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“Vraxians are not familiar with the concept of magic.”

“Why am I not surprised? ”

She looked out over the gleaming towers to the horizon where the moonlight flashed off distant waves.

“That’s the sea you told me about,” she said. “The one Taa’riz was built next to. It’s beautiful.”

“This is my favorite view in the whole palace. I used to come here as a hatchling when I wanted to hide from my tutors. I don’t think anyone else knows of this place. Except Ela, maybe.”

Kara tried not to react.

“You’re close to her, aren’t you?”

“We grew up together. Like me, she had no siblings. And like me, she had a pre-ordained role in life. Her father was my father’s army commander before her. She’s like a sister to me.”

Not sure she sees it that way.

“She’s very protective of you,” Kara said casually.

“Why? Has she said something to hurt you?” Vahn was alarmed. “She is sometimes a little brusque but that’s just her way.”

“Actually, she’d always been very honest with me. And she’s made it clear she thinks I’m wrong for you.”

“Ah.” Vahn relaxed. “She may be changing her mind about that.”

“What makes you say that?”

“She came to see me after your call with your mother. She said I should talk to you. So here I am.”

Kara colored.

“Did she, um, tell you what I said?”Because I’ll die of embarrassment if she did.

“No, just that perhaps you might not be so angry anymore.”

“Oh. Right.”

She turned back towards the view and leant on the balcony. The night air felt cool but she knew that was because of the invisible shield cocooning the palace. It was well over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit out there, maybe as much as a hundred and twenty. But within the energy field the temperature was always mild.

Vraxian technology in action.

In the light of the moons, the towers glinted silver and white. The skyline reminded her of New York or Shanghai and she waited to feel a pang of homesickness. But it didn’t come.

“So what did you want to talk about?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the view.

Vahn turned so that he too was facing the horizon. It was easier to speak his heart this way.

“The last time we talked, you told me I didn’t have faith in us. But you’re wrong. My faith in us, inyou, is as solid as the moons above us.

He paused and Kara waited.

“You are right when you say I should have told you who I was on Minerva-6. I wish I had. But all my life I have been judged and measured by the station I was born into. Once people know, it changes how they treat me. I couldn’t…” his voice cracked a little and Kara’s grip tightened on the balustrade. “I couldn’t bear that from you. Not you.”

Tears pricked at Kara’s eyes but she kept her gaze on the city, knowing there was more. Vahn collected himself.

“You loved me for the person I was on Minerva-6. And I pray to the gods that you can love me still, here on Vraxos. But if you can’t then I release you. I release you from any obligation you think you have.”

Kara’s vision misted up.Don’t cry. For fuck’s sake don’t cry. Daa’sten will kill you if you mess up his make-up.