Page 32 of Zayrik

I swallowed hard. “Something that could ruin him.”

“The data crystal.” It wasn’t a question.

I stiffened. “How did you—”

His voice dropped low. “The Protectorate has been tracking Vask’s operation for half a tenri. There were rumors of a crystal containing his entire network. Names, coordinates, transactions.”

My eyes widened. “You’re after the same thing.”

“Was,” he corrected. “Until my commander pulled me out. Said the intel was bad, the crystal didn’t exist.” His gaze intensified. “But it does, doesn’t it? And you have it.”

I didn’t answer, but my hand instinctively went to my jacket pocket.

His eyes tracked the movement. “That’s why they’re hunting you.”

“That’s why they’ll kill anyone who helps me,” I said quietly.

We stood there, locked in a moment of tension. His body nearly pressed against mine, his hand still around my wrist, my free hand resting on his chest where I could feel his heart beating steadily beneath my palm.

“The rumors are true. The crystal contains every connection in Vask’s network,” I finally said. “Every corrupt official, every black market dealer, every assassin on his payroll.” My eyes locked with his. “Everyone who’s ever looked the other way while he destroyed lives. You should leave at the next outpost,” I whispered. “Pretend you never met me. Tell them I stole the ship from you.”

I expected resistance. Maybe an argument. Maybe that silence men get before they throw you under the next transport.

Instead—

“No,” he said it like a vow. Like a man who’d already made up his mind, and who wasn’t going to let me change it.

“No?” I repeated, incredulous. “Did you miss the part where being around me will get you killed?”

His lips curved into a dangerous smile that did unfortunate things to my insides. “I’ve been marked for death before.”

“This isn’t a game, Zayrik.”

“I know exactly what this is.” His thumb moved slightly, tracing a pattern on the inside of my wrist that felt far too intimate. “It’s the mission I never finished.”

I stared at him, trying to read his expression. “So, what—now you want the crystal for yourself? For the Protectorate?”

His eyes held mine. “I want to know why you took it.”

The question caught me off guard.

“Because,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper, “someone had to.”

11

Nyla

FOLLOWING MY CONFESSION, an uneasy quiet settled. I didn’t wait to hear what he’d say. I’d turned and walked off like it didn’t cost me to admit it, like I wasn’t shaking just under the skin.

I felt him watching me as I walked away.

Nav’s voice followed me into the corridor. “That went well. For you, I mean.”

I ignored him, brushing past a bundle of exposed wires dangling from the ceiling. Every inch of this ship was bleeding or broken. I should’ve been worried. Probably would’ve been, if I didn’t feel like my head was full of static and stupid.

Zep chirped from the corner where he’d perched himself above the galley hatch, eyes glowing faintly violet in the dim lights. He flapped down and landed on my shoulder, light as ever. I leaned my head gently against him.

“I know,” I murmured. “I hate this too.”

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