Torran handed me a large black bag. “Sorry I had to contain her, but she couldn’t be seen,” he said, his voice amplified by his armor.

When the bag gave an indignant chirrup, I knew exactly what he’d given me. I lifted the top flap and peeked inside. Round, fuzzy ears and big, angry eyes stared back at me. Luna did not like to be contained, a lesson I’d learned early. I cooed at her and gently lifted her out of the bag, sending her as much affection as I could.

I turned back to Torran. I couldn’t speak around the lump in my throat, and my expression had to be openly adoring, but I didn’t care. This was the greatest gift he ever could’ve given me.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you so much.”

He nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

I dipped my chin. “Thanks to you. And Nilo.”

The cargo bay door sealed closed and the lights came on. I blinked as my eyes adjusted.

Cien said something, his voice soft, but Torran jerked in his direction. He pulled off his helmet and crouched down with a barely audible groan. It took a beat for Cien to recognize him, then the boy dashed into his uncle’s arms with a choked sob.

I knew exactly how he felt.

Chapter Thirty-One

I didn’t know how Torran managed to pull it off, but the Valovian authorities let us launch without trying to stop us. Perhaps the empress was just waiting for us to reach deep space so she could kill us without witnesses, but I would deal with that issue when it became a problem.

Valovia receded on our rear cameras and nothing but stars stretched out ahead of us. Thanks to my late morning, I hadn’t been up long, but the day had taken a toll. I rolled my head, stretching the muscles in my neck.

I still felt the telekinetic’s harsh grip. Havil had healed me, so it had to be phantom pain, but he couldn’t erase the sound of my neck bones cracking. The rest of the fight was somewhat foggy and distant, but that sound lived in my memory now.

Luna, sensing my mood, purred louder. She’d been stuck to me like glue since we’d returned to the ship. I petted her for a minute, then scooped her up and stood. I handed her off to Kee, who cooed at her like they’d been parted for weeks.

Luna soaked up the attention.

I stretched. Restlessness pulsed under my skin. I needed to move, not sit here and watch Valovia shrink on the displays. It was only evening standard time, so it was too early to sleep, even if I could get the adrenaline to subside long enough to attempt it. I didn’t trust Empress Nepru, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.