Of all the people in the galaxy, it had to be her.

Soyina turned around as they approached the bar. “My, my,” she said, eyes just barely widening in surprise at the sight of them. “If it isn’t Dextro Arez and his pretty Baroness, back from the dead.”

“Thanks for the warning about that, by the way,” Andi growled. “I’m pretty sure I still have a bruise on my chest from your stunner bullet.”

Dex glanced between the two of them as they stared at each other, a mirror image of the night they’d first met with Soyina at Dark Matter, when they’d asked her to help them break into Lunamere and free Valen.

She couldn’t be trusted, Dex knew.

Yet she had Arachnid’s mark stitched plainly across her back, and there was no sign of silver glowing beneath her skin.

“Before you speak, I’ve a question to ask of you, dearies,” Soyina said as she signaled for the bartender droid to return. It rolled over, offering two frosty mugs full of liquid. Neither Dex nor Andi took them. Soyina only shrugged and smiled up at them as she added, “Be careful how you respond, for it will decide your fate. Who do you serve?”

Neither of them answered. But Andi’s face, so full of hatred at the mere thought of Nor, gave the answer away.

Soyina sighed. “Klarisa’s team radioed in about a certain battered glass starship crash-landing before they went radio silent. I figured you two would show up eventually, and when you did... Well, I also figured your stubborn asses would be on my side of things.”

Dex whooshed out a breath. “Klarisa told us to find you,” he said. “She said there was a gatekeeper of sorts—”

Soyina laughed, but leaned in close, eyeing Dex’s backpack first. “Lower your voice, you delicious thing.” She sighed as she looked at Andi, whose back had stiffened at her comment. “Of course. You’re in love again, aren’t you? Ah, well, it was fun to hope.” She turned back to Dex. “I’m the gatekeeper, Dextro. And I’ll need something from the two of you, if you’re to join me.”

She stood, downing her mug before she reached into her jacket and revealed a small blade.

Dex had his gun drawn before Soyina could take a breath, Andi reaching for her swords in an instant. But the woman only laughed at them both. She reached down and drew the blade across her own fingertip. Crimson welled from the wound, a color that stole the tension from Dex’s shoulders. Because it was truly evident now that Soyina was not one of Nor’s minions.

“I’ve shown you mine. Now you show me yours,” Soyina said, passing the blade, handle-first, to Dex.