Chapter Fourteen
“ M mm. Mmmm!” Nessa covered her mouth. All around her, Leonids in the small cafe were staring at her—for two reasons. One, she was a human. Two, she had just had a limona cloud cake, something like a fluffy whipped cheesecake with the sharpness of lemon, yet there was no sour twinge. Pure sweetness and bite. The moans she made while eating it were positively debauched, and the ears and whiskers of the other patrons were twitching as they took in her unintentional display.
Like Kamau, who was sitting across from her, his head on his clasped paws, studying her with a heated gaze that threatened to send the cloud cake melting down her fingertips.
“I want to go back to our quarters and make you make those noises again,” he whispered, his tail caressing her bare leg under the table.
“I’m a working member of the crew now,” she protested, even though she was on the verge of tearing out of her new red wrap-around dress and letting him lick her to a pulsing peak right on the restaurant table.
Not in “heat” anymore. No excuse.
Except him. He makes me crazy in the best way.
“You have two days off to meet your father and help him get settled,” Kamau pointed out, putting his paw up to pay for their meal. “This port is one of the nicest on Leonid-One, according to Marcus and Ru. They both went to school here. Should we take your father sightseeing?”
“No.” Nessa shook her head with a sorrowful expression. “I’m hoping access to better medicine, food, and air will help his health improve, but for now, I’m afraid he’ll be freaking out about the number of Felids and just need to be on board the ship with a bunch of humans until he understands more about what’s going on.”
“There’s a manhunt out for Merton since he disappeared from the MWIP. Surely your father understands now why he had to travel here? You’re really the only one who can help tie all the pieces of Merton’s dirty work together—you and Abigail. He would be a target.”
“I don’t think all of that sunk in. I struggled just to make him understand that he had to go to the MWIP to collect my things and then catch his designated shuttle. Thank God for Layla. She was so good with him, so good at helping him get his booking onto the shuttle and his hypersleep clearance forms from the nurse...” Nessa put down her fork and licked her lips.
In the last week, she had slipped into her new role easily. Instead of sinking under the weight of a new life with a hundred new challenges, she was swimming, even floating, worries seeming far away. She had done what she could to help stop Merton and his wicked cronies. She had made fast friends with Jade, Abigail, Wendy, and Layla. Kaylie was still on bed rest, but Jaxson seemed to have made it his mission in life to look after her and help the frail woman recover, just as Kamau had done for her.
With Jaxson often busy playing nurse, she and Lycen, the stunning Wolfi Canid, had bonded over shuttle repairs and helping Kamau lay the groundwork for mecha and terraforming the spare bay.
“I like this job better than any of the others I’ve ever had,” Nessa sighed. “And not just because the captain gave me time off before I even earned it.”
“Is it because you like your new roommate?” he teased.
“That’s the best part.” Nessa rolled her eyes. “Roommates don’t do the things you’ve been doing to me,” she whispered.
Kamau scooted his chair closer to her, his tail sliding up her crimson skirt to squeeze between her thighs. “Do you mean when you were riding me this morning, and I decided both holes needed to be full?”
“You’re wicked!” she hissed, hurriedly grabbing her ice water. The water! She would never get tired of the simple joy of tasting water that didn’t have a metallic or chemical aftertaste. And she was going to need a thousand gallons of it to keep on hand because her sweet, tenderhearted King loved to test her limits in bed the way he loved to test out new ingredients in the kitchen.
“We have a few hours before the solo shuttle attaches to the Comet Stalker . We can meet Marcus at the end of his lecture at Bastet Mercy, see if we can find Ru and Layla with the cubs at Thoth Park, just across the square, or we can get some limona and goat’s milk at that market we passed so I can make you more cloud cakes.”
Nessa bit her lip as his tail tip circled firmly over her swollen nether lips, zeroing in on her permanently puffy clit. “I know you said you were going to make Dad a special welcome dinner tonight. Don’t you need time to prep?”
“I suppose it would look bad if my future father-in-law found out I had been bending his daughter over my desk and neglecting my work and the nourishment of my crew. We’ll stop by the market, then prep.” He swiped his credit account disc in the server’s device before rising and taking her arm.
