Theodora's POVMake amends with dad? Way easier said than done. He was pretty adamant that I shamed his entire military career with my actions and he didn't even want to look at my face ever again. I could only imagine how my mom cried and fought with him when she came home and I wasn't there.But if you asked me, it should be Dad making amends. Not me.I hadn't seen my mom in years at this point and I missed her so much. My dad, too. But I didn't want to visit them if they made me feel unwanted. Daxton and I walked to our family's farm while Mads and Benji borrowed my dad's massive cyber-rover to tow the ship into the barn. Neither Daxton nor I were in any physical shape to do that. Thankfully, I was feeling better. Breathing better. The advanced healing serum was working wonders on me. "How's Mom?" I asked as we continued our walk. The farm wasn't far and I felt like the boys and Ellie could use the ATV more than us right now."You're about to see her," Daxton rebutted.

Theodora's POVMy heart was still pumping wildly, stuck in fight or flight as I stepped into the side door of the barn. A stack of scrap from Peacemaker piled in the corner. The smell of oil and hay. Peacemaker barely fit under the high ceilings. My dad typically worked on smaller crafts, but thankfully there was enough room to get the job done.And his hydrolift was strong enough to prop our ship a few feet in the air.Sparks flew from underneath the undercarriage, and the sound of a torch zapping drew my gaze to where Mads was. There was an empty plate on the workbench.At least he was able to eat before burying himself in work. My shoulders were still shaking, coming off the adrenaline. But it still fired through my system, making me jittery. The zapping stopped as Mads kicked himself out from under the ship, twisting off the blowtorch. He took off his welding mask, smoke clinging to his skin. His tattoos were glistening with sweat, clinging to his skin in droplets aro

Theodora's POVShame mottled my face. I can't believe Javier walked in on me and Mads. Fuck, how embarrassing. We were walking down a moonlit path, away from the homestead, down to a creek behind the barn I'd use for target practice when my dad first gave me his colt.I was sixteen and while most teenage girls on Gaea wanted a rover, I got a six-shooter. Nearly an antique that I took pride in shining and fixing so it would shoot. My dad told me it was one of the few things left from our earth's ancestors and he had been waiting to give it to me.Now that six-shooter was a key part of my identity. Something I poured my time and energy into master. I glanced over at Javier, his bulky shoulders, the line in his forehead."Javier…" I started, unsure where to take the conversation."How long have you and Mads been together?" he asked. "Were you together when you came onto me on Ilios?"Right to it then. "No. Mads and I have history, sure, but we broke it off before I met you," I

Theodora's POVMy mom outstretched a coffee to me. I took the hot beverage, bringing it to my lips to warm my insides. I sighed happily, enjoying it during the cold morning. I wore my leather jacket, and holster on my hip as usual. We would be leaving any day now. Only a few minor fixes. And with my dad's electrical experience, repairs were moving much faster. It almost felt like I was a teenager again, fixing up a ship with my dad. Comms were up and we could use the frequency from my ship to radio in on the wavelength if anyone needed anything. Definitely saved me the trouble of looking around the homestead for my brother. And saved Daxton the embarrassment of having his sister walk in on him and Ellie.I don't know what really happened between them, but I noticed the fleeting glances. The indigo flush on Ellie's cheeks. The handholding. All toothachingly sweet. So damn cute. I was happy for them.My own relationship…relationships, were slightly more complicated. I hadn

Theodora's POVI felt so fucking sick to my stomach. A stone weighing in my chest. My shoulders were sore from how hard I was weeping. My spine curled forward until I was hugging my knees to my chest. I prayed that my parents were okay.But I didn't know for sure.I just know that I could have done something.Jumped off the gangway and saved them the way I couldn't save my platoon. But Mads didn't let me. He ripped me backward, feet stumbling into his arms, holding me down as I wailed. But now all that grief felt numb.I felt numb.The glass of starshine on my desk was still untouched. I poured it for myself, but before I could drink it to quell the shakes, I fell over myself and dry-heaved into the garbage can. Nothing came up, but my stomach lurched and lurched.Painfully clenching my chest. I couldn't even vomit. All I did was cry so hard I couldn't see straight. A headache pounding my temples. Fighting the abyss that nipped at my ankles, tempting me to plummet into th