Chapter 7

Sera Westbrook's POV

We went into the command room together. Jax looked tense. "Captain, what do we do? The outside is full of mutated sea monsters!"

Kyle lowered his head and thought for a few seconds, then quickly made a decision. "I'll hold them off. Taylor, go reinforce the Titan's armor. Vera handles offense and clearing the path. Jax, Sera—you two watch their movements and give us warning at all times."

He assigned everyone. I waited for him to give me a specific order. He glanced at me, his tone flat. "You assist Jax."

Assist Jax. Meaning: stay in the rear, don't lift a finger.

I looked at him, wanting to say something, but the words reached my lips and I swallowed them back. Seven years ago I was the one who dumped him, and now I was taking shelter in his base. What right did I have to argue with his tactical arrangement?

But no matter what, when it was time to step in, I would step in.

"Understood." I lowered my head.

Kyle turned and stepped out onto the deck.

The battle erupted. Cole's rock barrier was smashed apart, Vera's firelight was canceled out by the wet, slippery shells, and Jax's comms were full of static. Kyle used neural resonance to pin the deep-sea mutants down hard, but as soon as one batch fell, another surged up—there was no end to it.

Which was normal. Deep-sea mutants were hard to deal with to begin with.

Jax slapped the table, saying he couldn't hear Cole's position. I stood beside the observation post, watching that mass push forward. Kyle's suppression couldn't control the whole group, and Vera's fire wasn't very effective either. I was the only one here who could step in.

But Kyle had told me to assist Jax.

I stared at the screen, my fingers tightening on the edge of the table. If I didn't go out, the defense line outside wouldn't hold. If I did go out, I'd be disobeying his orders again.

Seven years ago I owed him an explanation. Now I owed him obedience too.

The roars outside grew louder, and I heard Vera's rapid breathing over the channel. I stood up and pulled the hatch open.

Wind poured in, carrying the rank stench of seawater. Kyle sensed the movement behind him and turned. When he saw me, his expression darkened.

"Get back inside." His voice was flat, without any rise or fall, but more unquestionable than if he'd shouted.

"You can't hold them." I looked at him. "I'm not stealing credit, and I'm not acting rashly. I'll just clear the flank for you, then fall back."

He stared at me, not angry. He just looked at me in silence for two seconds, then turned back and went on suppressing the deep-sea mutants.

He didn't say anything—which I took as tacit permission.

I released my ability. Jellyfish tentacles spread out from behind me, and the current spread along the seawater. A tentacle swept over from the right and left a cut on my arm; blood ran down my wrist. I didn't stop until the last one was cleared.

I withdrew my ability and stepped back inside without any extra movement. By then, Kyle was still standing on the deck, watching me fixedly.

After the fight, Jax exclaimed, "God, Sera, you're incredible."

I smiled faintly, and out of the corner of my eye I caught Kyle's gaze—it had never once left me.

At dinner, Vera said happily, "Sera was amazing today! If she could join us, we really wouldn't be lacking anything."

At those words, the table went quiet.

I knew Vera wanted me in the squad. I looked down at my plate and said nothing.

Just then, Kyle walked up beside me. "Come up to the fourth floor."

I stood up and went up to the fourth floor with him. The command room was empty. Kyle stood beside the tactical table, his back to me.

I looked at his back. "Is something wrong?"

Kyle turned around. "Hand."

I knew he'd noticed my wound.

I didn't hide it and held out my injured arm.

He glanced at the wound, turned, and got the medical kit. Not a word through the whole process. He crouched in front of me—disinfecting, applying medicine, bandaging. His movements were steady and light, but he didn't look at me the whole time.

I still felt uneasy about it.

I understood his worry and his care for me, but at the same time, I had reasons I couldn't avoid.

"Kyle."

He didn't answer.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I shouldn't have disobeyed your orders. But I couldn't just watch you die out there."

His hands stopped. After a few seconds, he tied off the bandage, let go, but didn't stand up. He stayed crouched in front of me, raised his head, and looked at me.

Kyle asked in a low voice, "Do you know what it felt like on my end when you went out there?"

I didn't answer. I just kept looking into his eyes.

But there didn't seem to be any ripple in his eyes. I couldn't read any emotion from them—anger or pain, nothing. I couldn't see anything.

I actually wished he would show some emotion. His showing nothing was scarier than his being angry.

"You can't feel pain, but I can." Kyle's tone was cold. "When you fight, think about me a little. Don't treat yourself like a tireless human weapon."

I said, "Oh."

Kyle looked at me quietly, then suddenly sighed. "Forget it. Go back and eat. Get some good rest tonight."

I nodded. "Okay."

At the door, I thought about it and chose to turn back to look at Kyle.

"When I said we should break up back then, there was a reason." I was silent for a few seconds. "In the seven years since I left you… to be honest, I've forgotten what happened in those seven years. I remember the scene of us breaking up, but as for the reason… I don't remember that either. But I know that if I hadn't been forced into it, I wouldn't have left you."

His figure stayed very still, and he didn't answer.

I could tell he didn't want to answer, so I didn't push. I walked out of the room and closed the door.