“She kept a Warlord?”
“She married him. And now she runs his diplomatic corps.” I grab his hands, my grip fierce. “Listen to me, Rynn. You think you’re dangerous? You think Meridian is scary? Henrok D’Vorr has a defensive grid that eats cruisers for breakfast. He has a Quantum Relay that can punch a signal through an ion storm. And he has Suki.”
“And you think they will help us?” He asks, struggling to reconcile the rumors of a bloodthirsty tyrant with the woman I am describing. “We are bringing death to their home.”
“Henrok gets bored with peace,” I say, a wild light entering my eyes. “Trust me. If we bring him a fight, he won’t be mad. He’ll be delighted.”
He looks at me—fierce, certain, and utterly trusting of these people he has never met. I can feel him wavering through the bond.
“They have a Quantum Relay?” he asks.
“Military grade. It can send your data in seconds.”
“And guns?”
“Big ones.”
He looks at the tactical display. The Meridian fleet is six minutes behind us. We have no other options. He has to trust me.
“Do it,” he says. “Call the Warlord’s wife.”
I nod, throat tight. “Zip, plot a course for Zater Reach. Multi-jump route, max evasion. And open a channel.”
“TO WHOM, CAPTAIN?”
“The First Blade’s wife. Let’s hope she’s in a good mood.”
The connection takes a moment—Zater Reach is a long way out, and the signal has to bounce through several relay stations. When Suki’s face finally appears on the viewscreen, she’s covered in grease and holding some kind of massive wrench.
“Polly?” Her eyes widen. “Holy shit, is that really you? It’s been forever! I was starting to think you’d—” She stops. Squints. “Why do you look like you just got chased through a warzone?”
“Long story. Short version: I need a quantum relay and a lot of guns.”
Suki’s expression shifts instantly. The friendly warmth doesn’t disappear, but something harder slides underneath it.
“How bad?”
“Three Meridian cruisers bad. Maybe more by the time we get there.”
“Fuck.” She wipes her hands on her coveralls, already moving. “Okay. Get here. Henrok’s going to love this—nothing makes him happier than an excuse to blow shit up. When can we expect you?”
“Fourteen hours if everything goes—” I stop. Because Suki’s eyes have gone very wide, and she’s staring at something just off-screen. At me. Or more specifically, at my neck.
“Polly.” Her voice is carefully neutral. “Is that a bite mark?”
I feel my face heat. Beside me, Rynn has gone very still.
“That’s a Valorian bonding mark,” Suki continues, and now she’s grinning. “Oh my god. You bonded. You actually—” She leans closer to the screen, squinting. “Wait, is he there with you? Let me see him. HENROK!” She’s yelling now, off-screen. “COME HERE! POLLY FINALLY DID THE THING!”
“I’m going to kill you,” I mutter, but I’m smiling despite myself.
Rynn leans into frame, and I watch Suki’s eyes go wide again.
“Holy shit, he’s hot. No wonder you—”
“Suki,” I interrupt before she can finish that sentence. “Focus. Meridian. Guns. Quantum relay. We need sanctuary.”
Her grin doesn’t fade, but her eyes sharpen. “You’ve got it. Get here. We’ll hold the door.”
