The Zenith pulled out of the hangar smooth and silent, the city opening up beyond the Citadel's perimeter walls in a sprawl of light and movement. Daphne handled the craft with the same effortless precision she brought to everything else — one hand on the control column, eyes forward, completely at ease.
She glanced at him. A small, genuine smile crossed her face — the kind she didn't wear often enough.
"I am surprised you do not have your own cruiser," she said. She tapped a quick sequence into the sleek center console. A soft chime echoed in the cabin, signaling the autopilot was fully engaged. "You are a prince, after all. A secret one, but still."
Daphne didn't just sit back. She unlatched her safety harness and closed the small distance between the bucket seats, shifting her weight until she was practically draped against his side. The move was so smooth and unapologetic, exactly like her.
