Dex turned to follow the path Eryn was mowing down between the remaining soldiers. They dropped like flies, completely helpless against the invisible force.

“Time to go!” he yelled.

Somehow, they’d all made it out with their lives intact, though he couldn’t say the same for their opponents. But he couldn’t dwell on death when they still had so much left to do.

Dex was suddenly, fiercely glad Andi’s crew had stayed to fight, despite his attempts to make them leave. These women had the power to bring the world to its knees, yet here they were, saving it.

CHAPTER 39

VALEN

The interior of the satellite was silent.

It was a strange disconnect from the battle waging beyond its walls as Nor guided Valen inside, Androma and the soldiers following. The door to Nexus slid shut behind them with an ominous bang, effectively trapping them inside.

“Welcome!” Darai said, stepping past them. His voice echoed as he held his arms wide, like a proud architect revealing his very first creation to the world. “A beautiful specimen, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Imagine how good it will feel when she’s finally cast into the sky.”

Inside his mind, Valen continued to struggle for freedom.

Fight back, he thought. He’d commanded the minds of millions. He’d turned an entire galaxy to his sister’s side, even gotten Androma’s crew, fiercely loyal, to turn their backs on their captain.

But now he couldn’t even compel himself to break free of Darai’s mental chains.

“Look at it, Valen,” Darai said, reaching out and scraping a jagged fingernail across Valen’s cheek. He couldn’t even flinch away from that touch, though he despised it so. “See how wonderful it is, your new home for eternity.”

“Please,” Nor ground out between gritted teeth as she stood beside him. “Don’t do this, Darai. There must be another way.”

He must have allowed her more freedom than Valen had, for there were tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked around the satellite. And though she couldn’t move her arms or legs on her own, Nor’s head turned to focus on Valen as she begged. “Let us go, Uncle. You can have the power. Take it. Just let us all go.”

Darai clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, my dear. We’ve come too far to turn back now. Exonia awaits us, and we cannot disappoint our homeland.”

He marched deeper into the satellite, motioning for them to follow. And follow they did, as if they were truly caught in a current of his power, being towed along.

“I’m so sorry, Valen,” Nor said. “I’m so sorry I never saw it, or felt it in him.”