Page 85 of Alien Assassin's Heir

I clutch Solie tighter, so hard she squeaks. “Vale,” I whisper, “take her. Now.”

Solie’s head jerks up. “Where?”

“Shuttle cache,” Vale says firmly. “Safe place, little star. We’ll play a game of hide-and-seek.”

“No!” she cries, clinging to my shirt. Her orange-gold eyes brim with tears. “I don’t wanna leave you!”

I crouch down, cupping her face, forcing my voice steady even as my chest threatens to cave in. “You have to be so, so brave for Mama, okay? Just for a little while. Go with Vale. If—if something happens—” My throat closes. “You keep going. Don’t stop.”

Her lip wobbles, but she nods, whispering, “Okay.”

I kiss her forehead, breathing her in like it’s the last time, then press the synthfox back into her arms. “He’ll protect you too.”

Vale lifts her gently, settling her on his hip. Her small hand waves at me as he turns to leave. I feel myself tear in half watching her go.

When the door shuts, silence slams into me.

I whirl on Kraj. “I should be with her. Not?—”

He cuts me off with a snarl, grabbing my shoulders so hard it almost hurts. “No. You stay with me. I need your eyes, your mind. But if I don’t walk out of this canyon—” His jaw tightens. “You run. Do you hear me, Luna? You take her, and you run.”

“No,” I choke. “Don’t you dare put that on me. Don’t you dare.”

“Promise me.” His golden eyes blaze, molten fire. “Say it.”

My lips tremble. Every part of me screams no, but the words scrape out anyway: “I promise.”

He kisses me then, hard and desperate, teeth clashing, breath stolen. It’s not gentle—it’s the kind of kiss you give when you don’t know if you’ll get another. My fingers fist in the scales at the back of his neck, clinging like I could anchor him here. He tastes of dust and heat and blood. He tastes like goodbye.

When he pulls back, his hand lingers on my cheek, thumb rough against my skin. “For Solie,” he murmurs.

“For us,” I correct, voice breaking.

He turns before I can stop him. His stride is long, unrelenting, every muscle in his massive body coiled with intent. I follow to the canyon mouth, heart hammering, watching him fade into the shadows.

And then it happens.

The shift.

His spine ripples, scales along his ribs pulsing gold like molten veins. His pupils narrow to slits, glowing faintly in the half-dark. His teeth lengthen, sharp points catching the starlight. Even his breath changes—deeper, heavier, like it carries thunder.

It’s terrifying. Beautiful. Otherworldly.

He glances back once, and for a heartbeat, I don’t see the man I used to love or the soldier who broke me. I see something else entirely.

A monster.

A guardian.

Mine.

And then he’s gone, swallowed by the canyon’s dark veins, leaving only the echo of his vow behind.