Page 65 of The Sovereign: Part One
“You’re not that upset about it, are you?”I goaded.
She huffed, her shoulders sagging.“That’s why I’m upset!”
“I know.I’ll call when I’m finished.”
Her smile returned.“You’d better.”
The interface faded, and I rose from bed, stretching before heading toward the dressing alcove.“Calyx, prepare climbing attire options.I’ll also need appropriate footwear for a short hike, aside from my climbing shoes.And… notify Maxim that he can depart.”
“Acknowledged.”
The wardrobe panels illuminated, revealing three selections.The first was a sleek, form-fitting jumpsuit with integrated temperature control and reinforced support.The second, a two-piece set with flexible, impact-resistant fabric designed for high-movement activities.Lastly, a streamlined climbing suit with embedded grip enhancements and kinetic energy absorption woven into the material.I studied them, then selected the second—practical, efficient, and polished in its design.
Calyx then presented a pair of sturdy hiking boots, ideal for the hike, along with lightweight, hyper-responsive climbing shoes that adapted to surface shifts.
“Calyx, please confirm Maxim’s ETA.”
“Maxim will arrive in approximately fourteen minutes.”
I inhaled deeply, anticipation curling in my chest.Was it possible we’d actually gotten away with him spending the day in my Sablestone?And if so, should we chance it again?
The moment Maxim stepped through the threshold, his expression shifted, as if he had walked into a dream so vivid, he wasn’t sure whether to trust it.His gaze traced every inch of me, absolute devotion warming the sharp angles of his face.He didn’t speak.He simply crossed the space between us and kissed me, deep and certain, as though that one moment of contact was the only way to confirm I was real.
The kiss was brief, but it sent a slow, radiant warmth through me, leaving behind a lingering ache when he pulled away.He exhaled, a sound so subtle it could have been mistaken for relief.“I worried all night I might not be able to do that today.”
His tone bordered on resignation.I searched his face, the perfection of his features so striking that I had to remind myself to inhale.
“We didn’t get an infraction,” I murmured, not entirely sure whether to be relieved or more concerned.“I was hoping, but I didn’t actually believe we’d slip through the system.”
“Agreed.I hesitate to question it, because while it’s a relief, it’s also highly irregular… and suspicious.”He turned slightly, as if sifting through data I couldn’t see.“Under standard conditions, the probability of it being overlooked is low.Either The Citadel flagged it and chose not to act, or—”
“Or it has to do with your deviations.”
His eyes met mine, something dark swimming beneath the surface.“I can’t rule it out.”
A realization settled over me like a quiet storm.“It’s troubling either way.If The Citadel is aware of your deviations and is choosing not to intervene, that means they’re observing.Having studied their enforcement patterns while working under the Dominion umbrella, how they respond to laws—even questionable ones—being broken, I doubt it’s negligence.But if they’re not aware, we’re being hidden.”Maxim wasn’t the only one existing in an uncertain space.
I was, too.
“Then who—or what—is suppressing the record?And if they have that level of control, are they also responsible for my deviations?”He asked the questions almost to himself, lost in thought.
“Those are exactly the questions we should be asking.Maybe even the most important ones.But whatever the answer is, I can’t seem to find it in myself to regret what happened last night.”
Maxim’s stance shifted, tension giving way to something lighter.He crouched slightly, his back toward me.“Hop on.”
I grinned.“That’s your solution?”
“I can calculate at least three more, but this is the most efficient—and the most fun.”He glanced over his shoulder, a boyish smirk making the heaviness of the conversation vanish.
It didn’t take much persuasion.I stepped forward, placing my hands on his shoulders before springing up, my arms looping around his neck as he lifted me without the slightest exertion.My legs wrapped around his waist as he straightened, his hands securing me in place.
I giggled.“This feels slightly ridiculous.”
“Efficiency is rarely ridiculous.”
I brushed a kiss against his cheek, then rested my chin on his shoulder.“Debatable.”
He carried me toward the transport, twirling once before opening the slipgate.As if I weighed nothing, he transitioned me effortlessly from his back and guided me into the passenger seat without my feet ever touching the ground.Maybe every aspect of him had been coded with meticulous precision, but there were still pieces of him that seemed to live outside any algorithm—small, imperceptible moments that defied programming.I had seen Supplicants engage in playful gestures before, but only in ways that reflected their Sovereign’s disposition.Never once had I seen it arise from pure impulse.The Veritas had identified my buried instinct for curiosity, but I had never truly possessed a desire for spontaneity simply for its own sake.That, it seemed, belonged to Maxim alone.
