Page 5

Kann stepped forward. "What is this?"

"This," Fiona gestured between herself and Jess, "is us joining the mission. Unless you'd prefer we commandeer our own ship?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache building. "The academy can't spare more instructors. You're needed here."

"I tried that argument," came a voice from behind, as Admiral Zoran strode toward us, his expression unreadable. “The captain was persuasive.”

"With all due respect, sir—" I began.

"Save it, fly boy," Fiona cut me off. "Vyk is out there. I'm going."

"And Morgan needs her strategy team," Jess added, her eyes glinting with determination as she looked at Kann. “Not to mention that Torq probably needs me to knock him down a peg or two.”

I opened my mouth to argue further, but the sound of running footsteps made us all turn. Britta sprinted across the yard, her silver hair flying behind her.

“Grekkinghell, I was afraid you’d left already,” she gasped, skidding to a stop beside Kann. She carried a pack and wore what looked suspiciously like modified battle gear.

Kann's face softened at the sight of her, but he shook his head. "Britta, no. You're still recovering."

"So are you," she countered, poking him in the chest. "You're crazy if you think I'm letting you out of my sight again."

I watched my friend's resolve crumble beneath her determined gaze. The notorious playboy of the Drexian Academy, broughtto heel by an Iron with silvery hair and a stubborn streak wider than the Dellevian chasm.

"We don't have time to debate," Fiona interjected. "Our last three transmissions to the rescue team have gone unanswered. We need to get airborne."

"Protocol is radio silence," I reminded her, even as dread pooled in my stomach.

“My gut tells me they need us,” Fiona said.

I glanced at the sky, calculating jump trajectories and fuel requirements. If we left now and pushed the engines beyond what was generally accepted, we might catch them before they reached their destination, and before whatever danger awaited them there.

Fiona was right. I didn’t want to waste another moment arguing. If the females wanted to risk their lives, I would not fight them. I doubted I could stop them even if I tried.

"Let's move," I ordered, all argument forgotten. "Wheels up in ten."

Admiral Zoran stepped forward. "Find our people and bring them home, Lieutenant. All of them.”

Kann and I snapped to attention, fists thumping across our chests in the traditional Drexian salute. Then we watched the admiral walk away, his master’s robes billowing behind him.

"We'll find them," Kann assured me in a low voice, as we followed the others onto the ship, the steel ramp rattling under our boots.

I nodded, unable to voice the fear that had taken root. Ariana was the best pilot I'd ever known, but even the best could be outgunned, outmaneuvered, or taken by surprise. I shoved those thoughts away as I sank into the pilot’s chair, focusing instead on the pre-flight checks as the others stowed their gear. The familiar ritual calmed me, the methodical testing of systems acting as a balm to my frayed nerves.

But beneath my calm was a single truth. I would tear the universe apart to find Ariana and bring her home.

Chapter

Four

Morgan

Imoved through the ship on tiptoes, careful not to disturb the few hours of precious sleep the others were trying to get before we reached our target. The ambient lighting cast the narrow corridor in an eerie blue glow, turning familiar surroundings into something unnerving. We were running on minimal power, which was standard procedure when trying to avoid detection in enemy territory, but it made the ship feel like a tomb, silent except for the occasional creaking of the hull and the barely perceptible hum of life support systems.

I needed space to think and prepare for what lay ahead. I’d spent so long staring at the schematics of the Kronock prison and the terrain of the planet it was on that my eyes burned, and gazing at the planet we were orbiting did nothing to improve my mood.

The storage compartment door slid open with a soft hiss, and I stepped inside, only to freeze at the sight of a shadow moving in the far corner.

I instinctively reached for the blade strapped to my thigh before realizing it could only be one of the rescue party.