Page 25 of The Last Hope

He’s quiet to answer. I see the look in his eyes. Staring at us with as much caution as we brandish for him. Prey, we each are, circling one another.

Unfreezing, he untwists a pill bottle. “That doesn’t alarm any of you? That I’d betray my own people?”

We each shake our heads. Him being a blood traitor holds no heavy weight.

Not long ago, we stole theSagastarcraft from StarDust. From our planet. In an act of treason. We became enemies of Saltare-3 before we even knew we were human.

Before we even knew we were born enemies.

“Fascinating,” he says, and he doles pills into his palm. And he’s realizing the label on the bottle is written in a language wecan’t read. “Do you want a painkiller?” He rattles the bottle at Court. “You don’t look so hot.”

“No. I don’t trust you.”

He throws back the pills in his mouth and swigs from a leather flask. “That’s fair,” he says after swallowing. “But let me remind you,I’mthe one who risked my limbs to retrieve you three.”

“And we’re risking more than ourlimbs,” Court says smoothly.

Franny has lowered her fork. “Why’d you help us?” she asks.

He swishes his flask. “I already told you, there was a trade—”

“What kind of trade?” Court asks. “You may believe we’re intellectually inferior, but we’ve all noticed how you walk around answers.”

“It’s aggravating,” Franny points out.

The man-boy leans back and looks to each of us. “You want answers, I get that. But they don’t come for free.”

My pulse ratchets up, and I realize the source isFranny.Heart beating faster.

Court and I set withering glares on this man-boy’s head.

His brows rise. “What? You think I don’t see how this ends? Me, giving you every harrowing answer you’ve ever searched for. You, stealing this ship and flying away. But not before you shove me out so I can float endlessly in a wasteland ofspace.” He takes a swig and licks liquid off his pink lips. “I’m not that bloody naïve.”

Court stops drumming the table. “You’re bluffing. You don’t know anything.”

“On the contrary, mate.”I don’t like the sound of that word.“I know everything.” He caps his flask. “Like how three humans ended up on Saltare-3. I even know the day you were born. Let’s just say that I carry every answer you’ve ever sought, and since it’s my only leverage, you can believe that I’m not giving a single detail to you without something in return.”

Hells.

Court glares darkly. “What makes you think we care about answers to any of those questions? We’ve moved on. We don’t need to know.”

The man-boy sways back in soundless worry. Uncapping his flask, he takes a larger swig.

Silence ekes, and I sense a brutal pressure sitting on my chest. Mixed with heavier breathing. Franny—she hangs her head. Gazing haunted at the table.

Something’s not right.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Court says to the man-boy. “We’re going to take this starcraft. We’re going to fly out of here. Now, you can either—” He stops short, quiet.

We’re both choking on breath. Trying our best not to show it.Distressconstricts my throat like a damned beast landing on my neck.

Stomach curdling next.

Court’s hand slowly rises to his heart as though he feels a great pain.

I try to inhale for all three of us.

The agony…