She closed the distance between them in a sprint, stopping herself before she threw her arms around his neck. He watched her with a quiet kind of interest, but there was no sign of the desperation she felt.

“Donnally,” she said, raising her hand and reaching for the sigil on his temple. He flinched, reminding Caledonia that while she craved human contact, Donnally was more like the Blades. He must be given the choice. She waited, hand poised between them, and when he finally nodded, she pressed her fingertips to the tattoo they shared.

“Caledonia.” He said the name as though it were new to him. Then a frown pressed briefly on his brow, and he added, “Nia.”

It had been nearly five years since she’d heard that nickname. Five years since she’d thought of it even, and hearing it now strummed a painful chord in her heart.

“Donnally, we have to go,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “There’s not much time.”

She tugged him toward the railing, but he stood firm.

“Donnally?” she asked.

“I can’t go with you.” He pulled his hand from hers with a slow shake of his head, stepped back. “I can’t abandon my brother.”

The battle sang in Caledonia’s ears. She stumbled back, uncertain she could do any more than that. The world came to her through a cottony press in her ears.

She heard her name in Amina’s voice. She saw Lir emerge from across the deck. She knew he held a gun. She knew she should run. But nothing made sense.

Then one thing did.

Donnally looked directly into her eyes and said a single word: “Go.”

He turned toward Lir, putting himself between Lir’s gun and Caledonia.

“Move!” Lir shouted. “Donnally, move now!”

But Donnally stood firm. He looked directly into Lir’s eyes and shook his head. “Not this time, brother.”

To Caledonia’s amazement, Lir didn’t fire.

Her senses returned in a rush. Amina was suddenly by her side, gripping her hand and pulling her into a run. Ahead, the grappling hooks exploded from the rail of the Luminous Wake. Oran stood there, furiously waving them over, shouting for them to “Jump! Jump! Jump!”

They leapt together, flying onto the deck as their crew opened fire.

“Where’s Sledge?” she demanded of Amina the instant they’d gained their feet.

“With the tow,” she answered.

The Luminous Wake pulled away, putting space between them and the Bullet fleet. Caledonia pried her eyes away from Aric’s ship. The battle rolled on for a few minutes more, but only long enough for Lir to extract his remaining ships. A black flare erupted in the sky, glittering and signaling retreat.

Caledonia had won.

Chapter Fifty-three

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE