Lorne muttered something in Aunare. “When does Jason leave?” The name “Jason” was soaked in hatred. I couldn’t imagine hating anyone that much, but I was sure he had a good reason.

“Nine a.m.”

“And you’ll leave after him? Come straight here?”

The way he was asking the questions—more demand than anything else—I wondered who this guy was and why he cared so much about getting me back to wherever he was.

“Yes. Tomorrow evening.” Declan looked at me. “Everyone will have cleared out. It should be safe by then.”

I closed my eyes for a second, thankful that this was actually happening. I really hoped it’d be safe tomorrow. I needed to get out of here before I got caught. Especially since the whole glowing thing was getting worse.

“Good.” Lorne heaved a heavy sigh. “Good.”

“Wait. Jason?” Roan said. “Who is Jason?”

“Jason Murtagh is—” Lorne started, but Roan cut him off.

“I knew you looked familiar. You’re Declan Murtagh, SpaceTech CEO’s black sheep son. Jason is the golden boy, primed to take over for your dad whenever he retires. And Lorne ni Taure? Heir to the Aunare throne?”

Declan froze and then looked to me. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was guilt in his eyes. He’d withheld his last name, and I hadn’t asked. I assumed he was just someone who worked for SpaceTech, but I knew those names as well as I knew my own.

I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t realized who Declan was. I trusted him with my life, but he was almost as high up in the SpaceTech food chain as he could get. Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted him, but then again, if that really was Lorne ni Taure on the line, then I wasn’t the only one trusting a Murtagh.

Declan stood there, waiting for me to either kick him out of the room or reaffirm my friendship with him. I knew if I asked him to leave, he would. But I didn’t want him to leave.

In that moment, I realized that the fact he was a Murtagh didn’t really change anything. Not to me.

Declan must’ve seen a change in me because he looked away briefly to Roan as if to ask Can I trust him not to turn us in?

“You can trust Roan. I swear. He’s known exactly who I am for nearly a decade, and he’s never said a word about it to anyone.” Something didn’t add up. “Why are you helping me if you’re a Murtagh?”

“It’s a long story.” His voice sounded as tired as I felt.

“You’re full of those,” I said. “One day you’ll tell me what exactly what’s going on.”

Declan huffed and gave me a half-smile. “One day. Maybe.”