Page 47 (1/2)

Zander rubbed his ear “If you’re honoring your family with this vow out of love, then I bow to you But if it’s out of obligation, or guilt—”

“Don’t” He held up his hand He didn’t want Zander’s philosophies on thein his head to keep hiht for a solar cycle

Zander raised his arle, as was the traditional Zandian greeting “I honor your honor” He spoke the benediction in their native tongue

Seke bowed to his hologram “I honor your honor” He ended the transmission before he choked up As he walked slowly back to his chamber, a tenuous peace settled like a mantle over his shoulders He hadn’t chosen honor over fa Zander over his own children had been the result of circued things, souilt he carried

And it had been so long since he’d lost the With the layer of guilt removed, their death was like a box he could move within, instead of the coffin he’d chosen What did that s?

He activated the door to his own s chamber with a numeric code—the death pod was a primitive craft The rooroan, he sank to the cot and dropped his face into his hands His body eary, but his mind still ran in one hundred directions And all of them led to Leora

He hoped her visit with Lily had gone well

Maybe he’d just check on her He had access to the security feed from the palatial pod via his wrist cuff He wouldn’t let it becoht put his mind at ease to see her

He flicked on the feed and found her chamber

Oh holy Zandian moons No

His feainst the door, as if she’d just come in Tears streaked her beautiful face

Had things gone badly with Lily? Did she feel guilty over their lost years?

“Seke,” she whispered Her hands came to her throat, and he realized they held the collar he’d used on her Where had she found it? He’d sent all the equipht it out and stolen the collar for her own keeping h him

Veck

The tears were over hirown as attached as he had, but he should have known She’d given hi handed it back without so much as a kiss