I don’t move.
“Don’t youdarecome in here and act like you didn’t leavemefirst,” she says, voice breaking. “You took that mission. You didn’t say goodbye. You disappeared without a trace. I thought?—”
“I came back!”
“TO WHAT?!” she screams.
“To nothing. To silence. To a war that swallowed you and spat you out with new scars and old ghosts. I didn’t know how to find you, Vael. And when Idid, you were already gone again.”
“I would’ve come back for you.”
“But you didn’t.”
Silence slams down between us. Heavy. Breathless.
Rynn wraps her arms around herself, trembling.
“I raised her alone. I gave up everything. And every day, I live in fear that someone will look at her eyes andknow.That some Alliance protocol will rip her out of my arms.”
I step closer.
Her voice softens, frays.
“I’m so tired, Vael.”
I cup her jaw before I know I’m doing it.
She closes her eyes.
Tears slide down her cheeks.
“I missed you,” she whispers.
And I kiss her.
Not out of forgiveness.
Not out of lust.
Out ofneed.
Because if I don’t, I’ll shatter.
Her mouth opens under mine, hot and desperate, hands gripping my shirt like she’s drowning and I’m the surface.
We stumble back onto the bed, fingers fumbling, breathing ragged, pain spilling into passion.
We don’t speak.
There’s nothing left to say.
Later,I hold her against my chest.
Her body fits like it always did—fierce and familiar.
Her fingers trace the scar above my heart.
“I should’ve told you sooner,” she murmurs.
