Page 68 of The Sovereign: Part One
A gasp tore from my throat as the sole of my shoe lost its foothold, jolting me downward.Panic surged through my body, but before gravity could claim me, a strong hand closed around my wrist.Maxim’s grip was firm, stable, but he didn’t haul me up with the preternatural strength I knew he possessed.Instead, he provided just enough force to counterbalance me, to allow me to find my footing, to push myself through the final stretch of the climb.
With a determined breath, I pressed upward, fingers digging into the last ledge, and finally pulled myself onto the summit.The moment my knees hit the rock, Maxim crouched beside me, his hands bracing my arms before I could collapse completely.
“You did it,” he murmured, a smile breaking across his face.His voice was warm, rich with something more than admiration—pride.
I exhaled with a shaky breath, then laughed, the sound raw from exhaustion but full of triumph.“I did!I did it!”
Maxim pulled me into a tight embrace, his body solid against mine.When I lifted my face, he kissed me, his lips tasting of sweat and sun.“I’m so incredibly proud of you,” he said against my mouth.
I smiled against him with labored breath, pressing my forehead to his.“I’m proud of me, too.”
We sat on the ledge, our bodies still catching up to the climb, legs dangling over the side, hands idly linked.The forest below spread in a vast, tangled expanse, the trees dense and gnarled, their mutated resilience defying poisoned earth.From this height, Hyperion’s walls loomed in the distance, stark and pale against the waning light, but for once, they felt inconsequential.
Maxim stretched, then reached into his pack, pulling out a sandwich wrapped neatly in biodegradable film.“Eat,” he instructed, pressing one into my hands.“It’s an easier climb down on the south side.It’ll take half the time.”
I raised a brow, peeling back the transparent film of what appeared to be a spiced-grill fowl sandwich.“That would’ve been useful to know on the way up.”
He smirked.“But then you wouldn’t have had the satisfaction of conquering the hard way.”
I couldn’t argue with that, instead angling the square layers in my hand for closer inspection.“What’s in it?”
Maxim gestured as if he were pointing to each layer.“Protein-infused flaxbread, spiced fowl, crisp hydroponic greens, pressed nut-butter spread, and a hint of citrus glaze.”
I took a wide bite, humming in appreciation.“Fluxand fire, I didn’t realize how hungry I was!This is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth!”
Maxim looked at me, and I sheepishly met his gaze.“Excuse the language.Not my most dignified moment.”
One corner of his mouth turned up.“On the contrary, I’ve never been more attracted to you.”
I playfully nudged him with my elbow.“Hey,” I said, nodding to the bottle in his hand.“You must need more than water after that.”
He tilted it slightly.“Exion.Do you want to know what’s in this, too?”
“Obviously.”
He chuckled.“It’s an electrolyte-enhanced hydrofluid for rapid hydration, with bioavailable minerals like calcium and magnesium to support biomechanical optimization, synthesized proteins for cellular maintenance, thermal regulators to optimize internal temperature, amino complexes and mild adaptogens to stabilize stress responses, and a subtle botanical essence of citrus and mint.”
“Does it… taste good?”
“In my opinion, it has a refreshing, neutral taste.I doubt you’d agree.”
I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth, frowning as I weighed my curiosity against the very real risk of regurgitating my sandwich.
“You want to try it, don’t you,” he said, his tone even, but knowing.
I squeezed my eyes shut.“Ugh, I do!What iswrongwith me?”
Maxim handed me the bottle without a word.
I held the rim to my lower lip and tipped it back, only to immediately spit it out the second it hit my tongue.But it was too late, I’d managed an entire mouthful.“That’srevolting!”
Maxim shook with laughter, his shoulders quaking as he tried—and utterly failed—to contain it.
“You actually find thisrefreshing?It tastes like unwashed, salty b—” I stopped short at his expression, an odd mix of amusement and mild betrayal.I cleared my throat.“…salty mint and citrus,” I said instead, grimacing as I wiped my mouth with the sweat-drenched towel I’d been using for hours.Somehow, it was still the better option.
I looked away from him, shaking my head.“That was trulydiabolical.”Laughter spilled over my lips.“I can’t believe you let me drink that.”
Maxim, for all his supposed control, was absolutelylosing it.
