“Haerune and I will go for the mainframe,” Fendar said. “I can cripple their AI, and Haerune can look at… whatever it is he’s always going on about.”
Haerune glared his disapproval of that assessment. “Very well.”
“If we’re hacking, I’m all over that.” Nyx waved her hand in the air above her head.
Fendar frowned at her. “What do you know about Aurillon operating systems?”
“Umm… Nothing,” Nyx said.
He arched a brow pointedly.
“But you can show me.”
“In two days?” His broad nose wrinkled.
“She’s a technical genius,” Lyra said.
Cordelia and Nyx shared an astonished look as Lyra intervened on the woman’s behalf.
The little blonde woman cleared her throat, hiking her chin. “You would be a fool to underestimate her. If she says she can help, then she can help. Do as she asks,” Lyra said in her usual imperious tone.
Nyx’s brows were near her hairline, but she recovered quickly, turning back to Fendar with a smug look. “Well?”
Fendar huffed, waving his hand. “Very well. You may as well come with me now. I have been away from the console for too long already.”
She rose with a serious air, smoothing her uniform down as she followed him to the hall. As he stepped out of sight, she turned around and stuck her tongue out between her teeth, waggling her brows as she waved a hand with her thumb and smallest finger sticking out. Rentir blinked in confusion as Cordelia sighed. Eunha was laughing, wincing all the while.
“You need the medpod,” Haerune said. “Sophia, as well. Come, Thalen should be ready to wake by now.”
“Cordelia should be treated, as well,” Rentir interjected.
She shook her head. “I’m good. I’ll swing by later, once the others are done.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but she pinned him with a hard look, warning him against contradicting her. His teeth clicked together as he shut his mouth hard.
Sophia stood, wringing her hands together uncertainly. With a sigh, Eunha rose to her feet. Lidan stepped forward and caught her as she swayed. She looked at him like she wanted to pull away, but it was clear her strength had waned.
“Lidan,” Haerune said in a warning tone.
“Haerune.” Lidan mocked.
When Eunha’s knee buckled on her next step, Lidan ducked down to sweep her legs out from under her, hauling her up to his chest. She yipped, half-strangling him as she tried to catch herself.
“Well?” Lidan said, ignoring Eunha’s squirming and mortified protests. “Lead the way.”
Reluctantly, Haerune obliged. Sophia trailed behind them with her chin tucked to her chest.
“I think I’m going to retire for the evening,” Pandora said, slapping her thighs before she stood. She cast a pointed look at Lyra, brows raised.
Rentir cocked his head curiously at their silent communication.
Lyra huffed a breath through her nose, but she rose to stand beside Pandora.
Seren was still standing by the window, clutching her thin blanket close. She hadn’t spoken a word since she’d arrived. Xeth was leaning against a pillar on the far side of the room as he stared at her with open hostility. Rentir struggled to understand how Xeth could be looking at the female with such malice if he was truly feeling the same pull that he felt to Cordelia.
“Seren,” Lyra called.
Seren looked over at her somberly.
