Page 15 of Kazmyr: Molten for Her
"Fire inspector," Jenna countered, something like recognition passing between them. "We're pretty good at finding exits too."
Silvyr's projection flickered closer, his expression shifting to something more serious than I'd ever seen from him. "The exits are closing, though. Asset P's operations are accelerating. The trafficking network has expanded to six new sectors in the last month alone. Whatever they're building toward, it's happening soon."
"What are they building toward?" Jenna asked, her tactical mind immediately focusing on the central threat.
Silvyr's form rippled with uncertainty. "That's the trillion-credit question. All I know is that they're collecting specific genetic combinations. Fire-adapted pairs like you two." He gestured between Jenna and me. "Water-adapted like Maya and Vylit. Air, earth, void—all the elemental affinities."
"For what purpose?" I finally found my voice, moving to stand beside Jenna without touching her, respecting the distance her anger demanded.
"My sources suggest experimentation," Silvyr replied, his projection flickering as if the very thought disturbed his code. "Forced bonding, genetic manipulation, harvesting of compatible tissues..."
Jenna's face paled slightly, but her voice remained steady. "And the IDA just... lets this happen?"
"The official stance is that they're 'investigating irregularities in the registry system,'" Maya said, her voice dry with disdain. "Meanwhile, ships disappear, matched pairs vanish, and Asset P's operation grows."
Jenna turned to look at each of us in turn… Maya with her scientist's calm, Vylit with his ancient patience, Silvyr with his barely contained chaotic energy, and finally me, with my marks betraying every emotion I tried to hide.
"So what's the plan?" she asked, her voice taking on that decisive edge I'd come to admire. "Because I'm not spending the rest of my life running from space pirates with a hard-on for my DNA."
I flared brightly at her words, relief and pride surging through me. She wasn't running away from this… from us. She was demanding to be part of the solution.
"We take down Asset P," Silvyr said, his projection expanding to show a complex network of data points. "Cut off the head, and the whole operation collapses."
"We've been gathering intelligence," Maya added, stepping forward to manipulate the projection, highlighting certain nodes in the network. "Tracking shipping routes, monitoring communications, identifying weak points in their operation."
"The Ember Colony provides sanctuary and resources," I explained, finding my voice again. "But we need more than safety. We need to end this threat permanently."
Jenna's eyes met mine, still angry but with something else there too—determination, resilience, the fierce spark that had drawn me to her from the beginning.
"Then let's end it," she said simply. "But this time, I want every detail. Every risk. Every plan. No more protection. No more sheltering. I'm either your partner in this, or I'm nothing at all."
My ember marks brightened at her words, the patterns shifting to match the fierce beating of my heart. Partner. Not possession, not prize, not even just mate. Partner.
"Everything," I promised, the word an oath. "No more shadows between us."
"This is where Kazmyr should tell you, that once the bond forms between mates, the pirates will leave you alone. You just have to agree to it and give the bond time to form."
Jenna's gaze turned on me with a fire that made me feel like ice. "Is that so?"
I nodded. "Three yeses. Then the bond forms. Though I suspect you agreeing to my ship was the first one."
Jenna opened her mouth to say something but Silvyr cut her off.
Silvyr smirked, his code streams rippling with amusement. "Well, this is touching and all, but perhaps we could move on to the actual strategy session? Asset P's operatives aren't going to defeat themselves while we're having this lovely moment of relationship growth."
Jenna surprised me by laughing, the sound sharp but genuine. "I think I might actually like you, Silvyr."
"Of course you do," he replied, his projection preening slightly. "I'm programmed to be irresistible. Now, shall we discuss how to infiltrate the most secure black market genetic trafficking operation in the galaxy without getting ourselves killed, captured, or worse?"
Vylit's luminescence pulsed with amusement, Maya rolled her eyes with practiced tolerance, and I felt something shift in the chamber… a new balance forming, a circle closing around us all.
Jenna stepped forward, her anger not forgotten but channeled now into purpose. "Let's hear it."
And as the others began outlining the plan, I watched my mate—my partner—step fully into this new reality, not as a victim or a prize, but as a warrior choosing her battle. My marks glowed with fierce pride, with shame for my mistakes, and with determination to be worthy of the fire that burned within her.
CHAPTER 7
JENNA
