"Your defiance is noted, Harrington," Ken sputters, his voice glitching into a high-pitched register.
I raise an eyebrow. I do not know about copyright infringement or this Ridley person, but clearly Ken has taken offense.
It makes me like Poppy even more.
"This is a premium reward tier. Appreciate the amenities or I will recalibrate the shower to freezing."
The hologram snaps off, the drone zipping into a ceiling vent with an aggressive, mechanical huff.
A breathless laugh escapes Poppy’s lips. "God, he's a dumbass. Come on, Vael. Let's get clean."
“As if I could tell you no.”
“Now that’s the spirit,” Poppy says, shedding her suit in record time.
I like her naked, and follow suit, letting her take the lead.
I would be as stupid as Ken if I did not.
The shower is a revelation.
The automated system releases a dense, vibrating mist that strips grime from our skin within minutes.
When we step out, there are two blessedly clean tech suits. The charcoal-grey fabric stretches perfectly over my thighs and molds beautifully to the lush curves of Poppy's body.
We do not waste time before attacking the food. The meal is entirely strange—thick, crescent-shaped tubers that glow with a faint violet hue and a platter of roasted fowl marinated in a dark, sticky syrup.
"This looks terrifying," Poppy murmurs, tentatively poking a violet tuber with her finger. She takes a small bite, her eyes widening in immediate delight. "Oh, wait. It tastes like sweet potato and brown sugar. Eat the bird, Vael, it’s actually amazing."
We eat in a comfortable, quiet rhythm, the exhaustion of the last few days finally catching up to our limbs.
When the platters are cleared, Poppy walks over to the bed. There is only one.
“Ken really went all in on romance, didn’t he?”
“I fail to see the romance.”
She looks at the pile of plush furs, then up at me. “There’s only one bed.”
She crawls into the center of the structure, pulling a thick black fur up to her waist. I lie down beside her, the frame not even groaning under my weight.
I flare my good wing out, curving the membrane over both of our heads, sealing us into a private dark.
Poppy doesn't say a word. She smiles, though, shifting closer, sliding her head directly onto my chest, her hand automatically finding mine in the dark.
I lace my fingers through hers, locking our hands together.
"We're going to find them tomorrow, right?" she whispers into my skin. "Lily, Ellison... and Lucy. We're going to get them?"
"We will," I rumble. I tighten my grip on her hand, my tail coiling loosely around her ankle beneath the blankets. "Your squad must be resilient, Poppy. They are surviving, just as you are."
She lets out a long, slow breath, her body finally going completely slack against mine. She mutters a few more stilted, sleepy thoughts about her law firm and how much she prefers my wings to a corporate office, her voice drifting into a quiet murmur.
I press a soft kiss into the crown of her hair, the woodsmoke scent of her completely clearing the tension from my mind.
"Sleep, Poppy," I rasp softly into the dark. "You must rest your mind. We fight the machine again when the sun breaks."
CHAPTER 24
