CHAPTER 24
GAROKK
Iknow Vrek’s up to something the second I hear the silence.
He’s never quiet unless he’s hunting—or planning to break something important.
The comm feed from Reflector chimes in one ear, encrypted, tightbeam, voice low like a whisper through static. It’s late. Station protocol says all allied crew are confined to quarters.
But some rules were made to be broken.
And some bastards were born to break them.
“They’re in a service hold on Subdeck Theta,” Reflector says, smooth as ever. “Your charming first mate and three of your more... impatient pirates.”
“Names,” I murmur.
“Snarl. Crik. And Savax.”
Snarl. Of course.
That tusked son of a voidbeast never could stomach peace.
Crik’s a wild card, always sniffing for power like it owes him something.
And Savax… she follows muscle. And right now, muscle means Vrek.
I clench my jaw, but I don’t speak.
Reflector pauses.
“I could pipe in the feed if you want to hear it firsthand.”
“Do it.”
A low buzz bleeds into my ear. Then?—
“She’s a liability,” Snarl grunts. “Pretty, sure, but she’s got the Captain twisted up like a plasma coil. You all saw it. He didn’t fight. Hesurrendered."
“She’s gotleverage,” Crik hisses. “Kid’s his. No one’s said it, but it’s obvious. He’s making plays with hisheartnow. That’s how you lose a war.”
“Station’s soft,” Savax adds. “Soft and rich. We could carve it up in a week.”
“Three days,” Vrek says. Voice low. Steady. Too steady.
I feel it like a slap.
He’s already counted the routes. Already drawn the lines.
Reflector murmurs in my other ear, “He’s proposing full occupation. You’re out. He’s in. She’s hostage. They claim the ring.”
I don’t respond.
Because Iknew.
Not in the bones, not just the instinct. I saw it in the way Vrek’s eyes lingered when I ordered the crew to stand down. In the way his fists curled at his sides when I walked away instead of drawing blood.
He’s not built for diplomacy.
