Page 27 of Star Crossed Delta

SABA

‘ ?arim , a moment please?’

Sunlight streamed through the lodge’s tall windows as Saba prepared a simple breakfast.

She glanced up to see Koda approach, his boots soundless on the shining floorboards.

He set a small velvet box on the counter beside her, its deep crimson catching the light.

‘From Mak,’ he intoned.

She wiped her hands on a linen cloth and peeked at it with wariness. ‘What is it?’ she muttered.

‘Open it,’ Koda instructed.

She did.

Inside, nestled in silk, was a wrist comm, crafted like an antique timepiece, its casing engraved, its face a polished obsidian sheen edged in gold.

It was intricate and beautiful. Deceptively so.

‘I don’t want anything from him,’ she grumbled, pushing the box back toward him.

After her humiliating punishment, her self-preservation instincts were at their highest.

She could and would live without Mak Sauvage in her life.

Koda sighed, not unkindly. ‘You don’t have a choice. Effective today, I’m off your detail. You’re now free to leave the lodge, explore The Sombra , or even take transport to the station levels if you want.

Saba jolted. ‘He’s setting me loose?’

‘Only if this stays on you.’ He tapped the comm. ‘It’s a shield.’

Her brow creased. ‘A what now?’

He flicked the device on, showing her a thin pulse of energy that flickered around the dial before disappearing.

‘It’s encoded with defensive shielding that will throw up an electronic screen around you and emit an emergency beacon in case someone comes for you.’

She jolted. ‘Why would anyone come for me?’

Koda hesitated, then answered in a gruff voice. ‘Mak was attacked. Three days ago. A sachem came after him hard. he and the Signet strong guard had upped security on the Sombra, but we still advise caution.’

She froze, the kitchen fading around her. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

He met her gaze with unflinching coolness. ‘It wasn’t my news to tell.’

She flicked her eyes away from him, mulling over what he’d disclosed. ‘You’re leaving?’

‘ Naam, ?arim , I have other duties to attend to with the wider Sauvage family.’

Her hands trembled as she lifted the comm and fastened it around her wrist.

‘Mak got this for me?’ she asked, quieter now.

Koda’s mouth tightened. ‘Whether you see it or not, he wants you safe without locking you up.’

She glanced down at the chrono, its sleek face catching the light.

‘A shield and a tether, huh?’

Koda shrugged.

With a soft sigh, she whispered, ‘ Sante . You’ve been a fantastic companion.’

He gave her a chin jerk. ‘I’ll take my leave now, ? arim . It has been a pleasure working for you.’

She realized she might not see him for some time and, surprising herself, she moved forward and asked, ‘May I give you a hug?’

His brows ached, then the taciturn man bestowed her with a rare, slight smile.

‘ Naam .’

She gave him a quick embrace and stepped back. ‘Heck, I’ll miss you. Who am I going to talk to in this big old lodge now?’

‘That’s why you need to spread your wings and fly, ?arim . The Sombra is an amazing ship.’

Koda nodded once and left her standing, the quiet hum of the grand cabin wrapping around her as worry for her husband filled her mind.

Saba wrapped her shoulders in a plain cloak over an older, comfortable jumpsuit and sturdy boots before stepping out of the lodge for the first time in days.

The cool air kissed her cheeks as she followed the winding stone paths through the estate, finding herself on the lake shore.

The water stretched out in tranquil stillness, sunlight rippling across its lavender surface. She took a moment to breathe it in, letting the serenity wash over the unrest in her chest.

In time, she turned toward the elevator shaft, curiosity stirring.

The lift’s conveyance machinery hissed and whirred as it descended into the lower levels of the Sombra.

She wandered the corridors, looking for the ship’s literary archive she’d overheard whispers about but had never seen.

Her steps faltered until, from the shadows, Miral appeared like a ghost in dark fatigues and heels, her braid draped over one shoulder, a knowing smile on her lips.

‘Well, hello, ?arim .’

‘Please call me Saba.

‘What brings you here?’ Miral asked.

‘You wouldn’t happen to know where the library is?’

At her question, Miral beamed. ‘I do indeed, for the bibliothèque is my little side project. Over the years, I’ve collected tomes from all over the flotilla, arc ships, mining rigs, and forgotten vaults. Some are first editions.’

‘Really now?’ Saba said, delighted.

‘Don’t act so surprised. The Signet strong guards may be fighters, but we’re thinkers too. This way.’

Miral sashayed ahead, leading Saba down a lesser-traveled corridor.

