Lily’s high-pitch squeals of excitement filled the room. They both looked at Zeph—who was smart enough not to move closer to them—and waited for him to speak. His eyes still locked on her.
His beautifully chiseled face was pale under the fluorescent lights. Her earlier premonition that something was wrong returned when her gaze reached his hair. It wasn’t amber, that familiar light and gold anymore, but black. Deep black. The kind of black that left no room for highlights and shadows. The Cyborg before her wasn’t Zeph, at least not the one she’d come to know. She swallowed.
“Uncle Zeeffffff,” Lily continued, “when can we see the planets?”
Zeph broke his increasingly intense gaze from hers and looked down at Lily. “Soon. First, we’ll have to travel there, kiddo.”
“Travel where? I don’t know how we got here, but I think it’s time for Lily and me to leave.” She stormed toward them and picked up her sister, fending off her flailing limbs. “Mom will be worried sick about you, sweetness,” she cooed at her sister while glaring daggers at Zeph. Janet tightened her hold on the wriggling child and stepped around him to slip through the open door.
If Lily was here, that meant they had to still be on Kepler, outside their home.
A hand curled around her arm before she reached the exit.
“Let me go,” she gritted, attempting to tug free from his grasp as Lily pulled away from her.
“Janet…”
Their eyes met again. Lily slid down her body and freed herself from Janet’s hold. Her sister ran toward the bed and climbed atop it, jumping up and down, demanding attention.
“What?” Janet asked, her brow furrowing.
His face flashed with remorse before hardening. “You can’t leave.”
“What do you mean we can’t leave?”
“Because there’s nowhere else to go.”
Janet pursed her lips. “Of course there’s places to go. Just point us toward the exit and we’ll be out of your… hair. Why is it black?”
Zeph released her and poised his hand by his head but stopped before he touched it. She rubbed her arm where he’d gripped her, annoyed with the warmth that he’d left behind.
He dropped his hand. “It changes with my mood if I’m not actively paying attention to it.”
“I can’t possibly imagine what black means,” she grumped, curling her arms around her middle, aware of her state of undress and dishevelment. Walking off the ship looking the way she did would only get her glares of scorn from Ma and Rylie, but walking off this ship was exactly what she planned to do, Lily in tow.
“Lily,” she yelled over Zeph’s shoulder, “it’s time to go!”
Her sister squealed in delight, thinkinggomeant go see the galaxy. Janet wasn’t going to correct her. Not until they had their feet on the ground and their toes wiggling in the sand. But she couldn’t help the wistfulness that settled in. Part of her wanted to see the universe as much as Lily did. Maybe even more.
But not like this.
Lily climbed off the bed, her chubby cheeks pinkened anew, and barreled into her side. Janet caught her up and left the cabin behind.
Hopefully forever.
Zeph followed them, his black military boots thumping on the floor. She winced, hating herself for noticing, for being so focused on him. Each echoing thud his boots made filled her ears, vibrating to the very core of her.
She quickened her steps, searching left and right for an indication of an exit, while listening to his steps directly behind her. She rounded another corner and went down a short flight of stairs before she reached a dead-end. It was either that or her escape was blocked by every closed door she passed.
“Janet.” The tone of his voice was filled with longing.
Janet closed her eyes as her back prickled with goosebumps. It was like he’d whispered her name directly over her skin. Her breath came out shallowly, fear and desire making itself known.
She twisted around to face him before the feelings could settle in.
“Where’s the exit?” she asked.
A mischievously dark twinkle glinted his eyes. “You only had to ask. Follow me,” he said, already heading back the way they had come.
