Captured by the Yandere Space Pirates-Chapter 18 -

"I think we should call this our first kiss," Aster said, her voice soft but firm as she traced her lips with a fingertip, her gaze lingering on Syn. "Not that mess back then. That was just a clumsy accident." Her blonde hair framed her face, catching the cell's dim light as she tilted her head, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

Syn nodded, a small, relieved smile tugging at his lips. "You're right. We just crashed into each other—hardly a kiss worth counting." Inside, a quiet happiness bloomed, warming the edges of his exhaustion. The topic had shifted, veering away from the raw sting of guilt and recrimination, and he welcomed the reprieve like a breath of fresh air after a suffocating storm.

Aster's flush deepened, her cheeks glowing a soft red as she looked at him with a gaze that felt different—gentler, unguarded, a stark contrast to the blazing fury she'd unleashed moments ago. No one would've pegged her as the same woman who'd nearly choked the life from him, her towering frame now softened by a vulnerability that seemed to melt her edges. Her eyes drifted to his neck, where faint red handprints lingered, a fading testament to her earlier rage. She frowned, a flicker of regret crossing her face. "Does it still hurt?" she asked, her voice dropping as she reached out, her fingers brushing his neck with a tenderness that made him flinch.

"A bit," Syn admitted, his tone light despite the soreness radiating through his neck and shoulders. He offered an uncomfortable smile, the ache in his body a dull chorus to his words, though he didn't pull away from her touch. Aster's fingers lingered, rubbing gently over the marks, as if she could erase her own imprint with the soft press of her skin.

Her hand paused, and she shifted closer, her broad frame settling beside him as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "By the way," Syn said, his voice steadying as he glanced at the empty cells beyond the bars, "where are my people? They were right here a few hours ago—now it's all empty."

"Oh, them?" Aster grinned, a mischievous glint sparking in her eyes. "I spaced them." Syn's eyes widened, a jolt of shock tightening his grip on the wall behind him, his breath catching in his throat.

"I'm joking—joking!" she laughed, the sound bright and unrestrained as she nudged him with her elbow. She slid even closer, her warmth pressing against his side as she wrapped her arms around his, her fingers threading through his to interlock them tightly. She squeezed his hand, her touch firm yet comforting, and rested her cheek against his shoulder, her blonde strands tickling his neck. "They've been sent back to the Kingdom. We're negotiating a deal with the King—our pirates they're holding in exchange for their soldiers."

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Syn frowned, his brow furrowing as he processed her words. "The King won't go for that," he said, his voice low, tinged with the certainty of experience. "He'd rather let his men die than free pirates. That's how he's always been."

Aster tilted her head, peering up at him with a knowing smirk. "You don't know?"

"Know what?" he asked, his curiosity sharpening as he turned to meet her gaze.

"We've got the princess, too," she said, her tone smug, her grip on his hand tightening with a playful squeeze. "That tips the scales in our favor."

"What?" Syn's voice rose, doubt threading through it as he searched her face for a lie. He replayed the raid in his mind—Vera's taunts, her sparing the blonde captain and her crew. "No, that can't be right. Vera let her go—I saw it."

"Hmm..." Aster hummed, her lips pursing as she considered his words, her fingers absently tracing circles on his hand. "Guess Vera didn't want you knowing. Probably figured you'd go even more reckless if you did." She chuckled, a small, genuine smile breaking through. "Not that you held back much as it was." Her eyes flicked over him, taking in the sweat still clinging to his brow, the faint tremor in his limbs from carrying Vera.

Syn's jaw tightened, realization sinking in like a stone. Vera had played him—tricked him into hauling her down here, a fool's errand when his people were already gone, leaving him as the only prisoner worth keeping. He'd been a pawn in her game, and the sting of it burned beneath his ribs. "I hope they don't mind one soldier short," Aster added, her voice light as she squeezed his hand again, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. "You're stuck with us now."

He let out a dry laugh, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the bitter taste of defeat. "I never really had a chance, did I?"

"Nope," she said, her grin widening as she pressed her cheek harder against his shoulder, her grip tightening just a bit more. "And you don't need one." Her words hung there, simple yet heavy, a quiet claim that warmed the chill of his frustration.

Syn sank into his thoughts, his mind drifting over the empty cells, Vera's laughter, the princess's fate—pieces of a puzzle he couldn't quite fit together. Aster, meanwhile, seemed lost in him, her presence a steady anchor beside him. She nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder, a soft, rhythmic motion, her fingers playing gently with his hand—twisting them, tracing the lines of his palm, a quiet intimacy that felt both foreign and familiar. Time stretched, minutes blurring as they sat in the cell's dim glow, her warmth seeping into him, easing the ache in his bones.

"If you're here, and Vera's here," Syn said finally, breaking the silence as a question nagged at him, "does that mean Pako's delivering them?"

"Yeah," Aster replied, her voice soft as she lifted her head slightly, her cheek still brushing his shoulder. "It's my ship, so don't worry." She smirked, sensing the doubt he didn't voice—Pako's clumsiness and reckless judgment were infamous, a liability Syn couldn't ignore when lives were at stake.

"Also," she continued, her tone brightening as she shifted to face him more fully, "she's got Mia with her, so there's nothing to fret about. That girl might look delicate, but she's scary when she needs to be." Her fingers tightened around his, a reassuring squeeze as she grinned.

"Mia? Who's that?" Syn asked, his brow furrowing as the unfamiliar name jolted him from his reverie. He sifted through memories—soldiers, pirates, faces from the Kingdom and beyond—but no Mia emerged, leaving him grasping at shadows.

Aster's grin softened into a knowing smile. "You'll meet her soon enough," she said, her voice teasing as she leaned back against him, her head settling comfortably on his shoulder again. "But enough about that for now—let's kiss again." She shifted abruptly, her tone flipping to a playful command as she pulled away from his side and swung a leg over his thighs.

Before Syn could react, she climbed onto his lap, straddling him with an ease that belied her size. She was already tall, her muscular frame imposing, but perched atop him, she towered even more, her shadow swallowing his face in the cell's faint light. Her blonde hair cascaded around them, a golden curtain that framed her flushed cheeks and eager eyes. "But... we just did," Syn protested weakly, his hands hovering uncertainly as he tried to deflect her advance, his voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and bemusement.

"Not enough," she declared, her lips curving into a sultry smile as she licked them slowly, her tongue darting out in a deliberate tease. Her hands curled around his neck, fingers threading into his dark hair as she stared down at him, her gaze smoldering with intent. She leaned in, her breath warm against his lips, and kissed him—deep, insistent, a claim that left no room for retreat.

Syn's hands twitched, caught between pushing her away and surrendering to the moment, but her strength held him fast, her kiss a force he couldn't outrun. The cell faded, the empty bars and cold metal receding as her warmth enveloped him, her lips moving with a hunger that stirred something deep within. Yet, even as he felt her—her weight, her heat, her need—a question lingered, nagging at the edges of his mind, unyielding despite the distraction. Who is Mia?