Renner is in the med-assist on an accelerated healing cycle, and we’re careening out of the spaceport like a chax being chased by a leonar. We dodge and weave through ships coming into the port, but Leef is an excellent pilot, and I’m starting to believe we may just make it.
Leef assures us LeGran has a limited reach in space. Something about Meloran contracting out their space security under a localized contract in conjunction with the new port. Basically, protect the port at all costs, but forget everything else. He claims they won’t come after us once we exit Meloran space, which gives us a distinct advantage if he’s right.
He angles us into a sharp dive, and we break around a colossal star-class cargo ship, zipping through a few smaller, one-man ships, past the boundary buoy, and into open space.
“That was close.” I lean back against my seat, letting some of my tension go.
Leef gives me an amused look but doesn’t say anything. His focus returns to the control panel, and I divert my gaze to the stars before us.
Now that the adrenaline of escaping Monarch LeGran and his tenacious guards is gone, I feel spent and weak. More than that, I’m desperate for answers. If Beta is right, and the High House and the High Council are corrupt, a vacant throne leaves limited solutions. I can be established as Gravless on the throne and hope I have enough sway to reinstate loyal Council members or… I swallow. Or Merritt will be forced to the throne in my stead.
If they can find her.
I know little of my sister or her convictions. She was always the one getting into trouble when we were kids, but that has no bearing on the kind of ruler she would be now. If she’s forced to the throne upon the claim that I’m dead, and she has no understanding of the corruption, she’ll play right into my step-uncle’s hands. She’ll fall prey to the same tricks my aunt did. That cannot happen.
At least I know the danger that awaits me.
Beeping from the back of the ship draws my attention from the stars, and I turn to see Renner hobbling toward us.
“What are you doing?” I rush forward as he lists to the side.
“I’m patched up.” He’s still holding his side, and his naturally tanned skin is ghostly pale.
“That was not a full cycle—accelerated or not—mate.” Leef remains fixed on the controls, but a muscle in his jaw flexes.
“I’m no longer bleeding. That’s good enough. For now. I want to make sure we’re truly in the black before I go into a full cycle.”
“But Renner—”
He quiets my protest with a light touch on my shoulder then slumps into his bucket seat. His gaze focuses on the view screen. “What’s the plan, Cap?”
“The plan,” Leef begins, but then stops. “The plan…” He starts again but trails off, furiously swiping at the screen.
“What is it?” Renner sits up too fast, and he winces. He’s nowhere near healed enough.
“We’ve…company.”
I bend over the screens. “I thought you said LeGran wouldn’t pursue us past Meloran space?”
“This is not LeGran.”
“Who is it?” Renner demands.
“I—I don’t know, but they’re at least fifteen minutes from intercepting us.”
“How do you know they’re after us?”
A crackling voice comes over the intercom, crystalizing the blood in my veins like I’ve been spaced. “Lieutenant Byrenn Car-Tai, you are hereby under arrest by the authority of Mè Volur Tai for crimes against the Crown. You will speak for your crimes to the High Council of Xerus on Cerlia.”
“Is that…?” I can’t even say his name.
“Jas.” Renner’s jaw clenches, and he pounds a fist against a bulkhead. “I should have ended him when I had the chance. How in the Verse did he find us?” Then he rounds on Leef. “You.”
Before I can think to move, Renner has Leef out of his seat, hand fisted in the fabric of his loose tunic. He holds him up, feet barely off the floor, his cheeks crimson with rage and pain.
“You did this.” Renner’s words cut through Leef like a sword, and he flinches.
“I—what?” Leef tries to wrestle free. “Come on, mate! Let me go. Why would I do this?”
“Captain Atlas Verin, turn over the prisoner, and you will receive a reward of one hundred thousand credits.”
“That. That’s why.” Renner shakes Leef with every word. “Leef, Shon, Atlas—whatever the black your name is—you are a traitor, willing to sell his own mother to—”
“Renner.” Finally shaken free of my shock, I angle close enough to touch him. “Calm down, or you’ll undo any good the med-assist did.”
“Where’d he go on the port, Tal? He’s been up to something the whole time. I—I don’t trust him.”
“Look, mate.” Leef clamps his hands around Renner’s wrists. “You’re going to let me go. We’re gonna talk about this like civilized outlaws, clear?”
“Why should I trust you? Give me one reason.”
“How about because I got you to Meloran? Or that time I pulled you into the utility closet and saved your life? Or what about the time I—?”
Renner drops him unceremoniously, and it’s only then I see the sweat beading on his forehead.
“Ren, please. Let’s hear him out.” I lick dry lips and hope I’m making the right choice. Leef did help us escape when he could have left. “We’ve got to get out of here before Jas boards the ship.” Or worse, blows us into the black.
“Talk.” Renner moves to cross his arms but seems to remember his wound and drops them to his side.
Leef slides back into his captain’s chair, runs a hand through his dark hair, and nods toward the viewport in front of us. “I have no reason to betray you. In fact,” he swallows and takes a deep breath like he’s preparing to dive to the depths of a water city. “I’m on your side. I’m an undercover operative for the Rising.”