“I don’t have anything. I can’t afford to just…go where I please.”
“I’ve arranged for Gunn’s portion of the payment for this expedition to go to you.” Nera tapped a finger against her knee. “That’s quite a sizable sum.”
Ela’s mouth opened, closed, opened again. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just live. Make a good life for yourself.” Nera stood. “Don’t bury this.” She nodded at the room. “You have to work through what Gunn did to you. If you want to move forward, you can’t forget the past. Use it as a stepping stone to get somewhere better.” She drew in a breath.“Believe me, if you try to ignore it or hide from it, you’ll only hurt yourself and deny yourself the chance for more.”
Ela nodded. “I’ll…I’ll try.”
“Good.” Nera knelt and grabbed Ela’s hand. “You deserve more. It’s out there, somewhere. Don’t be afraid to reach for it.”
“Like you’ve been?”
Nera shot her a rueful smile. “This isn’t about me.”
“If I had someone as delicious as Dr. Phoenix, who looked at me the way he looks at you…I’d never let that go.”
Nera smiled and stood. “Then you’re already a lot smarter than me.”
Ela managed a small smile. “I can take him off your hands.”
Nera wagged a finger. “One step in his direction and I’ll hurt you.”
The young woman gave a rusty-sounding laugh. “Thank you. For everything. How can I ever repay you?”
Nera headed for the door. “Live.”
Nik was stillat the observation window. They’d hit space, and now the Earth was nothing more than a dark ball hanging in a field of distant stars. Humans had let their differences tear them apart, not bring them together, and in the end, they’d destroyed themselves.
He wasn’t about to let that happen to him.
He didn’t hear her, but he sensed her. He turned and spotted her leaning against the wall. She was in an all-in-one black jumpsuit that outlined every lean line of her strong body. She had her arms crossed, her nebula-gaze watching him.
“Ryant offered you a sweet job,” she said. “What you’ve always wanted.”
Nik didn’t bother asking her how she knew. He heard the emotion under her cool words. He could read her far more easily now. He stalked toward her.
She shifted a little, a sure sign of nerves. “I know you’ve missed working for the Institute.”
“I enjoy working with my brothers.” He stopped in front of her.
“I didn’t say you don’t, but it isn’t quite the same as having all the resources of the Institute at your fingertips.”
He pressed his hands to either side of her body and leaned in. “People seem to enjoy deciding the kinds of things I like and want. No one thinks to ask me.”
“Fine.” She lifted her chin. “What do you want, Niklas?”
“You. Just you.” He moved until his lips were a breath from hers. “I love you.”
He felt her chest hitch.
“I know,” she said. “I heard you tell me on the ground.”
He pressed his body against hers, marveling at every inch of her. He kissed her jawline. “You love me, too.”
“Really?” she asked carefully.
“I know you’ve never experienced it before, but you must know how we feel about each other…it’s special. Once in a lifetime.”
