He stroked her hand, then raised it to his lips and kissed her palm. “We don’t know how long you can last or how long it will take or even if we’ll get through alive. I—”
She put a finger to his lips to stop the words. “I trust you.”
“You’re sure?”
“More sure than anything in my whole life. I don’t want to die. But more than that, I want to be part of you, in your life and in your mind. All my life I’ve been a loner. Now, I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
His expression cleared, relief flooding his eyes, and the tension seeped from him. He leaned in close and kissed her. “Good. I’d hoped, but I didn’t want to…” He rose to his feet. “We need to get moving.”
Rico had been watching in silence. Now he frowned. “Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?”
“No disrespect, Rico. You’re my best friend, but I still don’t want to be a sex-crazed monster. I want to be one of the angels.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not much chance of that, sweetheart. So? Still in the dark here.”
Callum grinned. “Ever wanted to know what’s on the other side of a black hole?”
“Maybe.” He sounded cautious.
“Well, you’re about to get the opportunity to find out.”
…
It had been three days.
Callum was doing his best not to hover over Tannis. He knew it irritated her. She was weakening, but holding on with a tenacity he would have expected from her.
Callum spent his time irritating Devlin instead, while he tried to get The Endeavor moving a little faster.
They were limping along and trying to get the stealth cloaking device working, but so far—no go. Which was a goddamned shame, because it appeared that half the universe was on their tail, and the other half was coming at them from the sides.
But they were almost there now. If they could just evade their pursuers a little while longer.
“How far away are they?” he asked Daisy who was attempting to track the ships following them. Her fingers moved slowly over the console, a frown forming on her face.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, how about how many?”
“I don’t know that either.” She glared at him. “I’m not Janey, and this stupid machine is not cooperating. But a lot, I think. Maybe all of them. But the good news is, were coming up on Trakis One now.” She leaned across and flicked the monitor over to show a wider area. On their left, he caught his first glimpse of Trakis One. He’d never been there before. The planet housed the Collective’s maximum-security prison and there was no reason to visit if you had a choice in the matter. The place was a shithole, totally inhospitable, including radiation levels that would burn through the hull of an ordinary ship in minutes.
And just beyond lay their destination.
The black hole.
He swallowed. Was he really planning to take them into that well of darkness?
Oh yeah.
Time to wake Tannis up. If they were about to crash and burn, he wanted her at his side when it happened.
…
As Callum carried her onto the bridge, her eyes were drawn to the black hole that filled the screen. It was mesmerizing, a vision of shimmering gases spiraling around a gaping maw. Callum’s hands tightened around her, and she peered up at him.
“You really want to do this?” she asked.
She could be taking them all to their deaths. Though with the Church fast approaching from the rear, The Endeavor dying beneath them, and no doubt the Collective not far behind, they didn’t stand much of a chance either way. And there was something strangely compelling about that yawning pit of night. Almost as though it called to them.
At least it took her mind off how crappy she felt. Though in truth, she was so drugged up that while the pain was there, it was distant, as though it belonged to someone else.
“Well, we’re approaching the event horizon,” Rico said. “So if you’re going to change your mind, you’d better make it quick.”
Rico was in the pilot’s seat. Tannis reckoned he’d fallen in love with the ship, and was already planning a major refit. And she was to be renamed The Blood Hunter Two. Well, if they survived this and actually found something on the other side.
Callum had been staring at the monitor as if mesmerized, but at the words, he shook himself and looked away. He lowered her gently into a seat. “What do you think?” he asked.
Tannis started at the question. He knew what she thought. Then she realized he wasn’t asking her. He was asking Rico.
“We’re going,” Callum continued, indicated the two of them. “But there’s still time for the rest of you to get off. You can take one of the shuttles and probably slip away from our friends behind us while everyone concentrates on us.” He nodded to the other monitor, which showed the fleet of ships at their back, then glanced around the room.
“Nah. We’re in—wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Rico said. Beside him, Skylar nodded her agreement.
“Daisy?” Callum asked.
“Hell, yes.” Daisy grinned—she was fizzing with excitement.
“Devlin?”