And his plans—the expanded breeding program, the additional victims he had intended to purchase—those plans were dead. Other women would not suffer as she had suffered. Other children would not be born into captivity.
That had to count for something.
“I can live with that,” she said finally. “It’s not what I wanted, but I can live with it.”
Becsul’s hand found hers again, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her palm. “What happens now? For us?”
“That depends on what you want.” Veyros closed the holographic display. “The charges against you, Captain Becsul, will be dismissed. You were acting to prevent ongoing crimes, and the evidence clearly supports that. You are free to go wherever you wish.”
“And the women? Sarah and Wei-Lin?”
“Also free. They will need to decide whether they wish to return to Earth or remain in galactic space. The Patrol can arrange transport in either direction.”
Melissa thought of Sarah’s face when she had first held Katie after the escape—the fierce, protective love that mirrored her own feelings for Robbie. She thought of Wei-Lin’s quietcompetence, her watchful eyes always assessing threats and opportunities.
We survived together, she thought. Whatever comes next, that bond will remain.
“I don’t want to go back to Earth,” she said. “I don’t know about the others, but… there’s nothing for me there anymore. My career is gone. My family…” She paused, swallowing past a sudden tightness in her throat. “My family wasn’t really family. Not like this.”
She glanced at Becsul, at the steady warmth in his dark eyes, at the protective curve of his tail against her leg.
“This is my family now. This is my future.”
“Then we will find that future together.” Becsul’s voice was rough with emotion. “Wherever it leads.”
Veyros watched them with an expression that might have been approval. “If you need time to decide your next steps, you are welcome to remain on the station. We have quarters available for temporary residents.”
“Thank you.” Melissa rose, her legs steadier now. “I think we need to talk to the others. Figure out what everyone wants.”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
They left the office together, walking through the sterile corridors of Korinth-7, and Melissa felt something shift inside her. The weight she had been carrying since her kidnapping—the fear, the helplessness, the constant uncertainty—didn’t disappear entirely. It probably never would. But it loosened, somehow. Became more bearable.
We are not victims anymore, she thought. We are survivors. And survivors get to choose what comes next.
Robbie stirred in her arms, his eyes opening to blink at her with sleepy confusion. She pressed a kiss to his forehead, breathing in the sweet, milky scent of him.
“We’re going to be okay,” she whispered. “I promise, little one. We’re going to be okay.”
And for the first time since this nightmare began, she actually believed it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“None of us are going back.”
Sarah’s voice carried the quiet certainty of someone who had made peace with a difficult decision. She stood in the small common room of Korinth-7’s temporary quarters, Katie balanced on her hip, her jaw set with determination.
Becsul watched Melissa’s face as she processed the words. Relief flickered there, followed quickly by something warmer—connection, perhaps. Solidarity. These women had survived together, and now they would build new lives together. Or at least, they would try.
“Wei-Lin?” Melissa asked, turning to the quieter woman who sat cross-legged on one of the utilitarian bunks.
“I spoke with Captain Veyros this morning.” Wei-Lin’s expression was thoughtful, her dark eyes distant. “She offered me a position with the Patrol. Intelligence analysis, initially, with the possibility of field work once I’ve completed training.”
“The Patrol.” Sarah raised an eyebrow. “That’s… not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?” Wei-Lin’s smile was thin but genuine. “That I would find a quiet corner somewhere and try to forget what happened? I cannot forget. And if I cannot forget, then I will use what I learned to help others.”
Becsul felt a swell of respect for the small human woman. He had noticed her watchfulness during their escape, the way she catalogued details and filed them away for later use. She would make an excellent intelligence analyst.
