“Alright,” Jasmine said finally, in the voice she used when she wasn’t done arguing but was choosing to table it. “I’ll talk to Wrexxon.”
I smiled at her, grateful that she wasn’t pressing me. “Thank you.”
“Come on, girls.” She stood and motioned for her sisters to follow her lead. “I need to talk to the Raas, and Skye probably needs some time alone.”
Kaya and Brielle complained, but they got up and gave me quick hugs before slipping out the door. Then Jasmine lingered in the doorway with her hand on the frame.
“You’re sure about this?” she asked in a low voice meant only for me. “Lexxona is still dangerous.”
I could have told her the reason I needed to leave, and part of me wanted to desperately. Jasmine had always been the person I told everything to for as long as I could remember. She had never once made me feel bad for any of it, no matter how embarrassing or silly. But what was the point? It was over, and he clearly was fine with pretending it never happened. Telling Jasmine would just mean reliving that pain.
I shook my head. “I’m sure.”
She searched my face for another moment. Then she sighed. “I’ll talk to Wrexxon. I don’t love it, but I’ll talk to him.”
She pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, “I know I’m not the only one who will miss you.”
Before I could react, she released me and ducked out the door, which glided shut behind her.
Chapter
Fifty-Two
Kolt
Iwalked purposefully into Raas Wrexxon’s strategy room, pausing only when he glanced up from the tablet he was studying.
“You got my summons,” he said standing. “Good.”
I flicked my gaze to the long sliver of glass that overlooked space, noting the change in the stars. “We have changed course. Does this have anything to do with our Zagrath prisoners?”
The Raas shook his head. “They are not high on my priority list. Besides, they will be excellent leverage in getting concessions from the Empire. Raas Lorken destroyed the Imperial ships sent to entrap us and is now in place near Gollun Prime, and he has promised to notify me when it has been liberated.”
That sent a pulse of satisfaction through me. I had promised to help the people in Kashara who had helped us. It was hard not to smile thinking that the theatre might perform freely.
“You will also be pleased to know that Lorken has the names of the individuals who aided you. If any are being held by the Zagrath, he will free them.”
I thought of Lettie’s brother, who had risked his position and safety to get us onto the transport. Since he’d forgotten to fuel the ship we’d stowed away on, I suspected he’d gotten into trouble for that and possibly more.
“Thank you, Raas.” For the first time since Skye had visited me in my oblek, I released a breath of relief. “Then where are we headed?”
Wrexxon walked from behind his desk and crossed to the window. “We will be returning to Lexxona. The trip will be brief, but it will give us enough time to ensure that the town has recovered from the Zagrath attack.” He pivoted on one foot to face me. “But I was convinced by my mate to make the trip so we can return her friend to her home.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Skye? She wishes to return to Lexxona?”
His gaze held mine for several beats. “She has requested it, and I was inclined to honor her request.” His voice softened. “What did you expect? It is her home, and she has been given no reason to stay here.”
I noted his choice of words, but my mind was whirling too fast to focus on them. She was leaving. Not only that, she had requested to leave.
What did you expect, Kolt?
Raas Wrexxon’s words echoed in my ears, but he was right. She had no reason to stay. I had given her no reason. I had said nothing when she told me we could forget what happened. I hadn’t argued. I hadn’t told her she was wrong. I hadn’t fought for her. For us.
And now she was leaving.
I stumbled toward the door. “I need to…”
But I didn’t even tell Wrexxon what I needed to do because I was practically running from his strategy room and across the command deck. I barreled through the double doors and clattered down the stairs, my muddled memory guiding me to the guest quarters as my boots slammed onto the steel floors so hard it rattled my teeth. Raiders leapt from my path as I tore through the warbird, finally ending up in front of a metal door, breathing hard.
