“Uh-huh,” Talina told her. “And Raya’s going to have a tough enough time saving his life without you driving her berserk in the process. Kylee, you’ve got to trust Raya. If Tip’s got any chance, she’ll keep him alive. Now. Stand. Down.”

Grinding her teeth, Kylee nodded, prickling at the way Step Allenovich had watched the whole exchange. She gave him her deadliest slit-eyed glare. “You got a problem?”

Step—to her dismay—grinned, exposing a couple of broken teeth. “Nope. I think I like you. You’ve got spunk.”

“What’s spunk?” Kylee’s quetzal coiled inside, ready to attack. She’d hit him in the trachea, follow up with a knee to the testicles, and break his nose with an elbow, then . . .

“Spunk’s good,” Talina yanked her back before she could strike. “Step doesn’t take a shine to just anyone. Spunk is a compliment, so don’t make an ass of yourself, and tell him thank you.”

Kylee fixed Talina with a suspicious eye, then turned to Step. “Thank you. Didn’t mean to be rude.”

“No problem, kid.” The grin had widened. “You need anything, you just call.”

“I need to eat,” Dek said reasonably. “Step? If anything breaks, call Tal through com. Tell Madison we’re at Inga’s. She’s welcome to join us.”

Talina leaned close, gaze intensifying. “Kylee, Tip’s got the best care on the planet. Step will call me when he comes out of surgery. Remember who’s the newcomer here.”

Kylee rocked her jaw back and forth, fuming. Panicked. Scared sick that Tip would die.

Reluctantly she nodded. “Yeah. I’m coming.”

Dek gave her a reassuring wink. “It’s okay, kid. Raya’s the best. She fixed you, after all.”

And if Tip dies? The thought rolled around in her head.

But then, there really wasn’t anyone to hold responsible if he did. It really sucked toilet water when she wanted to kill someone, and there was no one to kill.

Chapter 15

  15  

Falise couldn’t sleep. If Clarice had read Charlotte’s signals, this should be the night. Not that ship’s time was anything like planetary schedules, but at this hour, on this watch, most of Turalon was running on skeleton crew. Easing out of her bed as carefully as she could, she made sure that she didn’t awaken Ednund. He was sleeping soundly, an arm draped over his eyes, a sheet draped around his waist. Falise pulled on a sheath, wrapped her sash with its out-of-sight poisoned blade around her waist, and slipped on comfortable shoes.

Like a ghost, she exited the room, carefully latching the cabin door behind her. Half-light illuminated the corridor, every third light panel glowing. It cast the overhead pipes, conduit, and wiring in shadows. The same with the doorways, access panels, and recesses in the sialon walls.