If the stares were mixed, some awed, some excited, a few envious, and more than a few disapproving, Kamau didn’t seem to care. He held her on his arm as though he were carrying a priceless jewel. She snuggled up close to him, wondering when she could let her final bit of armor fall and tell the Servali that she loved him. It had only been three weeks now, but already it seemed like too long a wait to pour out her heart and confirm what he must surely have guessed.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, wondering if he already knew. Kamau was so intuitive. He anticipated so many of her needs and made sure to fulfill them before she could even ask. Maybe now he would provide the perfect opening.
They stepped outside into the lazy purple and golden afternoon. Kamau leaned over, pressed his lips to her hair, and whispered, “I’m thinking about how perfect it is that you’re shorter than me—and that if I bend you over far enough, I can part your cheeks and press my paw right against—”
“Kamau! We’re in public,” she elbowed him.
Well. It was about an opening. Just not the one I expected.
“TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT . I can feel it.”
Talos put another chair at the long table, placing a bottle of wine in front of it to mark the guest of honor’s seat.
“Tonight? Nessa will be with her father for several days straight, don’t you think?”
“I know, and I do not mind. I will help her with John’s care. He sounds like a good man, worthy of a wonderful daughter. A beautiful, caring, wonderful daughter.”
Talos snapped his fingers in front of the Servali chef’s vacant eyes. “Caring for an elderly man with a fading mind doesn’t sound romantic. Why do you think she will say she loves you today of all days?”
“Because Nessa is content here. She likes her new home, her new contract, the work she does, the people she is with. She likes me enough to call me her King.”
“You don’t need the words, Kam. Anyone with eyes can see that you two are in love. You have been almost since the first second her eyes opened.”
“Before,” Kamau admitted softly.
Talos groaned. “You are hopeless. I have to go and do the final docking sequence for the solo sleeper capsule. You were lucky Nessa had so many MWIP staff credits saved up to use for her father’s travel and that she could afford concierge care for him.”
“Go, go.” Kamau placed the finest dishes around the table and waved his crewmate away.
I don’t need to explain myself to him. I know it. I feel it. Nessa is so close to saying it. Her father’s care and well-being, his safety—those are the final pieces. Once he is here, safe with us—she will see that she can be mine. Our lives can truly begin together.
Tonight, I will tell her how much I love her.
Tonight, I know she will say it back.
“THAT WAS THE FINAL lecture. There are already over five hundred Leonid Knights and widowed Kings emailing the immunology and fertility departments about finding a surrogate Queen, or even a bride,” Marcus wearily sank into a chair in the med bay.
“Kamau’s idea of turning this into a floating consultation and clinic is a very good one,” Rupex said on the screen. “We may only be able to help a dozen couples at a time, but that’s more than most can offer. With Dr. Weaver helping the Lynxian System... This is truly a hopeful time. Well done, Marcus.”
The doctor shrugged. “I’m not in it for the praise, but thank you, Ru. But that’s all speculation. Back to the matter at hand—our next human guest!”
Rupex nodded. “We’re detaching and heading to upper atmo now that you’re aboard. We’ll be right on time to meet Nessa’s father’s shuttle.”
“The shuttle’s clearances are all in order, and it’s on a perfect trajectory. Solo sleeper capsule jettisoned from a Sapien-Three mass transporter launched from the MWIP nine days ago. Registry and security checks are in perfect order,” Talos spoke from his office, a look of deep satisfaction on his normally immobile face.
Nessa looked at her new personal computer and took a deep breath. She had not seen her father in person in a year and a half. She couldn’t wait to feel his strong arms around her, to revel in that unique smell of sweaters and savory, spicy cologne that always seemed to surround him. “Thank you all so much for having him. I’ll move down to the bay to meet him—and stop glaring at me, Ardol. I know to wait until the space-side doors are closed and the air-lock is fully sealed before entering the bay, jeez.”
“Blame a guy for being careful of a Queen who could kick his ass,” Ardol mumbled, and everyone laughed.
Nessa smiled, but the laughter wasn’t there—yet. A cold knot settled in her belly. She wanted Kamau to be with her to welcome her dad. She wanted something she couldn’t name—a moment that she’d never had but always dreamed of.
When everything turns out okay. It has to be this moment. And then, I’ll turn to Kamau and—
“Marcus?” Kamau’s voice broke into her thoughts. “He should be waking up naturally now, right?” The hypersleep protocol has passengers fully functional upon arrival if done correctly?”
