Page 81 of Honor Bound

Roan’s throat tightened, and he was silent, unable to find the words to tell her how much he hoped she was right. He just nodded, grateful for her quiet strength and conviction when his own felt so precarious.

“I used to think the same thing about myself,” Julia said, her voice tinged with vulnerability. “That I couldn’t… form lasting relationships. My mother left when I was six. She always said it wasn’t her fault—that she just wasn’t made for family. For love.” Julia swallowed, her eyes glistening with old pain. “For a long time, I thought maybe I wasn’t made for it either. That something was missing in me.”

Roan’s heart ached at the raw honesty in her voice. He reached up, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “She was wrong,” he said, his voice firm. “Whatever she was missing, you’re not. You love fiercely, Julia. You never gave up on the people you cared about—not Josh, not Sergi, not Mei. And… not me.”

Julia blinked, a tear slipping down her cheek, and she gave him a soft, bittersweet smile. “You showed me that I could trust again. That I could have something real—something I thought was out of reach.”

For a few heartbeats, the room was silent except for the steady heartbeat of the ship. Roan reached for her hand again, their fingers intertwining.

“It took everything I had to walk out of that lab,” Roan confessed, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I knew Sergi and Josh would protect you, but I couldn’t breathe until I saw you again. I had to know you were safe.”

Julia gave him a teasing smile, her eyes glinting with warmth. “You do remember that I was the one who brokeyouout—twice—right?”

A low chuckle rumbled from Roan’s chest. “Fair point.” He grinned, his lips twitching with amusement. “I guess that makes me officially in your debt. How will I ever repay you?”

“Oh, I’ll think of something,” she said, her voice laced with mischief.

Roan leaned back with a sigh, opening his arms. “In that case… come here.”

Julia climbed up onto the bed, settling into his embrace. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. “How long do you think it’ll be before they release you from this medical unit?”

Roan tightened his arms around her, his lips curving into a lazy smile. “A couple of hours, maybe.” His voice softened with a touch of relief. “And this time, I’ll be in your arms—not a cell in the brig.”

Julia tilted her head up, her eyes warm as they met his. “The universe finally got something right.”

Roan chuckled, resting his chin on the top of her head. “It did that when you arrived.”

The world didn’t feel quite so heavy. They lay there in comfortable silence, their hearts finally aligned with the quiet peace that had eluded them. And for the first time, Roan thought that maybe—just maybe—they had a chance.

* * *

Deep within the Legion Territory

The air in Andri Andronikos’s quarters was stifling. Shadows clung to the corners of the room as if they were waiting to swallow him whole. He paced in front of the viewport, his eyes were fixed on the swirling expanse of hyperspace beyond. His mind raced, fueled by the humiliation of his failure, Coleridge’s failure and the gnawing rage in his gut.

The space lab—gone. Coleridge—dead. His fleet—crippled.

The weight of everything pressed down on him, coiling around his chest like a constrictor. His hands clenched and unclenched as if strangling an invisible enemy.

“You were supposed to secure victory, Coleridge… not die like a fool,” he whispered. “How dare you leave me with this mess.”

A sharp ping pierced through the room, dragging him from his spiraling thoughts. His focus snapped to the communicator. His heart jolted at the name flashing on the screen.

Coleridge.

His pulse quickened. For a fleeting second, hope flared in his chest. Had his brother survived? His hand hovered over the console before pressing the accept command. The screen flickered, and there was Coleridge—his face pale, his lips twisted into a cruel sneer.

“No, Andri. I’m not alive,” Coleridge said, his voice a low rasp tinged with mocking glee. “But, if you’re seeing this, it means you’ve failed. Again.”

Andri stiffened, his breath caught in his throat. His mind spun, and his hand gripped the edge of the console.

“I’m sure you are surprised at this message,” Coleridge continued, his eyes gleaming with malice. “You’ve always underestimated me, Andri. Just as you underestimated Roan.”

The mention of Roan sent a sharp spike of rage through Andri. His nostrils flared, his knuckles turning white against the console.

“Your arrogance blinds you,” Coleridge drawled. “Without me, dear brother—you have no one who you can trust. I wonder… how many of your officers are whispering behind your back right now, waiting for the right moment to strike?”

Andri’s head jerked toward the door, his skin crawling with the sudden weight of unseen eyes. His apprehensive gaze swept the room, searching for shadows that moved too much, for corners too dark.

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