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“Is this how Virelians treat their guests?” Titus leans in. He’s had enough. He stares straight at my brother, his slate-gray eyes staring through his soul. His black, unruly curls flank his marble face, and he is cold and focused, like when I walked into their throne room after they got the terrible news from the battlegrounds.

“That’s my sister you’re going to wed. My family. You might not know what that means, since you two were born into a vat. You’re not from nature. And you don’t fucking belong here.”

“Oakly!” my mom says, as my brother stands to his full height. He’s at eye level with the sitting Aurelians.

“Oakly, I can take care of myself.”

He slams his fist against the table. “You three, you land on my planet, my home, and you just think you can…” He’s wild eyed, looking around the table to find an ally and seeing none.

Doman’s bright blue eyes flash to me, then my brother. “We will abstain from the wedding ritual tomorrow, if that is Adriana’s wish.”

There’s a heavy silence, everyone ensnared, waiting for his next words. “By the agreement she made, Pentaris will keep every benefit of the union, and we will forfeit everything. We are more than halfway through your system. The fastest way out will be where we are going, and we won’t return, if that is her wish.”

The silence is intense. Oakly’s brows furrow. “What trick is this? Somewhere in the pages of negotiations you’ve got a poison pill?”

“I give my word of honor. You may hate me. But you know that it is bound in stone.”

Oakly laughs, shaking his head in wonder, and takes another drink, this time celebratory. “Bloody hell. That sounds great to me. You can start by getting the hell out of my home.”

“They’re not going anywhere.” I stand, staring my brother down, as all eyes turn to me. My heart is pounding faster than facing down the five planets when I need to sway their votes on an unpopular motion.

“What are you talking about? You’re free. He’s made a massive blunder.”

“They didn’t force me into the marriage proposal. My own planets did that. My own people.”

Oakly’s eyes widen. “Adriana, this is what’s best for Pentaris. You’ll be a hero, the Prime Minister who won against the Aurelian Empire.”

I sit down, smoothing my dress. “What is best for Pentaris is for Obsidian to be eradicated. As fast as possible. He is a rabid dog who needs to be put down. Our union is the best way to ensure this.” I reach out and place my hand into Titus’. He squeezes softly.

Oakly is stunned. “Don’t sacrifice yourself for this.”

I shake my head. “This is no sacrifice. This is my choice.”

Oakly finally gets it. It hits him like a bolt of lightning - that even when I was given a clear out, I’ve plunged headlong in, without hesitation. I surprised myself by how quickly I dismissed the thought of kicking the alien species out of Pentaris.

He has to hold on to his chair for support. He looks over at the three Aurelians, a bemused expression replacing his hostility as his world is turned on its head. “Well. Bloody hell. Alright boy, finish up. If you want to marry my sister, you’re going to have to pass the test.”

Titus squeezes my hand and laughs, low and rumbly. “More tree climbing?” All the tension is gone from his voice.

Oakly grins. “Aye. More tree climbing. But this time, after we drink something a little stronger. We’ll see how good you are when you’re seeing double. You’re coming with me to the rangerhall, and we’ll see how you do drinking against Virelians.” He turns to my mom. “Mom, I know you have some clear root. Can you brew us up a tea?”

My mom throws her hands up, but I can see that she’s relieved by Oakly’s shift in attitude. “We’ve been over this. You want to get wasted with your ranger friends, the hangover is the price.”

“You want us four to show up to Adriana’s sacred planting stinking of grog and with headaches? Oy, Doman, can your magic med-bays kill a hangover?”

Doman smiles. “They can. The ship’s bays are currently being used by Virelians during our stay—but I’ve got a private one in our residences.”

My mom sighs, but though on the surface there’s annoyance, her lips curl up in a smile. “No, no. I’ll make the clear root tea. But this is the last time, Oakly, I swear.” She makes her way to the kitchen, putting on the water to boil.

“Clear root tea?” asks Gallien.

“It’s magic,” answers Oakly. “No matter how much you drink, you wake up clearheaded and full of energy.”

Titus reaches forward, grabbing his wine glass, and downs it in a gulp. The glass looks tiny in his giant hand, and he sets it down. “Well then. This is going to bring me back to my Academy days, when Lukas hid a distillery in the basement.”

Doman winces. “Which got caught within a month…”

“What happened then?” asks June, rapt at attention. She’s eager for any crumb of info about life on Colossus.