Chapter 31 Kaitlyn
KAITLYN
Kaitlyn didn’t know what to say. She tried out several topics in her head—several ways to approach the topic.
But every one just sounded wrong or trite and meaningless.
How did you properly apologize for fucking your coworker to completion and making him come in front of a crowd while on a work assignment?
There was no way.
So Kaitlyn stayed silent and so did Braze. In fact, the big Beast Kindred wouldn’t even look at her. The only words spoken between them were when he called the Mother Ship and asked them to fold space so they could return from the mission.
On her lap, she clutched the small clear cube that held a tiny Love Vine—barely more than a seedling—pushing up from a layer of moist purple soil.
It was beautiful—pink and curly—a little like that lucky bamboo you could buy sometimes at the flea market, she thought. But it wasn’t worth losing Braze over.
She wished over and over that she’d refused to fuck him or let anyone else do it either. What if she’d just told the Empress they were leaving?
Then she probably would have had both of you killed, a practical little voice in her head whispered. She was already angry that she couldn’t have Braze for her own—she wouldn’t have just let you go without giving her a show first.
Kaitlyn was sure the voice was right…but her heart ached every time she stole a glance at the stone-faced warrior beside her. She wanted to do something—say something—to make things right between them. But she was afraid things were never going to be right again.
As they flew through the crimson gash in space and came out the other side to see the vast, pearly-white Mother Ship orbiting the Moon, she knew she was out of time. She had to do something before they landed—before it was too late.
“Braze—” she began, just as they were touching down in the Docking Bay.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he concentrated fiercely on the controls, just as though he hadn’t landed a shuttle a thousand times before.
“Braze,” she tried again as soon as the ship settled, but he was already opening the shuttle door. Without a word, he left, exiting the shuttle and leaving her alone, just sitting there.
Kaitlyn blinked back the sudden tears that had come to her eyes.
He wouldn’t answer me—wouldn’t even look at me. He really does hate me now!
She took a deep, shuttering breath and tried to keep from crying. The wound was still fresh—they had put on their “performance” for the Empress only a few hours ago. Maybe her Protector just needed time to himself—time to process everything.
She hoped that was all it was. Because if Braze was never going to talk to her again… She pushed the thought away. It was too awful to think.
I’ll give him some space, she told herself as she unfastened her harness and left the shuttle. He’ll surely be willing to talk about it later.
She hoped. Because if he wasn’t—if she’d lost him forever—it was going to shatter her heart into a million pieces, and she was never going to get over it.