Because he always put their mission first, as she’d made him swear to. He’d done what the most loyal servant would do. He’d allowed Zahn to die...so that she could live.

“You must let go of your love and focus on our goal,” Darai insisted. As he looked into her eyes, Nor found that she could not pull herself from his gaze. Those Exonian eyes were golden, as golden as the sun, and she’d looked into them since she was a child. She’d trusted them. She’d never been betrayed or let down by them.

“The answer is obvious,” he continued. “Your brother’s body is failing him, but his mind is still strong. His mind is desperate to escape that failing body, to be given a chance to truly stretch and reach the height of its abilities. We can give him that. And we must, before it’s too late.”

Nor’s heart felt broken in two.

And her head...her head felt all wrong, as if she were staring through a layer of fog and into darkness.

“He’s dying,” she said. “Truly dying?”

Darai nodded. “Time is running out. The satellite is nearly complete. And when it is, we must plug Valen into it. We must allow him to follow his fate.”

“But maybe Aclisia...” Nor trailed off. “If she had just a few more days...she could perhaps find a way to...”

“No,” Darai said. “You’re not listening, my dear. There is no time. You know what must be done, Nor. You just don’t want to admit it to yourself, because you fear it.”

“I’m not afraid,” Nor said.

But she was. She was.

Darai gazed at her, so insistent as he helped her stand. “He is too weak. He is already almost gone. A true queen would see that, Nor. She would also see that in his weakness, he is perhaps even more useful than he ever has been. You must decide. You must give me the order, before death comes to steal him away. Before Exonia falters, because of your fear to use him.”

She almost said it.

She almost gave the order.

But something inside of her screamed not yet.

Nor pulled her hand from Darai’s grasp, glancing away from his gaze. “You overstep, Uncle.”

He frowned, his jaw working as he likely sought the right words. “I am only doing my duty, my queen.”

“You will give me time,” Nor said. “That is your order.”

Then she left the room, her cloak trailing behind her as she headed toward the medical wing of the estate. She would not decide what to do with Valen.

Not yet.

And certainly not today.

CHAPTER 29

VALEN

He was back in Lunamere again, lying facedown on the cold obsidinite while the guards slashed their light-whips over his back.

He smelled the singeing of his own flesh, the metallic tang of his blood.