Page 118 of Zayrik

I looked at Nyla again. Felt the way our bond pulsed between us.

At everything she’d changed just by existing.

Before this, the choice would’ve been easy.

Duty. Honor. Service.

Simple. Clean.

Now?

Now I wasn’t sure I could walk away from her.

Wasn’t sure I wanted to be the person I was before her.

I reached into my jacket.

Drew out the small crystal that had nearly gotten her killed.

That had brought me to her.

That had changed everything.

Held it for one breath. Two.

I didn’t want to let it go.

But this wasn’t mine to keep. Only to protect.

Like her.

For her.

Then handed it to Raxor.

“Give this to Captain Zaul. It’s what I went searching for. Vask’s entire network is on there.”

What she’d fought for.

What she nearly died for.

Everything that led me to her.

Raxor took it without a word.

Understanding what it meant.

What I was choosing.

“Understood,” he said.

Simple words with years of friendship wrapped in them.

Of trust. Of change.

He clapped my shoulder once more. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.”

For finding what he’d found.

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