“Just… appreciating the moment.”
“Hmm.” His hand stroked down her spine, a slow, soothing motion. “We should try to sleep. Tomorrow will require all our focus.”
“I know.” She nestled closer. “Just a few more minutes.”
Eventually, practicality intruded. She needed to clean them both up, and they needed to rest before the night’s activities. But she allowed herself another minute of peace, memorizing the feel of him beneath her, the solid beat of his heart, the way his arms held her like she was the most precious thing in his world. She fell asleep smiling.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Morning came too soon.
Melissa woke to find Becsul already up, moving quietly around the cell, checking something on a small device she didn’t recognize.
“The shuttle arrives in six hours,” he said without preamble. “I need to finalize arrangements with the other women and ensure the diversion is ready. You and Robbie will stay here until I come for you.”
“Stay here.” She sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. “While you do all the dangerous parts alone.”
“The dangerous parts happen when we board the shuttle. Everything before that is just preparation.” He crossed to her and knelt beside the bunk, taking her hands in his. “I need you to be patient. Can you do that?”
“I’m not good at waiting.”
“I noticed.” A hint of a smile crossed his face. “But today, waiting is your job. Keep Robbie calm. Try to act normal if the guardscome. Don’t give anyone any reason to suspect something is wrong.”
“Act normal. While planning a prison break.” She laughed weakly. “Sure. No problem.”
His tail wrapped around her wrist, a quick squeeze of reassurance. “You can do this. You’ve survived everything they’ve thrown at you so far. Today is just one more day.”
“One more day,” she repeated. “And then freedom.”
“Freedom,” he agreed. “Together.”
He kissed her once, hard and brief, and then he was gone.
The hours crawled by.
She fed Robbie, changed him, played with him, and tried desperately to act like nothing was different. But her nerves were stretched tight as piano wire, and every sound from the corridor made her flinch. Footsteps passing by. Muffled voices. The distant hum of machinery.
This is taking too long,she thought, pacing the cell with Robbie in her arms.Something’s wrong. Something must have?—
The door chimed.
She spun around, heart hammering, expecting Becsul. Instead, the door slid open to reveal a guard she didn’t recognize—tall and thin, with scales that shimmered between brown and rust.
“You have been summoned.” His tone was flat, emotionless.
“Summoned?” She tightened her grip on Robbie. “By whom?”
“Councilor Naran.”
The name hit her like a wave of ice water. “I… I wasn’t informed of any appointments today.”
“It’s not an appointment. It’s a summons.” The guard stepped into the cell, his posture making it clear this wasn’t a request. “The infant stays here.”
“No.” The word came out harder than she intended. “I’m not leaving my son alone.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion.”
Before she could argue further, another figure appeared in the doorway—a small, grey-skinned female that she vaguely recognized as one of the medical technicians. The female’s eyes were downcast, her posture submissive.
