His lips thin. “Because Noturn drives people crazy. It’s not the atmosphere; Noturn is domed. It’s the planet itself. They’ve tried to explain it to me, and I don’t really understand it, but it’s something about the planet itself. The core vibrates in resonance with our brain waves…” His voice trails off. “Adrashians can’t set foot on the planet. Neither can the Makpi. We can, but we can only tolerate it for three months. Any longer, and it drives us to insanity.”
Cold trickles down my spine. “You’re telling me the Empire is planning to imprison Draekons on Noturn, knowing full well that—”
“That it will destroy their minds?” Raiht’vi speaks for the first time. “Are you really so surprised, Fifth? You, better than most, know what we are capable of.”
The urgency of Tarish’s mission makes sense now.
I should help.
But I’m not going to.
Not now. Not when Naomi is still so fragile. As much as I have a sense of obligation to the Draekons, they are not my first priority. Not any longer.
“I can’t do it. Find someone else.”
Shock fills Tarish’s face, swiftly chased by anger. “There is no one else,” he explodes. “Sixth is still looking for his humans. The Rebellion’s resources are stretched to the max. Everyone who is capable of handling this mission has already done a stint on Noturn. For Caeron’s sake, Fifth. Last year, two thousand Draekons tested positive. Who knows how many will fail the Testing this year. This is not the time to cling to your fury. Yes, I ordered you poisoned. Yes, I regret that. If I could go back in time and do things differently, I would. But don’t take your anger out on them. They test sixteen-year-olds. Children. Show some fucking compassion.”
I cannot. Not when she—
I banish that thought before it can sink its hook into me. “I’ve made up my mind.”
Dariux gets to his feet with a shrug. “I thought that might be your answer,” he says. “We’ll go to our backup option.”
There’s something in his expression that I don’t like. At all. “I thought you didn’t have any other options.”
“I would have preferred not to ask Kadir,” Dariux replies. “He has a bondmate, and he’s needed here. But you leave me no other choice. Unlike you, the Second of the Crimson Force has never shirked away from his duty.”
Rage rolls over my eyes. “No,” I growl. “You will not approach Kadir with this problem. He has a mate. Alice will insist on going with him. The humans have risked enough. This is not their battle.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Fifth,” Tarish snaps.
“There is no risk to Alice,” Dariux says calmly. Smugly. Too calm. Too smug. I could take a step toward him, wrap my hand around his throat, and jerk him off his feet. He would struggle. Fight back. But Dariux is not one of the Crimson Force. He was not created for battle. It would take only seconds to squeeze the life out of him.
And I would be responsible for yet another dead Draekon.
“Explain.”
He takes a look at my face, and the smugness is wiped off his expression. “Humans are unaffected by the vibrations,” he says, taking a half-step back. “Theldre said that Diana Behrman has been on Noturn. The Ektons couldn’t handle it, but the planet had no effect on her. Her brain waves were unaffected by the planet.”
“She could be an anomaly.”
“The other human, Lisa Kwok, has also been on Noturn. Same result.”
I still don’t like it. Dariux is right. The moment Kadir finds out that Draekons were at risk, he would charge to the rescue. Alice would insist on accompanying him. She might not be in danger from the planet, but she is still human. She’s as tough mentally as anyone I’ve ever met, but she wasn’t designed to be invulnerable. She can be too easily hurt.
Alice is like a sister to me. I can’t expose her to danger.
Especially not now. She’d approached me one night, a couple of weeks ago, at the tail end of one of the ‘happy-hours’ the humans enjoy. “Danek, can I ask you a question?”
I’d waved her into the seat next to me. “You just did.”
“Ha ha, hilarious.” Her fingers had played with the fabric of her skirt. “I’ve been thinking about children,” she’d said. “I want to have one. Maybe two.”
I’d blinked in confusion. “Shouldn’t you be having this conversation with Kadir?”
“That’s just it.” She’d leaned forward. “This is an awkward question, and I don’t want to ask him. Can the five of you even—” She’d flushed. “Does the plumbing work? I mean, I know Kadir has the right equipment, but if he’s shooting blanks…”
“You’re asking if we’re capable of reproducing?”
“Yes.” She’d creased and uncreased her skirt. “I want children, but if Kadir can’t have them, then I’m not going to bring it up. I’m not going to risk hurting his feelings. I love Kadir. He’s more important than a biological clock.”
“There’s nothing physical stopping us from fathering youngling,” I’d assured her. “The Supreme Mother was nothing if not thorough. When we were too old for battle, she planned to use us as studs for the next generation of soldiers.”
Alice’s eyes had narrowed. “Have I ever told you how much I loathe the Supreme Mother?” she’d asked. Then she’d squeezed my hand. “Thank you, Danek.”
I don’t know if Alice has talked to Kadir about youngling. All I know is that she wants to start a family, and my brother would make an excellent father.
Unless something happens to him in Noturn.
I don’t want to leave the Rebellion base. Naomi is not recovered yet. She could need me. If she does, and I’m not around…
The humans have an expression. Caught between a rock and a hard place.
“Fine. I’ll go. Brief me on the mission.”
Dariux consults his tablet again. “The House of Cindifin owns Noturn and runs the mining operation there. Their
