Thank you for the comments and your thoughts Guest and ToughSpirit :)
Here's chapter 20.
"You make it a habit of tying up and kidnapping women?"
"It is in your best interest to remain silent." Kylo responds in a low, steady tone. The one he uses to convey that there will be no further arguments.
Awake, Rose snorts, rubbing against her constraints.
"Yeah. Right. I don't take orders from monsters like you."
Kylo keeps his back turned to Rose. He can tell it irks her. But she just won't shut up.
"I don't take orders from genocidal maniacs. From rapists like you," her words spit out rapidly and fiercely. Rose does not disguise her disdain, her hate.
Kylo's hand hovers over the controls of the Falcon as they enter the flagship's hangar. He slowly turns to meet her face. Fires of fury smolder in his narrowed eyes as he weighs the pros and cons of making her pay for the vulgarity of her words. His instincts twist together as the temptation to hurt her poisons his bloodstream.
He owes her no explanation. And yet.
"Rey came to my flagship willingly. She slept with me willingly. Does that bother you, Rose? That your friend - the one you rebel scum consider a saint - has more than a soft spot for me?"
Kylo has never been able to master the ability to rise above taunting. He moves closer to his incapacitated prisoner, hoping to intimidate her by invading her personal space. Rose keeps spitting her ire at him.
"She never would have gone back for you if she knew you were lying. She hates you, she feels sorry for you. You think I'm scum? It takes a special kind of scum to deceive someone to sleep with them. That's rape, Kylo Ren."
It is the black gloves that keep Kylo's nails from bloodying his palms as he fists his hands. Kylo is not comfortable with force-choking women, but Rose may be the first exception.
The space between them is nonexistent as he takes her by the collar and lifts her off the floor.
"You may want to rethink how you speak to me, Rose. You are going to be my guest for a very long time. You would be wise not to talk about your friend's future husband in such a way."
He tries not to show his surprise when she laughs - she fucking laughs in his face. It is not a funny laugh, not a cruel laugh. It is painful and comes out in a series of short breaths.
"Rey is never going to marry you. Does 'the force' show you how often she cries at night when she thinks no one is listening? Because I hear it - I'm the one who holds her. You give her nightmares. She spends countless hours after work, exhausted, scrounging for things the baby will need. She stays up later than she should making everything for the baby. A baby you forced on her. I don't care what she says - that she loves it. You've made her life hell."
Something in Kylo's chest tightens and threatens to break.
"She will never admit it, but she's scared of you. You make her feel like shit. Are you proud of that, Kylo Ren? Is all of this - The First Order - worth more than her? I hope so. Because in the forest she was ready to give up everything to be with you."
The ramp opens with a hiss and Kylo does not need to call upon the force to shove her forward. An officer unceremoniously catches Rose and nearly trips backwards.
"Gag her. I want her unable to utter a word. I want two troopers assigned to watch over her. She is to be escorted onto my shuttle when we reach the Knight's flagship. And do not," his eyes bore into hers, "Give her any food or drink. No fresher privileges."
"Monster!" Rose yells and the stormtroopers hurry to carry out his orders.
Kylo stalks across the hangar in search of General Krog. The man should be here to greet him. Hux would have been immaculate in his duties. Kylo quickly banishes the thought.
Hux is dead, and it is a good thing.
Kylo's thoughts land back on Rose. He reassess his choice to abduct her.
The rebel mechanic is more brazen, more insulting than Rey has ever been.
Sometimes, he really fucking hates women. They encompass the special ability to make him feel small, stupid, insignificant.
Kylo's flash of anger towards Rose protects him against the painful truth of her words. He tells himself that women lie, they manipulate. She wants Rey to herself. Who else will tolerate such a mouthy life form? Who besides Rey has the ability to tolerate such nasty, contemptuous…
Kylo stops the train of thought.
"Krog," he steadies himself next to the General, "I want a status report on the Knights and their location."
"Right away, Supreme Leader," Krog wastes no time swiping the screen in front of them. Kylo reads the schematics as Krog's arid voice begins to talk. He soon fades out into the background noise of the ship.
Kylo senses another presence, a familiar presence transmitting through the force.
Dathomir. We're orbiting, Dathomir. The fair one is dead.
Rey. Rey is reaching out to him. Kylo holds up a hand to stop Krog from speaking. Kylo cannot prevent the relief that surges through him, the shock that she is reaching out to him - and he fears what it means if she is so desperate to contact him.
Are you hurt? The baby? We are coming, Rey.
Guilt washes over Kylo in deep waves.
I don't have much time. I'm in their throne room. Max is the only one left. Please hurry.
