Chapter 23 : Take The Edge Off

Theodora's POV My heart was still pumping wildly, stuck in fight or flight as I stepped into the side door of the barn. A stack of scrap from Peacemaker piled in the corner. The smell of oil and hay. Peacemaker barely fit under the high ceilings. My dad typically worked on smaller crafts, but thankfully there was enough room to get the job done. And his hydrolift was strong enough to prop our ship a few feet in the air. Sparks flew from underneath the undercarriage, and the sound of a torch zapping drew my gaze to where Mads was. There was an empty plate on the workbench. At least he was able to eat before burying himself in work. My shoulders were still shaking, coming off the adrenaline. But it still fired through my system, making me jittery. The zapping stopped as Mads kicked himself out from under the ship, twisting off the blowtorch. He took off his welding mask, smoke clinging to his skin. His tattoos were glistening with sweat, clinging to his skin in droplets aro