But she couldn’t bring herself to utter those words. That fear. Saying them aloud would be like giving her fear wings, allowing it to take flight and carry her away.

“Exonia has waited a long time for their queen,” Zahn whispered, his fingertips running up and down the small of her back. “They will not have to wait much longer. I’m certain of it. You’ve conquered so much in your life, Nor, but you’ve still so much left to live. So much left to make yours. With Valen’s compulsion, with Darai’s guidance, with the loyalty of Mirabel behind you... We will succeed. Together. For you.”

Nor sighed, her face pressed against his chest. “You think too highly of me.”

“No.” Zahn angled her face upward, to look at him. “You are my queen. But more than that, you are my heart. There is nothing I won’t do, Nor, to help you succeed in your life’s calling. And if rooting out Arachnid, if rooting out this estranged general, is what you wish...then I will see it done.”

“You’re too pure for this galaxy,” Nor told him.

Zahn raised a playful brow. “I can think of a few ways to change your mind about that.”

He pressed a tender kiss to her lips, warmth flooding through her just as the doors to the great room burst open.

Nor sighed and pulled herself away from Zahn, turning toward whatever responsibility had found its way to her. It seemed impossible to find time alone with Zahn these days—or even time by herself, for that matter.

But it was only Valen, walking inside, tension in his thin shoulders. “What’s going on?” he asked. “I felt something happen while I was away.” He ran the back of his sleeve across his nose, as if he were rubbing away dirt that Nor couldn’t see. “Are you alright? I thought I heard you calling, through our link.”

“I did call,” Nor snapped, annoyed. “I needed you, and you wouldn’t answer.”

Valen looked taken aback, and Nor immediately felt guilty for lashing out at him. She knew the work he was doing was important to their cause—perhaps more than ever, now. But sometimes she wished he was more present for her out here, instead of in his mind.

It was hard to feel connected to a ghost.

“Nice of you to join us, finally,” Zahn said, pulling away from Nor with a sigh of his own. But he smiled at Valen all the same as Nor sat back down on the couch, allowing Zahn to relay the events that had taken place while Valen was likely traipsing the halls of his mind castle.

She felt so tired. And yet Nor knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep until they discovered the identity of the general and found a way to take back what was hers.