Page 111 of Border Control

Samara’s lips tighten, and I see the conflict in her eyes—a crack in her ironclad certainty. “The outcome will be the same. He'll be disposed of, but in the dock this time. You'll have to watch as he’s euthanized.”

It's as if a hand clasps around my heart, my ribs hurting with each breath I take. If I panic, if I can’t do this, or if I try and mess this up, Dom will die.

But he's definitely going to die if I don't try.

The Voice shudders. “That's the worst,” she mutters. Seeing Samara's glare, she quickly adds, “I know they’re just reacting to stimuli, they don't feel the same way we do. But it's still… hard to watch.”

Samara turns her fierce look on to me.

I don't back down. “It's your own system. I'm just pointing it out to you.”

She hesitates, weighing my words. She’s a leader, and she knows the value of public perception.

I have to press just a bit more.

“After all, if the objective is a safe society, doesn’t a transparent legal system serve that purpose best?”

Imaya steps in, nodding. “Laura has a point, Samara. This could be a chance to show our people that we uphold the highest standards of justice.”

Samara’s gaze flickers between me and the other women, the weight of her agreement pressing on her. She's probably mentally calculating the political implications, the optics. She may not want to offer mercy, but she understands the importance of appearances.

Finally, she nods, a glint of reluctant acceptance in her eyes. “Very well. If it would satisfy our people, we’ll conduct a trial. But let me be clear—this doesn’t mean he’ll be spared.”

I give her a small, respectful nod, concealing my relief. “Of course, Samara. A fair trial is all I’m asking for.”

The murmurs among the women around us grow louder, a mixture of intrigue and approval.

Dom’s faint presence flickers in the back of my mind, the connection between us weak but steady. At last! I open wide to him, not caring if I'm shouting.‘Dom?’

Pain slams into me.

TWENTY-EIGHT

DOM

This hurts far morethan I ever thought it would.

A thread of fire pulls relentlessly against my throat, constricting my air and blood vessels. Surely the circulation to my brain will be halted soon, but until then it’s all pounding pressure that feels like my skull’s going to explode.

All I can do is maintain the sanctity of my mental room where the connection to Law-rah pulses. It's getting smaller all the time. My muscles spasm out of reflex, but I focus all my attention on keeping this pain from Law-rah. My body twists, fighting, tugging against the cold pole behind me, but it's all faint. I'm in my head, with Law-rah, maintaining the wall between us.

‘I'll take over,’the Apex says, his voice gentle.‘Rest.’

‘I’m sorry I failed you, Nevare. I'm sorry I wanted more.’I know this Apex isn't mine, but I need to unburden myself.

He pauses briefly.‘He would forgive you. I would, if my Bases loved like you do.’

Love.

Love feels like duty mixed with willingness, holding Law-rah close as her emotions swirl around her. Fighting back thosehorrible spikes of self-doubt and her own desire for perfection, helping her see her strengths. Celebrating her victories, and taking her pain so she can continue to shine.

I do love her.

‘Law-rah,’I send as darkness crawls over my mind. At last, oblivion, a respite from the pain that has to stay mine.

‘Dom?’Law-rah opens the connection and pain slips through. I won’t allow it, gathering it close to me.

‘Dom! Stay with me, I won, you have a…’The rest of her message is blurry, too faint to make out.