“It’s fine, Micah,” he replied, even though it clearlywasn’t.“What’s done is done.”
Fuck, I really fucked up.
I thought back to our family video call, when Theo mentioned how horrific it was to have his tendrils trapped inside him. Dre accomplishedhistorture psychically—which was probably how Uulvin had accomplished it during our visit toDionaea.Granted, Dre and Theo’s relationship had a more sado-masochistic flavor than ours, but there had been realemotion behind Theo’s words.
Because the last thing a Stellarian, or any supe, wants is to be seen as is weak.
Not being able to access their tendrils or star hop probably felt like losing a limb to a Stellarian. A more accurate comparison would be if someone took awaymypowers completely, leaving me unable to create or be useful—unable to protect those I cared about.
Oh.
That’s what this is about.
“Zig…” I began, wanting to soothe him without dismissing his feelings. “You are the baddest bitch around. I know you have my back, and you’d protect Pedro with everything you had—even if that was nothing but your millions of guns!”
The tiniest smile tried to make an appearance, but there was still a dullness in his eyes I didn’t know how to fix.
New tactic.
“I used to think a supe’s powers were so random, especially when you looked at someone like me or Zion.” Glancing over my shoulder, I tracked the moments in ancient history when various aliens landed on my planet before facing him again. “Now we know better with big bro, but what about me?”
I want to know the truth.
Ziggy sighed and nodded, already agreeing to my unspoken request to continue my training with Leeloo.
But that’s not what I’m getting at.
“What the Eki can do—what I have thepotentialto do—is so incredibly tempting to learn, but I wouldneverchoose whatIwant over your comfort.”
“Micah.” Ziggy’s stern Space Daddy voice had returned. “Iwantyou to learn more about yourself, especially as your potential is limitless. This stop on our journey isn’t about me. I’m simply not… feeling like myself lately, and clearly, I’m not handling it well.”
Sweet danger baby.
I pushed up on my toes to deliver a kiss to his kissable lips. “Okay, how ‘bout this? I need to at least learn how to dissolve shields, so we can free Uulvin’s sibling from theLacertus,right? That would also be a handy skill to have in case anyone gets the foolish idea about putting unauthorized shields around what belongs tome.”
Because you’re mine.
As usually happened when Commander Babygirl took the wheel, Zig straightened to attention like the good little soldier he was. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t give me a thrill, because it was probably the only time he’d shown deference toanyoneoutside of his work with Astrum Force.
Whowouldn’twant all that power at your fingertips?
“Yes.” He slowly nodded before offering me a brave smile. “You being able to dissolve another’s shieldswouldmake me feel better…”
But…
With a sharp inhale, I realized what hewasn’tsaying, the reassurances he still needed from me.
To not hurt him again.
“I promise I won’t ever trap you with shields again.” I swallowed thickly, blinking back tears I hoped he couldn’t see.
“Unless you need to,” he added quietly, that awful dullness creeping into his tone again.
“I can’t imagine thereeverbeing a reason for me toneedto trap you,” I scoffed, internally chastising myself for thinking otherwise. “We both know I need my bad bitch mercenary at my back.”
Finally,a real smile lit up his handsome face, even in the dark. “I’ll always have your back, sunshine.”
Grinning wildly, I snapped a few photos of the cave paintings before taking his hand and leading him back toward Nuclei City. “I know you do, and I appreciate you compromising on this.I’mnot getting nefarious vibes from Leeloo and the other Eki, but I also trust your intuition, so let’s just be vigilant—together. Keep our enemies close and all that.”
