Page 101 of Enslak

"I don't need Avalon," I said. "I just need him. Wherever he is—that's home."

"And I need you," Enslak said quietly. He turned to his mother. "But I think I'd like to try. To come home. To remember what that means."

"Then it's settled." Serna smiled warmly. "You'll stay on the Bardaga for now. Continue your recovery. And when you're ready, return to Calpa."

"Thank you," Enslak said. "For understanding. For giving us time."

"Thank your mate," Serna said. "She's the one who fought for you. Who refused to give up. I just..." Her voice caught. "I wish I'd had her faith."

"You have it now," I said. "That's what matters."

Serna nodded, wiping her eyes. "You're dismissed. All of you. Go. Rest. Recover. We'll speak more later."

We filed out of the chamber, relief making my legs weak. Binwee caught my arm as we walked.

"That went better than expected," she said.

"Yeah." I laughed shakily. "I thought we were going to be thrown in the brig."

"The Prime loves her son," Binwee said. "She was never going to punish the people who saved him." She squeezed my arm. "You did good, Niki. Really good."

"We all did," I said. "I couldn't have done it without you and George."

"True," Binwee said with a grin. "But you're the one who refused to give up. That takes guts."

"Or stupidity," I muttered.

"Sometimes they're the same thing." George fell into step beside us. "But in this case, I think it was courage. Love. Exactly what Enslak needed."

I glanced at Enslak walking beside me, his hand wrapped around mine, and felt that connection between us pulse and strengthen.

"Yeah," I said softly. "I think you're right."

Chapter 21

Enslak

The quarters were too nice.

That's what hit me first when the door sealed behind us. Not the size—though they were spacious, bigger than anything I'd had rights to in... well, ever. Not the viewport showing stars I couldn't yet name. Not even the bed that looked like it could actually fit me without my feet hanging off the edge.

It was the ours part.

Mine and Niki's. A space where nobody would interrupt. Nobody watching. Nobody deciding what happened next.

"This is nice." Niki moved to the viewport, already peeling off the tactical gear she'd worn on the Bardaga. She changed into gray pants that hung loose on her hips. Simple black tank top. Bare feet on the cool floor. She looked comfortable. Unguarded. The way she'd been on Avalon.

"Yeah." I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. I'd ditched the formal uniform the second we'd gotten here—just kept the dark pants. The jacket they'd tried to give me was still hanging in the closet, untouched. Too stiff. Too much like a costume. "But I miss Avalon."

"Me too." She leaned back against my chest, her skin warm through the thin fabric. "It was peaceful there. Just us."

"We can go back." The words came out before I'd really thought them through. "After..."

"After what?"

"After I meet with my family." My stomach tightened. The words felt heavy. Complicated.

She turned in my arms, looked up at me with those dark eyes that saw too much. "Do you want to? Or do you feel obligated?"