held out her arms. “Up, Uda.”
I picked her up and kissed her smooth cheek. “Hello, meena. Are you the reason your mama is awake so early?”
“She certainly is,” Sabrina said. “She’s lucky she’s so damn cute.”
Jovie rested her head on my shoulder and I nestled her in the crook of my arm as Sabrina eased down onto the couch. She rubbed her belly and smiled at me. “Quill isn’t here. He went for an early morning sword fight with Krey.”
“I know.” I sat down on the couch beside her. “It is you I wish to speak with.”
“Oh? About what?”
Quill would be angry with me when he found out what I was about to do, but I had to do it. I hadn’t slept at all last night, my guilt and my worry for Ellis kept me awake until keo had risen in the sky and bathed my apartment in warm light.
“It is about the human in the infirmary,” I said.
Jovie sat up and patted my face as Sabrina studied me for a moment. “What about her?”
I took a deep breath, praying to Krono that this would work.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, the door to Quill and Sabrina’s living quarters opened and Jovie squealed and bounced on my lap. She wiggled her way free of my grip and slid to the ground, running unsteadily toward Quill who scooped her up and kissed her cheek.
“Good morning, little queen. Did you sleep well?”
Jovie hugged him, burying her face in his neck. He rubbed her back as he smiled at me. “Good morning, Galan.”
“Hello, Quill.”
He joined us in the living room, giving Sabrina a kiss before sinking into the chair across from the couch. “I see our little queen did not let my sadora sleep in this morning.”
“No, she did not,” Sabrina said with a laugh. “She was awake about three minutes after you left.”
“I told you last night to let your mama sleep this morning, did I not, Jovie?” Quill said to his daughter.
She giggled and relaxed against his chest, her tiny tail curling around his forearm as he turned to me. “You are here early, Galan.”
I didn’t reply and Sabrina said, “He wanted to talk to me about something.”
“I imagine he did,” Quill said. “So, my queen, has he convinced you to convince me to keep the tiny human thief until she is healed?”
Sabrina glanced my way and Quill grinned at me. “Do not look so shocked, Galan. I know you almost as well as you know yourself. Honestly, I am surprised you waited until this morning to speak to Sabrina.”
“I agree with him,” Sabrina said. “We should keep her until the gallberry juice heals her cancer.”
“Of course you agree with him,” Quill said. “Your compassion and generosity are no secret.”
“Your queen’s mercy is what makes her so loved by your people,” I said.
“That is true,” Quill said.
“We have more than enough of the gallberry plant to heal her,” Sabrina said. “And I know for a fact that you just finished a trade deal with the Scuun that gave us, like, a mountain’s worth of isotopes for the ships, so you can spare the fuel as well. Once she is healed, Galan and Krey will return her to Earth. It’ll only be a few days, honey.”
When Quill didn’t reply, a familiar stubborn look crossed Sabrina’s face. “This is important to me and to Galan, my king.”
Quill smiled at her. “My queen, you know I cannot resist anything you ask of me. Galan knows this as well, which is why he spoke with you when I was busy with Krey.”
Sabrina’s smug look made both me and Quill laugh.
“You’re so getting lucky tonight,” Sabrina said to Quill.
He laughed again. “I look forward to it, sweet sadora. But I will confess that Galan involving you was not necessary. I had already changed my mind about healing her. I planned to speak to Teo once we finished breakfast and let him know the human stays until she is fully healed.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised by Quill’s confession. If my brain hadn’t been so wrapped up in thoughts of Ellis, I may have even assumed he would change his mind. Despite Quill’s outer appearance, he had a compassionate and kind nature.
Sabrina’s smile widened as she stared at Quill. “God, I love you.”
“I love you too, sadora. Galan, join us for breakfast.” Quill said. “We will speak with Teo once we are done.”
I wanted to return to Ellis, wanted to wake her and tell her the good news,