Cherime MacFarlane

Bunde can't endure Brown's rejection much longer. Her Gossican instincts still want him, but she refuses to be used again. Worse, he's a brilliant engineer and invaluable to the ship-just not to her peace of mind. The moment the captain decides Brown is causing her too much stress, the human will be gone. Brown knows he's living on borrowed time. The captain has made it clear where his loyalties lie: Bunde is family.
He isn't. If he can't repair the damage he's done, he'll lose his place aboard ship. After the trial that cost him his fleet position, finding another ship willing to take him on would be nearly impossible. Something has to change-and soon.