“Get a grip,” I mutter, adjusting my shoulders.
Then I catch myself in the mirror again—this time, on purpose.
“Greetings, civilian,” I try.
Nope. Too stiff.
“Miss Jackson. I’m your new guardian. Voltar. Yes,thatVoltar. Yes, the one from the war crime tribunal. It’s a misunderstanding.”
Stars, no. Terrible.
I scratch at my brow ridges. Think.
“Hey,” I say, letting the word roll low and easy from my throat. “I’m Voltar. You’re the only assignment I’ve ever had that came with better cheekbones than I do.”
I pause. Smirk.
“Closer,” I tell myself.
I try again. “Hi. I’m your bodyguard. And I’m only legally allowed to vaporize people if they try to vaporize you first. But Icanget creative.”
Okay. Getting better.
I wipe the sweat from my upper ridge and sit back down. My armor’s half on now—gleaming plates over my chest and thighs, boots laced tight. I look like a gladiator with feelings. I hate it.
But also?
I don’t.
The holoscreen still plays her loop in the background. Her telling off that officer. Her holding her own in a world trying to grind her down.
There’s a deep ache in my chest. Not the war wound kind. The kind that means I want to understand her more than I want to kill anything.
And that scares the hell out of me.
Not because I’m weak—but because this feeling might be stronger than anything I’ve fought before.
The comm chimes.
Pilot’s voice crackles through. “We’re descending to Novaria Prime, Commander. Landing clearance approved. Estimated contact in thirty minutes.”
I grab my gauntlets and lock them in with a hiss.
“Understood.”
My voice comes out steadier than I expect.
As the cruiser’s thrusters tilt and the ship drops toward atmosphere, I let my eyes close for a second.
Sable Jackson, you’re probably gonna hate me at first.
But I think I’m already in.
CHAPTER 3
SABLE
Three days pass and I start to believe I might’ve overreacted. Or maybe the police did. Probably both. I mean, yeah, I saw a guy get disintegrated like yesterday’s garbage, but... it’s not like they can confirm it. Right? Right.
