When I woke, the first thing I felt was warmth.
Not the sterile warmth of the facility's artificial heating, but the soft, flickering heat of skin pressed to mine. A heartbeat. A breath. The kind of warmth that only came from another body trusting yours enough to stay.
Nine was tucked against me, face half-buried in my shoulder, fingers curled into my shirt like he was afraid I might vanish if he let go. His breathing was even. Soft. Peaceful.
For a second, I stayed still.
Just listened.
Let myself believe this was all there was. This tiny bubble of calm. This sliver of quiet.
Then I opened my eyes.
And found him watching me.
His gaze was wide and unblinking, not with fear, but something far heavier—wonder. Like I was something he hadn't dared believe was real until I opened my eyes and looked back at him.
He blinked, caught in the act, and immediately ducked his head.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"For what?"
"For… looking."
"You can look at me all you want."
That made his cheeks flush, just slightly. His head tilted, brows drawn like he was trying to figure out if that was really true.
So I cupped his jaw gently and turned his face back to mine.
"I like it when you look at me," I said. "I like knowing you're here when I open my eyes."
He swallowed. "I… didn't want to sleep in case you left."
Gods.
My throat closed.
"I'm not leaving."
"You always come back," he said, quieter now. "But I still get scared."
I kissed his forehead.
"Even when I'm not with you," I whispered, "I'm thinking about you. Every minute."
He smiled.
Soft. Fragile.
But real.
We stayed like that for a while. Just lying there, breathing together, in a space where the cameras didn't matter and the world outside the room could wait.
But it didn't.
The soft beep of my wrist console shattered the stillness.
Nine stiffened against me.
I reached over slowly, careful not to jostle him, and read the message.
Report to Upper Observation—Omega Handler Nyx. Priority: Immediate.
The sender was the boss.
No explanation.
No attached files.
Just a call.
Nine looked up at me. "Is it him?"
I nodded.
He pressed his forehead to my shoulder.
"I don't like him."
"I know."
"I don't want you to go."
I kissed his hair and held him tighter. "I'll be back."
"I'll wait here."
"I know you will."
He kissed my hand before I pulled away.
And I hated how much that small gesture made me want to turn around and never answer the call.
But I stood.
Straightened my clothes.
Tamed the mess of my hair.
And walked out.
The observation deck above the training floors was dimly lit, filled with the faint hum of machinery and the flickering red lights of surveillance feeds. Several instructors were already present, standing in clusters near the glass wall that overlooked one of the main arenas below.
The boss stood at the center of it all.
He didn't look at me when I entered.
Didn't speak.
Just gestured toward the glass.
I stepped up beside him.
Below us, the arena was empty.
But not for long.
One of the service doors opened, and two guards led Nine into the room.
He was barefoot.
Dressed in a loose white tunic that made his skin look too pale under the lights. His expression was blank, but his shoulders were tense—just slightly. The way they always were when he didn't know what was expected of him.
I clenched my jaw.
The air in the room shifted as another figure appeared through the side entrance. Broad-shouldered. Military stance. The kind of man who enjoyed compliance a little too much.
Nine flinched when he saw him.
And my heart lodged in my throat.
The man stalked toward Nine, slow and deliberate. Predatory.
And Nine did nothing.
Didn't run. Didn't cower.
He just looked up.
Found me.
Even through the glass.
The connection snapped into place like a live wire.
He was still watching me when the man barked something unintelligible—loud, clipped. The sound echoed in the arena like a slap.
Nine didn't move.
Didn't obey.
Didn't even blink.
His eyes were locked on mine.
The boss finally turned to me, voice low but unmistakably sharp.
"I want a demonstration," he said.
I turned to look at him fully. "Of what?"
"Of obedience."
I said nothing.
"From what I understand," he went on, "he listens to you. Exclusively."
My heart pounded, but I kept my expression still.
"I want to see it," the boss said, smiling faintly. "Give him a command."