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Kwon nodded. “Whatever happened, it’s out of our hands. Are you ready to move? We plan to head out within the next hour. Cowes has only bitched a couple of times about taking you with us.”

“He’s going to tear me a new hole for this.”

“Be glad it’s only one. You crossed the line by interfering. I talked him out of having you arrested.” Kwon walked over to the bed and patted Rane’s uninjured shoulder. “It’s time to go, though. You can make your grovelling apology later and hope Cowes is in a good mood.”

“I’m not sure I want to leave.” Rane was invested in this place. Nell was here. So was his art. He couldn’t leave either behind.

The door opened. Cowes stomped through and glared at Rane. “You’re finally awake.”

Rane straightened his spine and nodded. “It’s nice to know you care.”

“I don’t give a single shit about you.” Cowes stopped by the side of the bed and glowered down at Rane. “Did you deliberately set out to sabotage this whole negotiation?”

“No, that’s not how it went down.”

“No, sir,” Cowes growled. “I’ve given you too many liberties over the years. You went against direct orders. You are not a part of this negotiation, yet you saw fit to interfere. You have brought war to Prodigy.”

Rane gritted his teeth. “That was never my intention, sir. I wanted to—”

“Cause more trouble. Prove you were something special and better than the rest of us. You have put lives in jeopardy because of your impetuous actions.”

“Councillor Agrave set this whole thing up. He—”

“Don’t go shifting the blame. If you hadn’t talked to him, none of this would have happened.”

Kwon shifted his feet. “That might not be true.”

Cowes glared at him. “Keep out of this.”

“You’re wrong, sir. Councillor Agrave knew what he was doing. He didn’t give a fuck about the negotiations. It was all a ruse. He came here to scout out Prodigy for a planned invasion. He’s been lying to all of us.”

Cowes shook his head. “You have created the biggest diplomatic mess I’ve ever had to deal with. I’ve got the rest of the diplomats spitting mad and demanding answers. I’m tempted to throw you to them if I didn’t think you’d screw things up even more.”

Rane’s hands bunched into fists. “I get it. I messed up.”

“You didn’t just mess up. You put the whole place in the middle of a war. Ships will be coming through the wormhole any time. This isn’t a defensive station. They have basic weapons and shields. Everyone on board Prodigy is at risk. That’s just the start of this fight once the Tolong get a foothold.”

Rane met Cowes’s gaze and saw the fury in his eyes. “Let me help. I couldn’t influence Councillor Agrave, but I can influence the pilots on the incoming ships. If there’s enough of us, we can influence them all and stop the attack.”

“Have you seen the mess you’re in? You couldn’t convince a flatulent toad to hold its gas in.” Cowes neck frill rippled around his head. “There’s not a chance in hell of you involving any of my team in that sure-fire way to an early death plan.”

“We could ask for volunteers,” Kwon said. “Some would stay behind. They’d want to help.”

“Keep out of this, Kwon.” Cowes arched a brow. “Rane, you’re fired. You will never work as a diplomatic support advisor again. There’s no place for you. You don’t fit in.”

Instead of feeling a sense of relief at finally being free from the shackles of his diplomatic support role, Rane felt a wedge of anxiety lodge in his stomach.

“I can help. I’m the best asset you have. I’m the strongest influencer in the team,” he said.

“You’re burned out. I don’t know what you’ve been wasting your ability on, but I can sense it in you. You’re weak and unfocused.”

Rane sighed. It was Nell. He’d given her everything in an attempt to fix her. His gaze went to the door. Where was she?

Kwon patted his shoulder again. “Best you sit this one out, buddy.”

“You’re not a part of this team anymore,” Cowes said. “I took a risk bringing you on board. I ignored the advice of others who told me you would be the same as your father. I should have listened to them. I wanted to prove them wrong. You’ve let everybody down.”

That was the last thing Rane wanted. He had plans for the future. He would be the first Olickie artist. He couldn’t be labeled as some failed loser who started a war.