“That’ll take some getting used to,” he replies. He’s more familiar with the Wrath than I am, since he’s spent more time roaming its halls. When I spend time on the ship, I’m usually with Kye or Fiona and focusing on little else.
“I understand that, but everything’s changing,” I say.
He stops walking. I’ve been slowing down my pace so he doesn’t feel like he has to rush to keep up with me, but I’m not stealthy enough not to make it obvious. He doesn’t say anything about it.
“I know,” he replies. He leans against the chrome wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He shifts his weight from his left leg to his right leg and I can instantly see relief written all over his face. “You must be worried.”
“Sometimes,” I say. I lean against the wall next to him. “I trust her. I think, if anyone’s going to free Homeworld, it’s going to be her. My biggest concern is the toll it’s taking on her, but I can see what it’s doing to all of you.”
He regards me quietly for a long time.
I crack a smile. “This is normally when you tell me that everything’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t know,” he replies. “I trust her, too. But this is dangerous, and I’m not in fighting shape…”
I hold up my hand to stop him from talking. “Incorrect,” I say. “You’re obviously in fighting shape. Without you around…”
He stares at me, wide-eyed. “It might be easier, Nereus,” he says. “You wouldn’t need to look after someone with limitations.”
I scoff. “Compared to the Skoll, the Merati have limitations, and you have been taking care of me for as long as I can remember.”
“Because that was my function,” he says. “Much like your function was to find a wife so that she could save Homeworld and overthrow Lamia. You did exceptionally well, Nereus. I, on the other hand…”
I hold up my hand to stop him from talking. “So what if your leg isn’t the same as it used to be, or if you can’t physically intervene? We have Ryker onboard, and he’s intimidating. Not to mention Orion, who you brought onboard. You helped break the spell he was under, you were the first person to extend him an invitation into our crew when he was sorely needed, and you did it in a way that made it clear you were doing it for all of us. You have cared for Fiona when she has been on the edge and making rash choices. You put your life on the line for me several times, even when I haven’t deserved it. And you have kept us together even when everything felt like it was about to shatter. That was all you. You’re not a weapon, Taln. You never have been. You’re an anchor, and youarethe reason all of us are alive right now.”
He opens his mouth to answer, then clamps it shut. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him rendered speechless, and he has been around me since I was a young child.
“Now,” I say. “Let’s get you some food. You’ll feel better after we eat.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
FIONA
We’ve only been back on Triton for a few hours, and I’m already overwhelmed. Cressida has kept me in war council meetings ever since we landed, and it feels like we’re going right back to an endless cycle of stress, intense conversations, sleep, more stress…
When is this going to end?
I’m feeling a little shell shocked by the time she finally lets me go, my whole body shaking like I need to let off excess energy. My stress is at a level where I can’t even bring myself to decide what to do—if I want to go down to the barracks to spar with whoever will fight me, if I want to track someone down foranotherkind of physical activity, or if I want to go for a walk on the battlements. I can’t just go into the city, even though it might ease my mind–the whole city is in lockdown since Cressida got word of her sister’s betrayal.
And it all just reminds me that when this is over, it won’treallybe over. There will still be enemies to fight, wars to wage, and bad people who want to hurt the ones I love.
I mean…there’s awhole empireof slaversjust a hop across hyperspace, and I’m going to be one of the only things standing between them and my home planet.
I look out at the vast ocean just on the other side of the palace walls, populated by billions of Merati. I can see watercraft under the surface, the points of buildings peeking up from the subaquatic metropolis. And all I can think about is Earth’s oceans, Homeworld’s oceans, and our enemies extracting every ounce of Elixir—the planet’s blood—until it’s nothing more than a shell.
“Fiona.”
I glance over to find Ryker standing at the other end of the corridor, having just passed across a threshold. We’re the only ones here; I can hear quiet voices somewhere down the way, but they aren’t visible. I smooth out my black dress and turn to face my guard, licking my lips.
“I was just thinking about coming to find you,” I say.
He smiles, but there’s something sad there. “Why?”
I smile back, and mine is genuine—if a little confused. “Maybe I just enjoy your company.”
He takes a few heavy steps toward me, coming to stand a couple feet away. He’s not close enough to touch—which is odd, since we’re normally falling into each other’s arms whenever we’re together. I cross my arms over my chest and cock my head at him, my brow furrowing. “Ryker, what’s wrong?”
He frowns. “That’s actually what I came to speak with you about. Will you walk with me?”