The connection, their force link, slips through his fingers.
"Dathomir," he states, "We are going to Dathomir. I want the flagship and the rest of the fleet to enter hyperspace immediately."
"Yes, Supreme Leader," Krog acknowledges the command. He rushes to communicate Kylo's orders.
Kylo walks briskly to his chamber to retrieve Rey's lightsaber. She might need it to fight her way out. Even with his army descending on the Knight's rogue Order, he cannot risk her being unarmed. Kylo locks it into his belt and his stride turns to a run as they enter the orbit of Dathomir.
As ordered, Rose sits in binders, gagged, and tied from head to toe.
Perfect.
Krog stands at attention and Kylo briskly addresses him.
"I want all artillery ready to fire when I give the word. My goal is to return with the scavenger before we destroy their flagship."
Krog nods but Kylo hardly notices. His heart beats so fast he is sure the entire First Order can hear it.
With the protective shields in place the shuttle approaches the old ship.
It seems unfair to Kylo that no matter how much he strives to be the man his conscience wants him to be, that it haunts him with his failures. No more. He knows he is broken, but he has to try for Rey's sake - for the baby's sake.
The shuttle lands with no fan-fare and Kylo is suspicious. Max is not the brightest Knight, but he is devious.
"Reminder to hold back on firing," Kylo speaks into the comlink on his wrist. Lightsaber drawn, he aggressively disembarks, prepared for the slaughter he is sure will greet them.
Instead he is met with uncanny silence. There is no one else in the hangar.
Kylo silently motions for the dozen troopers that accompany him to follow. Rey's distress signal through the force is strong, calling him like a beacon to her location. He stalks the empty halls until he reaches what he is sure is the throne room.
Stand back, Rey. We are about to enter.
He does not want her in the thick of battle. She has already had to endure too much.
The doors swing open and Kylo takes in the scene. Dozens of eyes stare at him.
"Supreme Leader Kylo Ren," Max takes his time walking towards him. Kylo braces for an attack. It does not come. Max playfully swings his saber. "Looking for her? I'll give you two a minute."
Rey manifests at Kylo's side, as though she were hidden behind the propped door.
"You came," she breathes, running into him. The impact almost knocks Kylo over - it is not due to the strength of her embrace.
Max's smile resembles a gaping maw. Kylo ignores it.
Kylo takes the opportunity of her embrace to grab her by the waist, pulling her close against his chest. She is close enough for him to breathe in her scent. Kylo's hand runs through her hair, thinking how he missed the softness of it, how he loves watching it tumble as he releases it from the three buns.
"Rey. I'm sorry."
"Kylo," her eyes are pleading, watery, and she strokes his cheek.
He does not need any more encouragement as his mouth covers hers, lips gentle and warm. Kylo feels her hands slide up his chest and encircle his waist, his neck. The kiss begins to grow heavy and Kylo does not question it.
Spending time in captivity with the Knights - he knew she would regret it. He knew she would see reason, would realize her mistake. Would accept she loves him.
The sound of a throat clearing pulls Rey away from him and Kylo reaches for her. She is too far and his hand falls. She stands at Max's side. Kylo realizes Rey not only holds her original lightsaber, but his as well. His mind frantically puts everything together. It is too late.
He falls for this. Again.
Time stops for a moment.
Max turns from Rey to Kylo.
"A trade is a trade. Go, before I change my mind."
Kylo is speechless.
"I'm sorry," Rey whispers, pausing before she leaves, "I just...I don't trust you anymore. I can't risk you hurting me again."
She runs, but not before she returns his lightsaber to him.
Rey must pity him. Rose was right.
Kylo feels numb. He is too numb to tell her that her loves her, to beg her not to take his son away from him.
"Supreme Leader," Max keeps his saber pointed at him, "I'm sorry to say I could not convince her to kill you. And when she realized she was outnumbered…" Max motions to the Knight's army behind him, "well, we struck a deal. I don't give a shit about some pregnant scavenger. Or your spawn. We just want a chance to take you out ourselves. Rather, I want to take you out. And don't think about it," Max nods at the comlink on Kylo's wrist.
The picture is all too clear.
Rey trades her freedom for his. She knows he will not order the Knight's flagship to be bombed. Not yet, not while she is on it. Kylo does not want her or the baby dead. He can see it in his mind's eye: Rey walking onto his shuttle. Freeing Rose. Taking off. The First Order none the wiser.
For the first time Kylo's rage does not come to his aid - he is frozen.
Kylo wonders if this is how Rey felt when he first betrayed her.
This is not the climax of the story. thx for reading :)