She’s trembling now. Not just from fear. From fury. From the kind of helpless ache you only feel when you see a story repeating itself and know you’re about to lose the endingagain.
“You don’t have to do this,” she whispers.
“Rhea—”
“No,listen. You have a choice. We can run. Go dark. Disappear. I know people. I know how to hide.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“That’s not your decision!”
“I love you.”
She swallows.
Hard.
“And Iloveyou. That’s why I’m begging you. Stay. Just this once. Be selfish. Beours. Let them fight their own damn war.”
Gods, I want to.
I want to grab her hand and vanish into the black. Find a nowhere planet. Change our names. Grow old and bitter and safe.
But I can’t.
Not if I want her to have a galaxy worth growing old in.
I reach out. Stroke her cheek with my bruised knuckles.
“If I do this,” I say softly, “maybe you’ll never have to run again.”
She shakes her head, blinking tears. “That’s not a promise. That’s awish.”
“I know.”
I kiss her.
Soft.
Final.
Like a full stop at the end of a prayer.
Her lips tremble against mine.
Then I turn.
Walk away.
Don’t look back.
Can’t.
Because if I do, I won’t leave.
And I have to.
CHAPTER 13
