Page 54 of Signed, Sealed, Seduced
We wrap up the call quickly—Mother marking me as ‘lost in service’ to avoid paperwork, telling me to keep my ID chip for emergencies, and giving me some surprisingly profound advice about not losing my own orbit to someone else’s gravity.
“Good luck, kid,” she says, raising her glass. “Dispatch out.”
The screen goes dark, and just like that, it’s done. I’m no longer OOPS Courier ID 87392. I’m just Suki. Of Zater Reach. And the relief I feel is overwhelming.
A soft chime announces a visitor, and I don’t need to turn to know who it is. My body recognizes his presence before my eyesconfirm it—a subtle shift in the air, a prickling awareness that’s become as familiar as my own heartbeat.
“Your meeting concluded early,” Henrok observes, his deep voice sending a pleasant shiver down my spine.
I turn to face him, taking in the imposing figure he cuts in his formal attire. The crystalline markings on his exposed forearms pulse with a rhythm I’ve learned to read—steady, calm, with just a hint of quickening as his eyes meet mine.
“Not much to discuss,” I shrug, moving toward him. “Just officially handing in my wings.”
Understanding dawns in his garnet eyes. “You spoke with your OOPS superior.”
“Mother. It’s done. I’m officially unemployed.”
His mouth twitches in what I now recognize as his version of a smile. “I believe ‘Supreme Logistics Overlord’ is an occupation.”
“With terrible benefits,” I counter, stopping just short of touching him. “No health plan. No retirement package. Just a grumpy warlord and a sassy droid for company.”
“Unacceptable,” he agrees solemnly, though his eyes betray his amusement. “Perhaps we should negotiate terms.”
“Oh? What terms did you have in mind, First Blade?”
His hand rises to cup my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone with a gentleness that still surprises me. “Lifetime security. Full diplomatic status. Access to all areas of the fortress.” His voice drops lower. “My continued devotion.”
My heart does a complicated little flip. “Those are some pretty generous terms. What do you get out of this arrangement?”
“You,” he says simply. “Here. Where you belong.”
Any lingering doubts I might have had dissolve like morning mist. “I accept your terms,” I tell him, rising on tiptoes to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “But I want it in writing. With your fancy seal and everything.”
“As you wish,” he murmurs against my lips. “Though I believe there are more pleasant ways to seal an agreement.”
Before I can respond, he’s lifted me into his arms with that effortless strength that never fails to send heat spiraling through me.
“Henrok!” I laugh, even as my arms wind around his neck. “I have work to do. Very important logistics things.”
“They can wait,” he declares, carrying me toward the door. “This is a diplomatic matter requiring immediate attention.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Over Henrok’s shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Rusty watching us leave. “This unit will reschedule your afternoon appointments,” the droid calls after us. “And activate privacy protocols. Again.”
Instead of taking me to his quarters, Henrok carries me to the observation deck where we had our first real conversation. The space has been transformed—soft lighting, scattered cushions, and a view of the nebula that takes my breath away.
“You planned this,” I accuse, though I’m smiling.
“I may have anticipated the outcome of your conversation,” he admits, setting me down gently. “This moment deserves proper recognition.”
His hands frame my face, thumbs brushing over my cheekbones. “You chose this. Chose me. Chose to stay.”
“I chose us,” I correct him, my voice barely above a whisper. “I chose home.”
The word hangs between us, heavy with meaning. For someone who’s spent five years never staying anywhere longer than a few days, the concept of home was foreign. But looking at Henrok, feeling the solid warmth of his presence, I know I’ve found it.
“Home,” he repeats, as if testing the word. “Yes. You are home, Suki. Mine.”
