With a sigh, Triple raised her hand, palm facing out. Caledonia raised her own, letting their palms skim so lightly together it raised the hair on the back of her neck. For a moment, they stood that way, their palms barely touching, the wind snatching at Triple’s sunny braids, the brisk kiss of sea spray cooling Caledonia’s cheeks.

“Sledge couldn’t bring himself to do to Venn what had been done to all of us. He couldn’t force Silt on anyone, even a Fiveson. He had to subdue him another way, and it nearly got us all killed.” She let her fingers rest against Caledonia’s, touching her for the first time since she’d applied that nanopatch. “Pine has never really forgiven him. But to Sledge how we got out was just as important as getting out.”

It was hard to think past the warm press of Triple’s fingertips on her own. She wanted to let their fingers slide together, to share the full warmth of their hands the way she would have with any of her sisters.

“We can resist them as long as we don’t become them,” Caledonia said quietly. They were her mother’s words, but the last time she’d heard them aloud it had been Pisces who said them, urging her to keep Oran alive.

“For us, it’s more that we have to unbecome them. We have to become something else, and we have to keep choosing what that is.”

The two girls fell into silence. Wind ripped through the tattered clothing still clinging to the bones mounted on pikes, and far behind them propellers chewed up the water. The Blades had chosen to live a secluded life away from Aric’s influence. Now they’d chosen to join Caledonia on a dangerous journey straight into one of his strongholds.

Her own quest had never felt like a choice. Fighting Aric, taking down his bale barges, had seemed more like a compulsion. Going after Donnally and Ares also hadn’t felt much like a choice. Even going after her crew didn’t feel like a choice. These were things she had to do.

But as they drove toward that eastern horizon, she wondered how many other Bullets might choose a different way of being if given a sliver of choice.

Maybe Aric’s hold wasn’t as ironclad as he thought.

Suddenly, the ship pitched to one side, throwing both girls to the deck. Caledonia’s cheek smacked against the gritty surface, feet skidding beneath her as she struggled to stand.

Triple rolled gracefully into a crouch, steadying herself with one hand, confusion widening her eyes.

But where Triple felt confusion, Caledonia felt her blood rushing as though awakening from a long sleep. She knew what that was. She almost grinned when she said, “We’re under attack.”

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Caledonia was running for the bridge before a second boom rocked the ship.