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It appeared similar to the one her mystery knight rode on; if not the same, then it was its twin.

As the gangway extended with a hiss, she stiffened in anticipation.

The ship’s door peeled open, and a figure appeared beneath the ramp lights.

Savvine’s eyes widened as she took in the tall, ebony-skinned silhouette with a glittering dermis that somehow merged with her clothing.

Glyphs, shifting like smoke beneath glass, glided across her arms and collarbones.

Her smile was radiant and amused, yet her gaze was penetrating and omniscient.

‘Chief Bianchi,’ the radiant humanoid creature called out, voice husky and deep. ‘Welcome aboard. My name is Miral.’

Savvine blinked.

Miral?

So this was the infamous synth-AI, the Signet scuttlebutt whispered about in every obscure corner of the Wildlight. Also, the possible reason Signet was growing in power exponentially.

‘You’re the pilot?’

‘I’m everything,’ Miral intoned, stepping aside and gesturing into the ship with a flourish. ‘Come in. I’ve prepared a little drink and repast for the journey. No need to suffer thirst and ration paste on this jaunt.’

Savvine stepped through the airlock and raised a brow.

It was the same Corvette her wolf knight had taken her into after the mine field blast.

Instead, it was quiet, smooth, and elegant, reminding her of old-world ships, dark stone flooring, ambient lighting, and sound-dampened corridors.

‘Please take a seat,’ Miral intoned, pointing to a luxurious crash couch in a lounge behind the pilot’s seat.

Savvine placed her bags in a locker and sat as a series of seat restraints wrapped around her.

A tray of sealed water flasks, dried fruit, finger food, small honey cakes, and a realkahawapot sat on a floating platter next to her.

She huffed. ‘Are you trying to butter me up?’

‘Of course,’ Miral replied, her smile teasing. ‘You’re more useful to us when you’re calm, fed, and comfortable.’

Savvine gave a short, dry laugh but took the cup Miral poured and offered regardless.

She let the silence settle around her as Miral settled into the pilot’s seat.

Glyphs from her arms extended into the console as she appeared to merge with the craft’s controls.

Screens lit up, thrusters purred, and the Corvette lifted off, clearing theEterna’sdeck and heading into black space.

Savinne relaxed, head back, as the thrum of the Corvette’s flight, gentle, almost nonexistent, lulled her.

She pulled up her comm tab, sipped the excellent beverage, nibbled a little, and scanned security reports. Relaxing into what she expected to be a three-hour journey.

Forty-five minutes later, a pulse ran through the vessel.

Savvine straightened.

Outside the viewport, the stars shimmered as a giant silhouette moved in the dark.

The dark beside her window shivered, light warping, bending like glass about to crack.