Page 164 of Bonds of Starfall

"Thank you." Her hand twitched in his.

A lock of hair fell over her temples as her head shifted, and he reached forward, brushing it away. "I have to go," he said with reluctance.

The corners of Rin’s lips tipped down, and before Kit could really stop himself—he was always weak for her—he leaned over her. The medals on his uniform clinked softly; the shadow of his cap darkened her eyes. He hovered close. Her gaze dipped to his mouth.

Kit didn’t kiss her. He merely breathed her in, his exhales fluttering the hair at her temples. He kissed her brow.

Her lips parted. "Kit… I?—"

Kit wanted to stay forever and hear every thought she’d ever think, every word she’d ever say.

"I love you," she said softly.

He sighed. A smile did not come easily. No, he had to force it onto his lips. He knew she didn’t love him like that, not as he loved her. The moment when he’d had a small taste of her lipshad been a momentary lapse in judgment. Nothing more. She was clearly lonely, needed affection.

She hadn’t felt anything.

"I love you, Vesperin Vox."

Her name was etched into his Soul. Said with whispered breaths and softened eyes in their past life. Merchants in the Stars. Until it had all gone terribly wrong. Everything always seemed to go wrong. Could they not be happy? Kit would plead to the Celestials for happiness if they could have it even once.

He forced his smile a bit wider, thumb brushing the back of her hand. Then, he stood. Her fingers slipped from his, and his empty hand clenched at his side.

She didn’t say a word as he walked to the door. He was weak.

He stopped there, turning back as he allowed himself one last look at her, where she was half-propped up, hands braced on the mattress. She looked one second away from getting up and coming to him, begging him to stay.

Kit knew he wanted her to ask, but if she actually did, would he relent?

He licked his lips, his mask faltering for just one breath, then forced the smile back onto his face.

He left without another look back.

Her bedroom door closed with a soft click. In the hall outside, he tugged out his phone from his pocket, sending a text:

Keep her safe, Lucien.

Lucien’s reply was instantaneous.Always.

The control boardof the ship was lit with flashing buttons. The harness cut into Kit’s chest as he flicked them with trained precision. "Prepare for entry," he said calmly into the headset.

He pulled back on the thruster. Beyond the curved glass, fiery plasma flared, Stars speckled the void, and streaks of whitetore past as Kit guided the ship. A faint boom echoed as they crossed through the atmosphere, and the orange-purple horizon darkened with a green flash before the ship finally leveled out.

"Stabilizing." Kit flicked the buttons with deft, gloved hands. The engines roared as gravity took hold, propelling the ship onward in a smooth, streamlined motion. "Grav decompression engaging," he said into the headset. "One, two… three." The transition was seamless. "You can remove your belts now and walk freely. Welcome to space."

The headset crackled as the Hunters on board laughed. "Never gets old."

"No." Kit tapped a finger on the control board, watching the Stars and distant planets. "It doesn’t."

On Veltryss, he’d spent more time in the Stars than on the ground. He couldn’t quite say the same for Earth. He was tethered to the ground by Rin and the rigid duties and formalities of learning to pilot a ship. If Kit had it his way, he would never leave the Stars.

And he’d take Rin with him.

The darkness of space enveloped the ship. Cold and lifeless, but to Kit, it was like coming home.

Stars sparkled. Taunting. As if they knew things he would never be privy to.

The Hunters came up to the cockpit to look at the sights, emitting sounds of wonder. He smiled at them. They clapped him on the shoulder and returned to their spots. Idle conversation drifted through the headset. Kit chimed in on occasion, much more content to watch the universe.