Page 17

CHAPTER 17

CLARICE

“S homun!” I scream his name, my voice raw and cracked, as I drop to my knees beside him. His chest is a mess of blood, dark and slick, but beneath it, I can see the edges of the wounds already knitting together, his scales shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow. His eyes, those deep red orbs that had once terrified me, flutter open, and he groans, a sound that’s half pain, half relief.

“Claire,” he rasps, his voice low and gravelly. He lifts a hand, trembling slightly, and cups my cheek. His palm is warm despite the blood. “You’re… unhurt?”

“Unhurt?” I choke out a laugh, tears streaming down my face. “You’re the one who got shot, you idiot. Twice!”

He smirks, that infuriating, cocky smirk that always makes my stomach flip. “A scratch. I’ve had worse.”

“A scratch?” I gesture at the blood pooling beneath him. “You’re literally lying in a puddle of your own blood!”

“It’s not my blood,” he says, his smirk widening as he tries to sit up. I push him back down, my hands splayed against his chest.

“Stay down, you big oaf.” My fingers skim over the edge of a wound, and I wince as I feel the heat of his rapid healing. “You’re not invincible, you know.”

“I’m Vakutan.” He says it like it’s an explanation, like it’s all the excuse he needs.

“Yeah, well, your ‘Vakutan healing’ isn’t fast enough to stop me from freaking out.” I lean over him, my hair falling into my face, and I brush it back with a bloody hand. “You scared me.”

He reaches up again, his fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me down until our foreheads touch. His breath is warm against my skin, and for a moment, the chaos around us fades.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You always scare me,” I whisper, my lips brushing against his. “But not like that. Never like that.”

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that vibrates through my chest. “You’re one to talk. I saw what you did to Ryan.”

I pull back, my cheeks flushing as I remember. “Oh. That.”

“That,” he repeats, his eyes gleaming with something between pride and amusement. “You were… impressive.”

“Impressive?” I raise an eyebrow. “I thought Vakutan didn’t give out compliments lightly.”

“They don’t,” he says, his tone serious now. “But you earned that one.”

I press my lips together, trying to suppress the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Well, next time, maybe we can avoid the whole near-death experience, yeah?”

He nods, his fingers still tangled in my hair. “I’ll do my best.”

I lean down again, my lips brushing against his in a soft, lingering kiss. His hand slips to the back of my neck, holding me there, and for a moment, it’s just us—us and the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm.

When I finally pull away, he’s breathing easier, the worst of the wounds already closed. His scales are still slick with blood, but he’s alive, and that’s all that matters.

“You’re getting blood all over me,” I mutter, though I don’t move away.

“Good,” he says, his smirk returning. “Now you’ll smell like me.”

“Gross.” I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

“You love it,” he teases, his fingers brushing against the pulse point in my neck.

“Shut up,” I say, leaning down to kiss him again.

The sound of rotors cuts through the chaos, and I glance up to see a Coast Guard vessel hovering above the yacht. The side doors slide open, and a team in tactical gear rappels down, their movements precise and efficient. Their uniforms are standard issue, but I catch the glint of Veritas insignias on their shoulders.

“About time,” Shomun mutters, his voice strained but steady. He’s sitting upright now, his arm cradled against his chest. A Vakutan medic kneels beside him, his scales a deep forest green, and his hands move with practiced ease as he sets the broken bone. Shomun doesn’t flinch, but his jaw tightens, and I reach out to grip his free hand.

“You’re a terrible patient, you know that?” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

“And you’re a terrible nurse,” he shoots back, his lips curling into a smirk. “You’re supposed to tell me it won’t hurt.”

“It won’t hurt,” I say, and he laughs—a short, pained sound that makes my chest ache.

“Liar.” His fingers squeeze mine, and I lean into him, resting my head against his shoulder.

The Veritas team moves with purpose, securing the yacht and dragging Brick to his feet. He’s still unconscious, his massive form slumped between two agents, and I feel a flicker of satisfaction. One down, one to go.

“Good work,” Captain Pyke says, stepping onto the deck. His red scales gleam in the sunlight, and his presence is commanding, even in the chaos. He nods to Shomun, then to me. “Both of you.”

“Shomun did most of the heavy lifting,” I say, my voice soft. “I just… got lucky.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Shomun says, his tone firm. “Claire took down Ryan Pax. She’s earned her place in Veritas.”

I blink, stunned. “Me? In Veritas? I’m just… I’m just a human.”

“You’re not just anything,” Shomun says, his red eyes locking onto mine. “You’re brilliant, resourceful, and you took down a grolgath. That’s more than most Vakutan can claim.”

“He’s right,” Pyke says, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “You’ve proven yourself, Clarice. Humans like you are the reason Earth becomes the powerhouse it is in the future.”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” Shomun says, his grip on my hand tightening. “You belong here.”

I look at him, then at Pyke, and finally at the Veritas team moving around us. They’re an odd mix of species and skills, but there’s a sense of unity, of purpose. It’s intimidating, but also… tempting.

“Yes,” I say. “I’ll join.”

Pyke extends a hand, and I take it, his grip firm but not crushing. “Welcome to Veritas, Clarice. You’ve already made us proud.”

Shomun’s smirk returns, and he leans in close, his breath warm against my ear. “Told you you were special.”

I blush, and Pyke chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that seems to echo across the deck. “She’s more than special. She’s magnificent.”

“I know,” Shomun says, his voice softer now, almost reverent. “She’s the most magnificent woman in the galaxy.”

I bury my face in his shoulder, my cheeks burning. “You’re both impossible.”

“But you love us anyway,” Shomun says, and I can hear the grin in his voice.

“Yeah,” I mutter, my lips brushing against his scales. “I do.”