Vytln
There was nothing.
Vytln wasn’t sure how he was managing to breathe. How his heart continued to find energy to keep beating. It seemed completely pointless.
Vytln had lost everything once before. His life, his future, his mate all stolen from him. Banished to Rik-Vane, reduced to – he thought – nothing. He was sure there was no greater pain than that.
And maybe he was right.
Because this… this wasn’t pain. This numbness, this blankness, this emptiness. It was like there was no reason for him to try breathing. He had lost a lot before, but even then, he still had the urge for vengeance. The desire for revenge. The will to keep going.
Now…
He didn’t even want to keep living. He wished Kldyn would hurry up and end it. There was no purpose in revenge now. There was no point to vengeance.
There was nothing.
Nothing but the empty, scorched, broken trap he’d spent so long crafting for a female he’d never wanted. A pest that had snuck her way right into his heart. Who entrenched herself in him so deeply, now that she was gone, he didn’t even feel the physical pains in his body.
This was what it meant to lose everything. And it wasn’t worth standing back up again.
Let him die. Let it end. That’s all he wanted. That’s all he…
The shrill alarm of the ship was jarring enough it even penetrated the fog of despair that had fallen over Vytln’s mind. He didn’t care about it, but he couldn’t help but notice it.
And the fact that, after only a few rings, it was abruptly cut off. Not like someone had turned it off either. It glitched and the sound warped, like something had interfered with it.
A moment later, another alarm, a different one, did the same thing. It rang loudly, the room was filled with flashing lights, then it just suddenly stopped.
Maybe the explosion of the Humility had done more damage than they anticipated. It was almost funny. If his crew was able to take them down in death, then that would be justice in its way.
Even as he had that thought, the door was sliding open and Kldyn was running inside. Vytln knew him by the sound of his footsteps. He didn't bother to look away from the window, through which he could only see the shattered remains of his life.
Maybe he was finally coming to kill him…
“You!” Kldyn grabbed him by his horns and yanked his head back, forcing his gaze onto him. Kldyn’s expression was wild and crazed. “What have you done?”
Vytln didn't bother to respond. He had nothing to say to this male that had once been his brother. He had obviously done nothing. He wasn’t sure he could stand on his injured knee. Even if he could, he wasn’t sure he’d be stable on his feet after the blows to his head.
“You-” Kldyn sneered, furious at his silence.
“Kldyn!” Someone yelled from the entrance. “The air recyclers aren’t working. You have to get into an envirosuit. Now!”
“Donottell me what to do!” Kldyn roared, dropping Vytln’s head. He glared behind him at whoever had spoken, then down to Vytln again. “You know what’s going on. This has to be one of those little pests you run around with. So, who?”
Pests…
Haven…
Vytln blinked, a horrible, painful, blooming hope bursting to life in his chest.
But his next heartbeat felt purposeful. Meaningful.
Haven was here. Of course she was. Who else would be able to sneak around and completely dismantle an entire ship? How did she get here? Were the others okay? He didn't know. It didn't matter. Because his mate, his youngling, was alive.
And she was doing what she did best: Being a pest.
The laughter that bubbled up in his chest was completely unintentional. He wasn’t mocking Kldyn, though he knew by the way his brother’s face twisted that it seemed like he was.
