What she wouldn’t give to walk onto that platform and announce her intention to tell everyone the truth. It was tempting. . . . Romy shuffled one foot forwards.

But the second foot refused to follow.

Atlas had warned them about the Mandate’s weaponry . . . whether that was true or it was a lie to control them was debatable. He’d lied about everything else! Regardless, she couldn’t bring harm to her friends. For the first time she saw the knot’s bond for what it was—a weakness; a method to control them. If it were just her, she would climb onto the platform, just to see the fear on this cruel man’s face for an instant.

Romy gasped and quickly muffled the sound.

“Who’s there?” Cronus demanded, his eyes squinting at the platform.

No wonder Tina answered to Atlas. He was further up the Mandate chain than she was. And no wonder the trio had purposely kept the information from the knot. They would have run for their lives, dragging Deimos behind them.

“Commander!” The sharpness of Cronus’s voice jerked her to the present.

Her knot.

Romy squeezed her eyes shut and stepped back. She pressed the blue button and the monster on the screen disappeared.

She stared at the dock long after it fell blank. Drawing an arm across her face, she was surprised when it came back wet with tears. Her knot had to be told. Taking a shuddering breath, she forced her gaze away from the platform.

They had to leave.

Tonight.

She locked the door as she left. Maybe their group’s absence would go unnoticed for a little longer. The entrance was empty, and she dodged back between the bungalows before reaching their quarters.

She didn’t turn on the lights.

“Get up,” she ordered.

Romy couldn’t see a thing, but heard shuffling.

“Ro, what is it?” croaked Phobos.

She relented and turned on the bathroom light, closing the door most of the way so only a crack appeared. It was enough to illuminate the room. Enough to see all the boys sitting upright, eyes barely open. Elara was still asleep and Romy went over and shook her roughly.

“Elara. Up. Now.”

She caught a shared glance between the twins.

“I dislike you,” Elara muttered.

Crouching in the middle of the bunks, Romy didn’t wait for Elara to sit before reporting. “The Orbitos are coming for us tomorrow. Atlas has betrayed us. He works for the Mandate.”

Elara wrenched upright. That got them moving.

The others crouched around her in a circle on the bungalow floor. Romy’s hands were balled in tight fists. She couldn’t believe she’d gone there just to speak to him like a stupid fool!

“Tell us.” Thrym held her gaze.

And for a heartbeat, all Romy could think was how he’d been so right about Atlas. How all along she should have believed her best friend.