“Almost,” I repeat back. “But thankfully we didn’t, so you can file the annulment document tomorrow. Non-consummation makes it automatically void under Reima Two law?—"
"Why wait until tomorrow? I’m awake and will do it now. And then you and Lorian can finally go get your Eve."
“Thank you, Zira. I’ll tell Lorian to prep his ship." I get out my IC and send him a quick message.
“Where is he anyway?”
Then we both say together, “In the shrine.”
“I could call him up,” I offer. “He’s been there for a few hours. He went there right after they returned.”
“No, let him bleed out his gratitude properly if he wants.”
I pause, gratitude overwhelming me. “I don’t know how we will repay you.”
"You can thank me by proving that humans are worth saving and paying me that ten percent from the Spire’s revenues on time every year. This is the beginning of a long campaign, but I’m happy to fight it with you.” She gets out of bed and walks over to the closet. "You know, Marcus’s brother sends encrypted messages to him every week. He’s free because of Eve… Alive because Eve risked everything during the Championships." She pulls out travel bags—already packed. “Now, I’m sure you want Eve out of that situation with your father as soon as possible… before sheneverforgives you. Our marriage is officially over, Rafe. You may go.”
“This isn’t Reima Two. You can’t dismiss me, you know,” I remind her.
“Rafe, you have already been dismissed.”
I kiss her forehead—the first genuine affection we've ever shared. "When Marcus is yours?—"
"I'll marry him properly. In daylight. With the whole galaxy watching thanks to the personhood law. But Eve needs to accept the new offer for that to happen.”
Without another word, I bow to my former wife and leave.
I run through the Spire's corridors. When I arrive. Lorian is already standing by theNocturne’s Edge’sentrance. I notice there’s fresh blood on his collar from whatever punishment he's given himself, but I don’t mention it.
"The marriage?" he asks.
"Zira will file the annulment within the hour."
“Good. I worry about Father's reports?—"
"Father exaggerates. We know that. Eve will understand why we did what we did, and she will forgive us.” We board and the hatch seals behind us.
“And if she doesn’t?”
“She will,” I say.
“What if she's become like Autumn? Empty and decorative. Everything we swore we'd never let happen?"
"Then we spend the rest of our lives trying to bring her back to who she was before she became an IGC prisoner," I say.
75
THE RETURN, EVE
I’min my usual position, kneeling, while Gai finishes his morning tea. My knees know every imperfection of this stone floor, and my body, as if programmed by evolution, holds this human pet posture without my having to think about it anymore. It’s both a blessing and a curse.
"The Ascendant Alliance’s quarterly earnings report was satisfactory,” Gai says to his guest, another Reima Two business associate whose name I don't need to know.
The holographic display above the breakfast table flashes suddenly. Financial reports vanish, replaced by a grey-skinned news anchor, visibly excited.
BREAKING:House of Serath-Ascendant Alliance MarriageANNULLED.Madame Zira and Sovereign Directors Rafe and Lorian officially split as of dawn this morning. Sources cite non-consummation as grounds?—
Gai sets down his teacup with deliberate calm. "Finally. Do you see that, Eve?” Then he turns to his guest and says, “You can’t imagine how tiresome it's been, listening to her wail every night since that wedding? The walls in this estate are thick, but not that thick." He turns to me again. “I hope you understand now?”
