Felix's fingers curl tight around Jim's hand, squeezing in reassurance. They have each other's backs here. Nereus, meanwhile, clearly has plenty to distract him as he turns his gaze to Felix.

"So when you say you intend to live with Jim..."

"In his world. Yes, Father. He's arranged everything. I'll have to keep my origin a secret just as his is here, but we've worked it all out. I'll be with him on his ship most of the time, anyway."

"His ship." Up go the eldest Caelus's eyebrows again. "Then you really are a captain?"