Page 65 of Farborn

You need to pretend you don’t know what’s going on. I think they’ll offload the contraband to the tow and then the problem will probably “disappear.” An unexplained glitch.

He pulls out his own com and types a reply.

You need to send copies of those system images off-site.

I nod.Done, I silently mouth to him.

He nods back. I write another message.

What now?

He shrugs and replies.

I’m going through log files to make it look like I’m checking the circuits. I’m trying to find out who ran what checks to see if they deliberately withheld information from me. I want to know if any of them are in on this besides the Shalfin.

I read that twice and respond.

You think all the Shalfin are involved?

I mean, that confirms my own suspicions.

He grimly nods and types another message.

I would bet my life on it.

Chapter Nineteen

Olarte

I do not sleep well that night following Davies’ departure. I find it is exceedingly lonely in bed without his presence.

Achingly lonely.

The type of loneliness I experience within the depths of my bones, and not what I previously labelled as “loneliness.”

If I am truly honest with myself, Davies’ absences have coincided with my sleeping poorly, as of late.

The converse of that is also true—I have the best sleep of my life when he is in my arms. Or, at the very least, when we are sharing a bed.

This is an unexpected development for me. Mostly because it has never happened to me before and I am unsure what or how to think about it.

Perhaps it is time I give serious thought to asking Davies if he wishes to make this arrangement permanent between us, with or without a formal contract. The more that I ponder upon our situation, the more something becomes clear to me—I do not need a contract with Davies, if he is unwilling to sign one.

We have not needed a contract before now, and he has my trust. If I cannot trust him without a contract, I have no business entering intoanycontract with him.

I should not need a contract to guarantee he will not break my trust. Because if he did wish to break my trust, no contract would hold him to it.

Love transcends what I thought I needed in my life. I would be dishonest to say I do not love Davies.

What elsecouldthis be between us? Davies is willing to walk away from everything he is and does to be withme. He hasliterallyput his body through changes for me.

Because ofme.

Without me even asking him to do so.

Because helovesme.

He has more than proven who he is to me.