Clo swirled her water and leaned her head back to view the stars above them. “Nae. Never been anywhere near the Three Sisters. Have you?” At Rhea’s amused look, Clo gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Been to Macella, I mean.”

“No. I’ve never been outside of the palace grounds on Tholos. I hear the one on Macella is . . . very grand. Damocles talked about taking me there once he became Archon.”

“How do you feel about having to go back?” She winced, as if realizing she’d asked another personal question like back in the command center. “Sorry. You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want.”

She was sweet. Considerate. That was so rare in Rhea’s life that it made her want to open up just a little.

“It’s all right,” she said. “Honestly . . . I’m terrified.” Rhea had worked so hard to escape the first time. It had been a relief when they’d made it onto the ship, more so when they had successfully commandeered it. “I’m afraid of being trapped again.”

Clo’s eyes met hers, and Rhea thought she heard a catch in her breath. “You don’t have to do it, you know. Kyla talks a big game, but she’d still give you all identities if you refused. She acts like a bermhole when she’s worried.”

Rhea gave a short laugh. “She’s not wrong. The Novantae need us. As much as I wish that weren’t the case, it is the hand we’ve been dealt.” Her mouth twisted wryly. “At least Eris seems confident.”

“She’s good at pretending,” Clo said, her face closing as she stared out at the stars. “Whatever front she puts up is for our benefit.” Clo shifted, rubbing her false knee.

“Does it hurt?”

Clo glanced down at the metal peeking from the bottom of her trousers. “Sometimes. My prosthetic needs to be upgraded, but no idea where I can find one or how to pay for it. It rubs. But it’s more my center of gravity is a little different. I can’t trust my movements in the same way, but I can still do what I need.”

“May I ask how you lost it?”

Clo’s lips flattened. “Eris.”

Rhea couldn’t hide her shock. “I’m . . . Oh gods, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

Clo’s laugh was dry, forced. “No, it’s okay. It—” She shut her eyes and made some frustrated noise. “Fuck. I hate her so much for it, but it saved my godsdamned life.” Clo sat up, scowling. “But she’s the one who got us into trouble on the mission in the first place.”