Page 34 of Star Crossed Delta

SABA

T he tranquility of the lodge offered Saba a fragile kind of peace, a stillness she hadn’t realized she craved.

Alone, with no one to fuss over her or Koda shadowing her every move, she settled into a quiet routine that kept her grounded.

Outside, she began cultivating a small patch of garden just beyond the side terrace.

She cleared weeds by hand, tilled the dry soil, and planted herbs, leafy greens, and root vegetables from seeds Miral gave her.

It wasn’t much, but tending to something living made her feel useful again.

The physical labor also soothed her restless thoughts.

She spent time in the kitchen, chopping, stirring, and experimenting with recipes she loved.

From eggplants braised in garlic and sesame oil, to flat tef bread, chickpea stew, and honeyed fruit pastries.

She drank her kahawa alone, seated by the tall windows with a book from The Sombra’s library balanced on her knee.

Sometimes, she’d find herself baking far too much pastry or preparing dishes that could have fed a houseful. Old habits, she supposed, born from loneliness.

Then came the cleaning.

She had the choice of a house bot, but where was the fun in that?

Each morning, she opened the shutters to the lake’s changing moods. Then she tidied the lodge room by room, scrubbing marble floors, polishing handrails, and dusting shelves.

One afternoon, as she knelt in the front hall, working a brush over a stubborn patch of dirt on the tile floor.

She scoured until her arms ached, relishing the ache.

Dressed in her overalls, hair tied back, she sang under her breath, half-laughing at how ridiculous she must look, elbow-deep in soap and grit.

Until a shadow fell over her.

She glanced up, startled, to find Mak looming above her.

Drop head handsome in a dark Signet jumpsuit that accentuated his every sinewed muscle and thick boots.

Her heart jumped as his gaze locked onto her, taking in her soaked coveralls, soapy hands, and the damp strands of hair stuck to her flushed face.

She blinked, soul lurching, bracing for a reprimand.

Instead, he stepped forward and extended a hand, his touch gentle as he helped her to her feet.

He didn’t speak at first, only stared, an intense gleam in his eyes.

‘What’s this?’ he asked at last, voice hoarse.

Saba held up the dripping brush, her brow arching. ‘I am bored, Mak. I need to do something. Sitting around waiting for you to come back from work every day feels like a punishment.’

His jaw clenched, and emotion flickered behind his eyes, with curiosity, amusement, maybe even admiration.

‘Does it make you happy?’ he rasped.

‘It does,’ she said, lifting her chin.

His lips curved, and his gaze dropped over her figure with slow heat. ‘Then knock yourself out.’

Saba blinked, dumbfounded by the ease of his approval and the strange, unspoken truce that passed between them.

She dared a grin. ‘Do you like my overalls?’

His eyes flared.

‘Your coveralls. Your tits. That classy side boob.’ He stepped closer, voice dropping. ‘I like it a lot. Right now, you’re sexy as fokk .’

He bent his head in a mock bow and twisted on his heel, leaving her stunned, heart fluttering.

She stood still for a moment longer, then let out a shaky laugh and returned to her scrubbing, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Sentiment shifted, the ice between them thawing. Perhaps, even a new beginning.

In the afternoons, with most of her chores, Saba turned to her favorite pastime.

Books.

The Sombra ’ s gorgeous archives were where she delved into fiction, histories, and biographies.

She also researched her husband’s business.

The library came with a holo setup for online searches.

She soon unearthed a treasure trove of information that shed light on the intricate web of dealings that consumed Mak’s life.

As she probed deeper into the digital archives, his and Signet’s prowess emerged in a complex tapestry.

The more she uncovered, the more impressed she was by his ingenuity.

She read his case transcripts and marveled at his legal prowess.

She also learned more about the Signet Company’s generosity, including its feeding and housing programs, university sponsorship, clinics, and free medical care for all residents of The Sombra .

She became more convinced that a strong thread of justice ran through Mak and his pack mates underneath all the chaos, shifting allegiances, and constant dance with death.

Signet appeared to bring balance to a world teetering on the brink of collapse. Someone had to enforce a kind of equity that the Syndicate or corrupt politicians would not implement.

One afternoon, immersed in a book file, a notification appeared on her tablet screen on the worktable.

She glanced at it, noting the flashing alert with an incoming message. With a sense of foreboding, she swiped to access it, revealing a text from an unknown sender:

Saba, it’s me. Shiloh. Can we talk?

She read it in shock.

Her twin had not been in touch since she fled from her wedding.

Saba had run interference for her at the cost of her peace and sanity. Yet she couldn’t stay mad at her.

Their bond as twins ran deeper than blood, forged in the crucible of shared experiences and hard-won victories. They’d faced insurmountable odds before, and they would likely face them again.

With a sigh, she typed back a response agreeing to the call.

Seconds later, Shiloh’s face appeared on the holo display, her expression caught between relief and trepidation.

