Starfall (Starflight #2)(97)
“I appreciate that.”
“You did the right thing, Cassia. I won’t let us down.”
Cassia smiled. Rena was well respected and would make a strong leader—she knew that now. Though the loss prickled, an invisible weight lifted from her shoulders. She would never again have to send soldiers into battle or sacrifice her happiness in service to the colony. She would never have to settle down or stop exploring. The rebels weren’t the only ones who’d earned their independence today. For the first time in her life, she was free to choose her own destiny.
“I know you won’t.”
Kane took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Congratulations, Mom. I’m proud of you.”
“That goes both ways, Doodlebug.” She blew him a kiss and then let a group of well-wishers pull her out of the frame, at which point General Jordan strode forward to take her place.
“Arric,” he said with a nod at Kane. “Glad to see you’re okay.”
Kane mumbled something resembling a thanks.
“Cassia, same to you.” As Jordan shifted his focus to her, his gaze lingered in that old, familiar way. He seemed to catch himself and quickly added, “No rush on returning the Hypersonic cruiser you borrowed, just bring it back when you’re ready. I can’t wait to fly it. Is it as fast as they say?”
She cringed and glanced at the tent wall, beyond which lay the cruiser’s skeletal remains. She’d landed it in a safe spot, but that hadn’t stopped the pirates from stripping all of its useful parts before Doran had busted them and established the resort boundary.
Jordan’s smile fell. “Please tell me you didn’t wreck the cruiser.”
“Got to go. We’ll talk later.” She tapped her bracelet to end the call, and Jordan vanished in a flash of irritation.
Kane scowled. “I can’t stand that guy.”
“Me neither, Doodlebug,” called Renny from outside the tent.
Doran snorted and Solara giggled. Kane didn’t bother glaring at them. He had to know a nickname that precious was bound to stick.
“Jordan’s not so bad,” Cassia said. “He came through for us in the end.” At the irritated look Kane gave her, she added, “At least you won’t have to see his face on your currency.”
“Thank god for small favors.”
She supposed the big question now was, What next? She’d been so preoccupied with Kane’s recovery that she hadn’t given much thought to what she would do if she lost the election. One option was to go home. Eturia was a free republic, so she and Kane were equals in every way. He could build a career in the clerk’s office, and she could probably persuade Rena to give her a job within the government. But picturing that life made her feel more claustrophobic than excited.
She wanted more.
Gage broke into her thoughts when he spoke from the other end of the tent, where he was smoothing healing accelerant onto the arms of the woman in white. “For what it’s worth, my job offer still stands—for all of you.” He glanced at Cassia. “A former queen would make an amazing emissary advisor. I can’t change the galaxy alone, you know.”
Change the galaxy.
His choice of words struck her. Maybe Kane had been right all along and they should work with Gage. She couldn’t imagine Renny would say no. They would change thousands of lives that way—just look at what they’d accomplished with Gage in the few months since they’d combined their skills.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea,” she said. “Since we started working together, we cured a disease, rescued hundreds of abducted settlers, took down Marius, and toppled an intergalactic mafia.”
Kane chuckled. “Some of it in our sleep.”
“So you’ll consider it?” Gage asked, perking up and glancing all around. “Joining my team?”
“You know I’m in,” Doran said as Solara threaded her arm through his and nodded in agreement. “On one condition,” he added. “I won’t work with Mom. I don’t want anything to do with her.”
“Not a problem,” Gage told his brother. “She spends so much time lobbying for government contracts on Earth that she practically lives there.”
Cassia worked a grain of sand between her fingers and tried to think of a way to broach the topic of Shanna without sounding jealous. “Maybe Kane could travel with us instead of with the third-sector sales team.”
“Oh, with Shanna, you mean?” teased Kane right before he recycled her words about Jordan. “She’s not so bad.”
Cassia probed his upper arm. “Does it hurt here?”
“No. My laser wound’s on the other side. Why?”
She made a fist and slugged him hard.
“Yes!” Solara pumped her arms in the air. “Five minutes! I was right!”
Kane grumbled to himself, rubbing the spot. “I can’t believe I fell for that.”
“Me neither.” Cassia winked. “Want me to kiss it and make it better?”
A spark of mischief lit his gaze as he tapped his bottom lip. “This is where it hurts. Really bad. The pain is excruciating.”
Doran and Solara shared a groan and made for the exit while Gage followed behind, mumbling something about packing supplies.
“I thought they’d never leave,” Kane whispered. He cupped her face in one hand as his eyes turned soft. “I’m sorry you lost the election. Thank you for staying with me.”