Stars Beneath the Storm

Chapter 16

The days passed in a whirlwind of preparation, strategy sessions, and unease, but for Juniper, a new complication had entered the fray: the persistent and exhausting waves of morning sickness. Each morning, she found herself hunched over the small basin in the corner of the cabin, her body betraying her at the worst possible time.

Kael noticed, of course, though he didn’t comment outright. His steady presence was a mixture of silent support and lingering suspicion, his gray eyes watching her carefully. He helped in small ways—bringing her water, offering her bread to settle her stomach—but Juniper could feel the tension between them growing, and it gnawed at her.

Rylen, however, wasn’t nearly as tactful.

“You look like hell,” he said bluntly one morning, leaning against the door frame with his usual casual arrogance.

Juniper shot him a withering glare as she wiped her mouth with a cloth. “Thank you, Rylen. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

He shrugged, unbothered. “Just saying. You’re pushing too hard. We all are.”

“Not like we have a choice,” Juniper muttered, straightening with a wince.

Rylen’s expression softened, though only slightly. “That’s why I’ve been thinking. We need an edge. Something to shift the odds in our favor before spring comes. Sitting here and waiting for them to come to us is a death sentence.”

Kael, who had been sharpening a blade at the table, glanced up. “And what exactly are you suggesting?”

Rylen’s grin was sharp and confident, though there was a flicker of something darker in his gaze. “A trip off-planet.”

Juniper froze, her mind immediately conjuring the danger such a journey would bring. “Off-planet? Rylen, we can’t just—”

“Hear me out,” he interrupted, holding up a hand. “There’s a place, a neutral zone, where I know we can find allies. Supplies. Maybe even answers about that relic of yours.”

Kael’s expression darkened. “The last time you ‘found allies,’ they turned on us the moment things got messy.”

“Not these ones,” Rylen countered. “They owe me. Big time. And we won’t survive this fight if we don’t get creative.”

Juniper rubbed her temples, the stress and nausea combining into a pounding headache. “And what about Calliope?” she asked. “I’m not dragging her into more danger.”

Rylen’s gaze softened slightly at the mention of the girl. “She doesn’t have to come. One of us can stay behind with her. But if we want to make it through this, we need to take risks. Sitting around here isn’t going to cut it.”

Juniper glanced at Kael, who had gone quiet, his gaze fixed on the blade in his hands. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable.

“I don’t like it,” Kael said finally, his voice low. “But Rylen’s right. We need to do something. Staying here, waiting… it’s not enough.”

Juniper felt a pang of unease at his words, but she couldn’t deny the logic. They were running out of time, and the enemy wasn’t going to wait for them to be ready.

“Fine,” she said reluctantly, crossing her arms. “But if we’re doing this, we plan every detail. No surprises.”

Rylen smirked. “When have I ever surprised you?”

Juniper shot him a glare. “Don’t answer that.”

Despite her reservations, the seed of a plan began to take root. A trip off-planet was risky—dangerous, even—but it might also be the lifeline they desperately needed.

And in the back of her mind, the relic’s thrumming seemed to grow just a little louder.

The cabin buzzed with quiet tension as they gathered around the small table, the fire crackling softly in the background. Maps, notes, and a few hand-drawn diagrams were spread across the surface, illuminated by the dim glow of an oil lamp. Rylen leaned over the table, his sharp features drawn into an expression of focused determination.

“So, here’s the plan,” he said, tapping a finger on a star chart that indicated a neutral zone on the outskirts of galactic territory. “We head here, the Kantari Station. It’s outside the influence of most factions, and the Kantari keep things running clean—for the most part.”

Juniper frowned, her arms crossed as she stared at the chart. “You’re sure we’ll find allies there?”

Rylen grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep. There are people there who owe me, and I know how to call in favors.”

Juniper’s gaze flickered to Kael, who sat silently across from her, his expression unreadable. The idea of leaving him and Calliope behind gnawed at her, but there was no other choice. Taking Calliope into a potential war zone was out of the question, and Kael was the only one she trusted to protect her daughter in her absence.

“It’s not ideal,” she admitted, her voice quieter now, “but it’s the only way. I don’t like leaving Calliope. Or you,” she added, looking at Kael.

Kael’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, his eyes met hers. There was something in his gaze—something protective and pained—but he nodded. “You’re right,” he said finally. “It’s the best way to keep her safe. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her while you’re gone.”

Juniper wanted to believe him. She had to.

“I’ll get the ship ready,” Rylen said, pushing back from the table. “We leave at first light. You’ll want to pack light, Juniper. This isn’t going to be a pleasure cruise.”

She shot him a glare. “I figured.”

As Rylen moved to the door, Kael rose as well, his movements deliberate. “I’ll check the perimeter,” he said, his voice clipped.

Juniper watched him go, her stomach twisting with unease. She wanted to call after him, to say something to reassure him—or herself—but the words caught in her throat.

When the door shut behind him, Juniper sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “This feels wrong,” she murmured, more to herself than to Rylen.

Rylen paused, glancing back at her. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a rare moment of sincerity. “It’s a risk,” he admitted, “but staying here is a bigger one. You know that.”

She nodded, though the weight of her decision didn’t lighten. As she stared at the maps, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this journey would change everything—and not necessarily for the better.

That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Juniper lingered by Calliope’s bedside. She watched her daughter’s chest rise and fall with each peaceful breath, her small face framed by dark, silken hair.

“Be good for Kael,” she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Calliope’s face. “And remember—no matter what, I’ll come back for you.”

The words were a promise, not just to Calliope but to herself. She wouldn’t let this mission fail, no matter what dangers lay ahead. For her daughter, for Kael, and for the fragile hope she carried within her.