Page 181 of Tracked and Taken

“She does not know. She has not asked why I have been carrying her, why I have not put her down, why I am not during this op or beyond, leaving her side. She thinks it’s protection. It is. But Korrhai law calls the second stage pursuit.”

“Thane.”

“Vosk.”

“And the third.”

“I am not, on this comm, going to explain the third to a Draelith.”

A beat.

“Vosk?”

“Mm.”

“Tell Natalie I am sorry. The whole of this. Her station. Her people. The mess of it. I would be at the SNAG office tonight to help her work it if I could. But I cannot.”

I take the comm gently from Tael’s hand.

“Thane.”

A pause.

“Natalie.”

“Apology accepted. Take care of your female. Comm us when you can.”

A long breath on the other end.

“Thank you, Natalie.”

“Bring her back, Thane.”

“I am going to bring her back, Natalie.”

“Good.”

I hand the comm back.

“Thane. When she wakes. The notebook. You are going to have to show her your hands.”

“Yes.”

A beat.

“I am, Vosk, going to make her understand what she has done. The conversation is mine. Do not comm me. I will comm you.”

The line cuts.

The bedroom is dark.

Tael’s silver eyes find mine. His thumb finds the mark on my throat.

The conduit warms.

“Tael.”

“Sweetheart.”