“Yes,” Maya said. “He stayed on the ship because he didn’t want to cause a scene. He’s been very eager to see you.”
A bubble of laughter came out of her mouth, which she covered with shaking fingers. “That’s him. Always trying to be dignified.” She turned to me and her gaze softened. “Thank you, Rezor. For your hospitality and for, well…” She held up the arm that had been broken. “For taking care of us. For what it’s worth, I understand and forgive you.”
I bowed, took her hand and pressed it between both of mine. “It has been an honor to have you as part of my clan, Mierva,” I said. “Even for a short time.”
She smiled and her skin flushed in pleased tones of aqua blue and pink. “Does that mean we’re invited back?”
“Anytime you wish.”
She patted my cheek, like a mother would. “You’re a good leader. A good person.”
I couldn’t get out a thank-you, so I nodded and stepped back.
“I’m staying for a while,” Baleck said, surprising me. “Someone needs to help facilitate the cultural exchange.”
Cleo’s gaze had never left me, and in that, I saw everything. The love she’d tried to deny. The hurt I’d caused. The fear that choosing me meant losing herself. The desperate hope that maybe, somehow, there could be another way.
But mostly, I saw confusion. Torn between two worlds, two lives, two futures.
I crossed to stand before her. “Go with them,” I said gently. “Take the time you need. The valley will be here. I will be here.”
“Rezor—”
“No conditions. No demands.” I forced my voice to remain steady even as my marks burned with loss. “You’re free, Cleo. Completely free. If you come back, let it be because you choose to. Not because you’re trapped. Not because of a prophecy or mate bonds or anything else. Because you chooseme.”
Tears, which had just dried, brightened her eyes again. “I don’t—I can’t—”
“You don’t have to decide now.” I wanted to pull her into my arms and never let go. But I stayed where I was, giving her space. “Take the time. Think. Figure out what you want your life to be. And whatever you decide, know that I will accept it.”
Zara moved back to Cleo’s side. “Come on. You can think better when you’re not…” She glanced at me, then back at Cleo. “When you have some distance.”
Distance. From me. From the mate bond that pulled at both of us. From the choice that seemed impossible.
Cleo looked at her friends, at the ship waiting to carry her back to the stars, at the future she’d thought she’d lost.
Then she looked at me.
And I saw her heart breaking in real time.
“I—” Her voice failed. She tried again. “I need to—there are things I should—”
“Go,” I said again. “Just go, Cleo. Before this gets harder.”
Because if she stayed much longer, I didn’t know if I could keep my promise not to fight for her. If I could keep standing here watching her prepare to leave when everything in me screamed to claim her, to beg her to stay.
My marks were blazing now, visible even through my shirt. Calling to her. Trying to bridge the distance between us.
Her hand moved toward me, an involuntary gesture. Then fell back to her side.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “For everything. For not being able to…”
I shook my head. “Don’t apologize for choosing yourself. That’s exactly what you should do.”
Zara’s hand was on Cleo’s arm now, gentle but insistent. “We need to go. The ships can’t stay in atmosphere indefinitely.”
Cleo nodded. Turned. Took three steps toward the craft.
Then stopped.
