Home Front (Star Kingdom #7) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,48

and Qin, when we were there. I intended to rescue them, but they mostly rescued themselves.”

“Frustrating when you try to rescue someone who doesn’t need rescuing.”

“Yes. Do you think Kim will kiss me if I subtly let her know that my distraction was integral to their escape?”

The question almost made Yas drop his tablet. Maybe it had been better when Rache had ignored him most of the time and never shared anything personal.

“Maybe if you don’t mention the slavering and foaming and neck-breaking of her monarch’s firstborn.”

“Hm.” Rache, having received his report, wandered off.

Sometimes, Yas wondered what went on in that man’s mind. Other times, he didn’t want to know.

12

Qin ran on the treadmill in the lounge, needing the exercise after so many days cooped up in that cell, and needing something for her body to do while her mind raced. She kept thinking about the strange showdown between Rache and Jorg and what the ramifications might mean for her friends. The Kingdom wasn’t her world, and had nothing to do with her, but she’d come to care for Casmir and Kim and—of course—Asger. Would they ever be able to return home after failing to save their king’s son?

Was there something Qin could do to help them? Or would Bonita, once they dropped everyone off at the station, head for the wormhole gate, eager to put as much distance between the Dragon and the Kingdom war as possible? The idea of leaving them to their own fate when she might be able to help bothered her.

And then there was Qin Liangyu Seven—Mouser—asking for help. Qin hadn’t mentioned that to the others yet, but she would say something to Bonita when there was a quiet moment. Maybe she would have some ideas. Earlier, Bonita had been chatting in navigation with Bjarke—if trading sarcastic comments about which of them had the shiniest, lushest gray hair counted as chatting—and Qin hadn’t wanted to disturb her.

The door opened, and the warm, familiar scents of her friends preceded their entrance. Casmir and Asger.

Asger pointed at Qin and thumped Casmir on the chest. “One of the treadmills is taken. We’ll have to arm wrestle for the other one.”

“Let’s save my joints some pain and just say you won,” Casmir said. “Unless you want to let one of the crushers stand in for me.”

“I do not. I’m still sore from the one I arm wrestled with earlier.” Asger rotated his shoulder gingerly. “Couldn’t you have convinced them they were on our side before it hurled me against a wall?”

“Sorry.”

“Qin?” Bonita’s voice came over the speaker, a strange note to it. “Are you still up?”

“I’m exercising in the lounge.”

“Did you know the Druckers are in this system?”

“I heard that two of their warships are here, yes.”

“And did you hear that they’re coming this way?” Bonita asked.

“The last I heard, they were at the gate, waiting to leave.” Concern spilled into Qin, and she slowed down the treadmill. Could this have something to do with Mouser’s message? “By coming this way, do you mean flying in this general direction or… chasing us?”

Viggo was the one to answer. “They could be heading to Stardust Palace, but they are following our route directly. They’re about to fly through the wreckage of Dubashi’s ships.”

“Is the Osprey still there?” Casmir asked.

“They left the area towing the Chivalrous,” Viggo said.

Qin turned off the treadmill and dropped her chin to her chest. Was it possible the Druckers had decided to come find her, after all? Maybe they figured as long as they were stuck in the system, why not collect their wayward slave?

“They’re not going to get you, Qin.” Asger came over and put an arm around her shoulders.

“There’s no way,” Casmir added. “We have twenty-five crushers now. And some knights who aren’t bad fighters either.”

“Thank you so much for your high accolades,” Asger said.

“You’re welcome.”

“Thank you. Both of you.” Qin leaned into Asger, appreciating his support, and that he no longer shied away from her after they touched. If life weren’t so crazy, maybe they could have gone on a date and shared another kiss. But it didn’t seem that the universe wanted her life to be simple. “There’s something more you should know. Bonita, too.”

“We’re listening,” Bonita said.

Qin hadn’t planned to tell Bonita about the message over the comm system with the whole ship listening, but she supposed everyone on board was a friend, so it didn’t matter.

She pulled up Mouser’s message and read it aloud. At the end, she added, “I’m worried