“He’s using you, Nor,” Klaren said, turning her gaze to Darai, whose grip had become so strong that Nor’s hand was beginning to go numb. “Can you not feel it? Can you not sense what he’s doing, even now? He used me, too, for years and years. I didn’t realize it until later, until I felt the lingering stain of his compulsion in my mind. Trust Darai. Follow Darai. Give your life up for the mission. Those thoughts didn’t leave my mind until weeks after we parted, and by then I was too busy compelling Cyprian to spare the people of Xen Ptera. Darai and I came to Mirabel together because he convinced me to do so. He convinced me to slaughter the other Yielded, not because he believed I was the strongest, but because he probably saw the destructive ambition in me. He believed that he could someday overthrow me, once I did all the hard work for him. But when I failed, and Cyprian cast me out, and I spent years fighting for my survival as a Mirabellian, powerless without my tongue... I saw the truth. I fell in love with this galaxy, and I realized I could not stand to see it fall.”

Tears were streaming down Klaren’s face now. “I tried to reach out to Darai, but he didn’t come to my call. He abandoned me, left me for dead, for all he cared, Nor. And he’ll do the same to you.”

“Seize her,” Darai said, spittle flying from his lips as his face twisted in rage. “Before she destroys everything we’ve worked so hard for. She’s trying to get into your mind, Nor. Her compulsion was always strong. She’s using it on you now.”

Klaren held out her hands, taking a step forward. The guards snapped into position to shoot.

“Hold!” Nor said, lifting a hand.

“Can’t you see it, Nor?” Klaren asked. “Your brother is already gone. My boy...my brave, strong boy, taken prisoner in his mind by this monster.”

Shock filled her as Nor turned to Valen once more. She didn’t want to believe Klaren’s words. How could she, when this woman was standing on the opposite side? But that doorway between Valen’s and Nor’s minds was still sealed shut. And now she swore she could sense darkness leaching from beneath it. As if a stain had begun to spread, overtaking the doorway until it looked entirely made of shadow.

Nor tried once more to reach through it. She knocked, but no answer came. The sound was sucked in by the darkness, unheard.