“Hi,” she said, hoping she didn’t betray her unease. There was something about Nero that was truly frightening. Even more so than Nykyrian, and that was saying something.
Hauk draped his arm over the other Andarion. “This is my socially inept, evil older brother Fain.”
“Who is destined to become an only child in the near future.” There was a wicked glint in his eerie eyes as he narrowed his gaze at his younger brother.
Hauk took his threat in stride. “Nah, you love me and you know it.”
“You go on and believe those lies if you want. I know the truth and it doesn’t scare me.”
“All right.” Chayden broke them apart. “Hauks behave. I don’t want to have to wash blood out of my clothes again today. I’m out of fresh shirts.”
“Don’t worry,” Desideria said to Zarya in a loud whisper. “You’ll eventually learn all of our names and quirks. It took me awhile to keep them straight myself.”
As Zarya glanced around them, trying to remember who everyone was, she noticed one person was missing from the group.
Jayne. That wretched bitch who’d sold her…
Thank the gods for small favors. She was one person Zarya didn’t want to ever see again.
But that good grace didn’t last more than about an hour.
Sitting between Sorche and Lise, who were studying while they waited for Syn to update them, Zarya had just started to relax when the door opened.
Jayne came in with a smile on her face.
A smile that died the instant she met Zarya’s gaze. Growling something that had to be a curse in whatever Jayne’s native tongue was, she rushed toward Zarya.
Zarya shot to her feet, ready to battle the woman until one of them was dead.
But before Jayne could reach her, Nykyrian caught Jayne by the waist and tossed her over his shoulder with so little effort that it was truly frightening.
And impressive since Jayne was not only tall, but well muscled.
“Damn you, Andarion!” Jayne said between gritted teeth. “Put me down!”
Nykyrian tightened his grip on her as she tried to kick him. “Not until you get a hold of yourself.”
Jayne made a sound of supreme agitation before she settled down. Somewhat. “What’s she doing here?”
Drake answered. “Apparently seeing my brother…” He slid an insidious glance toward Zarya. “Among other things from what I’ve heard.”
Zarya’s face flamed.
Jayne froze as she looked around the gathered men for confirmation. “What?”
“Yeah.” Drake grinned up at Jayne since Nykyrian had yet to put her down. “And if you harm her, Darling will probably hurt you over it.”
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.