Page 16 of His Clever Captive

I scoff. “Since when do you both speak in metaphor?”

“Since you drank enough to drown a Torkun.” He leans forward, luminous skin casting a faint silver light. “You thinkpushing her away protects you? It only starves your spirit. Let yourselffeelfor once, Vex. It’s time. Even if it burns.”

“Spare me the therapist act.”

“Or what? You’ll maroon me?” He smiles, much to serenely. “You could. But then who’d save you when you inevitably stick your ship’s tail in a black hole?”

“Are we still talking about relationships?”

“Hush.” Berrix snorts. “You’ve been insufferable since Opdivo-k. And not in the fun, ‘let’s rob a warlord’ way.”

“Just get out.” My fist slams the table. The bottle tips, amber liquid pooling around me like accusation. “Both of you.”

They exchange a glance. Berrix tosses a holopuck at my chest. “Coordinates from Xi. She says to ‘stop sulking and play the message.’”

My stomach lurches. What now? The holopuck burns in my palm, Xi’s sigil glowing tauntingly.

I thumb the activation chip.

The hologram flares—not Xi’s face this time, but a memory.

Ryz and I, gangly young Kraetians, huddled under a dining table in the palace cellar. Our father’s boots echo above us. Ryz is trembling, clutching a plasma scalpel he stole from the med bay. “Brothers protect each other,” he whispers. “Swear it.”

The scene shifts.

Xi, younger but just as sharp, braiding my hair with deft fingers. “Fear tastes like rust,” she says, her oracle voice layering over her childlike lilt. “But love?” She tugs my earlobe. “Sweet like syrup.”

The hologram dies.

“Vrek it all.” I chuck the puck. It ricochets off the wall—straight into Berrix’s waiting claw.

“Charming.” She tosses it back. “But unless you’re planning to redecorate with projectile guilt, maybe listen.”

Af’soq leans in, feathers shivering. “Xi showed you a path. Walk it.”

“Walk where? To Ryz? He’d flay me alive.”

“He’s your brother,” Berrix hisses. “And he’s as stubborn as you, but deep down he needs you. He’s been waiting for you to come back. Being in love has changed him.”

“Not judging by our last interaction,” I say, chuckling.

“I didn’t say it would be easy,” Af’soq adds. “It will take time to forgive. On both sides.”

I grip the edge of the table, engine grease biting my nostrils.

“And Lacey?”

Af’soq tilts his head and chirps a laugh. “You already know the answer to that.”

The bunk room reeks of ion fuel and regret.

Lacey’s there, shoving a threadbare satchel Berrix gave her with the few items she’s collected here. Though once she gets to Ydris, she’ll never want for anything again. I know Ryz and Gwen will see to that.

Her shoulders stiffen when my boots clang against the ramp.

“Leave the dramatics, Vex. You don’t need to torture yourself any more.”

I scowl, chest tight. “Oh?”

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