Klaren raised her hands in supplication. “I don’t think they truly understand what will happen when they open the Void,” she insisted. “From the information I’ve managed to gather over the years... I don’t believe Darai has told them the full truth about our people. Nor sees herself as a savior—she thinks that she’s fulfilling the destiny I failed long ago, and that she can save my people from death and ruination. And while that’s true, Darai has failed to tell her what the cost will be. And Valen...” Klaren looked away. “After the way Cyprian treated him all these years, I’m not surprised that he’s embraced the idea of having a real family at last—and of finally having some power of his own.”

“That still doesn’t give them the right to take over the minds of everyone in Mirabel,” Andi protested. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. She had no love for the capital planets of Mirabel, had only felt wanted by the people who wished to put her behind bars. Sometimes, she dreamed of the worst people in the galaxy—the people like her parents and Cyprian—getting what they deserved. Given a taste of a life on the run, a life always spent looking over one’s shoulder, for fear of their own darkness catching up to them.

But this? This was something else entirely. She felt physically sick just thinking of the news Klaren had shared. Thinking of Lira, and Breck, and Gilly, their bodies stolen along with their minds. Forever prisoner to something other from Exonia. If it was true...then she wouldn’t stand for it.

She wouldn’t even let Nor and Valen get close.

“Look, I get it, they’re your children. You want to believe the best about them,” Andi said. “But my crew is back on Arcardius, trapped under your son’s compulsion, doing your daughter’s bidding, and now you’re telling me that soon their bodies are going to be stolen, too?” The very thought filled her with rage. “I don’t care what Nor and Valen do or don’t know. I’m going to kill them myself, before it’s too late. With or without your help.”

Andi spun on a heel, heading for the tunnel back to the undercity, yanking Dex along behind her.

“Killing them won’t do anyone any good,” Klaren called after her. When Andi hesitated, she added, “Only the one who starts the compulsion can end it—and only by their choice.”

The news of that nearly brought Andi to her knees.

“Then there’s no hope?” she whispered. “No hope of saving anyone?”