The sun was quickly abandoning the western skies, and Tassos waited at the other end of the griphook bridge with a greedy smile. It seemed to Caledonia that the ship itself was waiting to consume them.

When they were finally ready, Caledonia turned to Hime and Pine. “If this goes bad, you know what to do.”

“Blow a hole in the Net the size of Cloudbreak and get you out?” Pine planted his hands on his hips as though restraining himself from reaching for her. “All of you.” His eyes traveled to Sledge, standing a few feet away with hooded eyes.

We’ll get the fleet out, Hime signed with a darting glace for Pine.

Joining Tassos aboard his ship was necessary. Joining her fleet with his was necessary. But neither of those things meant she had to trust him. In fact, it was prudent that she cling to her mistrust as tightly as she did her desire to make this work.

“I’m giving you both command because I know you can make that choice.” Caledonia looked between the two of them. “Steely?”

Hime nodded and Pine blew out a hard breath. “Steely,” he said, then he crossed the distance between himself and Sledge. Sliding his hands along the mountain’s shoulders, Pine pulled him close for a deep kiss.

The open display made Caledonia smile. The intimacy between the two of them wasn’t a secret, but it was usually private. Hime watched with a pained expression, her eyes as sad as they were happy. If Amina were here, she’d be staying behind, commanding the Luminous at Hime’s side.

“It’s time,” Caledonia said.

Her crew shuffled around her, uncomfortable and agitated, scattered across the deck as though still expecting this moment to turn into a fight. Caledonia faced her many sisters and in a quiet voice, she asked, “On the back of the sea, who do you trust?”

The response came in whispers lined with steel: “Our sisters.”

They would not be with her, but they would stay alert and ready, they would endure whatever came next, and they would keep fighting. With a nod, Caledonia turned toward the bridge and left the Luminous Wake behind.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Voluntarily stepping aboard a Bullet ship felt like stepping in front of a loaded gun.

Tassos greeted them with a snarl and a smirk. As soon as Caledonia’s foot touched the deck, he swooped in like a massive hawk, hooking one brawny arm around her neck and tucking her against the solid wall of his chest.

“Welcome aboard the Deep Cut, Captain,” he growled, the sound of his voice equal parts vibration and amusement.

Caledonia’s pulse pounded three staccato beats high in her throat, panic momentarily overwhelming her thoughts. His arm was a vise around her neck, her chest wedged against his stomach. She could feel the metal plates shifting inside his doublet.