There wasn’t much for me to do, so I started pacing. Staying still wasn’t something that I did very well, especially when I was nervous. I wasn’t sure about this plan, but I wasn’t turning back. My friends were worth the risk. And beating Jason at his own game? I needed that.

I ran my hands along one of the stone walls as I paced, and a light caught my eye. I stepped back, touching it again. When I turned my head, the light was gone. Only when I stood right in front of it could I see the lights and commands. They were bright blue-white against the dark sand-colored stone. The lights rippled and swirled. I wondered what would happen if I touched one of them, but I didn’t dare try. The Aunare’s swirling script was indecipherable to me. It was beautiful and lovely but completely foreign.

I looked over my shoulder to find Lorne watching me. I couldn’t read anything on his face. That made me want to shake him. I wanted to know what he was thinking, but I was too chicken to ask.

Lorne stayed that way—watching. Observing. Waiting. For what I didn’t know, but his gaze made me feel exposed. I’d been hiding most of my life, and now that was suddenly over.

I turned away, not able to look at him anymore. I seemed to do that a lot with him, and it was starting to get on my nerves. I didn’t back down. I wasn’t a chicken. But with him, I was.

Maybe that’s where the exposed feeling was from. Maybe it wasn’t even him making me feel this way. He wasn’t looking at me and seeing Maité. He looked at me, and he saw Amihanna di Aetes. Daughter of Rysden di Aetes. The lost di Aetes heir.

I wasn’t sure who I was anymore, let alone how to be Amihanna. I’d lost her so long ago.

I glanced back, but he was still watching me. This was getting awkward. Him just watching me in silence, so I turned to him and asked a question that had nothing to do with my feelings or the Aunare or being Amihanna or anything emotionally intense at all.

I motioned to the wall. “I can only see it when I stand directly in front of it. Is that how the control panel is with you? No buttons or switches?” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat, but he didn’t seem to notice or care.

He nodded. “Yes, but it’s also keyed to certain people. Only me and a few trusted others can fly this ship.”

“Is that why I can’t see anything on that desk?”

“Yes.” He leaned back into the desk, still patiently studying me.