The familiar and beautiful features that mirrored Saba’s to some degree still showed signs of her vibrant optimism, which had always defined her spirit.

‘Oh my heavens, Saba, I’ve missed you,’ she breathed. ‘Please forgive me, my love. I know I’ve caused you all so much pain, but I had to do it. You have to believe me.’

Saba struggled to maintain her composure, the conflicting emotions of anger and concern warring within her.

‘Shiloh, where are you? Are you safe?’

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

‘I’m on the Asivan ship, the Selburnia. With Zolan. He’s-.’

Saba held her breath, waiting. Her eyes softened.

‘So amazing. So kind.’

‘He is?’ Saba asked.

Shiloh leaned forward.

‘Saba, please, trust me. I’m a happy woman right now.’

Saba conceded, never able to hold back anything from her sister.

‘I’m delighted for you then.’

Shiloh paused for a beat.

‘However, Zolan is coping with a lot. His clan is under pressure. Some young men in his family are choosing koko dealing and refusing an honest living. It’s like a dark cloud that fokkin ’ settled over them, dragging them down into a world of quick fixes and easy money and shrouding them in a fog of addiction and deceit.

He says many of them are walking on a tightrope between numbness and drug highs.

Caught in a downward spiral fueled by desperation and a hollow craving for instant gratification.

He’s working so hard to get help for his people, Saba.

I see how much effort he puts in, and it’s only made me fall more in love with him. ’

Saba shook her head in disbelief.

‘What of the rumors that Zolan is a master manipulator? I’ve met him, hon, and his charm is as lethal as his ambition, a deadly combination. Even Mak got manipulated into thinking he was flirting with me, which was his cover-up for seeing me.’

‘It’s all myth. It’s his mask, one he wears to fool the world,’ Shiloh countered.

‘Shiloh, you’re saying he’s two-faced?’

She leaned in.

‘He’s driven and willing to do whatever it takes to save his clan and secure the future of the Asivan family.’

‘Listen to me,’ Saba interrupted, her voice cutting through her ire. ‘Where you find smoke, there’s fire, and he may not be who you think he is. You have to work out if he has your back or is manipulating you for his gain.’

Shiloh’s gaze faltered.

‘I know he loves me; I know what we share is real.’

Saba shook her head, her heart aching for her twin sister’s misplaced trust.

‘Shiloh, no matter your decision, you must take care of yourself.’

A shadow passed over Shiloh’s face.

‘I am. He also cares for me, and I love him for it,’ she whispered. ‘Nothing you can say to convince me.’

‘Did you run from your nuptials because you loved him, or he begged you to?’ Saba asked, suspicion rising in her.

That was one of the questions Saba had itched to ask since the wedding.

Shiloh shook her head.

‘ Nada . I chose Zolan of my own volition.’

Saba sighed.

‘You’d better have, seeing as you’re having his baby. But you have to be true to yourself, Shiloh. If he’s not safe, you need to leave.’

‘I can’t abandon him, not now.’

Saba’s heart ached for her sister, for the tangled web of choices and consequences her twin was living with.

Shiloh’s resolution and mad love for Zolan set off a chain of events that threatened to unravel the community. But she was family, and there was no hell in which she’d forsake her now. She also had to respect her decisions.

She told her, ‘Woman, you know I’ll support you in your choice as long as I know you’re not being forced or coerced.’

Shiloh smiled at her, a glimmer of hope shining through her tears.

‘Sante. He’s not the ogre everyone thinks that he is.’

Her sister’s words hung heavy in the air, her confession revealing the depths of her entanglement with Zolan.

Saba noted the love and fear warring within her, a precarious balance that threatened to tip at any moment.

As much as she wanted to protect her from potential harm, she was well aware that intervening with reckless abandon might push her further away.

‘Shiloh,’ she began, her voice soft but firm, ‘I want you to be safe and happy. If Zolan cares for you as you believe, I will trust your judgment. But swear to me that you will always prioritize your well-being above all else. Love should never come at the cost of your safety.’

Tears shimmered in Shiloh’s eyes as she nodded, her gratitude shining through.

‘I promise, Saba. I’ll be careful, and I’ll make sure to watch out for myself. Sante for not giving up on me.’

As the connection cut out and the screen faded to black, Saba sat back, alone with her thoughts.

While she had a duty to Shiloh, she also had the same to Mak.

He had a right to know the truth because if he found out about Zolan and Shiloh from someone else, he would never trust her again.

It occurred to her that her husband’s wishes now took precedence. He was her spouse, her partner, her ?ar .

With a sigh, she contemplated the delicate balance of power, loyalty, and family.

It had never been more fragile, and her decisions in the coming days would shape their destinies in ways she had not yet imagined.

All she could do was build faith between Mak and herself by confessing the entire truth.

At the same time, she hoped that Shiloh’s choices might lead her down the right path toward love and away from danger.