Exhaustion seeped into my bones. I wanted nothing more than to skip out and set my pod to circumnavigate the city with music on full blast. “I’ve said my greetings to everyone who matters, so I won’t embarrass you and Father by leaving early.”

I strode away, but she matched my pace through the crowd, gliding somehow, her expression a serene mask that jarred with her harsh tone. “Now is not the time to wax rebellious, Altair. Your new position will be assigned any day now so long as you maintain the proper behavior.”

A blast of pure, unreasonable resentment froze me where I stood. As if her connections were getting me ahead. She made it seem like I’d done nothing. All the hours in the lab. Bending my morals into pretzels to follow this path.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a Gray sidled into our conversation. “Deepest apologies. Mr. Orpheus is needed with urgency.”

“Goodnight, Mother.” I followed the Gray without glancing back. The timing was perfect, but where could I possibly be needed? Maybe some Seligo woman wanted my company for the night? That tended to happen at these kinds of parties.

I let out a heavy breath. The distraction was welcome enough as long as whoever it was didn’t expect a conversation. The Gray wouldn’t tell me if I asked, so I simply followed.

We exited the ballroom through a passage lined with Black Helix guards. As we wound deeper into the senate building, my chest tightened. Faint lines on the ceiling hinted at the hidden anti-intrusion panels that could drop enough firepower to take down a guerrilla force.

This was no rendezvous. I had no business with anyone this deep in the senate.

Sweat trickled down the back of my neck. Had I been caught? Had that ridiculous message tipped the Seligo I was playing two sides?

If I’d been found out…

According to Raven protocols, I’d have to take my own life. On a mission, I’d have a weapon or poison handy, but in here, I was on my own.

Shit.

I couldn’t take that route. I was close, but what had I really accomplished?

Not enough. Not nearly enough.

But capture would be worse than dying unfulfilled.

The Gray bowed low in front of a door flanked by massive guards. “This way, honored guest.”

My breath came out steady, but my heart pounded. I’d have seconds to make the call. I could make a play for a weapon, or ride it out, hoping my wits would be enough to get me through.

The door slid open.

A small conference room. I would’ve taken in its details, but the man seated at the head of the table stole my attention.

Doctor Tenma Nagi.

The man who ruled the Citadel.