Page 110 of Rebirth

“For what?” Sam’s worried brow dives further, her ba’clan becoming increasingly upset as they move like a wave over her skin.

That feeling in my gut increases.

“They’re waiting…” I whisper. “For her.”

My heart thumps hard in my chest as I turn, striding through the settlement as I pass the Corrupted. They don’t move, don’t react.

I swallow hard as I call the lift, waiting for it to get to ground level and take me up into the ship.

Because whatever I missed, the clue is with Sophie.

My breaths come in shallow inhales as I clench and unclench my fists as the lift rises, eyes on the other women who have come to be my closest family. Sam and Adira watch as I go and I pray to God that whatever compulsion is sending me to that place is good.

He’rox’s lab is not a place I like to be in. The human woman still trapped there, floating in darkness and silence, could’ve been so easily me, if He’rox hadn’t been able to save me.

Once the lift touches down, my feet move against the smooth floors of the Vullan mother ship as I head toward the lab.

The wall opens and I slip inside the clean white space, heading toward the back where He’rox lies.

As soon as the wall opens, shivers go through my ba’clan.

They hate this place almost as much as I do.

My gaze moves to He’rox first. In the darkened room, he looks like a strange creature floating in the liquid. Comatose, he has been that way since he’d awakened and staggered from the regen tank.

His brothers can find no reason for it. His body is healed, but he simply will not wake.

I hesitate in the doorway. We were never close, He’rox and I.

I don’t think he was close to anyone.

Seeing him now, in all that he is, I understand why.

His thirst for vengeance against the Gryken and his hatred of what he was, reminded me too much, even subconsciously, of what I’d become. Of the effects of having one of those creatures spawning inside me.

It’s a reality I still fight every day.

But Sophie loved him. That was clear.

Their bond bloomed in much the same way mine did for San’ten. A scorching, all-consuming passion that burned away all doubt and darkness.

And if my suspicions are right...

I step into the room. He’rox’s tentacles don’t react, remaining limp. His chest rises and falls with steady breaths, but his eyes remain closed. Shut off from the world.

From everything he’s lost.

I imagine I would do the same if something ever happened to San’ten. How could I go on…

Shaking my head, I take another step forward.

“I know you can hear me, He’rox,” I say softly, moving closer. “I need you to wake up now. Sophie…I don’t think she’s gone. The Corrupted, they’re waiting for her. I can feel it.”

Not a single twitch or flutter of his eyelids. I clench my jaw, releasing a slow breath.

“Do you know,” I whisper, “your brothers…they never told us what you did. All that you sacrificed on Edooria. How you…” I gulp, coming face to face with the fact this Vullan had been prepared to sacrifice himself for the good of his people. And that I…not so long ago, had been prepared to do the same.

Except, San’ten came after me. San’ten saved me.

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