Jade, helped by Valerian, supervised the exodus of Glory’s crew onto Maarlo’s ship, a passenger streamliner named Silence.

The assassin had traveled with a small, for-hire crew who were immediately onboard with sharing their ship with the newcomers. The loyal women and men who had fought valiantly against the rebels didn’t complain about the cramped quarters they would live in for the next month. Maarlo’s ship was smaller than Glory, but its powerful engines allowed it to reach double the speed, cutting the voyage to Solaria by half. Food would be rationed for the crew on duty, but the rest of them would be sleeping in the cryogenic pods until they reached the planet’s atmosphere.

“I’ll miss him,” Valerian said, breaking the silence between them.

“He’ll miss you, too.” Jade couldn’t know what it meant to leave everything behind but could imagine that it would be hard for Dragon. “I wish things could be different.”

“This is what Dragon wants. And it’s temporary, you know that.”

Jade wasn’t sure the Academy, but she didn’t contradict him.

As if following his own train of thought, Valerian’s gaze focused on a distant point. “I’d do the same if I were in his position. I would do anything to keep Gilda safe.”

“Until a few months ago, I would’ve never understood why someone would sacrifice everything for someone else.” Jade’s hand caressed her stomach. “Now I know.”

“You’ll take care of the big oaf, won’t you?” Valerian nudged her shoulder with his.

“I will.” She smiled. “I promise.”

“It’s going to be hard to get used to the change,” he said.

“You’ll do a great job as the new High Lord.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so,” Jade said. “Dragon would’ve never left you in charge otherwise.”

“Again, I don’t intend to be in charge for long.” Valerian shook his head in amusement and added, “Imagine when I tell Lars.”

Dragon entered the command room and strode to Jade, taking her in his arms. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Life,” Valerian answered. His expression turned serious, and he grabbed Dragon’s arm. “You’ll find a way to let me know you’re okay.”

Dragon nodded. “As soon as I can.”

For the next few hours, the three of them worked side by side until all the wounded were safely hosted in the new infirmary, and the prisoners were locked in the cargo bay cellars. Finally, it was time for Silence to sail away.

Valerian and Dragon said their farewells. Each man tried to sound tough, but their eyes shone, and their one-armed hug lingered several seconds. Jade gave them the space they needed and remained a few steps behind, feeling the emotional strain of the moment herself.

“Until the day we meet again,” Valerian said to Jade, hugging her briefly before turning and leaving Glory.

“Are you ready?” Jade asked Dragon when they were alone.

Dragon hugged her tightly to his side. “Yes, I’m ready.” He triggered the timer that would detonate the bomb he had placed in the engine room earlier in the afternoon. “Time to abandon ship,” he said, grabbing her by her waist for a smoldering kiss.

Walking at a brisk pace, they reached the cargo bay where a slender cruiser waited for them.

“Welcome aboard New Beginnings,” Dragon said, cradling Jade in his arms and carrying her over the ship’s threshold. “Home sweet home for the next two months.”

Three hours later, they watched Glory explode from the safety of their new command room.

“And so Dragon Sol and his beautiful Master Assassin died in a blast of glory.” Dragon chuckled. “I’m sure ballads will be sung about our tragic love.”

“It’s such a romantic story.” Jade curled against his side on the couch which he had moved from the recreational bay. Now they could sit comfortably together while he commanded New Beginnings.

“Speaking of romantic…” Dragon launched the new sequence with the coordinates to their next jump before turning back to her. “We have a few hours before we need to buckle in—” He leaned to lay a soft kiss on her mouth. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” She lowered herself to the cushion, pulling him on top of her.

His hands pulled at the hem of her loose shirt, dragging the fabric over her breasts, deliberately brushing her nipples with the cotton. She arched, her legs opening to accommodate his weight as his mouth descended on her breast. His tongue and teeth alone brought her to the edge of release.

She moaned softly when his hand traveled down, his fingers trailing over her skin, leaving goosebumps where he touched. Dragon found her ready for his invasion, but instead of taking her, he played with her senses. It was a sweet torture that made her whimper in frustration.

Dragon took his time to stoke her fire until she thought she would burn, only to cruelly prolong her passion with soft kisses. Finally, she grabbed the collar of his shirt and tore it open, her hands frantically moving to his pants next. As soon as he was naked, Jade moved on top and lowered herself onto him.

“You look like a goddess,” Dragon whispered, thrusting up to meet her demands. His hands caressed and kneaded her breasts. “Untamed and beautiful—”

Unable to resist much longer, she commanded a wild pace that made her cry in ecstasy a moment later. Dragon’s release immediately followed.

“I’m looking forward to a lifetime of this,” Dragon said in between kisses, rolling them to the side. His eyes fixed on her. He smoldered with his unwavering ultramarine gaze that still had the power to steal her breath.

“A lifetime with you.” Jade would never tire of the way Dragon made her feel like the only woman in the universe. It was a strong emotion that empowered her to finally believe they might have the lifetime he promised. Feeling their baby stir inside her, she took his wandering hand and brought it to her bump.

Dragon leaned over her stomach and kissed her stretched skin. “I can’t wait to meet you.” He pressed against the small bump that formed on her round belly when their baby moved at the sound of his voice.

“Hopefully, she or he will wait to be born until we reach land,” she said, losing herself in the comfort of his strong hands as they moved to her back, and soothed her tense muscles with expert caresses.

Soon, his touch stopped being calming, awakening her senses yet again to a fever pitch in the span of mere minutes. As Jade let him take the lead, she thought that two months of solitary confinement on New Beginnings might not be long enough to make up for the time they had lost as she had fought their enemies and herself as well.

“You won’t be able to walk straight once I’m done with you,” Jade said, grinning as he pulled her united wrists over her head with one hand and trailed the other down between her legs.

“I’ll hold you to that promise.” Dragon proceeded to kiss her thoroughly, making her forget whatever she planned to say next.

It didn’t matter. They had a lifetime together now.