Epilogue
MONTHS LATER
Shohari
“IS IT what you dreamed of?” I leaned against Garrison’s side, our arms around each other’s waists as we took in the view from the galley window.
I still wasn’t used to the enormous panoramic skylight of The Perfect Brew, but through it, we saw the entirety of the kirinian fleet drift past from the backdrop of their planet, saw the moment they deployed the energy cores, disappearing one by one as the bubbles of voidspace engulfed them.
“It’s incredible, sweetheart.”
My human wanted to explore the galaxy, and I was treating him to as many things as I could think to show him. It kept me busy, stopped me missing the Dorimisa so much. And, gods, being able to stop to enjoy places and not worry about my family?
It was all I’d never dared to dream.
“Ooh, that one was pretty! Did you see that?” Muzati jumped up and down, rattling the mugs on the table. “The dreadnought at the back? It went pretty colours as it went voidside. Comnica, have you ever seen that before?”
My engineer’s new best friend sent twinkling lights cascading over the skylight. “I saw it twice from the Dorimisa. Once when we left Coroupicai, and once before you were on board, when—”
“Comnica, quiet please.” I’d never agreed with the Orithian custom of restricting ship AIs to mere computers, but, skyk, Comnica was almost as chatty as Muzati and had even less of a filter.
It’s preferable to leaving her confined on the old ship.
Muzati strode in front of us, kissing us both the cheek as she passed. “Kheh, I love you both. Come on, Comnica, let’s go back to engineering.”
The AI gave a huffing series of bleeps. “I am already in engineering, Muzati. That is a foolish thing to say, as I have told you many times.”
“And can you have simultaneous conversations with your full personality in two different locations?”
“No. However, I can—”
“Well, then. Paiata, you’re not going to need her for the next couple of hours, are you?”
“Nope.” My pilot didn’t move from where he leaned against the bulkhead, not until Muzati double-backed to the food lockers, and he pushed off the wall. “Don’t take too many of those.”
“As if I would.” Muzati blew him a kiss and pranced out, still chattering to the AI.
Paiata snorted, heading in the opposite direction. “See you on the bridge.”
As the last of the ships winked out of sight, I pulled my mate to face me, drawing him in for a long, deep kiss.
“Careful, Captain. We’re on a schedule, remember?”
“I’ve changed the schedule.”
“You”—he punched my arm—“are the worst, you know that? I was really proud of that route.”
“I am sorry, but a good navigator always anticipates his captain’s detours.”
“Oh, he does, does he?”
“Yes.” I nipped at his lip hard enough to make him gasp.
“And a good captain shouldn’t piss her navigator off if she wants his face between her thighs later.”
My chest rumbled with laughter even as my body heated. “Ulthshit. You couldn’t keep yourself away from my cunt if you tried, taamthi. But that reminds me of the detour. We’re going via Aurora Five.”
His face lit up, sparking warmth inside me the way it did every time. “For real?”
We’d not managed to drop in on any of his friends since we’d left Vadias, and it was about time.
He held me, arms outstretched, a quizzical look in his eye. “We’re not just going to visit my friends, are we?”
I stroked my hands over his hips as I answered him. “No, Garrison mai Tasra. We’re going to see that awful gylaorli and buy things.”
Darkness glinted in his eyes. “Awful? I liked him, Mrs Rhea.”
Oh, he was in double trouble later. “You didn’t.”
“Yeah.” His face coloured, and he scrubbed a hand over his mane. “I don’t think I told you. I modelled for him.”
I could feel the deep ridges in my brow as I tried to make sense of his words. My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Yeah. How do you think I paid for those toys?” He trailed his fingers over my arse. “We can get one. I’ve got ideas for you having two of me.”
My curl rippled in approval. “Fine. I’m getting a bigger sleeve too.”
“Fuck yes.”
It was tempting to let him bend me over my favourite sofa—or take him straight to our quarters and fight him for dominance—but my wrist-comm chirruped the alarm I’d been snoozing for the last half hour.
With reluctance, I peeled my hands off him. “I’d better get back to the bridge, mitsha.”
We had places to go on the way. Airida was feeling better and had sent me some interesting trades—and he’d managed to get on Saris dai Yakri’s good side. We were sure the enclave would be delighted with our unparalleled recommendation of keppli garden ornaments.
Garrison pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’d better make my captain a brew, then.” His voice carried down the corridor as I walked away. “Love you, sweetheart.”
I imagined his words settling into the ship’s bones, one more sound to help the new vessel feel like home.
When he joined me on the bridge, he placed a steaming mug of chrya in my hands. The thrum of the engines rumbled through the soles of my feet. My mate sat in the navigator’s chair. I stared out at the backdrop of stars and the purple-green glow of a nebula.
Home.