I lean against the dampener for another minute, breathing.
The Codex’s hum fades gradually back to its baseline. My ring cools from burning to a low simmer. My mouth still tingles from the kiss. My neck feels too aware of where his teeth were.
I hate that I liked it. I hate that I stopped it. I hate that I had to.
After a few more steady breaths, I straighten, do a quick pass over the remaining units to make sure nothing’s going to give us away, then climb back up.
The upper deck is brighter, cooler. The ship’s main viewports show the curve of Celadryn’s deep array ahead, distant still but closer than feels comfortable. The Veins are a pale lattice in the dark, like someone drew fault lines across reality.
Most of the crew is at stations. Cassian’s at a secondary console, talking soft
