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“It’s not fine Sloan You could have died back there”

“But I didn’t We’ve gotten out of tighter scrapes than that before”

“Sloan,” Dev had said and spun in his chair to her Sloan had been taken aback; she’d heard Dev use her na this” He sighed Setting the shuttle to auto-land, he gazed into her eyes

“What would we do if you got hurt? What would Xan do if you got hurt?”

Sloan had i to do with him I’m fine”

“You keep taking these risks When it was only us, the creould lose you, that was acceptable We all know the risks that come with this type of work We’ve all made that deal with our families if we have them You’re the captain You make the decisions, inform us, and we follow But when it comes to Xan, that’s beyond crew, isn’t it?”

Sloan had ducked her head and averted her eyes

“He loves you He wants you to be his queen What would happen to hio it alone trying to free these people?”

“You think I should have left thelared at her, and Sloan stood her ground Devand scary to other people, but she kneould never hurt her

“Of course, I’ that, but you don’t have to take the risks you always like to take You have to think about more than

yourself now You have to think about him”

“I can’t spend everyabout Xan I have to make sure I aone People leave, Dev That’s what happens They don’t stick around I love Xan, but how long until he figures out that we’re not going to work in the long run? I’ainst the headrest

“If you think his judgs are so fickle, then why are you even with hi, what does that say about any of us? You’d drop any s became too hard?”

“It’s not that, Dev, and I would never do that You’re all my family, but even family leaves soets left,” she said somberly “Look atfor the other shoe to drop To be left alone” Sloan squeezed her eyes shut to keep tears fro She felt Dev reach across and touch one of the hands fisted on her lap

“Sloan, look at hter, not wanting him to see her cry “Sloan, look at me, please” He squeezed her hand harder