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Her wrist comm signaled an incoming message. She opened it and was surprised to see it was from Doctor Kingsbury.

Urgent message. Read immediately.

Nell’s eyebrows rose. What could Doctor Kingsbury have to tell her that was so important? She opened the message.

Stop all contact with this Olickie immediately. He is not to be trusted.

I have important information you need to know. I am available to see you immediately. Come to Starland at your earliest convenience.

I repeat. Do not trust this alien. I am deeply concerned about your safety.

Nell read the message several times, not believing what she’d seen. Doctor Kingsbury couldn’t know anything about Rane.

It was possible they’d met before. After all, he had been on Starland a few weeks ago. What could Doctor Kingsbury have uncovered about him that was so serious? So serious that Nell needed to cut all contact with Rane.

Unease stirred inside Nell’s stomach. Had she made a huge mistake by getting involved with him? She’d put her trust in an alien; had it been manipulated again?

She couldn’t believe that. Rane had been nothing but good to her.

But Nell trusted Doctor Kingsbury above anybody else. She would have no reason to lie to her. As her therapist, she had Nell’s best interests at heart.

A grim thought filtered into her head. What if Rane was also one of Doctor Kingsbury’s patients, and she had connected the facts and realized Nell’s life was at risk? Could Rane have infiltrated her life with some kind of evil motive in mind?

Nell looked around the room, feeling trapped in the confined space. It felt more like a lair than a place she could sleep in.

She needed to get out quickly.

Nell shoved on her clothes and hurried out of Rane’s living quarters.

She had to get to Starland and find out what Doctor Kingsbury knew.

Chapter 14

The corridors on Prodigy were quiet as Rane hurried to the meeting room they were using for the negotiations. He wanted to get there before anybody else.

After his talk with Kwon the previous evening, he’d returned to his quarters and come up with a plan.

He’d been disappointed to discover Nell had left but didn’t blame her. He’d left her alone, and she hated that. She’d be back as soon as she got anxious. They had a routine. Whenever Nell needed him, he let her in. Then she left.

For now, he had to focus on the diplomatic mess he’d discovered. He would get the diplomats to complete the negotiations and get everything back on track as would have happened if he’d been there.

Once that was done, Cowes would see Rane was worth keeping around. He might even be flexible about letting him keep his art and work on it in his spare time. That would be a huge ask, but if Rane pulled this off, it could work.

He was also averting a new conflict in the war. That wasn’t a terrible thing.

Rane entered the meeting room and noted the still, calm atmosphere. He paced around the room as he got his thoughts into shape.

He’d tackle his diplomat first, Councillor Agrave. He’d poked and prodded at every point in the negotiation until everyone stared at him like they wanted him dead. If he could be persuaded to be more open to this negotiation, Rane was certain everything would be fine.

He turned as the door to the room opened. Councillor Agrave walked in. He slowed as he saw Rane.

“You’re here early.” Councillor Agrave’s tone hinted at his displeasure.

“I wanted a moment to speak to you,” Rane said.

Councillor Agrave sneered his distaste as he sat. “If you insist. I was not aware I was still being supported by you.”

“You are,” Rane said. “Olickie work together to ensure these negotiations are a success.”