“You mean alliances,” I say.
Eluni looks at me and tilts her head like she’s deep in thought.
Jovie leans against me. “But why stay? Aura told me how you all had to leave. But you didn’t have to get back on Allele. You could’ve abandoned him. Why not?”
Blaize’s wristband lights up to the sound of Fieri’s voice. “We noticed what was happening and felt the one we should be following is Aura, not his father.”
“Besides, Allele let us on the ship,” Jorusk adds over the beeps of Allele’s scanners. “I’m told that means something important. I always trust the ancients over others. They’re still alive for a reason.”
Fieri makes an annoyed huffing sound. “Allele is the only reason I toleratestrangers.”
Eluni whines. “Hey! I am not the enemy.”
Beside me, Jovie closes her to-go box. “You have no idea how hard it is to be one of the few chicks working a field full ofdicks.”
Eluni gives her a faint, appreciative smile, and I know it hasn’t been easy for either of them.
The guys grumble out their apologies, so I add mine, “I have been hard on you. I apologize. We do it to all the guards, but Jovie is right. You deserve to be treated equally but more appropriately.”
Eluni waves a hand. “I chose to serve you over your father because I can tell you still have a heart. And because you listen to your Storm instead of denying it like New Order—or whatever they’re calling it since we left. Trouble is, and this is something we needed to discuss with you, we aren’t the only ones.”
Jovie hugs me tighter as if feeling the same gripping dread I feel.
“And?” I ask.
Blaize pulls up a holovid and shows it to us on his wristband. “It’s turning into a mass rushed exodus. The fleet is tearing apart into two factions: New Order and Genesis.”
“What’s worse,” Fieri adds over the coms, “is that the Royals on each ship have commanded those caught trying to leave to be jailed. Fights have broken out all over, even among Rogue Guards and Royal Guards.”
A string of taps comes over the speaker. Jorusk speaks. “But from the data that I’m pulling off the ABR fan page, there are a lot of Amphirans rooting for you two. I bet that pisses off the kings even more.”
“What do we do?” Jovie asks.
I scan between Blaize and Eluni.
“Keep playing,” Fieri offers. “Knowledge game should be starting soon. Make Amphirans proud by kicking some ass. And the grenade maze should be exciting. Might make them happy to see their kind can find their Storm match and enjoy their lives again.”
Blaize is the first to crack. He busts up. “Bro, are you watching ABR?”
“It’s called research, you little punk. You’d be better at your job if you did some,” Fieri snarls.
I waggle my brows. “Don’t tell me Fiesty Fieri has a secret dream of running the race.”
“No. I’m too old.”
“You’d only know that if you checked,” Jovie teases.
“Research!” Fieri sounds pissed. “Allele, you have the wheel.”
“There are no wheels in my pilot controls, Fieri. I do not understand this request,” Allele replies.
Aura, what does he mean?
For you to take the helm. He’s taking a break.
Understood.
“Back to the games?” I ask Jovie.
