Seizing Kalie’s cold hand, he brought it to his lips. No trace of her cherry perfume clung to her skin, only the sharp, biting odor of rubbing alcohol and the sterile scent that laced the air of medbays.
But she was smiling. She was breathing. She wasalive.
There were somany things Kalie wanted to say—what happenedandthank youandI’m glad you made it out—but Zane seemed to be struggling for words, and Mira had retreated with a downcast look on her face. This wasn’t the time. Not in front of Mira. If she was here when she was supposed to be on Dali, it was bad.
Kalie cleared her throat. “Where are we?”
Zane collected himself, but he didn’t let go of her hand as he looked at Mira.
“One of Gar’s outposts, in Sector Seven.”
Right—because somehow, Zane and Gar had saved her. And faked her death? It was all so confusing, and her head was throbbing, but worse was the dread churning in her stomach. Kalie scanned the dark, empty room. No sign of Mother or Theron, or Sadini or Lida. She would’ve cried with relief just to see Selene. But none of them were here.
“Mira…” Her voice gave out, and she hugged her arms to her chest. “What happened to my family?”
Mira grimaced. “There’s no easy way to tell you this?—”
“They’re dead,” Kalie breathed, as blood pounded in her ears.
“No. Not…”
Yet, she heard, though Mira didn’t say it.
“They’re fighting back. Your younger brother’s Renish reinforcements arrived, so Carik’s fleets had to fall back and regroup. It gave your father time to organize a defense of Etov, but last I heard, Carik’s destroyers blockaded both stargates.”
“The Emperor won’t be able to hold the system if the Feds control all access points.” Zane snatched a roll of bandages and wound them around his bleeding foot.
Kalie flung the blankets aside. There was no time to rest. Her family had risked their lives to shelter her, and she owed it to them to fight. She would give her life for it—for Dali’s liberation, for Etov’s salvation, for Carik’s downfall.
She tried to stand, but the world spun around her, and nausea sent her crashing onto the lumpy mattress.
Zane clasped her hand. “You need to rest, Kalie.”
“I can’t.” She closed her eyes, braced herself for the nausea, and forced herself to her feet. Blinding pain tore through her right shin, drawing a gasp from her lips. “I have to go, I have to fight.”
“There’s more.”
As Kalie opened her eyes, the light glinting from the grubby bulbs plunged arrows into her throbbing temples. Mira’s closed-off expression and crossed arms raised the hairs on her skin. Her knees wobbled, and she sank onto the bed.
She was vaguely aware of Zane asking a question, but she didn’t look at him. She couldn’t look away from Mira. A terrifying jumble of nightmares crowded into her mind—blood bursting from wounds in Mother’s chest, Theron’s skewed body amidst the rubble, Sadini screaming as legionnaires descended on her and Lida, Father impaled by a broken beam, Selene fleeing from soldiers chasing her…
“You were betrayed,” Mira muttered.
Kalie’s breath seized. “By whom?”
It could’ve been the shifty Count of Alexandria, or dithering Senator Poltrun, or any of the delegates who’d opposed liberating Dali. But Father trusted them, and their planets were united in hatred of Carik. They wouldn’t have sold her out.
“Your sister.”
Kalie’s jaw dropped.
Selene?
It couldn’t be. Selene hated her, but she loved Mother and Theron. “She’s a jealous brat, but she wouldn’t?—”
“Iliana made Selene the Heredem. I found out too late.”
“She didwhat?”
