Page 45 of Human Reclaimed
An hour later, Rune and I worked together in a secluded western sector of the jungle, far enough from the others to speak privately while we rigged explosive charges. The surrounding vegetation created a natural green cathedral, sunlight filtering through in golden shafts. Exotic fragrance from flame-colored flowers hung in the air, mingling with the faint metallic scent of the charges.
“This spot is perfect for an ambush point,” I said, kneeling to attach a small explosive device to a thick vine that twisted around a tree trunk. “They’ll follow this path thinking it leads to the colony’s heart, but instead…”
“They’ll meet their end.” Rune finished the thought as he worked on a parallel path, his skilled hands quickly setting charges.
I paused, watching him work. His movements were fluid despite his size, precision in every gesture. A lock of his auburn hair had fallen across his forehead, and I had to clench my fingers to stop myself from reaching out to brush it away.
“You’re staring, Captain Reed,” he said without turning his head.
“I’m supervising, Commander,” I countered, my voice light despite the heaviness in my chest.
He straightened and closed the distance between us in two strides. We stood face to face, so close that I could see the flecks of darker blue in his irises.
“This is… challenging,” he admitted, his voice dropping to a whisper. His fingers brushed against mine, a ghost of a touch.
“Two days of pretending we are just colleagues,” I whispered back. “That’s all. Then we deal with whatever comes next… together.”
“Together.” The word seemed to hold special meaning for him. “I’ve never fought for any cause that matters more to me than this colony. Than you.”
The raw honesty in his voice caused my heart to clench. “Rune?—”
“I know,” he interrupted, stepping back, his expression shifting back to the commander’s mask. “The mission comes first. The colony’s safety is paramount.”
I nodded, swallowing the words I’d wanted to say. “Right. Pirates first, feelings later.”
We returned to our work, carefully plotting the maze of death that would protect this strange new home I’d come to care for. My fingers moved automatically, drawing on years of tactical experience, while my mind kept circling back to the man working beside me.
“I want you to know,” I said quietly as we finished setting the last charge in our sector, “your faith in me won’t be misplaced. I won’t let you or this colony down.”
Rune paused and then turned to face me fully. “I’ve never doubted that, Talia. Not for one moment.”
The conviction in his voice caused my chest to tighten. “Let’s head back,” I said, gathering our remaining supplies. “We need to synchronize with the other teams before nightfall.”
As we walked next to each other through the jungle, I realized something profound. In kidnapping me, Rune had inadvertently given me back something I’d lost when I left the army—my purpose and the chance to protect others. And somehow, impossibly, he’d also given me his heart.
TWENTY
RUNE
Night had fallen over Planet Alpha as Talia and I headed back to my quarters. The twin moons cast long shadows across the stone path while the ambient glow from the colony’s lights illuminated her face in soft blues and silvers. Even exhausted, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
“Two days,” I muttered, unable to keep the tension from my voice as I unlocked my door. “Why didn’t our intelligence catch their acceleration sooner?”
Talia stepped inside. “Sometimes even the best intelligence fails. We’re adapting. That’s what matters.”
I watched her move through my space with a familiarity that both surprised and pleased me. Five days ago, she’d viewed this place with unease. Now she moved with the easy confidence of someone who belonged here.
“I need to review the northern quadrant charges once more,” she said, already pulling up schematics on her datapad. Her blonde hair fell across her face as she leaned over the table, and I resisted the urge to brush it back.
“I had Tegan triple-check the triggering mechanisms before we left,” I said, pouring us both water from the purifier. “If we can funnel them through the narrow passes here and here…” I pointed at the display. “We can isolate their forces.”
As I stood beside her, hovering over the plans, a tightness gripped my chest. This brilliant, fierce woman had transformed our entire defense strategy in days. She’d given us a fighting chance. And I might lose her in two days.
The thought slammed into me with alarming force.
“Rune?” Her voice pulled me back. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I set down my water and took her hands in mine, my larger fingers engulfing her smaller ones. “Stay with me again tonight.”
