Star Storm

Chapter Thirty-Seven (Part One)

A Promise

"You're not leaving."

Traen squirmed on the bottom of the bed. A deep blush had set on his face as soon as he had entered Nona's make-shift chambers aboard the Rapid, and Nona was not in the least concerned by the development. A blush meant he cared.

"You're not leaving," she said again.

The room was less than adequate, but Nona had not felt the desire to argue with her hosts. Perched on her bed with Traen at the other end, there was little room to kick out her legs. She suspected the space had been used for storage before Kael had politely asked Amara for a spot Nona could temporary call her own.

"I have to return to my people," he said with a small shrug. "They need to know what Lezorith was doing. We need to make sure the people of Uterca and your mother are aware the storms weren't the desires of the Sorii – that they were only one man's doing."

"Telion will listen." Nona nodded, more to herself than Traen. "The whole Assembly will listen."

A laugh escaped him as he picked at the shirt Ry had given him earlier that day. It was odd, Nona thought, to be suddenly accepted by the Rapid's crew. They were still awkward around her, and good conversations were rare with anyone but Kael and Traen. But Nona was no longer trapped in the medical centre and Traen was no longer guarded.

However Amara and her people treated Nona, it was clear Kael was thought of as a friend by them. Nona had been unable to catch more than a minute or two alone with her brother since leaving Lezorith's station. There was always someone who wanted to ask him something, or someone who needed a spare credit from his pocket.

"You're not leaving," Nona said again. "I need you, En. You're the only one capable of saving my life effectively."

He shook his head. "Your brother would be beside himself if he heard you saying that."

"It was his fault I was abducted from my lovely palace and forced to hang out with you. I don't care if my words upset him." Nona flashed a smile, her words threating to give way to the laughter building inside her. "Besides, I like you better. It makes more sense to flatter you than him."

"Is that so? I thought you hated me and my primal ways."

"You're staying with me." She patted the blankets at her side, directing him closer. "I need you to save my life, and you need me to save yours. We're stuck in this cycle now. There'll be no escaping."

"May the gods have mercy on me, then." He ran a hand through his dark locks before sitting at her side. His arm brushed against hers and Nona's lips flickered up at the corners ever so slightly. She could think of no one else she would rather be stuck in a cycle of life-debts with. From the look that crossed his face, Traen could not either.

"You'll help your people, even when you're with me," she said quietly.

"Thank you."

"I haven't done anything yet."

"Ah. You see, I found that little speech you've been working on. I might have given it a read over as well, so I know what you're about to do when this ship lands."

"And? I take it you approve. I intend to yell my wonderous speech at my mother when we reach Uterca." Nona felt for the slip of scrap paper she had carried around the past few days. Only once she had let it out of her sight, but it was not surprising to learn Traen had taken advantage of that moment.

"You've changed my mind about royals, Princess Galtionie."

"You've changed mine about many things."

"It appears we are once again even."

"Perfect. This partnership will never work if things get one sided."

"Partnership?"

"We're in this together now. Stuck in our cycle, as I have decided to call it. If not partners in something like this, then what are we?"

His hands cupped her face as he lifted her chin. "Partners sounds good to me."