It was intricate and beautiful. Deceptively so.
‘I don’t want anything from him,’ she grumbled, pushing the box back toward him.
After her humiliating punishment, her self-preservation instincts were at their highest.
She could and would live without Mak Sauvage in her life.
Koda sighed, not unkindly. ‘You don’t have a choice. Effective today, I’m off your detail. You’re now free to leave the lodge, exploreThe Sombra, or even take transport to the station levels if you want.
Saba jolted. ‘He’s setting me loose?’
‘Only if this stays on you.’ He tapped the comm. ‘It’s a shield.’
Her brow creased. ‘A what now?’
He flicked the device on, showing her a thin pulse of energy that flickered around the dial before disappearing.
‘It’s encoded with defensive shielding that will throw up an electronic screen around you and emit an emergency beacon in case someone comes for you.’
She jolted. ‘Why would anyone come for me?’
Koda hesitated, then answered in a gruff voice. ‘Mak was attacked. Three days ago. Asachemcame after him hard. he and the Signet strong guard had upped security on the Sombra, but we still advise caution.’
She froze, the kitchen fading around her. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
He met her gaze with unflinching coolness. ‘It wasn’t my news to tell.’
She flicked her eyes away from him, mulling over what he’d disclosed. ‘You’re leaving?’
‘Naam, Šarim, I have other duties to attend to with the wider Sauvage family.’
Her hands trembled as she lifted the comm and fastened it around her wrist.
‘Mak got this for me?’ she asked, quieter now.
Koda’s mouth tightened. ‘Whether you see it or not, he wants you safe without locking you up.’
She glanced down at the chrono, its sleek face catching the light.
‘A shield and a tether, huh?’
Koda shrugged.
With a soft sigh, she whispered, ‘Sante. You’ve been a fantastic companion.’
He gave her a chin jerk. ‘I’ll take my leave now, Šarim. It has been a pleasure working for you.’
She realized she might not see him for some time and, surprising herself, she moved forward and asked, ‘May I give you a hug?’
His brows ached, then the taciturn man bestowed her with a rare, slight smile.
‘Naam.’
She gave him a quick embrace and stepped back. ‘Heck, I’ll miss you. Who am I going to talk to in this big old lodge now?’
‘That’s why you need to spread your wings and fly,Šarim. TheSombrais an amazing ship.’
Koda nodded once and left her standing, the quiet hum of the grand cabin wrapping around her as worry for her husband filled her mind.
