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I exhaled slowly, trying to release the knots that had taken up permanent residence between my shoulder blades. Whatever I had begun to feel for her, and whatever closeness I thought might have formed between us, clearly wasn't reciprocated. At least, not enough to want me to stay.

You never needed love before her, I told myself harshly.Your heart will mend.

Even the deepest wounds would leave only a hint of a scar, if given proper time. I just needed time. Not to mention distance. No one could argue that the distance between Earth and the academy wasn’t enough to heal any heartbreak.

"Yoo-hoo! Anyone here?”

I froze, fingers hovering above the navigation panel. That voice. I knew that voice, but she couldn't possibly be here. My exhausted mind must be imagining things now.

"Oh good, you haven't left yet!"

I turned sharply to see Reina, Noora's attendant from the Academy, standing at the cockpit entrance, her gray skin catching the soft blue glow of the instrument panels. I stood quickly, nearly colliding with the overhead compartment.

“Oh, I’m sorry, hon. Did I startle you?” she chirped, her expression morphing from cheerful to concerned and back again in typical Vexling fashion.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, struggling to regain my composure. My voice came out harsher than intended.

Reina seemed unfazed by my tone as she giggled and swatted my arm. “Visiting, of course.”

I gave my head a shake, in case I really was conjuring figments from my past. “But why?”

“Well, I used to work on the Island before I was assigned to Noora. Didn't you know?" She fluttered her hands expressively. "I wasthrilledto return for such a happy occasion."

I blinked, momentarily thrown by her rapid-fire delivery. "Happy occasion?"

"Oh!" Her eyes widened dramatically. "You have to promise not to tell because Serge absolutely swore me to secrecy." She pressed a finger to her lips. “And he would have an absolute fit if he knew I’d told.”

"Serge?" I repeated, feeling increasingly disoriented by this bizarre conversation.

"Promise!" she insisted.

“Okay, I promise," I said, watching as she beamed and promptly flopped into the copilot's chair, her long limbs folding awkwardly.

"This is incredible," she marveled, running her fingertips over the controls. "Drexian technology is soclever.” She spun the chair to face me. "Anyway, I came to deliver a groom from the academy.”

I stared at her. "A groom?"

"Yes!" Reina nodded enthusiastically. "That's the human term for a male mate. Females are brides and males are grooms,although Drexians rarely use the terms unless they’re on a tribute bride station.”

"Who," I said slowly, trying to make sense of her rambling, "needs a male mate? And why would you bring one from the Academy?"

Reina stammered, her skin mottling pink "Why indeed?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then snapped her fingers. "Oh! I brought the Taori engineer who's been assisting the Irons—Zav!"

"The Taori?" The shock in my voice was unmistakable. The Taori who’d been helping at the academy seemed smart and efficient, and he’d been a big help with the holochamber incident, but now he was being brought in to marry someone? What was happening?

Reina seemed equally startled by her own admission, her hands fluttering even faster. "Well, Sergeinsistedhe needed a male because he had a heartbroken female here he wanted to console." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "He was sure a handsome, strapping Taori would make her forget her true love."

A cold weight settled in my stomach. I remembered seeing Serge with Morgan in the dress shop. Kalex had suspected that Serge might recruit her to be a tribute bride since the latest ship of brides was delayed. Could that be true? And could he be trying to marry off Morgan because I’d broken her heart?

Impossible, I told myself. She’d been the one to reject me.

“Tell me if this female is Morgan," I said, my voice dropping dangerously low.

Reina hemmed and hawed, refusing to meet my eyes. "I couldn't possibly say. Confidentiality is very important in my position."

I wanted to throttle the Vexling for being vague, but I could hardly be angry at her if I was the reason Morgan was so sad. “But you’re sure she was heartbroken?" I pressed.

Reina bobbed her head, her expression turning sympathetic. "The poor thing. Apparently, the Drexian she'd fallen for was leaving for a job far away. I only know that the woman told her love to go because she didn't think she meant enough for him to stay." She sighed dramatically before beaming brightly at me. “But, remember, you can’t say a word to anyone about this. It’s strictly hush-hush.”