Scowling, Jayne looked to Maris. “Mari? Is Drake lying to me?”

“Not a bit. About any of it. Darling will have your rump for a chew toy if you harm one hair on her head.”

Jayne grumbled in that unknown language, but she was much calmer now.

Nykyrian finally set her back on her feet, then put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “You okay?”

She nodded. “You know, boss, I really hate it when you do things like that to me.”

“I know. But I didn’t want our youngest brother-in-arms to send you a special package wrapped in wire.”

“Fine.” Jayne moved to stand in front of Zarya while all the men watched on nervously, ready to grab her again if they needed to. “I’m completely baffled by your presence here, and why Darling isn’t gay anymore, but for his sake and the fact that I love him like a brother, shall we put the past behind us and try to be friendly enemies?”

What Zarya would rather do is bury the hatchet between Jayne’s eyes. Yet the woman was right. For Darling’s sake, they needed to be at least cordial to one another.

“I’m good with that.” Zarya shook Jayne’s proffered hand.

Jayne leaned in to speak to her in a low tone. “If you hurt Darling at all, I will slice open your throat and bathe in your blood.”

Zarya gave her a taunting smile. “Good luck with that. It didn’t go so well for the last person who tried it.”

There was a grudging light of respect in Jayne’s gaze. With an assassin’s salute, Jayne stepped back, then moved to stand with Fain and Nero.

Lise came to stand behind Zarya and patted her hand affectionately. “If it makes you feel any better, Jayne doesn’t like me either.”

How could anyone not like Lise?

Well, her tantrum with Maris notwithstanding, Lise was usually an angel. “Why?”

“I threw up on her when I was a kid and she never got over it. That woman can hold a grudge like no one I’ve ever seen.”

Great. Just what she needed. One more person wanting her dead.

Not wanting to think about that, Zarya laughed at why Jayne would hate Lise.

Lise resumed her seat next to Sorche who returned her e-ledger so that she could resume her studies.

With the drama over and nothing else to do, Zarya sat down and tried to rest as best she could. At least here in Sentella headquarters, which was guarded better than any palace she’d ever heard of, there was no threat of harm to any of them. Not to mention, she was surrounded by some of the best fighters ever born.

Hours ticked by slowly as everyone waited for any word on Darling.

Once the babies became bored and fussy, their mothers took them home and left the rest of them to pace, sit, play games on their mobiles, and crack a few random jokes.

Lise sat quietly, studying while Sorche ended up leaning against Zarya’s shoulder so that she could nap on her.