Page 158 of Trove’s Purpose

She locked the pistol back into safe mode but didn’t let it go. She didn’t know if someone else might come and she wasn’t going to be caught off guard. She then turned to her mate who was, once again, smiling at her so happily.

“Focus. How do I get you out of this?”

He gestured with his head. “Magcuff control is on that table right there. Should be a button on it that will unlock these.”

The buttons were marked with symbols that, on the whole, she didn’t recognize. But the button with a circle breaking apart seemed to be the most obvious contender. And when Chee pressed it, sure enough, the cuffs broke apart, freeing Trove without them breaking off from the bed.

She was considering if she should toss the controller or take it with her – she wasn’t sure if she needed to worry about fingerprints or something. Or maybe glove prints since she was in an envirosuit.

Before she could make a decision, however, Trove was suddenly there. She called out, grabbing onto him reflexively, and dropping the controller as he swept her up in the air. He had both arms bounded around her hips, holding her up above him as she balanced one hand on his shoulders, the other automatically holding out the gun so she didn’t actually shoot him. The sheet was a long, silky black skirt messily tucked around his waist.

He beamed up at her so proudly.

“What a vicious, wicked female you are,” he said like he couldn’t imagine anything better.

She blinked then snickered. “I don’t know why I expected less of you.”

He bounced her up, and before she could do more than let out a short cry of surprise, he caught her again. This time grabbing a handful of her butt with both hands. A big grin spread over her face. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I loved watching you kill for me. You were an absolute vision. Ruthless and cold and violent. Perfection. You are the most perfect of females. I loved it. I love you.”

Chee let out a cry of dismay.

“What?”

“You don’t get to say romantic stuff like that with a dead body right there!”

“Oh.” He looked confused but suggested, “I can step out in the hall if that makes it better?”

“That is not-!” She cut herself off, letting out a long sigh. She didn’t know what she expected from him.

Sure, she was a big proponent of murder as self-defense if the situation warranted it, but she didn’t think that was something to treat like a sweet gesture of romance. It was a serious, terrible thing and should only be made as a choice when there wasn’t another option.

Okay, maybe Chee had taken a little too much satisfaction in doing so, and the torture beforehand wasn’t strictly necessary, but…

She had lost her point. Especially looking at Trove’s happy face, beaming up at her so proudly, so lovingly.

She adjusted her hands, holding him by the face. Smiling at him in return.

“Yes, you can take me into the hallway to tell me,” she said, figuring that was probably the best compromise considering his past.

“I should warn you,” Alred suddenly said, his voice coming from the console by the door again, “that you both are about to get into trouble.”

“Huh?” Trove looked confused.

But the unspoken question was answered almost immediately when the door to the room slid open and Tanin was there.

Their captain, in his envirosuit, looked as calm and unflappable as ever. His quills were pressed to his head, broadcasting just how unconcerned he was. He looked around the room, taking notice of Trove and his barely concealed nudity, Chee held in his arms, and the corpse cooling on the floor.

And he glared at Trove.

“I did not give you permission to kill anyone.”

“I didn’t do it!” Trove protested immediately. “I was locked up the whole time!”

“Oh, yeah, that was me,” Chee grimaced. “Sorry. Was I supposed to ask permission?”

Tanin looked annoyed. “Remind me to go over the rules with you, Chee, for being part of the crew. No more killing without my permission.”

Chee opened her mouth, hesitated, frowned, then sighed.