“You what?”
Cypher growled. “No one hurts me or those under my protection and gets away with it.”
“They’re going to think we cheated! If we place or win, they’ll speculate we bought it.”
Nightheart waved his hand. “No one knows of the change in leadership yet, and cheating won’t be an issue.”
Vee ran her hands through her hair. “I can’t believe you guys.” She stared wide-eyed at the table in front of her. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She looked at Cypher. “Is this what you’ve been hiding?”
Cypher frowned. “I—”
The intercom sounded.“Contestants, please come down to the stadium floors for the final ceremony!”
“Oh, it’s time!” Vee’s mother quipped, ignoring the tension. She scurried to Vee’s side as her daughter slowly stood, eyes ablaze.
Cypher and Nightheart rose as well.
“You’re going to be great,” Vee’s mother said. “Whatever happens, you were perfect out there yesterday. You’ll always be a winner in my eyes.”
“Mom…” Vee groaned. She fell into her mother’s embrace. “I’m glad you and Dad came. It’s been so long.” Her gaze slanted to meet Cypher’s, the frustration there loud and clear.
“We wouldn’t have missed it for the universe,” her dad said.
Cypher watched the exchange despite Vee’s annoyance at him. Vee’s parents made him uncomfortable. Her mom smiled up at him, and his brow furrowed. Familial relations were something Cyborgs didn’t have, at least not at creation. Seeing the affection between individuals that only have a shared connection through biology was strange to him.
If he thought about it, perhaps his Cyborg brethren could be considered family, at least the shifter class. But still, none of them shared DNA, only creators.
He’d never shown affection toward anyone besides Vee.
Nightheart cleared his throat, scattering everyone. He turned to Cypher. It was clear his boss was as uncomfortable as he was. “Finish this and head straight back to the spaceport. You leave this evening.” He nodded at Vee and turned on his heel, fleeing.
Cypher’s lips twisted.
Fucking hell.
As if things couldn’t get worse.
Silence fell across the room.
“You’re leaving?” Vee whispered.
Fucking Nightheart.
Vee’s parents moved away, not wanting to be a part of the conversation. He didn’t blame them. He didn’t want to be part of it either. He sure as hell wasn’t going to have it in front of anyone, especially not Vee’s parents.
Cypher took Vee’s hand and gripped it tightly. “Like you said, we need to talk,” he growled. He pulled her from the room and led her down to the stadium floor.
29
Vee’s stomach churned as she and Cypher waited in line with the other teams.
He’s leaving tonight?
Pain laced through her. Her heart beated erratically, and there was sweat under her arms. Cypher had ushered her to the stadium, scowling the whole way. He still scowled, his face hard and taut. She couldn’t look away from him, afraid that if she did, he would vanish. And that would be it.
She would be left here heartbroken, in front of the universe, to put the shattered pieces of her heart and her life back together.
So that’s why he’s been distant.It wasn’t his planned sabotage of NeoElite behind her back; it’d been the fact that he was leaving. The pain built inside her. Once again, everything seemed like a dream. Everything around her faded into the background.