“Absolutely. He should have woken up a few hours ago to the sound of the in-flight instructions and reminders about his course and destination. If this were a Leonid shuttle, I could probably pull up his vitals from a compatible computer. Talos, you’ll need to see if you can get some communicating software patches if we’re going to have more Sapien System guests.”
Talos nodded, gruff voice thoughtful. “Absolutely. There are probably a lot of things we need to discuss about security, Rupex. Legitimate surrogacy is an excellent option, but this may also increase the rise in trafficking.”
Marcus shook his head. “They won’t have access to the drugs they need to force human females into surrogacy—and that’s one reason I intend to limit the number of doctors and hospitals who have access to the treatment. I want to help Felid families and rebuild our population, but there’s too great a potential for misuse.”
The discussion had veered from celebration to seriousness quickly. Nessa sighed and shut off her personal computer, the small device (well, small for Felids) that she would normally wear on her forearm. The new Felid model she had received was too large for that, so she carried it tucked under her arm and hurried to the designated shuttle bay.
The doors were already opening, and a sputtering green light at the back of a squat capsule was fading, indicating it was almost ready to land. She held her breath, as she always did when watching shuttles arrive. There was always a morbid fear that the lights would go out too soon, that the shuttle would stall, or worse, free-fall.
But it didn’t. It banked slightly, entered smoothly, and the flames extinguished right on top with a gentle sputter. The relief that filled her morphed into that resurgence of joy.
Daddy! He’s here.
He’s safe. Safe.
Maybe that was the fairytale ending she was in need of—not just the damsel getting saved and finding her devoted, loving knight. The damsel’s family had to be safe, too.
She smiled, a wry smile she was glad no one else was there to see. I would have punched you in the face if you said I was ever a damsel in distress—but I’m okay with it. This damsel saves other damsels, and she’s ready to have a partner in doing the saving.
She put her personal computer to the side as the bay doors shut. Ardol was probably watching the bay from his office nearby in his official capacity as freight coordinator, but he couldn’t see her face or the sudden happy tears streaming down it.
With a hiss, the airlock shut. An answering whoosh and rush of compressed air filled the bay, repressurizing it and ensuring there was plenty of air for the occupants who would emerge from the craft.
The second the red safety light turned green, she slammed her palm against the panel on the wall, opening the bay doors and throwing herself through them. “Daddy! Daddy, it’s me!”
The small capsule’s door slid open, and she heard her father’s cheerful voice. “Nessa! Give me a minute. My legs ain’t awake yet! The rest of me is, but not them.”
She laughed and sprang into the small capsule. “At least you’re out of hypersleep okay! Are you cramped or just—”
Her words stopped abruptly as she caught sight of her father.
He was awake, sitting in the small, well-padded chair in front of the hypersleep chamber.
And Merton was sitting in the chair next to him, an affectionate hand on her father’s shoulder—and a small, compact-looking knife tucked against the side of his leg, half-hidden in his other hand.
“Nessa, sweetheart. Come in and join us!”
“MERTON.” SHE DIDN’T move.
His hand clamped down on her father’s shoulder. It could easily have been his neck. “Imagine my surprise when I found out my future father-in-law was making the trip to you alone. I had to get a portable hypersleep chamber—not fun, but worth it—and slip in the back here. I’ve been awake a lot longer than John with nothing to do but think.” His eyes narrowed, not matching the broad smile he gave her.
Her father shook his head in consternation. “Nessa, I knew you were in love with some fella, but I thought I was going to meet him when I got here, not on the flight! It was good to have a few hours to get to know Merton. Real nice guy.”
“Oh?”
“But this hypersleep concoction—I don’t like it. I plum forgot he was on here, and here Merton told me we got on together back at the MWIP. Woke up to see him sitting in the chair and almost had a heart attack.”
“We wouldn’t want that to happen, John! Defeats the purpose of Nessa and I trying to take care of you,” Merton said with a hollow laugh.
Nessa swallowed. In a few minutes, the crew would wonder why she hadn’t emerged. They would check on her. Her tortured nerves eased a little. People here had her back.
But Merton had a knife, and he was right in front of her. His hands on her father. “Let’s get Dad out of here, and you can come and meet everyone,” she said in a sweet voice. “Come on, Daddy.”
“Just a minute, Nessa. His legs are still asleep. He’s been in one position for too long. Seems pretty weak.”
