“Like hell we’ll need them. No one needs them. No one needs to see me like that. Delete them.” I hated the burning in my eyes. I wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.

And then a new horror cooled my heated skin. “You didn’t show him the footage from the diner, did you?”

Declan’s silence said everything.

I couldn’t look at him. At any of them. I turned away. My skin was glowing out of control—brighter than Lorne’s—and I wanted to hide. I wanted to be alone. I wanted none of this to ever have happened.

“Amihanna, please. I had to know. I’m your father. I…” He sighed, and I was tempted to turn around, but I couldn’t. “I’m on my way with Teams Four and Seven, plus my own personal fleet. We’re about three hours out. Less if you’re ready to start jumping back this way.”

What? I spun to face the screen. “You can’t come here. You can’t—” I started to say, but his gaze turned to fire.

“Yes, I can. I’ve dealt with SpaceTech for years after they brutally slaughtered so many Aunare. There were many reasons we didn’t immediately crush them, but one reason—a very personal reason—was you and your mother. Your mother and some friends of yours are here with me now, but you are not. I’ve watched you tortured because you’re my daughter and I will not stop until I have you safely at home.”

My mother. He had Mom. The relief I felt was thick and heavy. “She’s okay?”

He gave me a small smile. “She’s worried about you, but fine.”

I wanted to see her so badly. I closed my eyes, letting it sink in that she was really okay. Safe. With my father like she always wanted.

And still, I had a question. “She didn’t—”

“No,” he said quickly, cutting off my question before I could even ask it. “Declan advised me not to watch them, that no one should see them—as you requested—but I had to know the full story.” He held his closed fist over his heart. “You were only a child when I left, and I wanted to see you.” His voice broke, and he took a breath. “I wanted to know you, even if it was only the horrible parts. And watching the recordings—watching you in pain and tortured—only to pick yourself up, head held high, and do it all again—”

I gave a bitter laugh and looked away. He was making me sound admirable. I was anything but that. “I don’t think my head was very high. Especially today.” On that moon, I’d been so done. I wasn’t sure I could’ve kept going if it weren’t for Declan’s calm, soothing voice in my ear.