Page 109 of The Last Hope

Maybe I can feign sleep and just naturally roll away.

Roll away.

Justroll away,Franny.

“You’re awake.” Stork’s soft voice is a whisper, but it blares in my head like a horn. His eyes fall open and his lips rise.

I’m immobile. Too nervous to move and wake Zimmer. So I bring the heat through my eyes.

“And how long have you been awake?” I whisper.

He smiles wider. “Long enough to know that you liked sleeping in my arms.”

I did.

I can’t deny that.

Even now, there are parts of me that ache to move closer. To remember what it was like for a body to be on mine. But I can’t have that—I don’t think…

My nose flares. Court and Mykal must still be fast asleep because neither of them are alerted by my emotions.Good.

Let this moment go to my grave.

“Your body is surprisingly comfortable,” I tell him as I untangle from his legs. “That’s all. Nothing more.”

His brows rise and he lifts his arm off me. “Of course. Nothing more.” Those words hurt just as much as they did the last time he agreed with me.

I sit up, slowly, careful not to draw attention from Zimmer. He’s practically passed out, his two arms cuddling a pillow like I thought I’d been doing all night.

Stork rises off the bed.

I glance to him. “Thank you.” The words tumble before I can catch them.

He looks back, frowning. “For what?”

Last night might be the very last time I go to sleep. I could very well die today. On the ride to Rosaline or on the trash bins to Saltare-1, or on the enemy planet that wants me dead.

Last night was truly the last time I might ever feel safe.

And it was glorious, peaceful sleep.

I don’t know how to say these words, but Stork has seen my fears during training. He knows what lies ahead. And he’s a clever wart.

He nods, like he understands. But then humor touches his eyes, and his lips lift again.

“Don’t,” I start, already sensing his charming quip.

“Next time you want to cuddle, dove, just ask.”

And there it is.

I snort, chin raised. “Maybe I will.”

“Looking forward to it.”

He walks out of the bedroom to bathe, leaving me roasting toe to head.

TWENTY-SIX