Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

LILA

T he ship creaks and groans, settling into an uneasy quiet after the battle. An acrid smell of burnt wiring lingers in the air, mixing with the metallic tang of Garoth’s blood. God, he’s huge. And hot. No, focus, Lila!

We’ve managed to stabilize the critical systems, but warning lights still blink ominously on various panels. The hum of the remaining operational systems feels like a tenuous lifeline in the vast emptiness of space.

I sit across from him, the first aid kit open between us. His injury is serious, but with my limited medical skills, I manage to stop the bleeding. My hands definitely don’t shake as I patch him up. Nope. Not at all.

“We need to talk,” I say, breaking the silence, my words raspy. “About what just happened.”

Garoth’s eyes meet mine, and I swear the temperature in the room shoots up ten degrees. He clenches his jaw as if steeling himself. “They betrayed me,” he says, his tone low and dangerous. “The warlords want you dead, and they are willing to kill me to make sure of it.” His fist clenches at his side, and I can see the struggle for control playing out across his face.

I frown, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. “And now we’re stuck together.”

He nods, his expression grim. “We have to be careful. They won’t stop until they get what they want.”

“Which means we need a plan,” I say, leaning back against the bulkhead, trying to ignore how the movement makes my body brush against his. “And we need to trust each other.”

Garoth’s eyes soften slightly. “Agreed. But trust doesn’t come easily.”

I smile wryly. “Tell me about it.”

We work in silence for a while, the tension between us easing slightly as we focus on the task at hand. As I adjust a panel, I glance at him.

“There’s a lot more to you than just a bounty hunter,” I say, my tone probing.

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound. “And there’s more to you than just a diplomat.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Is that a compliment?”

He shrugs, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, making his tusks stand out more. “Just an observation.”

As we continue to work, the ship’s systems gradually come back online. The lights flicker and then stabilize, casting a warm glow over the cramped quarters.

I feel a surge of pride in our accomplishment, mixed with a growing respect for Garoth’s skills.

“We’re getting there,” I say, unable to keep the satisfaction from my words.

Garoth nods, his eyes serious. “But we can’t let our guard down.”

I study him, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes constantly scan our surroundings. It’s clear he is used to being hunted, to living on the edge.

I wonder what experiences have shaped him, what paths have led him to this life of constant vigilance.

“You’ve been in situations like this before, haven’t you?” I ask softly.

He stares out the viewport for a long moment, a muscle in his jaw clenching and relaxing before he finally nods. “More times than I care to count,” he admits finally in a low growl. “But never quite like this… with someone like you.”

“Oh?” I cock an eyebrow in question.

“Yeah, a female who’s not a bad shot.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Next time I’ll be better. Took a bit to get used to your wonky controls.”

Instead of arguing like most orcs, I’d met, he just smiles, his tusks pulling at the corners of his lips, and my stomach does a little flip for some strange reason.

As we set our course for my home planet, a sense of determination fills the space between us. We are two unlikely allies, bound by necessity and a growing trust. The road ahead is uncertain, but for the first time since this ordeal began, there’s a glimmer of hope.

In the quiet moments that follow, as the ship hums softly and the stars stretch out before us, I realize that our journey is just beginning. And whatever lies ahead, we will face it together.