Page 253 of Reaper Said Mine

“Then I use contingencies.”

“You have contingencies?”

“I have so many contingencies.”

Bellamy raises his hand. “She has a deeply annoying number of contingencies.”

Gnash ignores him this time. “Tell me.”

“No.”

His eyes flash. “Ursa.”

“If I tell you and someone intercepts this call, the contingencies become decorative.”

“I can protect you better if I know.”

“You can protect me better by keeping Guyver alive until I get there.”

His face changes, the hard anger cracking just enough to reveal fear beneath it. The sight twists through the bond and nearly breaks my resolve.

“I cannot lose you in the dark between systems,” he says.

My throat tightens.

“You won’t.”

“You do not know that.”

“No,” I admit. “I don’t.”

The honesty hurts both of us. I see it in the way his shoulders settle, as if a weight has dropped where fury used to stand.

I step closer to the projection, lowering my voice until the concourse becomes a blur behind my pulse. “I’m scared too. I’m furious with you. I’m worried about you. I’m carrying evidence that could put a dozen powerful people in prison or a hundred ships in motion, depending on who gets to frame it first. I am also the only person who can walk into Guyver with enough public attention attached that disappearing me becomes expensive.”

His mouth pulls back from his teeth. “You sound like Ursa Ramone when she is about to do something unforgivable and correct.”

“That is my brand.”

“I hate your brand.”

“You are romantically affiliated with it.”

“Under protest.”

“Noted.”

The boarding chime sounds again.

FINAL CALL — MEDICAL PRIORITY FREIGHT TRANSFER

Gail steps closer. “You need to move.”

Gnash hears her.

His gaze sharpens. “Who is with you?”

“Bellamy, Senator Vale, Minister Halden.”