I stare out the window. Stars burning millions of miles away light the darkness of space around us.

This ship is nice. It’s not like the Blue Star, but what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in size and gunpower. Mor loves it. He’s spent his time while recovering from the poison inspecting every inch of it.

I wish I could get excited about it. I lean back in the chair, gripping my hands around the steering instruments.

Mor’s large feet clunk against the metal floor as he takes his seat next to me. He spins in the chair, then sighs.

“She doing okay?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I suppose, but she’s secure for re-entry.”

I nod and lean back, running my fingers along the red leather of the chair. It’s been six days of this. Mor goes to the cabin, where Emily has locked herself. He brings her food and water. She won’t speak to me; she hasn’t uttered one word to my face since I saved her from King Ursen.

We escaped just in time, with a fleet of ships of the Baromenian and Omicronian army chasing us to the edge of the Centaurus System.

But I planned on leaving anyway. I’m taking Emily back to her home, Earth. I run my hands through my hair and stare at the radar.

“Approaching the Milky Way edge,” Mor says. “Are you certain you want to do this?”

I can’t help but laugh. It’s not a matter of what I want. “What else am I supposed to do? Keep her as my prisoner? Three minutes till breach.”

Mor’s hands move across the keyboard. “Thrusters are on. But she’s your mate.” We’ve hardly talked about it this whole trip, but Mor’s known. My whole behavior changed the moment I met her. I started to care about something other than myself.

I clench my jaw and take a deep breath. “She deserves better. Two minutes. Life with us is dangerous; she’ll always be at risk of getting hurt. And where will we take her? We don’t even know where we’re going next.”

“Sounds like excuses to me.”

“She’ll be safe here.”

“But if she’s on Earth, then you won’t be able to protect her.”

“Mor—enough! I’m taking her back.” My attention glues itself to the blinking red timer. I have minutes left with Emily. My stomach twists. Entering in three, two—”

The ship engines surge with power as we speed through toward Earth. Thousands of planets pass by us as the outside turns into a blur. I watch the radar carefully, keeping our course clear and straight. The map blinks, measuring our distance from Earth. My fingers clench the throttle, and I push it forward.

Mor glances up. “What are you doing?”

I don’t respond.

“You’re going too fast.”

“Its fine,” I mutter. “The ship can handle it.”

The speed continues to increase, and everything outside becomes nothing more than a swirl of color until the bright light of Earth’s sun shines through, and we approach the solar system.

Mor’s body tenses, and his hands cling to his armrests. I just want to get this over with, and at this speed, we will reach Earth in a few hours.

I swerve the ship, dodging around several chunks of an asteroid that the radar hadn’t sensed. At least now I can start drinking again.

I don’t need to numb the world out when Emily is with me. She’s intoxicating enough. After this, I’ll need a lot to forget her.

“You need to slow down, Orien.”

I ignore him. With Emily gone, Mor and I can continue doing what we do best, stealing and conning, which is no way for Emily to live her life. But I know it won’t feel right after all this.

“What’s the point of rushing if we don’t even make it there alive?”

I still don’t respond.

“You’re risking her life for no reason. Isn’t that the whole reason why are giving her up—to protect her?”

“This is what she wants.”

“How do you know?”

“She told me.”

“Recently?”

I grit my teeth and yank back on the throttle. The ship lurches to a slow pace all at once.

Mor and I jerk forward in our seats. He lets out a low snarl and rubs his neck where one of the belts meets his skin.

“Emily should have a good husband and a nice home, or whatever the fuck she wants. I can’t give her any those things, Mor, so just drop it.” There’s venom in my voice and anger in my eyes. He doesn’t understand.

He frowns; deep creases form in the blue skin around his mouth, aging him for a moment. “You have a home, Orien.”

“Don’t—”

“You know as well as I do that the people hate your father.”

“Stop!”

“He’s dying! He may already be dead. You’re the heir! They would follow you as the new emperor!”

“Mor, shut the fuck up. I slowed down the ship; why are you talking about all this crazy shit? Okay? Just chill.”

“It’s not crazy, Orien. It’s what you were born to be, and Emily would make a great queen a—”

I hold my hand up. “Enough.” I sigh and rub my temple.

“That girl loves you, Orien. She might not ever say it, but I can see it in the way she looks at you.”

“She won’t even talk to me.”

I feel defeated, and neither of us discusses the subject anymore. We don’t even speak the rest of the trip. The minutes seem to drag on in the silence, but Emily’s presence gnaws away at me. I can smell her scent faintly wafting through the room. Every second that passes is a second I could be near her, touching her.

And then the green and blue world appears into view. Its white clouds swirl in its sky, with the sun shining onto its side, and the white moon stands opposite.

I stare at Emily’s home. This is where she belongs, I repeat to myself. Here is where she will live the rest of her days in happiness.

No, here is where she was hurt by those people, by that idiot man. Sickness rushes through me. She’s endured too much in one lifetime. Can she continue all on her own? It will be my fault if she fails.

“Do you want me to do the landing?” Mor asks.

“Nope. I got this.”

I grab the steering wheel and lead the ship through Earth’s atmosphere. The ship groans in protest. Retrorockets slow us down with a harsh jolt.

I jerk forward in my seat. Not the smoothest landing I’ve done. I pick an open field to land, where no human life is detected, but close to Emily’s home. I don’t want to turn this into a scene.

We have arrived.

“Want me to go get her?” Mor asks.

“No, I should say goodbye.” I pull myself out of the seat and return to the outside of her room.

“Hey—we’re here,” I shout. Nothing. “Emily, we’re here. Ya know, Earth, your favorite place.” A few seconds pass without a word. “Emily!” I pound on the door. “Fucking three suns, woman! Get your fucking ass off this ship!”

My voice is raised now, and I am shaking. I don’t know if it’s out of anger, fear, or sadness, but the emotion of everything is working its way up. “We just traveled across the cosmos to bring you back, so if you don’t open this door right now, I am coming in there and fucking dragging you out myself!” My fists are beating the door. “Emily!”

I collapse on the ground. My back slides onto the floor, and my shoulders tremble as I cry. “Emily, please. I love you. I want you to know that, okay. I don’t want to do this. I want you to stay. I want you forever. I love you so much. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry about everything. I know you hate me, and you should. I deserve it all. I shouldn’t have taken you in the first place, and I should never have given you to Ursen. I fucked up. I just wanted you to be safe. You can’t be safe with me.”

I’m blubbering like a child, and the tears run freely. “I love you. I’ll go now. I understand. But please, know that I love you more than anything.” I stand, trembling, and begin to walk to my bunk.

“Orien?”

I freeze at the sound of her voice.

“I forgive you.”

I turn. Emily leans against the door frame, with her arms folded. She has on one of Mor’s grey shirts, soft and so long on her, it’s a dress. He must have given it to her to wear instead because her clothing was in tatters.

I can make out the faint outline of her inimitable body through it in the dim light. Her shimmering black hair is pulled down over her shapely form. She bites on her lower lip, and her beautiful eyes flutter away from mine.

God, I must look so shitty right now. But she—she looks stunning. Her skin glows once more, and the color has returned to her cheeks.

I just want to touch her—feel her against my skin again.

The desire for her is too much, seeing and smelling her after being days apart. My whole body ignites as though it’s on fire. My heart rate soars, and every part of my being craves her wildly. I feel out of control.