“Well, there’s a big banquet waiting for you, Dad. I’ll help you. I’m sure Merton will lend a hand. Come on, Merton. I’m surprised you took the trouble to bring my dad all this way! You said father-in-law, but you know that’s not right.”
Merton’s face clouded. “Are you playing dumb? Do you really think I would fall for that?”
One eyebrow slid into an arch. “You believed it when I said it was ‘good for me too,’ so...”
Merton frowned, and the knife clicked in his hand, blade extended by several shining inches. “You talk to me. You’re alive after all, and suddenly every agency in the galaxy is asking questions—very pointed questions.”
“Did you two have a fight?” her father asked, blinking, shifting in his chair.
Nessa went to reach for him, and Merton’s blade sliced the air just in front of her fingertips. “Hey!” she hissed, snatching her hand back.
“Hey! I had a good thing going. Three times I made sure a capsule went out. Three times of making sure the schedule and manifests jelled, and I got little boosts every few cycles. I thought you might be smart enough not to ask questions.”
“Wait, you thought I would see a shuttle that looked derelict and pass it?” Nessa’s face wrinkled in disgust. “If I didn’t already hate your guts, I’d be offended. Professionally insulted . I actually care about my job.”
“Which is stupid, because the jobs don’t matter, Nessa. The money matters. That’s what makes the world go ‘round.”
“That’s what makes it like it is. It can be used for good or evil, like everyone and everything. Want to have a debate about it over dinner?”
“I’m not going to some party with your genetically made monsters! You’re not even supposed to be alive!” Merton growled. “You went through a hyperjump without a hypersleep chamber.”
“You what? Nessa, when did that happen? Get your damn hand off my neck, boy—my daughter is done with your sorry ass!” John Kinney stood up suddenly, then pitched forward, knees giving out.
“No!” Nessa screeched and slammed her hands down over Merton’s arm, forcing the knife down before her father toppled onto it. The blade sliced her forearm but left her father unscathed.
“You are going to tell them the ‘truth.’ That it wasn’t me. That you left to meet me off-world because we’ve been having an affair that’s forbidden by the MWIP. You thought I was going to give you a promotion for your sexual favors, and when I didn’t, you refused to come back. You decided to stage your own kidnapping and make up these crazy stories because you didn’t get the promotion. You showed your true colors—a jealous, crazy bitch with revenge on her mind. They’ll believe it.”
“Ew! No, I will not say that! Daddy, stay down. Merton, that’s stupid. Even if I lied, there is a trail of evidence! You made the schedule. You probably told Joe to take my spot, and he’s not even an inspector. You have access to security drone footage. Your account—”
Merton’s dark face was shaking with rage, sweating, and so suffused with rushing blood that he was plum purple. “Stop talking! You talk too damn much, and it’s time to just be a good, quiet little girl and do what I say—unless you want this shuttle to be a coffin for two.”
KAMAU PACED. HE’D HURRIED to the bay and waited inside the observation room on the lower deck, waiting to see Nessa and John emerge.
But they didn’t.
Don’t be impatient. Emotional moment. They’re having a private talk. A sweet fatherly hug and she is pouring out her heart to him—or he’s ill after the journey, and she needs help. I’m not there to help her!
Silly boy. She would call for help. She has her new personal computer with her, and it’s a touch away from calling the entire crew to her side!
Except that I can see it there—against the wall.
His stomach prickled, and his tail stiffened.
Something is wrong.
His paw slammed down on the panel and then down on his wrist, activating his device and sending an alert across the ship. “Talos! Ardol! Something is wrong, come to the bay!”
“What? What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer, just ran.
When he skidded into the shuttle docking area, he fell to all fours, running like some beast—and he didn’t even slow down, didn’t even hesitate to spring and tear open the closed door of the capsule.
“Kam!” Nessa cowered over her father.
The scent of her blood hit his nostrils and turned everything inside of him lethal. No more kind, caring Kamau. No more sweet, subservient chef. Was he the littlest Felid Knight on board? It didn’t matter. He was bigger than the man wielding a knife and smirking as he turned it towards him.
“Back up, kitty. I’m armed.”
“So am I—but my knives are built in!” Kamau snarled and lunged.
The blade went into his chest, but not deeply. Kamau’s thick muscles, thick fur, and lightning speed helped minimize the damage—to him.
Merton was another story.
Claws laid open his chest in seconds, plunging in and tearing with perfect savagery.
