The Gender End by Bella Forrest (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📕

“Gregory didn’t make it,” I replied reluctantly, and reached out to grab her hand as her face filled with sadness. “A few others. Alejandro’s hand got smashed. And Harry’s hurt. He got smashed by a door. I’m not sure if he’s going to make it. Ms. Dale is fine.”

Violet opened her mouth, and I interrupted her, knowing her next question before it slipped through her lips. “Owen is fine. Amber and Logan Vox flew the heloship here—they’re upstairs right now. I went ahead and asked them to transfer Solomon to our ship. What about the Matrians? Should we—”

“Offer them a ride home?” Violet considered it for a long moment. “We can, but I doubt they’d take it. Things, uh, weren’t exactly copacetic between the three of us.”

“Yeah. I was surprised they let you down here on your own.”

She grinned up at me, her face smug, and quickly explained what had transpired after Desmond had been thrown from the ship. I felt a stab of pride. “You handled that extremely well—which I would never doubt—but still, getting them to work with you in spite of their Matrian prejudice? Impressive.”

“Well, with you and Ms. Dale as mentors, how could I not succeed?” she said, and I felt my love for her deepen, expanding in my chest like a never-ending fountain. Leaning over, I pulled her to me and pressed my lips to hers—just a gentle brush.

“And the award for fiancée of the month goes to…” I breathed after I pulled back, and she laughed a little. “Shall we?”

She checked her watch again and nodded. “We really should,” she said.

I took her hand and led her to the door, throwing it open. The two guards outside had disappeared, and Raevyn and Devon were waiting patiently for us. I paused, but Violet was already moving back in the direction I’d come from earlier. She moved quickly, pulling me with her. I followed, trusting her instincts.

Raevyn and Devon sprang into motion behind us after a surprised pause, the sounds of our boots echoing heavily down the narrow hall. Violet led with confidence, and I realized she had memorized the path here. I had done the same thing—naturally—but I still couldn’t help but feel proud of her as she moved down the long hall.

The windowpane on the left side of the hall slowed us both as our heads, unbidden, swiveled to take in the view of the buildings inside. Without discussion, we came to a stop at almost the same time. I studied the construction, the lines and angles as well as the practicality, but most of all… the sheer size and scope of it all. It was so dense and compact—and I could make out people from far away—men and women both. It felt ridiculous to have discovered something this big and be leaving so soon, but our own troubles were still waiting for us.

“We really should be going,” Raevyn said softly, and I reluctantly started to turn. Violet lingered, her gray eyes darting around as if she were trying to memorize the place, and then turned as well.

She moved a few more feet down the hall, and then turned around the correct corner, moving down the tight passageway toward the door. I moved ahead of her and opened it for her, as Devon’s voice carried down the hall from behind us.

“How did you know that was the right passageway?” His voice was sharp, edged with suspicion and mistrust.

“I memorized the route when you guided me here,” Violet replied curtly as she stepped through. I held the door open for Devon, Raevyn, and MacGillus, watching them closely as they moved past me. “Just in case you tried anything.”

“Smart,” said Raevyn. “You’ll understand if we continue to escort you, of course.”

It wasn’t a question, but I replied for us both. “I would do the same thing if our positions were reversed.”

She gave me a considering look, then began moving down the stairs. “Never fear, Miss Bates, Mr. Croft—we will return you to your ship whole and in one piece.”

I was tempted to say “We shall see,” just to test their honesty, but there was no reason for it, and judging by her expressive body language, I was inclined to believe her. We moved in silence after that, with Violet taking the lead. Devon put himself in the rear—something that didn’t make me entirely comfortable. Raevyn seemed to have taken up our cause. With him, I wasn’t so sure.

Going down the stairs was much better than going up. As much as my adrenaline was holding me up, it didn’t mean I didn’t feel the aches and pains from the night before. My ribs were still sore, and I was still out of shape from the surgery I had undergone—not long ago, although it felt like lifetimes. I did my best not to let the effort show, keeping a careful eye on Violet. Her injuries were more recent than most of mine, but she seemed to be holding her own just fine.

Violet stopped on a landing about halfway down, turned and looked at the door. “This one, right?”

Raevyn moved past her. “Indeed,” she said dryly, pulling the door open and stepping through. The passage was short, and in under a minute, we were back outside. The heat was stifling—I was certain the sweat that had instantly formed all over my body was immediately evaporating under the dry heat.

We made our way across the glass surface—as bizarre as that was—heading toward the damaged heloship. I could make out CS Sage standing by the open cargo bay, tending to the brown-haired woman wearing an olive green Matrian uniform. The tall, broad-shouldered blonde wearing a sky-blue version of the same uniform stood next to her, watching him with her arms crossed.

As we neared, CS Sage looked up, and then patted the dark-haired woman on the shoulder, giving her an encouraging nod. She was holding up her hand, clearly marveling at the