Chapter 4 4

Somewhere outside of Kaelea's atmosphere, there are at least a dozen ships, keeping watch. They're keeping the Neron blasters from finding the giant target we put on this planet.

My heart jumps all the way up my throat when I see a black spot appear in the sky. My palms are slick with sweat as it grows bigger and bigger, sinking through the clouds and the sky and coming closer to the surface.

It's been over three lunars since I last saw any of their faces. In so many ways it feels like it was just yesterday, but considering all that's happened in that time, it feels like it's been four lifetimes since I last laid eyes on them all.

The breath rips in and out of my chest in deep, long pulls as I make out the familiar features of The Corsair. Slowly, it sinks to the ground.

I see the viewport.

I make out the hatch.

I see the blinking lights and then the landing gear dropping down.

And oh my stars, lower, lower, lower they drop.

And finally, the ship touches down on the ground.

I hear a rush of air and I bound around the far side of the ship, standing directly in view as the ramp opens.

As much as I love everyone aboard this ship, my eyes don't see anyone else.

My dad stands at the top of the ramp.

Not possible, my heart whispers.

You were dead, my brain remembers.

But it's real. He takes one step forward. And then another. His gray eyes are fixed on mine, our eyes that don't share one bit of DNA, our hearts that never were biologically related.

But we're family, and he's everything I needed in a father.

I don't realize there are tears rolling down my face the entire time he walks down the ramp. But when he steps out onto level ground in front of me, sobs rip through me.

My father pulls me into his arms and I crush myself into his firm, familiar chest.

"Dad," I cry, saying his name over and over, marveling over the miracle that is happening right now. I squeeze him tighter and tighter to myself, afraid he's going to dissolve and I will find this is only a dream.

"I'm here, Nova," he says into my hair, cupping the back of my head. "I'm here."

If the others are watching this family reunion, they don't say anything or get impatient as I sob harder than I've ever cried in my life. They wait, silent and patient, as I breathe in the familiar scent of my father, while he holds me with his rough hands that taught me how to build and fix.

"Dry those tears, Nova," Torin eventually says, pulling away so he can look into my eyes. The familiar lines sprouting from his eyes crease deep and a smile spreads on his face. He brushes a thumb over my cheek, wiping away the torrent of tears rolling down my face. "Can't have the most inspirational being in the galaxy crying over someone as simple as me."

"Dad," I say, my voice cracking as tears rush down my face once more. "You're anything but simple."

He only gives a smile and a chuckle, hugging me tightly once more before stepping away, revealing everyone else behind him.

Zayne walks down the ramp first, a hard, serious look on his face. He doesn't hesitate even one second, though, before he wraps his arms around me, hugging me hard and tight.

This is familiar too, but in such a different way. Zayne's hug comes with such complicated emotions, but there's only one that really matters. Love. The love between us has changed in so many ways, but it's this new kind of love that is my favorite.

The love of family.

"I'm going to yell at you later. I'm going to do a lot of it," he says against my ear. His beard, two weeks overgrown, is scratchy against my face, but I think it kind of suits him. "But for now, I'm just so slam grateful you're in one piece."

I smile, laughing as I cling to him tight. "I'm looking forward to all the yelling. It's been a while since we sparred."

He laughs too, and lets me go. And there's Nymiah, just to his side, looking at me with all that familiar uncertainty.

She has never been able to decide if she hates me or not.

I don't care. I pull her into a hug, and to my surprise, she doesn't fight me.

"Thank you for taking care of all of them for me these past lunars," I say, and I truly mean it. I would have worried over them so much more if she hadn't been with them. I had every confidence in her.

"Just get rid of Cyrillius and we'll call things even," she says. She steps back, breaking my hug, but I only smile instead of taking offense.

"Deal," I say, laughing.

She smiles, taking a step closer to Zayne, who puts his hand on her hip.

Which makes me smile again.

Someone slowly walks down the ramp, and I'm pretty sure my heart explodes when my eyes finally meet Edan's.

A small smile is pulling at his lips, controlled and sly. But as a smile breaks my own face and I dart across the space still between us, he smiles the first real, genuine, big smile I've ever seen on his face.

And it's actually beautiful.

His eyes brighten. His teeth are white and straight.

He looks like a happy, normal human being, instead of a mischievous imp.

I wrap my arms around him, smiling and laughing as his arms encircle me. He lifts me off my feet, spinning us in a circle before setting me back down.

"Guess this means you missed me?" he says, placing his hands on my shoulders, looking me directly in the eyes.

I smirk, grabbing his wrists. "Everyone around here is so uptight and official. There's no one around to do sketchy slag with."

"I'm ready for all the sketchy slag missions you've got, Nero," he says, the mania in him making his eyes bright.

I smile, feeling as if I'm glowing, ready to float off.

I feel my confidence return. Like it really had gone off with Edan and he just brought it back. With this little maniac by my side, suddenly I'm sure I can do whatever needs to be done.

"I will never understand what the void you see in him," Zayne's voice cuts into my joyful reunion.

We turn to the others and Edan slings an arm across my shoulders. "There are few mysteries of the galaxy you understand, my compadre."