The Last Voyage (Star Smuggler Book 1) by T.S. Snow

Author:T.S. Snow [Snow, T.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2020-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

He slept nearly six hours, awakening with a fang-baring yawn, to stretch before carefully tucking the sheets around himself and settling again.

“Ready to eat something now?” Andi was worried he’d either starve or dehydrate.

“I’ll be sicker if I do. Antibiotics make me nauseous, but going without them would be worse. I won’t be doing much eating until day after tomorrow.” He burrowed into the pillow, shaking his head in mock pity. “I may starve.”

“Oh, hush,” Andi admonished.

“No sympathy, huh?” He raised his head to peer at her over the mound of the pillow.

“Nope.” Andi shook her head.

At the moment, she had the upper hand and she was going to keep it as long as possible. Once he was well again, he’d probably repay her by making her life miserable, but she’d worry about that later.

Sin sighed. “Frankly, I don’t think I can stand being bedridden for three more days. I’d be much better off getting up.”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Andi put both hands on his shoulders, feeling him wince. “If you’re bored…I’ll keep you entertained.”

“Oh, right. Entertain the invalid. Keep the child happy—is that it? Back on Terra, I’ll bet you were a real Angel of Mercy, bringing cups of hot herbal tea and homemade jelly.” His head hit the pillow with an emphatic thump. “Please spare me that.”

Feeling like a mother with a fractious child, Andi took a deep breath.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” he continued before she could speak. “I’ll be more than happy when I’m on my way to Serapis.”

“Serapis? What’s on Serapis?”

“I told you.” He looked puzzled. “Didn’t I? No…” he remembered. “You said it could wait.”

“I guess it’s waited long enough.” She didn’t want to know, but in spite of that, heard herself say, “Tell me, now.”

“It’s about your mate…” His manner changed, all the sarcasm vanishing as he struggled to sit up, biting his lip and growling in pain. “I managed to see the report before...” He took a deep breath. “The darter left Vercingetorix-2 for Serapis.”

“Why?”

“Damned if I know.”

She grimaced at his profanity, thought she saw apology in the way he tilted his head.

“Albegensia and Serapis are bitter enemies.” He shook his head. “They’ve been at war for as long as anyone can remember. Why they’d go there…Andi…”

Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders and she felt an exchanging of their positions, as if now he were the caretaker.

“The ship was shot down over Dinagreb, Serapis’ capital.”

For a bare second, she stared at him as if she didn’t understand. Then she began to cry, violent, silent tears. Sin pulled her against his chest.

“I’m sorry.” Her whimper was muffled. “I’m sorry I-I’m such a weak human.”

“It’s permissible to shed tears for a lost mate,” he answered. “Even a kh’ta is allowed to do so.” Ignoring his own pain, he tightened his arms around her trembling body, and whispered, “Damn it, I’m sorry, Andi.”

She didn’t answer, merely clung to him, body shaking with those soft sobs. Eventually, she got quieter, and looked up, wiping her eyes.

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