Blaize can’t trust the criminal, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting him. Cifer: I spend my life hiding what I look like, what I’m capable of, what I’ve done. I didn’t ask to live my life this way, but sometimes fate has a sense of humor. The one thing I may live to regret is giving myself away after boarding The Treasure uninvited. But rules were made to be broken—including my own—like outing myself to save the beautiful, brilliant engineer from certain death. Everything I have, I’ve created—my career, my reputation, and, most importantly, my freedom. I wouldn’t give that up for anyone. Not even her. No way. Blaize: I’ve always been a freak. My pale skin, nearly white eyes, and flame-red hair are like a warning signal to everyone who meets me. Weirdo incoming. Too smart. Too much to say. I can’t help it that my brain is always working. That I see possibilities others don’t. Like my thoughts on the extremely attractive criminal who stowed away on our ship. Why couldn’t he follow the rules and book passage like a regular traveler? He shouldn’t be here. I don’t trust him, but I also don’t want to be responsible for shooting him out the airlock. I’m too tender-hearted, putting my partners—the crew of The Treasure—at risk when I vote to save him. I’m sure I’ll regret it. The only question is how much.
