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“What exactly did you see?”

“I heard Chapp coming, so we got the jump on him. He tried to shoot at us. But then he stopped, and Drake had him, and the gun was at my feet. I thought he disarmed him.”

But he didn’t disarm him.

Chapp disarmed himself.

“Where is Drake’s corrective instruction?” I demand.

“The Bridge. Why?”

“Who will be there?”

“Dezeeves. Ephraine. The first officers.”

I’m already climbing out of the bath. Any feeling of self-consciousness has been eliminated.

“Ara—” Cosmer says, alarmed.

I shove my clothes on, not caring my body is wet and that they’re sticking to me, or that my hands are shaking. Or that everyone – including Cosmer – is gaping at me.

“Don’t you all see it?” I press. “Drake doesn’t freeze people. He bends their will. And he’s currently in a room full of the very people who have complete control of this ship.”

It’s like I’ve ignited them.

Riss is out first, grabbing for her clothes, Cosmer and Meg close behind.

We run.

CHAPTER 16

The Consequences of Actions

Riss rings the bell for The Bridge hard, shouting for Dezeeves. The door swings open to Dezeeves, standing in the doorway. I can’t see beyond him. But he seems…

Fine.

He raises a white, bushy eyebrow. “Riss? You know better than to disturb The Bridge.”

Riss falters. “We… Ara⁠—”

“We wanted to check on Drake,” I quickly say, stepping beside her. “Make sure there weren’t any problems with his corrective instruction.”

“Why in Cosmos would there be problems?”

My stomach hits the floor.

Because where should my loyalties lie here?

A moment ago, I’d been afraid for the lives of everyone on this ship. But if Dezeeves and the first officers are alive and well, maybe I have nothing to worry about.

Meg said the imprints Drake had left were mild.

Maybe it isn’t a powerful blood magic, but something weaker. Maybe it’s exactly what we need to get us through Integration, and the war – with our loyalties still to Rhavna.

I need to smooth this over.

“I thought I had information that might be useful to you,” I say, carefully. “But actually, now that I think about it, I was wrong.”