Page 41

Chapter

Forty-One

Morgan

" A nd this will be your suite.” Serge ushered me through the doorway with a theatrical flourish of his arm.

If I'd thought Tivek's accommodations were impressive, mine were absolutely breathtaking.

The space was easily twice the size of his, with an expansive open floor plan that flowed seamlessly from the sizable sleeping area to a sunken living space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around 3/4 of the bungalow, offering a stunning view of the turquoise waters stretching to the horizon.

"This is..." I trailed off, as my attempt at speech gave way to gaping.

"Divine? Exquisite? A testament to my impeccable taste?" Serge offered, preening as if he’d personally constructed the suite.

I couldn’t help laughing. "All of the above."

After the spartan quarters at the academy and the cramped conditions aboard our rescue vessel, the luxury surrounding me now was almost overwhelming.

The bed alone was almost bigger than my room at the academy, and it was piled high with dozens of fluffy throw pillows and draped in gauzy curtains that fluttered in the artificial breeze.

I ran my fingers over the smooth teak of a nearby table, marveling at the craftsmanship and reminding myself that it was all an illusion.

"This balcony has the best view in the entire South Pacific,” Serge said, gesturing toward glass doors that were slid partially open.

I stepped outside and my breath caught in my throat. From this vantage point, I could see not just the endless expanse of clear blue water but also the lush green peaks of a distant island, its tops shrouded in wisps of cloud

Even though I'd never been to the South Pacific on Earth—hell, I'd barely left my home state before joining the military—something about this place struck a chord deep within me.

A sudden, unexpected wave of homesickness washed over me, and I had to blink rapidly to keep unwanted tears from falling.

To my surprise, instead of leaving me to my thoughts, Serge settled himself comfortably on one of the teak loungers on the deck, crossing his legs at the ankle and leaning back as if he had all the time in the world.

"So," he said, fixing me with an inquisitive gaze, "how is our dear Reina faring at that academy of yours?"

The abrupt change of subject caught me off guard. "Reina? She's good, I think. Usually busy, so I don’t see a lot of her.”

Serge sighed dramatically. "That sounds like her.

We worked together for ages, you know. Then she up and left to escort Noora to the academy.

" He sniffed. “At the time, I understand.

Poor Noora was practically abducted by the admiral, so it was only right that Reina joined her for a time.

I thought she'd return quickly, but she's still there, and I've yet to find a suitable replacement.

The other liaisons simply aren't as attuned to my needs. "

There was something almost endearing about the way he spoke of Reina. It reminded me of a sibling who claimed to be annoyed by their sister but secretly missed her terribly. His large eyes glistened but he blinked rapidly before sitting up and giving his head a brusque shake.

He sniffed again. “Don't you dare tell her I said that. It would go straight to her head, and her hair is tall enough as it is."

I laughed, settling into the lounger next to his.

"Your secret's safe with me. And for what it's worth, Reina seems to have found her place at the academy.

She's become indispensable to the admiral's wife.

" I paused, remembering the recent crisis.

"She was actually instrumental in saving two of my friends when they got trapped in a holochamber malfunction. "

Serge's eyes popped wide. "Trapped in a simulation? How perfectly horrifying!" He glanced around at our surroundings with fresh wariness. "Is life at the academy always so dangerous?"

"It has its challenges," I admitted. "It's not nearly as luxurious as this station, that's for sure.

My room is in a stone tower and has a single bed that I roll off if I turn too aggressively.

We have one inclinator in the main hall, and the only holographic simulations are contained in the holochambers used for training. "

Serge pressed a hand to his chest, looking genuinely distressed. "One inclinator? Stone towers? Darling, that sounds positively medieval."

"It's not that bad.” I couldn't help smiling at his reaction. “It grows on you after a while."

"Hmm." Serge tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should pay Reina a visit. Convince her that her talents are being wasted in such rustic surroundings."

"She seems happy there, though I'm sure she'd be delighted to see you."

Serge made a face but then abruptly changed tack. "So, have you given any thought to where you'll hold the wedding?"

I choked on air. "The what?"

"The wedding, dear." He waved a hand dismissively, as if I were being deliberately obtuse. "You and the handsome Drexian lieutenant. It's written all over your faces."

My mouth opened and closed several times before I managed to form words. "I'm... we're not... there are no wedding plans."

Serge clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"Well, when you do make plans, you should consider hosting it here on the station. We have the most spectacular holographic wedding pavilions. You can pick from perfectly timed sunset backdrops, live butterfly canopies, waterfalls that can be programmed to flow in rhythmic synchronization with whatever music you choose. The possibilities are endless.”

As he rattled on about wedding venues, my mind went in an entirely different direction. Tivek and I had barely acknowledged our feelings for each other, and that had been under the extreme duress of thinking we were about to die.

Now, in the peaceful luxury of this holographic paradise, reality was creeping back in.

Tivek was a member of a secretive, elite force I hadn't even known existed until days ago.

His life was defined by duty, secrecy, and service to Drex.

And I was still proving myself as one of the first humans at the academy.

Serge hadn’t stopped talking and was completely oblivious to my internal debate. “Personally, I think the underwater chapel is a bit much. The bubble technology is impressive, but the seaweed gets everywhere."

“If Tivek and I were together, I’d consider a wedding here,” I finally said, “but we’re nothing but colleagues.”

Serge’s purple brows rose as he made a sound in the back of his throat that told me he didn’t believe me. Then he swung his legs to the floor and stood. “As you wish, sweetie. But if the Drexian doesn’t love you and you him, then I’m a monkey’s uncle.”

Then he flounced out, leaving me wondering where he’d learned his curious expressions and if it was really so obvious how I felt about Tivek.

I walked back to the balcony, bracing my hands on the railing as I gazed out at the perfect holographic horizon. The distant island shimmered in the late afternoon light, its lush foliage turning golden as the artificial sun began its descent.

The more I thought about my feelings for Tivek, the more I realized there were no easy answers.

He was a Drexian spy, and I was a cadet.

He had missions he couldn’t reveal, and I had a career that was still in the process of launching.

I’d always planned to return to Earth after leaving the academy, but his work was clearly in space. How would that ever work?

I closed my eyes and breathed in the salty air for a few moments and tried to forget everything. Reality would come crashing back in soon enough.