Shey wipes the crumbs off her face and folds her hands primly in her lap. Even if I didn’t know who her mother was, it would be easy to see the Gaian manner in her straight posture and gloved, neatly folded hands. I suppress a sigh. Of course Scorpia had to get entangled with the worst person possible: not only a Gaian, but the daughter of the treacherous, xenophobic president who hired us to start a war. Scorpia always has to make everything as difficult as possible.

No matter how my sister feels, considering that this woman’s mother made the call to wipe out my entire home-planet and everyone I’ve known and loved over the past three years, I’m not inclined to be gentle or forgiving with her.

“If you would give me a few minutes to freshen up,” Shey says. “I would—”

“You’re a stowaway, not a guest. You’re not in a position to be making demands. Answer the question.”

Shey’s eyebrows rise. She glances at Scorpia. “Well, isn’t he charming,” she says.

Scorpia puts a closed hand to her mouth to hide a grin, and clears her throat when I glare at her.

“I have to say, I didn’t take you for the stowaway type,” she says, looking at Shey. “Tell us what’s going on.”

Shey sighs, her hands tightening on her lap.

“I already had some suspicions, but I knew something was wrong after that conversation with my mother,” she says. “I couldn’t return to Gaia with her, knowing what I know. So, instead I came to your ship, waited for you to unlock it for the cargo, and found the emergency escape hatch near the engine room.” She shrugs at Scorpia’s surprised look. “Every ship has one, of course. While you were all distracted making the exchange with my mother’s people, I snuck on board and hid. I wanted to make sure we were far enough out that you wouldn’t turn back and drop me on Deva.”

“Okay,” Scorpia says, while I stare at the Gaian with narrowed eyes. “That explains the how. But why?”

“I’m trying to stop you from making a very serious mistake.”

“Skip the cryptic shit and get to the point.” I drum my fingers on the table. Shey frowns, eyes darting to Scorpia again. My sister gestures for her to go on, and I resist the urge to snap at her for coddling the woman.

“Give me a moment, I’m trying to get my thoughts in order,” Shey says. She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. As much as I want to think she’s putting on an act, she does look genuinely exhausted, so I wait. “I suppose I should start with the obvious: My mother lied to you.”

“Shocking,” Scorpia says dryly.

“That doesn’t explain why you’re here,” I say.