Page 106 of Enslak

I growled again, softer this time, and he dissolved into laughter, his whole body shaking with it, his bare feet kicking against my chest.

Mother settled beside Niki, and Titus immediately reached for her, wanting to be held by everyone at once. The room filled with soft laughter as he made his rounds, spreading his toddler joy to each person, his little hands grabbing at Mother's braids before she gently redirected him.

"Such a gift," Mother said, watching Titus with obvious affection, one hand smoothing the purple fabric of her robes. "He reminds us what we're fighting for. What matters."

"Family," I said quietly.

"Yes." Mother's eyes met mine. "Family. Which is why I need to ask you something, Enslak. What do you want now? What do you need?"

The question hung in the air.

"I don't know," I admitted. "I'm still figuring that out."

"That's okay," Cullen said, speaking for the first time. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. You've been through more than anyone should have to endure. Give yourself time."

"But you have options," Mother added. "You could stay here on Calpa. Take a position in the Alliance if you want. Or return to Vaktaire—we still have holdings there, the family estate. Or..." She glanced at Niki. "Or go wherever you and your mate choose. The galaxy is open to you now."

The weight of those options pressed down on me.

A century ago, my path had been clear—warrior, son of the Prime. But that person was gone, and the person I was now...

I was still discovering him.

"I think," I said slowly, "I need time to decide. Time to just be."

Mother nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Then take it. Take all the time you need. The Alliance will be here when you're ready. Your family will be here. Whatever you need."

"What about Asad Intelligence?" I asked, turning to Niki. She'd been receiving offers for more missions.

"They can wait," Niki said firmly. "Or they can find someone else. You're my priority. We're my priority."

"Actually," Willa interjected, looking between us thoughtfully. "Have you two given any thought to working together?"

Charick's ears perked forward with interest. "That's not a bad idea. Enslak was one of the finest warriors in our generation. Before..." He trailed off, then continued more firmly. "His skills haven't diminished. If anything, everything he's survived has made him sharper."

"I know that's true," Niki said, squeezing my hand while a slight smile played at her lips. "I've seen him in action. He's saved my life more than once."

Heat rose in my face at the praise. "I'm not sure I'm ready for—"

"No pressure," Willa said quickly, raising her hands. "Just something to consider. You two already work well together. You trust each other. That's rare and valuable. And it would give you purpose without tying you down to one place. Asad Intelligence operates across the galaxy."

"Missions on our own terms," Niki added, warming to the idea. "We could choose what we take. Build something together."

I looked down at our joined hands, considering.

Partnership. Purpose. But on our terms, in our time.

"Maybe," I said. "When we're ready."

Titus had made his way back to me, tugging on my leg insistently. "Un-un! Play!"

I lifted him again, and he pointed toward the viewport. "Stars! Big stars!"

"Yes," I said as I carried him to the window. "Those are stars. Suns, actually. Each one has planets orbiting around it. Worlds we haven't even explored yet."

He stared out at the vast expanse of space, his small hand pressed against the transparisteel, leaving tiny fingerprints. "Pretty."

"Very pretty," I agreed.