“Yes,” I said. Certain. “We’re not done yet.”
She settled against my chest. Within minutes, her breathing deepened into sleep.
I held her in the darkness of the cave. Listened for pursuit. Felt my body already beginning to heal.
In a few hours, Kallum would come. We'd run again. Make it to real safety.
But for now, this was enough. She was safe. She was free. She was mine to protect.
I'd carried her this far. I'd carry her the rest of the way.
No matter what it cost.
CARYS
We ran until the ravine was far behind us. Until the Mondian’s screaming threats faded into nothing. Until the terrain shifted from rocky cliffs to dense forest.
Then Brevan pulled me into a cave system. Small. Hidden. The kind of place you’d miss unless you were looking for it.
We collapsed inside. Both breathing hard. Flinx leaped down from Brevan’s shoulder and immediately started sensor sweeps.
he sent after a moment.
“How long?” I asked.
I looked at Brevan. Gray skin. Red eyes. Gold traceries. The Vinduthi who’d turned my entire life upside down in four days.
“We made it,” I said.
“We’re not safe yet.” But he smiled. “Though we’re closer than we were.”
I touched the raw, chafed skin on my neck. The collar was gone. The memory of him breaking it, the sparks flying in thedark cave, the clatter as I threw it into the ravine... that was the moment.
I was free. Actually free.
The realization hit hard. Six years wearing that collar. Six years as property. And now it was just gone.
“You alright?” Brevan asked.
“Yes.” My voice was steady. “Just... processing. It’s been a lot.”
“Fair point.” He kissed my forehead. “But we’re getting off this planet. I have a plan.”
“You always have a plan.”
“This time it involves my pilot.” He pulled out a comm link an activated an encrypted channel. “Kallum. Status.”
The response came immediately. Male voice. Calm. Professional. “About damn time. I’ve been monitoring your situation for the past three hours. Tarsus has his entire private fleet in the air.”
“We noticed.”
“I have good news and bad news. Good news: I have your extraction coordinates. Bad news: Tarsus has used his authority to lock down orbital space. Every ship trying to leave is being boarded and searched.”
“Can you get through?”
“I can get through.” Confidence in his voice. “But it won’t be subtle. Once I enter atmosphere, every sensor on this planet will know I’m here. You’ll have maybe fifteen minutes from touchdown to orbit before Tarsus scrambles his interceptors.”
