Page 71 of Zayrik

“What’s next?” I asked him, keeping my body angled to protect her, even here. Even now.

Cal hesitated, a flicker of calculation in his eyes. “You’ll need a new ship. And a clean signal ID. Whatever route you had in mind, burn it. You’ve been tracked once. You’ll be tracked again. I’ll help where I can.”

I nodded, mentally strategizing. “We’ll need time. And somewhere secure to lie low while we search.”

Someplace I could keep her safe.

Someplace we could breathe.

Cal tilted his head. “I might have something. Not comfortable, but it’ll keep you out of sight.”

When his gaze slid between us, there was something knowing in it. Like he saw more than just fugitives. More than just survival.

He moved toward the console, and Nyla shifted closer.

Close enough that I felt her body heat.

Felt the faint tremor in her energy that spoke of exhaustion, trust... and an unspoken, unacknowledged depth.

“You okay?” I kept my voice low, just for her. Watched the way she struggled with the answer.

“No,” she said, honest in a way she rarely allowed herself to be. “But I’m still standing.”

I reached down, fingers brushing hers. A touch that meant more now than it would have days ago. Before the storage bay. Before the crystal. Before everything changed.

“Then so am I.”

She looked at me like she wanted to say something more—

But didn’t.

Like the words were too big, too fragile for this place

And I didn’t push.

Not when everything between us was still so raw.

Not when she’d already given me more trust than I ever expected.

We weren’t out of danger.

If anything, we were walking deeper into it with every breath.

But we were together.

And the crystal in my pocket?

It wasn’t just a mission anymore.

It wasn’t just data and leverage and power.

It was personal.

Because anything that threatened her, threatened us.

Whatever came next, I knew one thing for sure—

I would be at her side.

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