“I hope you’re right.” Vax’s voice was quiet. “Because if you’re wrong, I won’t be here to help pick up the pieces.”
I turned back to face him. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve broken your trust. I’ve acted against your wishes. I’ve endangered the clan I swore to protect.” His eyes had gone gray with resignation. “The council will want my head for this. And I won’t fight them.”
“The council will decide your fate,” I agreed. “But Vax…for what it’s worth…I understand why you did it.”
“Understanding doesn’t change what I’ve done.”
“No. But it means I won’t forget the twenty sun-cycles you spent at my back before this.” I moved toward the door. “You’ll be confined to your quarters until the council meets. Guards will be posted.”
“Rezor.” He stopped me with my name. “Whatever happens with the council, whatever they decide…I meant what I said. I was trying to protect you. I just…went about it the wrong way.”
“I know.” I looked back at him, at this male who’d been my right hand for twenty sun-cycles. Whom I’d trusted with my life countless times. Who’d betrayed that trust because he was afraid.
I opened the door and gestured for the guards who were waiting outside. “Escort Vax to his quarters. He’s to remain there until the council convenes.”
They looked confused, but moved to flank him, and Vax went without resistance. But at the threshold, he paused.
“She must be extraordinary,” he said quietly. “For you to risk so much.”
“She is.” I met his gaze. “And if you’d given her a chance instead of trying to drive her away, you would have seen that.”
He nodded once, then let the guards lead him away.
I stood alone in my chambers, the morning light streaming through the window, and felt the weight—no, burden—of my position settle heavier on my shoulders. I’d lost my most trusted advisor. The council would be divided over this. The people would have questions that even I couldn’t answer, yet.
And through it all, my gut tightened with the steady certainty that Cleo was mine.
Whatever challenges came next, whatever opposition I faced, I would not deny what my marks knew to be true. Even if it cost me everything.
CHAPTER 11
Cleo
Iwoke to someone pounding on the door of our quarters.
For a disoriented moment, I thought I was back on the transport ship, that the alarms were sounding for another system failure. Then reality crashed back. Valley. D’tran. Underground tech chambers. Rezor’s lips on mine and the blazing heat of his marks.
The pounding came again.
“Cleo.” It was one of the guards, his voice urgent. “Lord Rezor requests your immediate presence in his chambers.”
I sat up, my heart racing. Immediate presence. That didn’t sound good.
“Give me a minute,” I called back, already scrambling out of bed. Across the room, Baleck stirred, blinking sleepily.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Don’t know yet. Rezor wants to see me.” I glanced down at my wrinkled tunic. My hair was a disaster, but there wasn’ttime to do anything about it. “I’ll let you know when I find out.”
Mierva was already sitting up, her healing arm cradled against her chest. “Be careful, Cleo.”
“Always am.” I tried for a smile, but my stomach was churning with anxiety. Had something else broken? Had they found more sabotage? Or was this about the kiss? Had Rezor decided it was a mistake, that I was too much of a risk?
The guard led me to Rezor’s chambers, which were, up a couple flights of stone stairs. The guard knocked once, then opened the door without waiting for a response.
“Cleo, my lord.”
