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“She said it was confidential, but apparently there’s something on Tyren?” Sophan swallows. “The Pride has been spending a lot of time there.”

Tyren. I heard the word in the holding cell, and it has not stopped echoing. Of course I know that planet. I spent moonfalls drinking its rainwater. I can see Kairen reach the same place a heartbeat later, the last world we tried to liberate before we followed the Ghorvek to Earth.

“Korvann’s vanguard was tasked with creating an outpost there, eliminating any remaining Ghorvek and their creations,” I add.

“My cousin said he wasn’t interested in restoring the planet as much as finding whatever useful thing is left,” Sophan says reluctantly.

“You should have reported this to the palace,” Caden says, scowling.

“He is a general,” Sophan whispers. “Why would anyone believe me over him?”

“I would have believed you,” Kairen says, his voice dropping its lethal edge. “Thank you, Sophan. We will contact you if we have more questions.”

With a bow, the engineer flees the room.

“What was that about a female?” Kairen asks me.

“Someone he entertained when he was on the planet,” I say. “It seems she got upset, feeling he only, ah, exercised his needs with her. She was more than happy to malign him to the crown.”

The assistive unit Tara named Kiko chirps from the console. “Humans call such behavior a booty call.”

“Booty call?” Caden repeats. “What kind of a call does a booty make? Except a far⁠—”

“That’s enough,” Kairen interrupts. I had an opinion ready, and it would have been even more juvenile. “So, if he wants Mother to abdicate, why hasn’t he opened communications with his demands yet?”

“Maybe he’s waiting for the right moment?” Caden suggests.

“I don’t know.” Kairen rubs the back of his neck. “What if...”

I can feel where that sentence ends through the link. It’s a cold, bottomless thing, and I refuse to let it finish.

“Don’t think that way,” I snap, shaking my head. “Tara and the baby are alright, and we’ll find them soon.”

Kairen takes a deep breath. “Prepare the Sovereign. We’re going to Tyren.”

“What if it’s a bad lead?” Caden asks.

“Whether it’s a bad lead or not, we’re still mobilized and prepared to change course.”

The room explodes into motion.

I look at Maggie. I cannot leave her. I will not leave her.

“Permission to stay behind with Elmsleigh?” I ask my prince.

Kairen pauses, turning back to face me.

“I want to keep looking for information among the Avaren,” I continue smoothly, offering the tactical justification. I gesture toward Maggie. “And she’s surprisingly good at reading people.”

Caden snorts. “I guess you have to be as a politician.”

Kairen doesn’t look amused. His purple eyes narrow, sweeping over me, cataloging my posture, the proximity I maintain to the human female, the subtle, desperate possessiveness bleeding through my shields. He knows exactly what happens when an Avaren male finds his match.

“Did you test her?” Kairen asks, quiet enough that Maggie can’t overhear it.

I shake my head. “She doesn’t want to be tested.”

My prince hums sympathetically. “I’ll leave you to it,” he murmurs, turning his back on us.