Beside him, Nessa, his strong, powerful Nessa, yanked her father forward and out of the capsule, dragging him away from the human scum with the blade.
Merton’s shout pierced the air and rapidly died—as did the man.
“Oh. Nessa!” Kamau exclaimed, even though the woman he had killed for was no longer beside him. He blinked, rose, and looked at the body underneath him. “What have I done?”
“Move!”
Nessa was back. She stepped over Merton’s body without a glance, opened the storage compartment, and tossed bags and boxes from it. There were only a handful. Kamau scooped up the largest ones in a daze and she dragged the smallest over the carnage without a second glance. She marched past again, silent, jaw like granite. “Move!”
He followed in a fog, mouth drying out, well aware of the blood streaming down his chest and covering his paws. Merton’s blood on his hands. His own was seeping over his fur and his apron.
“Nessa, I—”
Kamau let himself be shoved through bay doors and onto the deck. He toppled next to John, who was sitting in one of the observation seats, looking confused.
“You saved us. You’re not taking the rap for this alone,” Nessa hissed as she stepped in after him.
“What are you—”
He never got to finish. Didn't need to. Nessa’s fingers hit several buttons in quick succession—opening the bay and the airlock now that they were securely on deck.
The capsule with Merton Barry’s body slid into space, sucked out without its power engaged, falling into the vastness of space, floating far and fast in intergalactic winds as the Comet Stalker left Leonid-One’s atmosphere behind.
“My Queen. You’re bleeding. We have to get you to Marcus. Come.” Kamau put one arm around her shoulders, gathering her to his side. “Mr. Kinney, sir.” He gave a bow that was pure reflex, feeling like he was outside of his body. “It is my great honor to meet you. I am so sorry you were held hostage by—”
“What are you talking about? I was the only one on that shuttle.”
Kamau blinked, stopping in his tracks. He exchanged a look with Nessa.
“Daddy,” her voice was gentle. “I don’t know what Merton told you, but—”
“Who the hell is Merton? I was the only one on that vessel!” Her father’s voice was loud and fractious, but his eyes were cold and clear. He might hover between confusion and clarity, but this time he was fully lucid. “There was a problem with my harness. I tried to cut myself free. Ended up swinging too wide and lost control of my old Sapien-Three Ground Forces knife and whoosh—cut your arm, didn’t I, baby? And your shoulder, didn’t I, boy?”
Kamau looked between Nessa and her father.
“That’s what it looked like on the monitor,” Ardol’s lazy voice drawled.
“And from here on the observation deck, where I was standing. I saw the whole thing,” Talos said in a grim growl. “Not to mention, I saw how that shuttle malfunctioned at the last second and we had to resort to emergency deployment of the bay doors and the airlock. Did you see that, Ardol?”
“I sure did. We’ll have to pay the insurance deductible on that, but really, it was their fault for having such faulty mechanisms—causing the entire thing to flare up inside. Horrific. In fact, I’m not sure that it didn’t send some paneling loose, cutting two of our crew members in the process.”
“That’s probably it,” John Kinney said, straightening up and walking toward the crew of the Comet Stalker that were now crowding into the room.
“It was a miracle that these two pulled you free in time, sir,” Rupex said in a voice that ended the discussion. “With only seconds to spare, Kamau Oji and Nessa Kinney managed to free you and jettison the craft before the interior of my ship caught fire. And that is what I shall say in my captain’s log—and that is final. Agreed?”
Kamau wiped his eyes, then winced. “Captain?”
Rupex leaned over to him and hissed in his ear, voice a low snarl that was inaudible to the others. “Merton Barry is missing. He will now remain missing—and his role in aiding these trafficking scum will end. He was a coward who ran and hid. He attacked my crew—your Queen. Would you rather have the honor of dispatching him known—and accompanied by a lengthy investigation—or would you like this honor to remain private?”
Kamau licked his lips. In any circumstance in the world—he would have killed for Nessa. Proudly. But he would also like the tumultuous period of Nessa’s life to come to an end—peacefully. If he was exposed, her role might also be.
“Your plan is the best, Captain. Please write the log as you say. You can also leave Nessa’s role in this out of the official log if you would like,” Kamau answered, voice so low that he was sure only finely tuned Felid ears would catch it.
“The hell he can!” Nessa’s voice exploded into the conversation, making everyone take a step back. “No, you will not leave me out, sir. Please.”
