Yet with Evoli abilities and technology, they had managed to defend themselves against the Tholosians. Evoli cloaking tech remained a mystery even to the Oracle; the Tholosian Empire could not even find Eve with its reconnaissance ships. They only knew the quadrant—just outside the Karis Galaxy—but each time they neared, their navigation failed and sent them into circles. Skirmishes and battles were confined to the planets on the outer edge of Evoli territory. The Evoli had retreated or been slaughtered but never colonized. Tholosian troops were more numerous, but the Evoli were nimble enough to outsmart them.

The Oracle always said it was the final civilization to be collected.

“I believe the rumors,” Rhea said softly. “And I believe the Archon is sincere. After Charon’s asteroid . . .” She shook her head. “Damocles had fierce fights with his father over how to feed the Empire once the food stores go dry. The Archon didn’t want to risk the resources for another costly battle, but Damocles insisted conquering the Evolian planets was the only way our people could survive. The Archon controls the programming, but even the Oracle’s powers can’t flip a switch immediately in an Empire so sprawling. It’s a risk, and one I suspect Damocles doesn’t agree with. Discordia might have chosen differently, but we’ll never know.”

Ariadne tried to read everyone’s emotions, something difficult for her at the best of times. Eris clenched her jaw and glanced away as if . . . irritated? Clo scowled. Rhea was resigned, perhaps. Nyx was Nyx.

“Rhea’s probably right.” Clo stabbed at her food. “You don’t end five hundred years of hatred and war by signing a document and just expect everyone to go along with it. I might not have received the upload of the Oracle’s bullshit straight into my brain every day, but we had our share of propaganda in the Snarl. More than half villainized the Evoli. They are a threat to our civilization, our way of life, remember? It’s why even the rebels at Nova are still assholes to Elva and the other Evoli at headquarters.”

Ariadne sat up straight. So did Rhea. There were Evoli in the resistance? She bit back all the questions she wanted to ask.

“And now we’re without intel in the Temple,” Kyla said, a flicker of regret in her features.

Ariadne felt some stirring of discomfort. She had staged this escape during a critical time, when her intel would have mattered most. She would have been in her pallet and its nest of pillows in the Temple, spying for Kyla, making sure Damocles really was on board with the treaty or only pretending.

“You said earlier that Damocles asked you to guard the cargo?” Kyla asked Nyx.