Page 137

‘Baby, you disappeared on me,’ he rasped in a husky, hoarse timbre.

She let him kiss her, just a brush of lips, then smiled, with a careful, curated expression, stepping back.

‘I just need a bit of air,’ she murmured. ‘Some downtime after all that excitement.’

She took another step away, and his hand encircled her wrist.

She glanced down at the connection, the heated grip of his sinewed hand, then back up at him.

He tilted his head, frowning. ‘Where are you going,belleza?’

Her lips lifted, light and soft as gossamer. ‘Like I said, some air, please. I’ll see you later.’

She turned before he could say more, slipping her hand from his grasp.

Walking with poise through the crowd, a singular need suffused her: to get away, just for a little while,

Weaving between laughter and raised glasses, each step she took sealed her heart behind its walls.

She caught a glimpse of him in a mirrored panel as she passed, a flicker of his reflection. He stood alone now, his violetflaming gaze following her retreat, lips pressed tight, tongue in his cheek, the muscle ticking.

His eyes burned, narrowed with thoughtful frustration.

But he didn’t come after her.

The aft viewing lounge was a cathedral of silence and starlight. It spanned the rear end of the great destroyer like a forgotten chapel.

Its towering glass panes soared fifty feet high, giving way to the infinite ballet of stars, moons, and drifting celestial bodies beyond.

Savvine curled into one of the oversized couches nestled beneath the view, tucking a blanket from the courtesy basket around her legs.

The fabric was plush and soft, and she snuggled into it, staring into the vastness.

The glow of a twin moon system cast silver against her cheekbones as she tapped her wrist comm, trying to reach Abby and her parents.

Silence greeted her each time, not even a flicker of a neural ping in return.

It only served to dial up her angst, her chest feeling brittle.

The minutes slipped by.

Time had no meaning here, only the slow slide of cosmic light beyond the windowpanes.

She was just about to drift off, mind weary, body dulled by exhaustion, when a shadow stretched across the couch.

She didn’t startle, her soul already aware of who it was.

She turned her head to find Xander crouched beside her.

At first, he didn’t say a word; he just studied her with those violet flaming eyes, his brows drawn in subtle concern.

The overhead lights caught in the edges of his dark, amethyst hair, giving him an untamed halo of firelight.

He reached out, his hand warm and rough against the curve of her cheek, thumb stroking.

Her breath hitched. She wanted to lean into him, anchor herself there. Instead, she summoned a faint, tremulous smile.

‘Que pasa,mi cielo?’