Chapter 42: 42.

The vibrations from the engines beneath us settled into a steady rhythm as Xander skillfully piloted the ship through hyperspace. Outside the viewport, stars stretched into streaks of light, a visual reminder of the chaos we had barely escaped.

Ace sat across from me, his blue eyes locked on Liam. The weight of his gaze bore into me, a silent storm brewing behind his sharp features. His usual air of command was tinged with an unease I rarely saw in him.

“Zephyr,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “who is the boy?”

I froze. The question, simple yet loaded, hung in the air between us. My chest tightened, my pulse quickening. Liam, nestled against me, shifted slightly, his bright eyes flitting nervously between Ace and me.

“Mom?” he whispered, his voice small.

I stroked his hair, forcing a smile I didn’t feel. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe now.”

Ace’s gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening as realization began to dawn. He leaned forward, his voice sharper this time. “Answer me, Zephyr. Who is he?”

My throat felt dry, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. “He’s…he’s my son,” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ace’s expression shifted. His usual stoic demeanor faltered as his blue eyes widened, the weight of my words hitting him like a physical blow. His lips parted, but no sound came out at first. He sat back, his broad shoulders stiff, his mind visibly racing.

“Your…son?” he repeated, the words slow, as though he was trying to piece together a puzzle that shouldn’t exist. Then, like a bolt of lightning, the realization struck. His gaze snapped to Liam, scanning his face, his features, as if seeing him for the first time.

Liam stared back, confused but unafraid, his small face so open and honest. I could see the moment Ace connected the dots—the slight curve of Liam’s jaw, the faint gold hue to his skin, the sharpness in his bright blue eyes.

“He’s mine,” Ace whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. The words carried a mix of disbelief, anger, and something else I couldn’t quite place.

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I held Liam tighter. “Yes,” I said, my voice cracking. “He’s yours, Ace.”

Ace’s face shifted, the anger bubbling to the surface. “You hid him from me?” His voice rose, filling the small space of the ship. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Not now,” Xander cut in sharply from the cockpit, his voice steady but firm. “This isn’t the time for this, Ace.”

Ace ignored him, his blue eyes blazing as they locked onto me. “How long, Zephyr? How long have you kept this from me?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the ship shuddered violently, throwing us all slightly off balance. Liam let out a small yelp, and I instinctively pulled him closer, shielding him with my body.

“Focus, Ace,” Xander barked. “They’re still on our tail. If you want any chance to talk about this later, man the secondary controls now.”

Ace hesitated, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought he might snap. But then he pushed to his feet, his towering frame tense with barely contained fury. “This isn’t over,” he growled, his voice low and venomous as he strode toward the cockpit.

I watched him go, my heart pounding in my chest. The truth was out now, and the storm I had feared for so long had finally arrived.

Liam shifted in my arms, looking up at me with wide, questioning eyes. “Mom? Is he mad at me?”

I shook my head, forcing a smile. “No, sweetheart. He’s just…surprised. That’s all.”

Another tremor rocked the ship, and I held Liam close, my mind racing with everything that had just unfolded. The uncharted stars outside the viewport seemed endless, but the space inside the ship felt suffocating.

As the ship surged deeper into the void, I knew one thing: there was no going back now.

The moments after Ace stormed to the cockpit stretched into an unbearable silence. The hum of the ship's engines was the only sound, a stark contrast to the chaotic torrent of thoughts in my mind. I stared blankly at the metallic wall across from me, the weight of what had just happened pressing down like a crushing force.

Liam fidgeted in my lap, his small fingers twisting the edge of his shirt. “Mom,” he whispered, his voice trembling, “is that man…my dad?”

The question hit like a dagger, sharp and precise, slicing through the fragile calm I was trying to hold onto. I looked down at Liam, his wide eyes reflecting both innocence and an unsettling understanding. How could I answer that? How could I explain everything to him in a way that wouldn’t scare him more than he already was?

“He’s…” I hesitated, my throat tightening. “He’s someone very important, Liam. But we’ll talk about this later, okay? Right now, we need to stay safe.”

Liam nodded slowly, but his gaze lingered on the doorway Ace had disappeared through. I could see the questions swirling in his young mind, but thankfully, he didn’t push further. He leaned into me again, his small body fitting perfectly against mine, and I held him close, desperate to shield him from the storm raging both outside and within.

The door to the cockpit slid open, and Xander stepped into the room. His usual air of calm confidence was intact, but there was a flicker of tension in his silver eyes. He glanced at me, then at Liam, before crossing the room and kneeling beside us.

“How is he holding up?” Xander asked softly, his voice unusually gentle.

“He’s scared,” I admitted, brushing a hand through Liam’s messy hair. “We both are.”

Xander nodded, his gaze shifting to Liam. “You’re a brave kid, you know that?” he said with a small smile. “Not everyone could handle a chase like that.”

Liam looked at Xander with a mix of awe and uncertainty. “You saved us.”

Xander’s smile widened slightly. “It’s my job.” He glanced at me again, his expression turning serious. “But you need to talk to Ace, Zephyr. He’s not going to let this go.”

“I know,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

“He’s angry, yes,” Xander continued, “but more than that, he’s…shocked. You can’t blame him for that.”

“I don’t blame him,” I said quickly, tightening my grip on Liam. “I just—I didn’t know how to tell him. And now…now it’s all falling apart.”

Xander sighed, resting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s not falling apart, Zephyr. It’s just…complicated. But you’ll figure it out. For Liam’s sake, you have to.”

Before I could respond, the ship shuddered again, a violent jolt that sent my heart racing. Xander shot to his feet, his expression sharp as he activated a nearby console. The holographic display flickered to life, showing a cluster of enemy ships closing in on us.

“They’re still tracking us,” Xander muttered, his tone grim. “We need to lose them, and fast.”

“What can I do to help?” I asked, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

“Stay here and keep Liam safe,” Xander said firmly. “Ace and I will handle the rest.”

With that, he turned and disappeared back into the cockpit, the door sliding shut behind him. I stared at the door for a long moment, my mind racing. Ace was out there, grappling with a truth I’d kept from him for years. And I was in here, trying to keep our son safe while the universe seemed intent on tearing us apart.

“Mom,” Liam said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Are we going to be okay?”

I looked down at him, forcing a smile despite the knot in my stomach. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re going to be okay.”

The ship jolted again, and Liam clung to me, his small hands gripping my arm tightly. I held him close, whispering reassurances even as my own fear threatened to overwhelm me. Outside, the universe stretched on, vast and unforgiving. But in this moment, all that mattered was keeping Liam safe—and finding a way to mend the shattered pieces of our lives.