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Icy water laps around me as I swim away my thoughts. Every Zeahiri ship has a pool on board. As a species that evolved from the sea, we all continue to have the ability to breathe underwater. It’s a place we can go to recenter ourselves. It’s why at one end you’ll find benches built into the bottom of the pool floor.

If sparring doesn’t ease our frustration, the water always will. Each stroke across the surface soothes the savagery growing within me every time I let myself think about Neev. There’s something wrong, a lot of things wrong.

Why is her mind so clear of anything? No memories, nothing but her fear as she laid curled in on herself. Was the Order helping her or hurting her? She seems to be under the impression they were only doing what they could to help her.

But she also doesn’t seem to have a concrete grasp of what they actually do there. The way they claim to help, but the price is always to allow them to hoard the knowledge and power they help a species understand.

Despite a deep desire to trust Neev, I have to remind myself to stay cautious. Prior to entering her subconscious, I actually thought she might be deceiving us. Now I’m not sure.

She’s a distraction I can’t afford to have. Not with the revolution on the line. Each day that passes, the Sovereign gains more power. Power he’s held for nearly one thousand rotations.

We have to get the parts for the ship, get back to Zeahiri, and somehow get Neev to the text. If I can avoid being called upon for my High Lord duties, it’d be ideal. Unfortunately, it will be hard to keep my presence in House Aste a secret. I’ll be called on for at least several functions.

The sound of someone walking on the pool deck pulls me from my thoughts. I kick off the bottom of the pool and break the surface to find Vynia standing at the edge. She’s in her uniform, so I assume she’s not here to join me. I grab the edge and pull myself out of the water, landing on my feet in front of her.

“We’re approaching the outpost. Just a few hours out from landing.” She watches as I dry off. “When was the last time you slept?”

“Do I look that bad?”

“Yes. Stop deflecting.”

“My sleep schedule is outside the purview of my pilot.”

“I’m not asking as your pilot.” She adopts a familiar stance that means she’s not letting me walk past her without giving her answers. “Are you having nightmares again?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll sleep once we’re home.”

“I’m not the only one worried. Altis is too.”

This is the part of having your two closest friends, basically only family, serving under you. No one else on board would dare question me. But these two have never been afraid of me.

“I’m fine.” I drop the used towel into a laundry bin at the door. “I’ll meet you on the bridge in an hour.”

CHAPTER7

NEEV

* * *

The view out of the window is something I never thought I’d get to see in my lifetime. The planet we’re approaching looks barren from the upper atmosphere. The ground is a vast expanse of brown and red land. No green from vegetation or blue from water.

As we descend I can barely make out a city made from tents and mud buildings. All sorts of spaceships dot the landscape surrounding it. There are rocky outcroppings dotted all over the plains. I don’t even know what system we’re in or which planet this is, but I can’t wait to go explore.

I pull my boots on and fasten the buckles. The other night in the crew mess hall, I overheard a couple of the males talking about how Raiz had given them all twelve hours of leave. Hopefully that extends to me, too.

The ship shudders beneath me as it lands on the surface. A cloud of red dust floats up over the windows. I’m not sure where to go to get out of the ship, but I’m assuming there’s a cargo bay.

As soon as I step into the hall, I see groups of crew members walking in the same direction. Deciding to follow them is my best bet, I start walking. I’m just rounding the corner when I run into a firm body.

Raiz’s hands immediately move to my shoulders, steadying me. “Apologies.”

“No, it was my fault. I was just trying to keep up with the crowd. I should have been paying closer attention.”

“Following the crowd where?” He frowns.

“To the city. I’ve never been off Calindrea. I want to explore.”

“No.”