“As you wish,” Rupex said, paws spread. “Maybe there is a way I could amend things—in this very particular instance.”
“Yes. When you write about what happened tonight—about Kamau rushing in to save the new member of the crew and her father...” Nessa turned to look at him. Blood stained her cheek and her arm and sleeve. Her eyes were wide and bright, glossy with unshed tears, but her smile was intact, shining broad and steady.
His heart started to pound. This is it. She’ll say she loves me now. In front of everyone!
“When you write about that, you need to change one thing.”
“What is that?” Rupex asked, head cocked. The rest of the crew was silent, watching the exchange. Nessa’s father was silent, too, but he didn’t look puzzled. He looked as if he knew whatever was coming was meant to be.
“You have to write ESM Tech Nessa Kinney-Oji—and as Captain of the ship, you’re going to have to make that happen between now and when you sit down to type up your report.”
Kamau swallowed. Maybe he was woozy from stress and blood loss. Kinney-Oji? His name and hers? “Nessa?” he whispered.
“You said the proposal counted whenever I was ready. I’m ready. My dad is here. My old life is— very much behind me. I want to start a new life with you, whatever it throws at us.”
“Ahem. Would the bride and groom care to get cleaned up and stitched up while you call the groom’s parents?” Marcus coughed.
“We’ve got built-in bridesmaids and groomsmen!” Ardol rubbed his paws.
“The welcome feast can double as a wedding supper,” Kamau said slowly. He looked down. His paws were miraculously still touching the ground. “I will get my father and uncle to alert my home Pride and get everyone on the comms. If that is okay with you, Mr. Kinney?”
Mr. Kinney blinked. “That’s fine, but I’m going to echo my daughter. In a couple of hours—there’d better be a name change!”
Oh, Bastet. Is this his old age speaking? Or does he want us to dissolve our union right away, sort of a token acceptance? Are all humans so confusing? “Why?” he finally asked as he and Nessa were herded down the hall.
“Because any man who can —uh— put out a shuttle fire like that and save my baby girl gets to call me dad.”
“Oh. Oh, that’s a wonderful reason,” Kamau said, sagging in relief.
“All right. That’s the blood loss hitting your knees, Kam. I’ll patch you up while we throw together the galaxy’s quickest wedding.” Marcus snagged his forearm and marched him to the elevator.
I DON’T KNOW HOW IT happened.
Nessa swept up the crimson and steel walkway of A Deck in a white dress, following the five females she’d chosen to be her bridesmaids—Layla, Wendy, Jade, Lycen, and Skyla. Abigail and Kaylie sat in chairs off to the side, waving red silk scarves (a Servali custom, Kamau had said).
Kamau waited for her, beaming, his purr practically making him vibrate off his feet as he stood in his dress uniform, supported by Marcus, his best man (a human custom, she’d informed him). Jaxson, Ardol, Talos, Dax, and Elio stood in a neat row beside him, their backs pressed to the wall of the idling Comet Stalker .
Walking down the aisle on my father’s arm. A handsome hero in uniform waiting for me. Smiles. Music. Loud Servali cheering and happy weeping blasted from the screens set up behind Rupex.
“By intergalactic law, the captain of a vessel may perform a wedding or union ceremony for a Knight and his Queen. In front of these witnesses—”
“I do!” Nessa blurted.
Everyone laughed, herself included.
Rupex ran a paw through his mane. “Oh, come, Nessa. Let me at least say a few of my lines. You can’t be that impatient.”
Nessa locked eyes with Kamau as he reached for her hands, taking her with a deep bow from her father’s side to his. He pressed a reverent kiss to her hand. “My Queen,” he murmured in an awed voice.
Nessa shook her head in wonder. How did this happen?
Don’t question. Just enjoy. Things can change in an instant. “Yes, Captain, I am absolutely that impatient to marry the man I love—but I’ll let you say your lines.”
“You said you love me,” Kamau whispered as Rupex cleared his throat and began speaking loudly once again.
“I know I did. Because I do.”
“I do, too. I mean, I love you, too. I do.”
“Will you two wait ?!” Rupex wailed in an aggrieved voice, catching the whispered, “I do.”
Kamau smothered a laugh and winced, rubbing the spot where the blade had sliced him. “Sorry, Ru.”
“You two were made for each other,” the Leonid muttered before resuming.
Nessa caught Kamau’s eyes, and they shared a secretive beam.
Yes. We were.