“Every hour. But”—Ariadne tapped her temple—“I came up with the algorithm. The main problem is our identities. They might hold up for another check, but I haven’t had time to weave backgrounds that hold up for closer inspection. They’re not going to last through tomorrow night, if we’re not careful.”

Nyx let out a breath. “Damn.”

“Can’t you make time?” Clo asked.

Ariadne side-eyed her. “Sure, let me just pull it out of my hat. If I had a hat.”

“I didn’t mean that. I meant”—Clo waved a hand—“making our identities more secure.”

“I can’t do that in hours. Look, when I try to find out more about Josephine, the Oracle might put up defense codes to protect the information, but hopefully it’ll take One a while. That’s the best I can do.”

Nyx raised an eyebrow. “A while?”

“Days,” Ariadne said brightly. “Maybe weeks. I’m hoping for weeks before the military fleet tries to hunt us down and execute us.”

“Kid, you’re not helping.”

“I’m hoping it’s after we’ve completed the mission,” Rhea said. She was still pale, and her voice shook. “With new identities, we can escape the execution. I want to move on with my life.”

“And do what?” Clo asked.

Rhea considered. “In the Pleasure Garden, we learned a great deal about listening to people. I think I could help the Novantae with the trauma after war, the difficulties of leadership. And with deprogramming. Right, Nyx?” She gave Nyx a small smile.

“Holy shit. You helped Ariadne break Nyx?” Clo gave an impressed whistle.

“They didn’t ‘break’ me,” Nyx almost growled. “I wasn’t broken.”

Weren’t you? her cruel inner voice whispered.

“Okay, fixed you, then. I’m just surprised. And impressed. You’re meant to be”—she gestured wildly—“an amazing superkiller. No hesitation or fear.”

Gods. As if Nyx needed a damn reminder that she had little will of her own before Rhea and Ariadne. She still had the sleep recordings repeat in her dreams even though she hadn’t listened to one since leaving Tholos. Echoes of programming still slipped into her thoughts.

“Clo,” Nyx said. “Do me a favor: stop talking before you wedge your foot so far down your own throat that you choke on it.”

Clo tapped her lips. “Aye. Shutting up. Sorry.”

Rhea put her hand on Clo’s shoulder. “It’s been a long day. You three get some rest before the ball tomorrow.”

Nyx looked at her sharply. “What about you?”

“I’m going to make Eris such an incredible dress that no one will notice Ariadne leave. We need that intel on where the rocks came from, what they’re for, and how Kyla’s spy network was compromised. I’m not taking any chances, not with our future.”

—