He gives a ghost of a smile. “Then maybe we learn how to live in the cracks.”
The tears spill.
Vael doesn’t reach for me.
Doesn’t move.
But his eyes stay locked on mine—open, unguarded, shimmering.
And in that quiet… something begins to heal.
CHAPTER 17
RYNN
Tarek shows up before dawn.
Not in uniform. Not with rank. Just a plain black coat buttoned high against his neck, eyes like scorched glass, and that empty smile he wears when he wants you to think he's harmless.
He's already leaning against my office wall when I arrive.
"Dr. Sorala," he drawls, voice slick with false charm. "Hope you don't mind the early call."
I freeze mid-step. My hand clenches around my compad.
“I wasn’t expecting an inspection,” I say carefully.
“Oh, this isn’t official.” He shrugs, then pushes off the wall. “Just a personnel check. Loose ends. Standard protocol.”
Bullshit.
He’s never done anything “standard” in his life.
I step past him, keeping my breathing steady, and log into the terminal. My fingers move automatically, pulling up false data files I preloaded last week, just in case.
“What kind of loose ends?” I ask, back turned.
His voice is calm. Too calm.
“Unlogged medical supplies. Compad entries with trace anomalies. Family profiles not fully accounted for in the registry.”
I go cold.
“Sounds like admin error,” I say. “I’ll have Drel look into it.”
Tarek hums behind me.
“You’ve been here five years, Rynn. No transfers. No leaves. No flagged reports. That’s… neat.”
I finally turn to face him. “You saying I’m too clean?”
“I’m saying it’s unusual.” His smile thins. “Especially for someone with your war record.”
I stare him down. “What exactly are you implying?”
“Nothing.” He lifts both hands. “Just dots. Sometimes they connect. Sometimes they don’t.”
He starts toward the door, then pauses.
