They stared at each other for a long, fraught moment. All she wanted to do was cross the small space of the galley and wrap her arms around him, feel his solidness, his warmth.
Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the wall. Theres something you should know.
He tensed slightly. Tell me.
No one is permitted to bring weapons into the auction.
He released a breath, easing. That, I can handle.
She couldnt resist asking, What did you think I was going to say?
That you were mated to someone.
I couldnt mate anybody. But, gods, within the hour, she had started to entertain thoughts that frightened her with their seriousness. Her hand strayed to her other wrist, feeling for the band that wasnt, and never would be, there. Finding her wrist empty, her fingers reached up to trace over the already fading bite mark.
Following her gesture, his eyes flared. Mara
Time to plan the rescue, she said, overlapping him.
He allowed her a brief reprieve. Already on top of it. I figured that no one could be armed at the auction. Theyll likely confiscate all weapons and keep them in a guarded chamber.
Which will leave us unarmed, as well. Making for a difficult rescue. Impossible, actually.
Ive got a plan. He said this with confident authority. He went to his duffle and began pulling out items, which he set on the galley table. Then he outlined for her what he intended to do, their respective roles and how the rescue of the lieutenant and her ship would be effected. As he spoke, her admiration for him grew. Gods curse it.
Quite an ingenious operation you have planned for us, she murmured. Provided it succeeds.
It will. I have faith in us both.
Damn him. He kept demolishing her defenses.
Mara. His voice gleaming and dark, his eyes the same. He was fierce, burning, and she could no more turn away from him than she could escape the fatal gravity of a sun.
Be ready, he said. Because, when this is over, Im not letting you go.
Her heart squeezed tightly. Youre assuming we will still be alive when this is over.
Well make it. Again, that unshakable, quiet confidence.
Not everything is going to survive this mission. She gestured to the space between them. This wont.
His expression darkened. Nothing is certain.
Some things are. She turned away, unable to look at him. 8th Wing and scavenger scum dont mix.
His boots pounded the metal floor. Large and strong, his hands covered her shoulders and turned her around to face him. Anger tightened his features. Neither of us fit into shiny little boxes.
So tell me, she fired back, whats the flight plan, Commander? You fly missions for 8th Wing while I wait at the base, weaving plasma pistol cozies and hoping you make it back alive? Or maybe you keep the Arcadia clean while I do scavenging runs? Or, how about this, she pressed on, relentless, we live for brief windows when we can meet up, maybe on some resort planet for a few solar days, fuck like crazy before its time to go, time for goodbyes, never knowing when wed get another chance to see each other. Her mouth firmed. All of those scenarios are punishment.
Frustration hardened his jaw. Youd rather have emptiness. The ache, here. He dug his fist into the center of his chest.
She felt that ache now. I already see it, see what I become. Thinking about how much time we have left together, or worrying that youll find some nice 8th Wing medical officer and send me a Dear Jane
comm.
Join 8th Wing.
Longing flared within her, but she crushed it as ruthlessly as she had once crushed hope of returning home. Theyd laugh me out of the station. Or throw me in the brig.
You keep seeing things that arent going to happen.
And you dont know they wont. She twisted away from him. Justcant we have this?
Theres so little time. And thenwhen the mission is overif were still alivewe just She hated that she couldnt even complete the sentence, let alone the thought.
Yet he knew where she was heading. We walk away, he finished, hollow. No.
We have to.
For a long while, he said nothing. Then, You continue to surprise me, Mara Skiren.
Surprise?
I made my judgment early. Scavenger. Then I learned. You were so much more than that. But never, until now, did I think you were a coward.
She couldnt speak, not even when he sat at the table and began to work on assembling the necessary components to the rescue mission. He worked silently as she stood nearby, frozen with hurt.
After several moments, she went to the cockpit and sat, staring out the window. It had always been her place of refuge, where she had complete control, complete safety. She felt none of that now.
For the first time in many solar years, tears welled in her eyes, and she let them fall noiselessly down her cheeks as the world passed by below.
Chapter Nine
As Mara piloted her ship toward the compound, she directed Kells attention to the patrol drones circling. Gavra likes a show of force. Getting past them on the way out is going to be a difficult dance. Assuming she, Kell and the lieutenant lived long enough to attempt an escape.