21
The corridors were eerily silent.Raaevik frowned as he hustled her through the empty passage.Daaynal must have ordered the route cleared to keep Emily from encountering anyone before reaching Prince Isan’s ship.
He shot her a sidelong glance, relieved.He’d seen the devastation on her face when she realized her touch had killed the medic.
He kept her close, claws half-extended, his body still coiled in combat mode.Standing downwasn’tan option, not until she was secure.
So every junction got a full scan before he let her step through it.Left.Right.Overhead.Clear each time.Still, he checked anyway.Hewasn’ttaking any chances with the little female at his side.
His mate.
He stillcouldn’tgrasp it.He couldn’t believe he’d found her, that Daaynal had let him live, or that she’d agreed to bond with him after seeing the monster he’d become.
She walked quietly beside him.Her smaller hand rested warm in his, letting him do what he needed to do without trying to talk him out of it.Her acceptance eased the maelstrom inside him.
He should slow down, but every instinct screamed to get her out, to get her somewhere safe.
The airlock neared, and every moment in this outpost was another Daaynal might change his mind.Someone else could step into their path with orders he would have to disobey.He’d have to kill again, because he absolutely wasnotletting anyone take her from him.
They rounded the last corner, and he pulled up short.Emily’s hand tightened in his grip.
Thyaar waited by the airlock.
Of all the things Raaevik had braced for on the walk down here… a last-second challenge from the Emperor’s guards or Korrait’s warriors—this was the one that nearly knocked him off his feet.
The big redheaded warrior didn’t hold a guard stance.He lounged against the bulkhead, none of his trademark smirk visible, his jaw tight.
A sharp band clamped Raaevik’s ribs, stealing his breath.Draanth.He could carve through a dozen armed warriors right now without blinking.He knew how to face down a blade.But this?He had no clue how to handle this.
Emily squeezed his hand in silent support.
Raaevik stopped a few paces away.Neither of them spoke, just looked at each other in silence.There were years between them thatcouldn’tbe compressed into a few neat words.
Years of training together and battling on ships that could have been their coffins.Years of brotherhood that neither of them had ever put a name to, because naming it meant acknowledging it could end.
And now it was ending, and they both knew it.
Thyaar broke first.He clenched his jaw, then shook his head.
“Typical,” Thyaar said, voice rough.“Can’t even leave without making adraanthingproduction.Always knew you were odd, brother.Figured it’d take the Emperor’s matched female to drag it out.”
Raaevik’s lips quirked.“You’re one to talk.I’veread your reports.Your spelling alone should have gotten you exiled.”
Thyaar’s expression cracked.He smiled like he always did.But this time, it was raw and rough around the edges.
He gripped Raaevik’s forearm.Raaevik returned it, hand closing with enough force to leave bruises by morning.
Thyaar held the grip, his gaze locked with Raaevik’s.
“Miranda Evans has been stripped of everything,” Thyaar said.“Title, status, all of it.Gone.”His gaze flicked to Emily, then back to Raaevik.“She’s been shipped back to Earth with nothing.The Emperor’s order.Effective immediately.”
Raaevik glanced down at Emily.
Her dark eyes were steady.Her expressiondidn’tchange.Not a flinch.Not a single flicker of guilt or grief.
Just… nothing.
She was through with Miranda Evans.Finished.Raaevik understood—he was done with a few things, too.
