Page 151 of Reaper Said Mine

Gnash hears that cost.

“You are certain?”

“No.”

He looks surprised, and that almost makes me smile.

I press on. “I am scared. I am furious. I am probably about to hand Dawson the weapon he needs to gut my career. But if I wait for permission, the story dies in brand strategy while people start shooting.”

His voice lowers. “Then we do it together.”

The words are simple, and maybe from anyone else they would feel like a slogan. From Gnash, they feel like something hammered into metal.

I move closer until I have to tilt my head back to hold his gaze. “This cannot be about protecting me from consequences.”

“It is about facing consequences with you.”

My throat tightens.

“That was also much too good an answer,” I say.

“I am improving.”

“You’re going to be unbearable.”

“I already was.”

“Yes, but now you’ll have evidence.”

He reaches for me, not rushed, not demanding. His hand settles along my jaw, thumb careful near the sealed cut at my temple. The bond warms between us, not erasing fear, but giving it somewhere to rest.

“We confront the threat,” he says.

“Yes.”

“No more allowing each faction to move in shadows.”

“No.”

“No more pretending the talks remain clean because everyone washed their hands before entering the room.”

“That might be your best diplomatic metaphor yet.”

“I dislike how much diplomacy I am learning.”

“You’re doing great. Terrible people hate it.”

His smile flashes, brief and fierce. Then his expression sobers. “If war comes, Ursa⁠—”

“When,” I correct, hating the word as I say it. “If we do nothing, it’s when. If we move first, maybe it stays if.”

He nods once. “Then we move first.”

I step back and pull up my compad, opening a fresh file. My hands are steadier now. Not because the fear is gone. Because the fear has become direction.

“I need Vakka’s authenticated logs, Skahar’s review of the component evidence, your formal statement on the assassination attempt, and access to station traffic records from the last seventy-two hours.”

“You ask like a commander.”