Page 62

I inhale deeply. “Ziva, this is just the beginning,” I say, my voice firm despite the quiver of uncertainty that runs through me.

“We’ve sparked a fire here. If we’re careful, we can spread it—dismantle the system, not just here, but everywhere.

” The words hang in the air between us, full of promise.

Her eyes widen in understanding. “Myall, that’s… that’s an enormous task for just two people.”

“It is,” I agree, feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. “But think about it. If we can unite the rebellion, gather support from every freed city… we could change everything. We could prove Colvin wrong…change the world.”

Ziva is quiet for a moment, absorbing the weight of my words. “Where would we even start?” she asks softly.

I comb my fingers through my hair, my fingers snagging slightly. “We can expand our reach.” I rise to pace the small confines of Ziva’s living unit “Recruit more members here, spread our message to other cities and once we liberate a new city—we recruit more members to liberate even more cities.”

Ziva’s eyes follow me, brow furrowed in concentration. “That won’t be easy,” she warns, her voice sharp with caution. “The Authority will be on high alert now. It will be hard enough trying to stop them regaining control of our city let alone working to free other cities.”

I nod, feeling the weight of her words, my body heavy with the exhaustion of the day. “You’re right. We’ll need to leave some of our rebellion here to maintain order and ensure The Authority can’t regain control.”

She leans forward, hair spilling over her shoulder.

“I might have an idea,” she says, a glimmer of excitement in her hazel eyes.

“What if we create a network of rebels across different cities? Small, independent groups working towards the same goal, with one central hub for coordination and information sharing.”

I pause mid-pace, turning to face her, “Ziva, that’s genius.” The pieces fall into place in my mind. “Each group adapts to their city’s unique challenges but remains connected through this central network. It could be our way to spread our influence without overextending ourselves.”

She grins, a rare flash of unrestrained joy. I feel a pang of warmth in my chest. “Exactly. It’s decentralized enough to prevent The Authority from taking us all down at once, yet unified in purpose. It’ll be a true rebellion against emotional oppression.”

“You’re amazing,” I reach for her hand as I rejoin her on the sofa. “But we need to think bigger too. The isolated communities—we can’t forget about them.”

Ziva’s expression turns serious. “You’re right. They’ve been cut off for so long, who knows what kind of emotional control they’re under.”

“We’ll need to send out scouts, gather intel. Those people deserve freedom too.” I lean back on the sofa, my ribs still aching from the day’s events. Ziva’s warmth beside me is a comfort I never thought I’d have.

“You know,” I say, “six months ago, I couldn’t have imagined any of this. Us. The rebellion. Freedom.”

Ziva turns to me, her eyes searching mine. “We’ve both changed so much,” she says, a hint of wonder in her voice. “Remember when you were just the brooding Compliance Monitor, and I was the sarcastic Technician?”

I laugh softly. “Oh, I remember. I used to love watching you work on recalibration days.”

“Myall!” She laughs loudly, teasingly jabbing my shoulder, but then her expression softens. “But seriously, Myall. The strength I’ve found in you… it’s changed me in ways I could never have imagined.”

Swallowing hard, I feel a surge of gratitude towards the woman sitting before me. “And you’ve taught me to question, to fight. I used to think I was alone in my doubts.”

Ziva’s hand finds mine, her fingers intertwining with my own. “We’re not alone anymore,” she says softly.

I nod, Colvin’s final words replaying on my mind once more. “We’ll have to relearn how to live, how to feel. And there will be those who want to bring back the old system.”

“We’ll deal with it, if and when that happens,” Ziva says firmly, but I can see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “But what about us? As a couple? We’ve never had the chance to just… be.”

Taking a deep breath, I consider her words. “We’ll figure it out,” I say softly.

Ziva nods, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m scared,” she whispers. “Not of the challenges out there, but of… this. Us. It’s so new, so raw.”

Pulling her closer, I feel how perfectly she fits against me. “Me too,” I confess. “But that’s okay. We’ll figure it out, step by step. Just like we did with the rebellion.”

I rub my thumb along the back of her hand, marveling at how that simple touch causes a warmth to travel through my body. It’s as if every nerve ending awakens, and the world around us fades away, leaving just the two of us suspended in this moment.

“I promise you, whatever comes next, we face it as one. No more hiding, no more fear.”

Her fingers tighten around mine, each squeeze a silent promise, a vow that we’ll face whatever comes next together, side by side.

“I love you,” she whispers, the words carrying a weight that makes my chest ache. “Through all of this chaos and uncertainty, you’ve been my anchor.”

I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “And you’ve been my compass, always pointing me towards what’s right.”

We both lean in, our lips meeting in a kiss that starts soft but quickly increases in urgency. I cup her face, feeling the warmth of her skin, the silky strands of her hair brushing against my fingers.

Ziva’s hands roam my back, pulling me closer as she deepens the kiss, her tongue clashing against mine. I taste the salt of tears —hers or mine, I’m not sure—mingling with the sweetness of her mouth.

Trailing kisses along her jaw, I revel in the soft gasp she lets out as I gently lower her further onto the sofa.

“Myall,” she breathes, her voice thick with want as I continue trailing kisses down her neck. “We don’t have to rush anymore. We have all the time in the world now.”

Pulling back slightly, I drink in the sight of her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. “You’re right,” I murmur, nibbling at a spot on her slender neck. “And I intend to savor every moment with you.”