"Princess…" Knight began, glancing at Genesis from the corner of his eye. She turned to him with a soft smile, her body trembling slightly with excitement and anticipation.
"You do know Amelia was faking it back at the pool," he continued, watching her carefully. "She's very manipulative."
Her smile faded. A thoughtful expression crossed her face as she stared at her hands for a moment.
Knight was about to say more when she looked back up at him and began to sign.
"I don't think so," her fingers replied.
Knight let out a sigh and turned back to the road, tapping the steering wheel once before slowly pulling the car to a stop on the wide tarmac. The black SUVs trailing behind followed suit, parking neatly behind them in perfect formation.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the concrete. Ahead, the engines of the private jet whirred steadily, the sleek aircraft gleaming like something out of a dream.
Knight stepped out of the driver's seat without a word, rising to his full height. Two guards moved toward him, but he raised a hand, and they stepped back without protest.
He walked around the car and opened Genesis's door, then waited.
She blinked up at him, unsure.
He stretched out his hands.
Taking a quiet breath, Genesis stepped out. Her bare feet touched the warm tarmac, and she paused, sniffing the air. It smelled different here—cleaner, colder, but buzzing with something unfamiliar.
Then she saw it.
The jet.
Her steps faltered. Her eyes widened, round as saucers.
She'd seen planes like this in the sky, in books, in stories—but never this close. Maybe she had been on one as a child, but she couldn't remember.
Slowly, she reached out, fingers curling toward the air like she could touch it from where she stood.
Knight tilted his head, a small smile curving his lips.
"Do you know what it's called, baby?"
She turned to him and signed.
He chuckled. "Close, princess—but it's called a jet."
Her brows furrowed. She signed again.
He placed a hand gently at the small of her back, guiding her forward. "A plane is general—big, slower, made for lots of people. But a jet…" he nodded toward the sleek machine, "is faster. Smaller. Built for people who don't like waiting."
Genesis blinked, looking at it again.
"So it's a fancy plane?" she signed.
Knight smirked. "Very fancy."
She gave a small nod, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. Then she looked up at him and signed once more.
"Have I been on one before?"
His expression shifted slightly. "Maybe," he whispered.
As they neared the steps, the soft hum of the engine grew louder, but it didn't scare her. It thrilled her. It felt like standing on the edge of something new.
Knight guided her up the staircase, his hand never leaving her back. The metal steps were warm under her feet, and every step made it feel more real—like stepping into a story she forgot she belonged to.
At the top, a woman in a sleek navy-blue uniform stood waiting. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun, her smile professional.
"Good afternoon, sir," she greeted with a graceful nod. Then she turned to Genesis with the same warm smile. "Welcome aboard, miss."
Genesis offered a shy smile and hid slightly behind Knight's arm.
The flight attendant stepped aside. "Right this way."
Genesis hesitated at the doorway.
She hadn't expected it to look like this.
Soft cream seats. Polished wood floors. Tiny lights in the ceiling that sparkled like stars. It didn't smell like oil or smoke. It smelled clean. Cold. Expensive.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Knight leaned down and whispered, "Go on. It's yours for today."
She stepped inside carefully, her toes curling against the cool floor.
She turned and signed.
"It looks like a moving house."
Knight laughed. "That's one way to put it."
Genesis wandered forward, touching the edge of a seat, the tiny table beside it, then the window. She leaned closer, eyes wide.
She turned back, signing quickly.
"Are we flying now?"
"Soon," he said. "As soon as you sit, princess."
She nodded and chose the seat by the window. Knight sat beside her. She kept glancing around—at the walls, the lights, even the seatbelt buckle.
Then she looked at him, hands moving slowly.
"Will it feel like falling?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached over and fastened her seatbelt gently, his fingers brushing hers.
"It'll feel like flying," he whispered.
As the jet began to take off, Genesis gripped the armrest tightly. Her heart raced. Her eyes shut. Knight wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, guiding her face to his neck. She clung to him, her breath shallow and fast.
****
A few minutes later, the plane was flying smoothly, and Genesis had finally calmed down. Her face was pressed tightly against the window now, eyes wide with wonder as she watched the clouds drift by.
Knight glanced away from his phone after sending a message that read:
Get the academy ready. I'm bringing her in.
He turned his gaze to Genesis, watching the quiet awe on her face.
"I'm getting jealous," he murmured.
Genesis tensed and slowly turned to look at him.
The moment she did, Knight took advantage—he unbuckled her seatbelt in one swift motion and pulled her gently but firmly onto his lap.
"I'm jealous," Knight muttered, his voice low and teasing. "My wife isn't giving me any attention. You're making me want to destroy the jet."
Her eyes widened at his words, and without thinking, she smacked him lightly on the head.
He burst out laughing. "What was that for?"
She pouted at him, arms crossed.
"Okay, okay," he chuckled, lifting his hands in surrender. "I was joking. But seriously… give me a little attention too."
She giggled, and oh, what he wouldn't give to hear the sound of her voice.
Instead, he wrapped her arms around him, holding her close. Her head settled gently on his chest as she turned to watch the clouds drift by through the window.
In that moment, her heart swelled with joy.
She had never felt more safe. More loved. More at peace.
Wrapped in his warmth, high above the world, it felt like nothing could go wrong.
But something was about to.
Something horrible.
Something that would shatter this perfect moment.