“Both of you need to shut up,” I say, raising a hand to silence them as Lyre opens her mouth again. To my surprise, they listen, though they continue glaring at one another. “You’ve each said your piece. This is Drom’s call.” I turn to look at her. She’s rubbing the bridge of her nose again. “Drom, we need a decision. We’ll arrive at Nibiru in under twenty-four hours, and we have to know what to plan for. But no matter what you choose, we’re all in this together.”

I glance around the table. After a moment’s silence, Lyre murmurs her assent. Corvus stays quiet, his expression pained, but gives a small nod of agreement. Shey has her head bowed, awaiting judgment.

Drom lets out a long, low sigh and leans back in her chair.

“I never really liked Nibiru. Real dull place,” she says, her eyes distant, her mind somewhere other than this room. “But Pol loved it. He always said all his best memories were there. He’d talk about how we should both retire there one day.” She pauses, lips twisting into a wry grin. “I always argued for Deva, myself. But…” She shrugs. “When I see him again, I don’t wanna have to break the news that we killed everything he loved about the place.” She looks up at Shey and nods. “So let’s try your political shit.”

As much as I was trying to remain neutral on the issue, a knot in my chest relaxes at her final words, and I can’t help but smile. Shey breaks into a dazzling grin herself, extending her hands in a Gaian gesture of gratitude that makes Drom roll her eyes and look deeply uncomfortable.

“Don’t make me regret this,” she grumbles.

Meanwhile, Lyre mutters some excuse before fleeing down the stairs to the engine room. Corvus looks at Drom like he can hardly believe what he heard. He walks over and grips her shoulder.

“Thank you,” he says, the words coming out thick. Drom, looking supremely embarrassed at this point, shakes him off.

“If anyone starts crying, I will punch them,” she warns, and then half smiles. “Anyway, don’t thank me. Thank Pol when you see him again.”

Still smiling, I nod at her, and then at Shey, who is doing her best to blink away the tears in her eyes.

“All right,” I say. “Let’s figure out how to stop this war.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Something Worth Fighting For

Corvus

I wanted redemption, a reason that I survived Titan when so many others didn’t. Now here it is: a chance for peace. Drom’s shocking decision to negotiate with the Nibirans fills me with hope. The others seem similarly enthusiastic, because Shey and Scorpia immediately launch into discussion of the plan, while Drom begins some celebratory drinking. But as time goes on, doubt creeps into me.