Page 48 of Obsessed

I find Alice in her lab. Her eyes are rimmed red, and her normally neat hair falls in disarray around her face.

"I want out." The words tumble from my mouth. "All of it. The smuggling, the crime, Freynal - I'm done."

She lifts her head slowly. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." I move closer, careful to give her space. "I've spent my life being the best at something that hurts people. But you've shown me there's more to life than just surviving it."

"You killed a man today." Her voice cracks.

"I know. And I can't take that back." My hands clench at my sides. "But I can promise you it won't happen again. No more death. No more crime. I want to be someone worthy of you."

She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "How can I believe you?"

"Because I love you. Because you're my mate."

She stands, her legs shaky. "If I stay with you - if we try this - I need your word. No more violence. No more illegal activities."

"You have it."

"And one more thing." Her chin lifts. "I want to know what's in those crates."

CHAPTER 25

ALICE

The walk to the hold feels longer than usual, each step heavier than the last. Davrik's broad shoulders are tense as he inputs the security code.

"You're sure about this?" His eyes search mine.

"Yes." My voice comes out steadier than I feel.

The door slides open with a soft hiss. Inside, the crates sit innocently enough - standard shipping containers, unmarked except for serial numbers. Davrik kneels beside one, his fingers working the complex locking mechanism.

"Step back," he warns.

The lid creaks open. Inside, neatly stacked bags shimmer under the fluorescent lights. The powder inside catches the light like crushed diamonds.

My breath catches. "I've seen this before."

"Alice-"

I'm already running back to my lab, my heart pounding against my ribs. The portable scanner sits on my workbench, buried under research notes. My hands shake as I grab it.

Back in the hold, Davrik hasn't moved. He watches silently as I wave the scanner over an open bag. Numbers flash across the screen, and my stomach drops.

"Oh god." The scanner nearly slips from my grip. "This is Stardust."

"What?"

"It's- we studied it in advanced chemistry. The molecular structure is unique." My finger traces the readout. "One gram can keep someone high for days. Two can stop their heart." The implications hit me hard. "How many kilos are in these crates?"

Davrik's silence is answer enough.

"This could kill thousands of people." The scanner beeps again, confirming what I already know. "The addiction rate is nearly hundred percent. Once someone starts..."

I can't finish the sentence. The silver powder sparkles mockingly, beautiful and deadly. All this time, I've been harboring enough poison to destroy entire communities.

My knees feel weak as I do the mental calculations. "Even at rock bottom prices, this is..." I swallow hard, my throat dry. "This could buy a whole mining station. Feed everyone there for years."

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