Page 49 of Autumn L.A.W

“There is now,” she said. “No martyrdom. We don’t get to decide the other person’s acceptable level of sacrifice.”

His expression softened, then shuttered slightly. “Sahara…”

“I’m serious,” she said gently. “You don’t throw yourself on a magic sword because you think you’re more disposable. And I don’t let the imprint chew my mind because I think I can take it. We do this together or not at all.”

He held her gaze for a long moment.

Then he nodded once, like a vow. “Together.”

The word landed in the center of her chest and stayed there.

She broke eye contact first. “Good,” she said lightly. “Because if you die, I have to explain that to Bas, and I’m not emotionally prepared for that conversation.”

He smiled, small and rueful. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

A bell chimed somewhere. Chairs scraped. Crew filtered out in twos and threes, returning to their posts.

Ezra gathered their empty bowls and carried them to the return slot.

When he came back, the mess hall was almost empty. The quiet wrapped around them like another blanket of sea fog.

He hesitated, then sat again instead of leaving.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

She arched a brow. “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether it’s stupid.”

He almost smiled, then he nodded slowly. “Does it want something from you?”

“Yes,” she said. “But I don’t think it knows what.”

“Then we’ll make sure it doesn’t get to decide,” he said quietly.

Her throat tightened again. She hated that it did that.

“Rule six,” she said quickly. “No emotional speeches.”

“That’s very limiting,” he said.

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m aware.”

He didn’t argue.

They sat in silence for another few heartbeats. Then Sahara pushed back her chair.

“Come on,” she said. “If I sit here any longer, I’ll start naming the furniture.”

“What would you name the coffee pot?” he asked as they walked out.

“Harbinger,” she said.

“Ah,” he said. “Fitting.”

They stepped back into the cold evening wind. The sky turned fifty-one shades of gray, and the ocean stretched to infinity in every direction.