Forged (Star Breed #10) - Elin Wyn Page 0,4

eyes. “You’d know if you ever hung out with anyone. But no, you’re too good for the rest of us drones.” She leaned back against the chest of the man she was obviously with. He didn’t seem to be following the conversation, too focused on what her hands were doing in his lap.

“I have never said that,” I countered.

Sure, I’d thought it plenty of times, but never said it.

At least, I didn’t think so.

“I’m just trying to get my hours in, same as everyone else. Hours in, contract worked off, back home. That’s the deal, right?”

Urtu’s hand tightened on my arm, tugging me towards the table. “Looks like you’re taking the night off. Why don’t you spend some time with us?”

Right hand fisted in the folds of my pants, I braced, ready to strike.

Then a shadow loomed over the table.

“I don’t think she wants to join you,” my missing giant said mildly. “And I really think you should let go of her arm.”

He paused, and even Grilla’s hands stopped moving.

“Now.”

Hakon

The little man jerked his hand back as if Ms. Joi had caught fire.

Good.

I held my hand out to her and waited.

“Shall we?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said, instantly ignoring the trio seething at the table behind her.

We passed through the crowd in silence, moving with the ebb and flow of people.

Some were dressed in the gray coveralls that seemed to be the station uniform, but more people had changed into casual clothes, or seemed dressed for a party, silk and sequins flashing everywhere.

I glanced down at Ms. Joi. Her breathing was even, only the slight flare of her nostrils a clue as to her emotions within.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I don’t often come out this way. And since you rescued me, please call me Yasmin.”

There was a story there, but I could let it wait until later.

“You can pay me back by being my guide. Alcyon got a ping to go help Commander Serrup with some crisis and had to abandon me.”

She bit her lip but said nothing.

“I had the feeling it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence,” I continued, waiting for a response. From the moment I’d seen her, I knew this woman had secrets.

And secrets were what I was searching for here.

“I’m sure I wouldn’t know,” she glanced up at me, deliberately fluttering her long dark lashes. “I’m only a lowly fabrication technician. It would be impossible for me to hear the gossip about how incompetent our station commander is.” Another flutter of lashes. “Completely, absolutely impossible.”

“That’s what I thought,” I said. “But it seems like a lot of people for someone with, shall we say leadership challenges, to be in charge of.”

We had reached the far side of the open space, another cluster of replicators and beverage dispensers surrounded by high tables filled with laughing, drinking, workers.

“It helps that expectations are low,” she said, a wry smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “Besides, we’re all pretty motivated to get our hours in. Or at least, those of us that want to get off this place.”

I watched the groups at the tables around us. Behind the laughter, more than a few had a hollow, desperate look about the eyes.

“Why would that be difficult?” I asked.

But before she could respond, her stomach growled, and her cheeks burned crimson.

“Let’s get some dinner and you can tell me all about it.”

She shook her head quickly. “I’m fine, really.” She waved at the replicators. “I can pick up something later, closer to my quarters.”

“Well, I’m hungry,” I said, walking over to see what was on offer. It wouldn’t be the same as what was offered on the Kodo Ragir, but honestly, I wasn’t used to such rich food anyway. “I can’t imagine you’d make me eat alone, would you?” I teased.

She sighed, and showed me how the replicators were set up. Fairly close to Imperial standard, slight differences in the options.

Not surprisingly, there were a number of dishes that I didn’t recognize. I started to click one of each.

At the end, Yasmin moved her thumb to the small block square, and I caught her hand. “I’m hungry, I’m paying.”

“I doubt if you’re set up in the system,” she argued. “Did they take your print?”

I fought back a grimace and started deleting food from the order. There was no reason for her to pay for my curiosity or my appetite.

“But,” she continued, tilting her head to the side, “they may have set up credits on your card. Can I see it?”

After a