find somewhere to camp that won't get us eaten by kol.”
Chapter 24
It was cold.
So, so cold.
Lucy hunched over herself. She was so miserable, she didn't even complain when she was jostled as Dray sat down beside her.
He held something out, and she realized it was a cup of grinabo.
Virn had refused to give her a new cup because he claimed she'd been responsible for her one being broken. She'd simply stared at him and then walked away, shaken at the extent of her anger.
“You don't mind sharing Earth germs?” she asked, taking it with her bound hands before he could answer, and swallowing a mouthful. She made a sound of surprise, because it was actually hot, something she hadn't expected.
“No. Earth germs are fine with me.”
She grinned around another sip. “Thanks.”
The heat of him had started to seep through to her, and unable to help herself, she leaned in to him, snuggling in as close as she could.
He went still for a beat and then adjusted, lifting his bound hands up and over her head, so she was in the circle his arms made. His heat surrounded her.
“Cold?”
“Freezing. Aren't you?”
“My uniform compensates for the temperature. So, no.”
“Huh.” She thought about it. “Is it only for the military, the fabric your uniform is made from?”
“No.” He lifted his chin so she could put her head on his shoulder, and then lowered it to rest just above her ear. “Most clothing is made from something with temperature control capabilities.”
“Obviously not on Tecra.” She was wearing what Dray had found for her in the drawers of the bedroom in the house on the cliffs. They were soft and comfortable, but so thin the wind blew straight through them. Fortunately the cloak was warm. Maybe it was made of thermoregulating fabric.
“I think those clothes are leisure clothes meant only for indoors. I should have looked for others for you, but at the time, I thought we were safe.”
She could hear the regret in his voice.
“It's okay. The cloak and the shoes are warm.”
She wondered how Bane was doing. He was looking for them, she was sure of that. Although there seemed to be little chance he'd find them where they were now, huddled on the top of a low hill, hovers parked in a circle around them, something like a tarpaulin attached to the hovers to give rudimentary shelter.
The hovers cut the wind, but the air was still freezing, and the fog was just as thick as ever. It pressed in on them, claustrophobic and smothering.
“What do you think Bane's doing?” She spoke softly, but the Tecran were talking among themselves and weren't paying any attention to her and Dray.
“Whatever he can do while still staying hidden.”
“Why does he have to hide?” She didn't understand all the politics of this, but it was clearly complex.
“Because the UC Ambassador asked him to. We didn't want to make the Tecran even more nervous and resentful than they already were by having him hover over them in a threatening way.” The puff of his breath on her ear made her shiver, and she hoped he put it down to the cold.
“So, he's big and intimidating?”
Dray went still, then gave a laugh. “I associate Earth women so closely with the Class 5s, I forgot you've never met him, or seen his battleship.”
“I wish I could. I wish I could see him right now.”
She felt his lips quirk.
“Me, too.”
“He's the first person to help me since I was abducted, aside from Dr. Farnn, and she only did it when the tide turned against her. I owe him a lot. Even if he can't find us, I'll always be grateful to him.”
He hesitated. “He won't stop looking until he does find you.