Not often enough. I kept the words locked behind my teeth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend the question as an insult. I figured you had people who cooked for you.”

He didn’t look any less insulted. “It is my honor to feed my crew. Are you not the same?”

“Me, personally, or humanity in general?” I asked, then waved and continued without waiting for a response. “I enjoy feeding my crew, but in general, humans have a more ambivalent attitude toward cooking. Some enjoy it, some loathe it. Is it going to cause some sort of interstellar incident if I cook for your people?”

He considered me for a long moment. “No.”

Well, that wasn’t exactly reassuring.

He turned his head toward the cargo bay, and his eyes went distant. “My crew has returned.”

A second later, the proximity warning alerted me to their presence. I wondered if they had contacted him, or if he was mentally keeping track of everyone in the area. Could he even do that? There was so much we didn’t know about Valovian abilities.

I hoped that lack of knowledge wasn’t something I would come to regret.

Chapter Six

In the cargo bay, the Valoffs were busy emptying the levcarts of boxes, crates, and trunks. A few large soft-sided duffels were in a pile off to the side. Without a word, Torran started carrying supplies. I sighed and did the same.

The nearest Valoff jerked in surprise when I picked up a box, but I ignored them. I’d never been one to stand around and watch while work needed to be done, and I wasn’t going to start now. As much as I might regret the decision, the Valoffs were still my clients for the next eight weeks.

A minute later, Eli joined us, scowl firmly in place. He growled out a barely civil greeting and picked up a crate, muscles flexing. One of the Valoffs in armor stared for a second before turning their attention back to their own crate.

With all of us working, the carts were quickly unloaded. I swiped an arm across my forehead, wiping away the light sheen of sweat. The landing bay was warm today, but I didn’t close the cargo ramp. We’d be shut in soon enough. Might as well enjoy the fresh air while we could. Well, fresh-ish. The recycled air carried the bitter tang of mechanical grease and hot metal.

Torran’s crew left to return the levcarts. While waiting for them, I caught sight of a tall woman in a station security uniform heading straight for Starlight. She was flanked by a half dozen guards.

“Any idea what that’s about?” Eli asked quietly from my right.

I rubbed the side of my face. “Unfortunately.”

Torran stepped up on my left. “Is there a problem?”

“Most likely.” There wasn’t time to say more.