together. Our choice.
“Tess…” His voice cracked.
“Save her, Jax,” I begged. “Live.”
His face twisted. It broke. He broke, just like I did.
“Jaxon,” Fiona called weakly.
I wouldn’t let her slip away when there was still time to save her. I turned and left, walking out on Jax, because that was what I had to do—for him, for Fiona, and for Shiori. Jax and Fiona would be all that was left of us. Maybe they’d start a new family on the Endeavor. She was a good ship, meant to be a home.
I walked as if in a trance, raw and aching from the pain and shock of sudden loss. I stepped off the ship and moved across the platform toward a smaller craft in the next bay over, following the man who wasn’t actually my father. He never took his eyes off me—or his gun off Shiori’s head.
The Overseer climbed the ramp onto his cruiser, dragging a limp Shiori as protection against the Grayhawk I still had pointed at him. He held her in the doorway, facing me.
“Get on,” he snarled. “And drop the gun.”
“You drop yours,” I answered tonelessly.
“Drop the gun, girl, or I’ll shoot her in the head.”
I threw the gun away from me.
Still behind me, Shade cursed. I wanted to say goodbye to him, to say something, but what was the point? I thought he knew I didn’t hate him anymore, that maybe I never really had, and that maybe I’d had hope for us only a few minutes ago.
Shade and Bonk and me in the tunnels. It had felt like a new beginning.
A burning fist gripped my heart and tore. I couldn’t look at Shade. Looking at him would only make things worse.
I continued toward the Overseer’s ship, barefoot, unarmed, and a blast of color I hoped would sear that drab-loving bastard’s eyes. Life, for however long it lasted, would really suck from now on. I was glad I’d had that night with Shade.
Shots rang out from behind me on my right. The Overseer darted to the side as half a dozen goons jumped out of his cruiser to defend him. They returned fire, some of them falling, while the Overseer scrambled for cover, a look of pure shock and rage on his face.
I scooted to the left, away from the line of fire, and turned to see what had made a hint of fear splash across the Overseer’s expression.
Big Guy stalked forward, picking off the goons with perfect aim and avoiding their shots with a slippery kind of swiftness that defied my vision. His terrifying focus never left the Overseer.
Shade dove for my gun. He slid onto his side as he grabbed it and picked off two of the goons from the floor of the dock.
“Novalight,” Big Guy growled. With no more soldiers between them now, Big Guy started running for the Overseer, his inhuman speed eating up the space between them in great, angry gulps. He let out a beast-like bellow.
Panic flashed in the Overseer’s eyes. He punched his hand down on the door control and then backed away from the huge man racing toward him like a deadly black torpedo. The ramp retracted fast, and Shiori’s shock-blank face suddenly took on life again right before the armored door whooshed shut.
“Don’t come for me!” she cried. “I forbid it!”
The sliding panels latched together in the middle mere seconds before Big Guy slammed into the closed door with a snarl. The engine fired up, and a thump of heat drove me back a step and made Big Guy throw himself away from the cruiser. A moment later, the ship took off. As soon as it cleared the dock, the cruiser leaped into warp speed and disappeared from sight, taking Shiori from us.
I stared after it, heartsick. How could this have happened?
Big Guy turned to Shade and me. He’d shaved off his beard. He’d also shaved his head. He still looked furious, though not at us.
“You’re back.” My whole body went heavy and weak, as if I could finally just stop for a moment. Stop and rest.
Big Guy holstered his gun. “Thought I’d help out.”
“But…how?” Actually, I didn’t care about the answer right now. I was just glad he was here.
Shade hauled himself up and limped toward me. He slid his hands into my hair, cradling my head, and kissed me full on the mouth. Then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in close. His heart pounded against mine, and I stood there, absorbing his comfort