“Okay,” I finally whispered.
A smile spread across his face—not the slight uptick of his lips I’d grown accustomed to but a full, genuine smile that transformed his features and made my heart skip.
In his quarters, I managed to kick off my shoes before collapsing onto his bed. The last thing I remembered was the solid warmth of his body curling protectively around mine as my consciousness slipped away.
SIXTEEN
AEON
I woke up to the gentle weight of Olivia nestled against my chest. Dawn light filtered through the small window of my quarters, casting a soft glow across her sleeping face. I found myself tracing the contours of her cheek with my eyes, memorizing every freckle and every curve.
This—her in my arms—felt right in ways I couldn’t articulate. My chest tightened with that ache I’d been experiencing more frequently. It wasn’t painful but it was growing more intense by the day. I wanted more mornings like this. All our mornings, perhaps.
The thought startled me. These feelings had developed so rapidly yet felt as solid as the ground beneath the colony. I knew with certainty that I wanted her, not just for the sake of our people’s future but for mine. For ours.
But the complications between us remained a tangled web. Captive and captor. Doctor and student. Human and cyborg. Where did we stand now?
The communicator on my wrist buzzed, breaking my reverie. I glanced at the message.
“Shit,” I muttered as Sage’s face appeared on the small screen.
“Security center. Now. Priority one.” Her expression left no room for questions.
Olivia stirred against me, her eyes fluttering open. She looked momentarily confused, and then recognition dawned, followed by a small, tentative smile.
“Morning,” she whispered, her voice thick with sleep.
I tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “Morning. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Was that your communicator?” She propped herself up on one elbow, suddenly more alert.
“Sage. Something at the security center. I need to go.” I sat up, reluctant to leave the warmth of her. “Can I drop you at the medical bay on my way? Your trainees should be arriving soon.”
She stretched, her small body arching slightly. “I can manage. You go handle whatever crisis has Sage in a twist.” Her eyes softened as she looked at me. “I’ll get the medical staff started without you.”
I leaned down, pressing my lips to her forehead. “I’ll join you when I’m done.”
Her fingers traced the scar on my shoulder. “Be careful, whatever it is.”
“Always am.” I stood up, slightly surprised by her concern, and pulled on my clothes with practiced efficiency.
“That’s debatable,” she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve got a reputation for rushing into things.”
I paused. “From who?”
“Sage likes to talk when she’s guarding over me. A lot.” She smirked, sitting up and wrapping the sheet around herself.
“Seems I need to have a word with her about that,” I grumbled, but couldn’t help smiling.
As I finished dressing, I watched her gather her things. This unexpected intimacy—the casual banter, the shared space—felt precious. The words burned in my throat, things I should say about us, about what this meant, but I swallowed them back. Not now. Not with Sage waiting and the day’s duties already pressing down on us.
Later, I promised myself. I would find the right words later.
I reached the security center in under five minutes, my boots pounding against the stone walkways that connected the colony’s central structures. The jungle humidity hit differently outside than in my quarters—thicker and more oppressive. Sweat beaded at my temples as I pushed through the heavy door.
Sage stood before a wall of screens, her usually stoic face pinched with concern. She turned as I entered, her eyes narrowing.
“You took your time,” she said, tapping a screen to enlarge a news broadcast.
