For a heartbeat, I glimpsed armor blazing like dying stars, battlefields stretching across dimensions, and four figures standing against a darkness with teeth and hunger—agolden thread binding them.
Then it was gone, and I was just staring at a tall alien in a military uniform.
But my hands were shaking.
"Why should I believe you?" I whispered.
"You shouldn't. You do not yet understand what I have just told you. But you will learn—and your education begins now."
He reached out as if to touch my shoulder, then thought better of it. His hand fell to his side.
He turned and strode toward the door.
I glanced at Kaedren. "Did I just insult all of you?"
"Yes," he said gently, motioning for me to stand. "But you're not the first to mistake us for something we're not." His lower-left hand brushed my elbow—steadying, gentle. "And you won't be the last."
I sighed. Here I was—locked on a spaceship with four impossibly attractive aliens who saved me, fed me, and gave me a dress made of actual galaxies…and I’d repaid them by calling them pirates.
Great job, Kira.
You are absolutely crushing this.
The galaxies on my dress had stopped spinning and hung motionless against the fabric, like stars holding their breath.
Chapter7
Torvyn waited in the hallway, arms crossed, patient as a statue. Once I reached him, he turned on his heel and strode down the corridor at a brisk pace. I glanced at Kaedren. He nodded once, silently telling me to follow.
I did—until I realized I wasn't going to get very far on the carpeted floor in heels. With a sigh, I kicked them off and slung them over my shoulder.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked.
"On an official tour of the Starbreaker," Torvyn replied. "You have been aboard for several days now, and all you have seen are the bridge, the astrolabe, and the gym." His eye twitched at the last word. "It is time you see what this ship was truly built for."
"Why do I feel like I'm getting a one-way ticket to an airlock?"
Torvyn tutted. He actually tutted. "That is ridiculous."
"Isn't that, like, walking the plank? Or whatever pirates do to prisoners they don't like?"
"We are not pirates. And no—opening an airlock in deep space would cost us precious atmosphere. We would dump you in the recycler."
"Wow. You really know how to make a girl feel special."
Torvyn turned, his expression hard—then it softened, and he winked.
"No harm will come to you, Doctor. In fact, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised by what you learn."
I exhaled and stepped toward him. "Okay. I'm listening."
"The Starbreaker is the flagship of the Zorathi Reach," he said as we continued. "I doubt you have heard of our organization. We prefer to operate clandestinely."
"Why?" I asked. "Clearly, you have money and resources. Building and operating a ship like this must cost a small fortune."
He stopped at a bulkhead door. "The people we help—and the things we do—are frowned upon by the corporations that exert extreme influence over the galaxy."
"Like the one I worked for."