Saba’s breath caught as they stepped through a pair of heavy doors.

Wall-to-wall shelves rose to the ceiling, filled with cracked spines, parchment scrolls, and printed hardcovers.

‘Oh my, it’s stunning.’

‘I’m glad you think so. I’ll leave you to enjoy it. Use the map I’ve sent to your comm to find your way back.’

Saba murmured her thanks as the synth AI glimmered away.

Then she turned with a clap of her hands to survey the soaring space.

Rolling ladders promised access to the highest reaches, while a worn divan and a butter-soft leather couch sat atop thick, faded carpets at the room’s center.

Most inviting of all was the fireplace Miral had lit.

Flames danced merrily, filling the interior with the rich scent of burning wood, paper, and aged ink, as the hush of the room wrapped around her.

Finding this library aboard The Sombra was like stumbling into heaven.

Before her wedding to Mak, she’d studied data analytics and worked as a librarian on her family’s ark ship.

She’d also researched propulsion systems and energy extrapolation, curious about how the fleet would reach Pegasi.

Weekends were spent baking, sparring in martial arts with Shiloh, or wandering the ship’s sprawling gardens with her best friend Aveline.

But books were always her anchor, and she’d read at least four a week in the past.

Life hadn’t been perfect; her aunt and uncle had made sure of that, but she’d been free.

Liberated to lose herself in books, ideas, and the quiet rhythm of a single woman’s life.

She gathered a few titles from the shelves: ancient poems, a fiction edition, and a volume of philosophy, and curled up on the worn couch, its softness enveloping her.

Within moments, she was lost, immersed in another, where words stitched a balm across the restless cracks in her soul.

Saba must have fallen asleep, for hours had passed when she opened her eyes, the tall clock in the library confirming the time.

She left the repository, a pile of books in her bag, and headed back to Deck 27.

When the elevator doors slid apart, the sun was dipping below the faux horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the gardens.

Still reluctant to return to the lodge, she slowed her walk.

The vibrant colors of the blooms and the gentle rustle of the leaves provided a welcome distraction.

From the simmering tension inside her, as well as the strain between her and Mak.

The winding pathways took her around the lake again, and she mulled over her reality.

The fact was, Mak was a stubborn man, and he continued to ignore her.

His silence was deafening, a constant reminder of the chasm that separated them.

She longed to bridge that gap, to find a way to connect with him beyond the confines of their arranged marriage because the alternative was unbearable.

How would she survive a lifetime with him if it meant living in incessant discord?

Why did she have to suffer for her sisters’ freedom?

Why was she the one whose youth and years were being wasted?

The future loomed empty before her, and with a sob, she nearly sank to the ground, unable to bear the thought. But she stumbled on, blinking away her tears.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn’t detect the figure standing at the edge of the small beachhead behind their lodge, hidden by the shrubbery and trees.

As her eyes took in the silhouette, illuminated by the soft glow of the rising moon, she froze.

Mak .

A brooding version of him.

It was the only variation she had ever encountered.

His hands were shoved deep into his pockets as he stared into the night.

His profile, turned away from her, was inscrutable.

Dusk cast a halo around his form, making him seem like an ethereal specter.

Saba took a shaky breath and emerged from the shadows, stepping toward him.

He flinched, and his jaw clenched, but he didn’t acknowledge her.

For a long moment, they stood still, the unspoken words hanging heavy, the distance between them palpable.

His gaze was fixed on the horizon, as if searching for a sentiment beyond reach.

Saba didn’t say a word, unsure of what to say, eyes on him, the silence stretching.

When he spoke, his voice was gravelly with the heft of everything he had been holding in. ‘I never asked for any of this. I’m also sorry you’ve borne the brunt of my rage.’

‘Is that an apology for the other night?’

He had the wherewithal to look ashamed of himself. ‘ Naam . I am sorry for the shit show I put you through.’

Saba’s heart clenched.

She had never noticed that tone from him before, one that conveyed a profound resignation and burden. She had also never seen him so vulnerable, so raw.

‘I never wanted this life,’ he continued. ‘But duty and expectation have a way of carving out our paths in advance.’

His words hit her like a jolt.

She longed to reach out, to comfort him, but she grasped the chasm between them was too broad, too deep. Instead, she stepped closer and touched his hand.

Mak’s eyes flickered with surprise at her touch, but he didn’t pull away.

He met her gaze, his own eyes filled with emotion she couldn’t quite place: longing, frustration, maybe even a hint of yearning.

‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. ‘That I’m not the man you need me to be.’