As Syn and Pako stepped out of the door, Pako turned back toward Vera, her tan face splitting into a teasing grin, her tongue poking out in a childish taunt as the medic room's door hissed shut between them.
Vera caught the flash of mischief, her purple eyes narrowing briefly and glaring back at her before softening, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as the sterile silence reclaimed the space.
Alone she sank deeper into the medical bed, the soft sheets rustling under her bandaged frame, her fair skin pale against the cotton tinged with dried blood.
Her eyelids fluttered closed, her purple hair splayed across the pillow like a spilled inkblot, and she let the weight of her secrets settle, heavy but hidden.
No one knew—nor would they—that she'd tipped the Kingdom about their location.
Her recon ships which she had sent in advance had been her eyes, prowling the void with orders to report any Kingdom vessels the moment they appeared, feeding her every blip on their radar.
