Page 104 of Tethered

They’re coming for Julian and Maximus. Tanisira yells something at me, and I just blink at her. What measures did they mean?

I watch as Tanisira gears this huge luxury ship to try and outrun a vessel that’s no doubt designed to do its job: capture. My heart feels too big for its cage. I press my nails into my palms in the hopes that the pain might ground me a little. Of course, I don’t believe she’d let anything happen to us, not for asecond. And of course, I don’t want Julian and Maximus to fall into the hands of bounty hunters. But what a fucking shitshow.

A giggle bursts out of me.

Everyone turns to stare at me, even Tanisira, who has drastically more important things to focus on. And then the cacophony around us stops. Everything just stops. It happens so swiftly that it’s nauseating, and I grip the arms of my seat as if it might stop me from toppling out, even though I’m belted in.

Beau startles, wide-eyed, and stares at their console as if it’s suddenly written in gibberish. “What—”

“Kit,” Tanisira barks. “What just happened?”

“The engines of theMidaswere shut down with an override sequence.”

Tanisira’s expression blanks, eyelashes stutter, muscles tense. Fear on Tanisira is vulgar and harrowing, because ifshe’safraid...

Her voice is tight. “Who’s overriding us?”

“Securitas IV.”

Shrouded In Isolation

We have no choice but to sit back and watch as theSecuritas IVdocks. As far as ships go, it’s pretty small, and the whole process is swift, efficient. We gather in the cargo bay to meet the crew. With Julian—despite protests—and Maximus shut away in Dominik’s panic room, and Vee tucked under my arm, there’s nothing more we can do.

Tanisira stands at the head of our group, body so taut it’s a miracle she hasn’t snapped a bone. Dev’s by her side, and his lithe dancer’s body looks surprisingly menacing. A kitchen knife is tucked up his sleeve, his every muscle tensed to pounce, leonine grace raising the hair on the back of my neck. Beau stands on Tanisira’s other side, bouncing on the balls oftheir feet and looking ready to crack skulls, that usual carefree expression giving way to anger. Khrys is at my back, with some suspicious looking vials in each hand, and an unforgiving glare on her face.

I feel safe, and I trust the crew to protect Vee. Although, with a certain illegal tech tucked into my pocket, I’m not defenceless here. This is probably all overkill, anyway—the hunters will surely depart once they determine the brothers aren’t here. They have a bounty to catch, after all.

Tanisira looks over her shoulder. “There’s still time to go back to your cabin.”

Her tone makes it clear I’m being stupid; she’d said the same thing earlier. But the other ship has override codes, so what would be the point of hiding? Out here, I’m surrounded by the crew, who have weapons and at least two people who can fight. In my cabin, if the hunters stumble upon us when no one else is around, who knows what might happen?

“We’re staying right here, thank you,” I mumble into the top of Vee’s head. His arms are a vice around my midriff, and I clutch him just as tightly. Tanisira makes a noise of frustration. Before I can say anything else, the cargo bay starts to ring with the sounds of boots on metal. My heartbeat soars, and Vee’s arms tighten around me. Beau and Dev both sway forward as if they’re dying to launch themselves at whoever appears. Behind me, Khrys curses.

I dip a hand into my pocket and wrap it around the Pulse Guard. Tanisira showed me how to use it, and I learned to blindly deactivate the safety. Its last victim, along with the memory of cold metal pressed to my skin, tries to bubble up amidst the tension and fear. Goosebumps spring up along my arms, and I press my fingers into the weapon hard enough to hurt. The flashbacks dissipate—just in time for me to see a group of people come to a stop before us.

When the ISA boarded, it was only three or four officers—and that seemed like too many at the time. TheSecuritas IVhas either disgorged its entire crew or is bigger than we thought. By my count, ten of them have deemed it necessary to board: a mixture of genders, all wearing dark colours and unreadable expressions.

The man at the front must be in charge. Tall and broad, he looks to be in his early forties and has dark hair liberally streaked with grey. If it wasn’t for the shrewd steel in his gaze, he could pass for someone’s aging dad. It speaks of authority, sweeping over us before coming to rest on Tanisira.

“Sekmith, I gather?” Tanisira’s hands twitch, and he notices, eyebrow quirking.

“What’s going on?” I don’t know how she manages to sound calm. I can hear my own pulse in my ears, and I think Vee’s currently holding me up.

“We have orders to escort you to Red Horizon.”

Beau cocks their head. “Orders?”

The man’s attention skims over Beau completely, settling instead on me. “On behalf of Dominik Gryphon, we’re commandeering this ship.”

“Dominik?” It’s my turn to blurt now. Dread stirs in my bones and Vee squirms.

“For what reason?” Tanisira demands.

“To ensure the safety of Harvey Rose-Gryphon.”

My own rage bubbles up. “HarveyRoseis perfectly safe.”

The man reminds me of an eagle before it swoops in to snatch its prey. “You shouldn’t even be here, Ms. Rose. You’re trespassing. And will you deny that theMidasis currently harbouring two men with a bounty on their heads?”