Page 75 of The Last Hope

“We’ll let Franny go,” Stork says. “If all four of you agree to spend the same time in our brig that your friends spent in yours.”Thirty-one-days.

No…

Kinden glares. “That wasn’tourbrig.”

“I need an answer,” Stork says. “Five seconds.”

This better be another ruse. I won’t have my brother imprisoned on any starcraft. But my stomach twists, sickened. This time Franny is the origin. Her eyes ping from Zimmer to Gem. She wouldn’t wish what we went through on anyone, least of all them.

“Two,” Stork counts down.

“We’ll do it,” Gem says first. “Padgett and I. We’ll go to your brig. As long as you don’t hurt Franny.”

“Me too.” Zimmer nods.

Kinden glances at me, wary. He doesn’t want to leave me. I don’t want him to either.

Stork sees this. “It’s all four of you or no deal.”

“Go,” I tell Kinden. “I’ll see you later.”It’s a ruse,I remind myself. He’s not going anywhere.

Kinden pats a hand on my shoulder before he looks to Stork. “Thirty-one days. Not a day more.”

“It’s a deal,” Stork says and then nods to Venita. In the human language, he says, “Release Franny. Take these four to the brig.”

Everything moves too quickly.

Color drains from Mykal’s cheeks. Bile rises to my throat. Franny is frozen in shock. All three of us, rooted to the ground in confusion. Hands grab at my brother. Hands grab at Gem and Padgett. Hands grab at Zimmer. And all four of them are compliant as they’re dragged away.

My head only floats back to my body when I lose sight ofKinden. The remaining C-Jays disperse, leaving a barren docking bay.

Stork is my first thought. “You bastard,” I growl.

“You have to trust me,” Stork says, worry cinching his blue eyes.

“You’re making it rather fucking difficult,” I sneer.

“They’re not really headed for the brig… right?” Mykal asks.

Stork takes a tight breath. “Just for a day—”

“You lying wart,” Franny curses.

“I couldn’t mention this part,” Stork explains. “The fleet needs to trust them. And a piss-poor fistfight from that scrawny one won’t cut it. Onevoluntaryday in the brig should do the job, and it’ll be enough to prove that your Saltarian friends care about humans. That we’re all on the same side.”

But Kinden, the Soarcastle sisters, and Zimmer all think their imprisonment will last thirty-one days.

That’s the test.

“How do we know you won’t keep them in the brig longer?” I ask.

“You don’t,” Stork says. “That’s why it’s called trust, mate.”

SEVENTEEN

Court

One day passes, and Stork proves he’s not a complete liar. My brother. My friends. The four of them are allowed to leave theLucretziabrig.