"One more thing," he called over his shoulder. "When you see the Prime, tell her Persico sends his regards. Tell her to trust no one—not the ambassadors, not the military commanders, not even her own advisors. Someone close to her is compromised. I don't know who, but I know it's true."
He paused at the ship's entrance, his massive frame silhouetted against the interior lights.
"And tell her I'm sorry. For everything I couldn't prevent. For everyone I couldn't save."
He turned toward the ship, thick furry brows drawing together in a frown.
"I'll need a new hiding spot for this thing," he said, gesturing at the ship. "Can't exactly park it here anymore, not after this mess." He glanced back at me, something calculating in his expression. "The elder offered me a spot near the Welati village. Said there's a canyon with natural cover, good sight lines."
Then he climbed into the ship and was gone, the engines firing up with a roar that shook dust from the rafters.
We watched him go, standing in the ruins of the warehouse, surrounded by bodies and blood and the corpse of the man who'd tormented us both.
"Did he just—" Merrilee began.
"Yes."
"And we're supposed to—"
"Yes."
She laughed. It came out shaky, almost hysterical, the sound of someone who'd been through too much and was still processing. "This is insane."
"It is."
"We almost died."
"We did." Multiple times.
"And now there's some greater threat we have to warn the Prime about."
"Apparently."
She was quiet for a moment, her breathing slowly returning to normal, then her expression shifted—became determined in a way that made my chest tighten and my heart rate pick up.
"You have a choice, Ahrick."
I looked down at her, confused. "What?"
"You either come with me, or I'm not leaving." Her voice was steady now, no trace of apprehension left, just pure stubborn determination. "Those are your options."
"Merrilee—"
"I mean it." The words were fierce, absolute. "I'm not leaving this planet without you. So you can either come with me, or we both stay here and rot in this hellhole together. Those are your only options."
I stared at her, this small, fierce human who'd ridden into battle to save me, who was offering me something I didn't deserve but desperately wanted.
Forgiveness. Hope. A future that extended beyond the next arena fight.
"That's not a choice," I said roughly, my throat tight with emotion.
"No," she agreed, a small smile touching her lips. "It's not. It's a promise. Where you go, I go. What you face, we face together. That's what mates do."
She pressed her forehead against my good shoulder, her hands fisting in my shirt, holding on like she thought I might disappear.
"I really do love you," she whispered. "In case that wasn't clear. In case I didn't say it loud enough or often enough. I love you, Ahrick. All of you. The warrior and the survivor and the man who thinks he doesn't deserve to be happy."
The words settled into my chest like a benediction.
