20. Orders and Out
The soft hum of the room barely masked the low murmur of data streams from the holotable. Voss stood at the edge of the bed, his silver eyes cool but edged with something warmer, something he rarely showed—
Reluctance to wake her.
Leah lay curled, her breathing soft and even, exhaustion still weighing on her limbs. But the bond—the damn bond—meant he felt her stirring before she opened her eyes.
Her voice, rough and low: "You're hovering."
Voss's lips curled, a flicker of amusement breaking through the steel. "I don't hover."
Leah's eyes cracked open, sharp and tired: "You do."
A beat—then his voice, smooth and clipped, straight to the point:
"Update."
She sat up, the warmth of sleep fading under the sharp focus in his tone. "Talk."
His silver eyes burned, sharp with relentless calculation:
"I've pulled every asset. The food contracts are locked—15 years' worth for Ark 0. My metals are in transit. Logistics for the main Arks are breaking, and the Alphas are mobilized." His voice, low and cold: "The board's cracking."
Leah's gaze narrowed, her voice clipped: "And Ravenna?"
His jaw tightened, his voice low and lethal: "She's watching." His silver eyes flashed. "But she's not ready."
Then—his tone shifted, low and direct:
"But I need you moving."
Leah's brow arched, something sharp flickering in her eyes: "Oh?"
His gaze locked with hers, his voice smooth but uncompromising:
"I'm working the supply chains. You—" his silver eyes burned, "—stock our quarters."
Her lips parted, surprise flashing: "Ours?"
His voice, low and final: "Ark 0. Long-term. We don't just survive—we live."
A flicker—something warm, unexpected—cut through her chest, but she kept her voice even:
"Fifteen years' worth."
His lips curled into something cold and dangerous: "We're not coming back. We take everything we need."
Then—his silver eyes sharpened:
"Take Ross with you."
Leah's brow lifted. "Ross?"
Voss's voice, clipped and absolute: "He's ex-logistics. Knows how to cut through bullshit. You'll need him for ship inventory."
Her lips curled, something amused: "You're sending me shopping—"
His voice, smooth and deadly: "—With a shadow."
Her eyes flashed with something sharp and playful: "You don't trust me?"
His voice, low and rough: "I don't trust the market." His silver gaze cut into hers. "And I don't take risks with you."
A beat.
Then—
His voice softened—just a fraction:
"And—" his silver eyes glinted,
"Pick up something for Ava."
Leah's brow flicked, intrigued: "Ava?"
His lips tugged into the faintest smirk, something wicked glinting beneath his steel:
"She's stuck at the tower with James. I want her to know—" his voice dipped, smooth and taunting,
"—we didn't forget her."
Leah's eyes sparked with wicked delight, and her voice, low and teasing:
"Oh, I'll shop for her."
Leah shifted to stand, ready to move—
But the door slid open first.
Ross stepped in, his expression unreadable, hands full of a neatly packed tray of food.
Leah stared.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Ross didn't blink, didn't smirk, didn't even acknowledge the disbelief in her voice. He simply set the tray down on the nearest table—efficient, methodical, like this was a battlefield order and not babysitting duty.
Voss, still standing by the holotable, didn't even look surprised.
"Eat."
Leah's brow twitched.
"I don't have time."
Voss finally turned, his silver gaze locking onto hers, cool and unreadable.
"Make time."
Leah huffed, crossing her arms. "This is ridiculous."
Ross didn't react—just checked his watch, like he had all the patience in the world.
"I'll be ready when you are."
Leah narrowed her eyes at him. "You're enjoying this."
Ross didn't answer. Because he didn't have to.
Then—
A soft crackle over the comms.
"Ooo, are we force-feeding people now? Because I'd love to get in on this."
Leah sighed, already knowing who it was before she heard the grinning lilt in the voice.
"Ava."
"Hey, Sunshine." Ava's voice practically purred through the line. "Since we're making sure people don't starve, I'd like to put in a request."
Leah rubbed her temples. "I'm scared to ask."
"Chocolate."
Leah blinked. "Seriously?"
"Dead serious." A pause. "And not the cheap ration-pack garbage, either. I want the good stuff. If I'm stuck in this tower babysitting with James, I deserve it."
Leah exhaled slowly, shaking her head.
"Fine. I'll find you some overpriced smuggled chocolate."
Ava hummed. "See? This is why you're my favorite."
Ross, silent but listening, finally spoke, his voice dry.
"I thought I was your favorite."
"Ross, honey, I like you, but you didn't promise me chocolate."
Leah rolled her eyes.
"You're both insufferable."
Voss—who had been watching the exchange in silence—moved.
Leah barely noticed until he was suddenly in front of her, his hand already reaching for something in his coat pocket.
Then—
A cool metal cylinder pressed into her palm.
She frowned, glancing down.
A preloaded injection pen.
Her stomach tightened slightly.
"Voss—"
"You need it."
His voice was low, even, absolute.
Leah's fingers tightened around the injector.
Slowly, she pressed the injector to the inside of her arm—
A sharp hiss. A flicker of cold relief flooding into her bloodstream.
Voss watched her carefully, his silver gaze tracking every small reaction.
When she pulled the injector away, he tilted his head slightly, voice quieter now.
"Better?"
Leah rolled her shoulders. Felt the medication settle.
"Yeah."
His silver gaze held hers a moment longer.
Then—a single nod.
That was it.
Ross cleared his throat, checking the time again.
"We need to move."
Leah sighed, brushing past Voss as she reached for her jacket.
"Fine. But I'm not eating in the car."
Ross said nothing.
Voss, however—
His voice followed her smooth and unrelenting:
"Eat before you go."
Leah muttered something under her breath that sounded a lot like a curse, but she grabbed a protein bar from the tray, taking a bite as she walked out.
Ava's voice crackled over the comms one last time—amused and victorious.
"Ah, teamwork."
And with that—
They were gone.