Lotkez once again escorted us, allowing Starlight to skip the checkpoints, but I wasn’t sure if they were more protection or threat. With Cien on board, perhaps they were some of both. I hadn’t seen any other ships stalking us, but a battleship waited at the final wormhole that would send us back to human space.

A battleship we were nearly within range of.

Cien, Kee, and Havil were in the galley, ostensibly making lunch, but really Kee and Havil were keeping the kid off the bridge in case things went sideways.

With her colorful hair, delicate build, and bright personality, Kee was the least threatening person on board, and the only human Cien trusted enough to let close. He had tolerated the shared dinners, and had even cracked a smile once or twice, but the rest of the time, we gave him his space. The kid deserved it.

Everyone else was on the bridge. I scratched Luna under the chin as the minutes crept past. Finally, Starlight pinged a warning—we were within range of the battleship’s guns. I brought up our weapons and defensive systems.

Not that it would be much help against a battleship.

But even though Empress Nepru had very likely used her grandson as a pawn, she’d also kept him safe, so I didn’t think she would kill him now—and a hit from a battleship would absolutely destroy Starlight.

Torran’s expression went distant. I pretended everything was normal and confirmed our course through the wormhole. After a heart-stopping moment, the anchor put us in the holding pattern.

Was the empress going to let us leave?

Lotkez entered the pattern behind us, and Torran blew out a low breath.

“Everything okay?”

He smiled at me. “Yes. They’re letting you leave. Your bounty has been permanently rescinded.”

My eyes narrowed. It couldn’t be that easy. “But?”

“You are strongly discouraged from ever visiting again. And while I won’t be tried for treason, I’m being stripped of my diplomatic status and all standing within the empire. She’s made me a pariah, and my team with me.” Bitterness coated his tone.

“Why is Lotkez following us through if you don’t have any diplomatic standing?”

“They will ensure Cien’s safety in FHP space, and then return me to Valovia.”

My heart skipped a beat. Of course he would want to return. Even stripped of standing, he still had a life on his home planet. And as soon as we made it to Fed space, his life debt would be over. He could do whatever he wanted.

Lexi asked, “Did the empress freeze your accounts?”

Torran grinned at her. “She tried, but thanks to the kidnappers, I’d already moved a great deal of my money elsewhere.” He turned his attention to me. “Your payment should already be in your account. I doubled the completion bonus, as we discussed.”

“You didn’t have to—”