I gulped.
Phox licked his teeth behind his lips, still staring at me strangely. I felt it—that invisible wall shooting up between us again.
“I thought not.” Rout’s smile was as smug as it was elated. “Regardless, you are now expected to answer those questions, as well as advance to the next race in the Renegade Run circuit. Which is why I’ve come to make you an offer.”
I stiffened and sat up straighter. No way was I letting this asshole get the upper hand. The wheels were already turning in my head, piecing together some way out of this. “And that would be?”
Rout reached into the inside pocket of his coat, pulling out two transparent, slim cards as thin as paper. In the center of each one, a single gold circle about the size of a nickel shone like a watermark. Phox’s eyes went as wide as tennis balls as Rout held them out to us. “Citizenship licenses. There’s one for each of you. They’re fully authenticated, completely legal, and pre-linked to a credit account for storing funds and making purchases, and there’s reputable background history that makes you entirely legal within the eyes of the council.”
Phox’s big hand shook as he took his card, his mouth agape and expression drawn up into complete bewilderment.
I didn’t move, still eyeing the Alzumarian man with my eyes squinted in disbelief. “And you’re just giving this to us?”
Rout nodded. “Along with your legally mandated portion of the winnings.”
“In exchange for what?” I pressed. No way was he just handing this to us out of charity. I may have been born on Earth, but I wasn’t born yesterday.
“In return, you will continue the Renegade Run circuit and race as my professional team.”
Phox’s gaze snapped up. His expression went completely dark, his eyes smoldering as he thrust the card back at Rout. “You want me to go through all that shit again? Are you out of your damn mind?”
“Don’t be willfully dense. You know as well as I do how much profit there is in the Renegade Run. The winnings increase sharply with every race—especially when the winners of the previous run are such a hot topic of public interest. I’m told bets are already pouring in. We could all walk away from this rich beyond your wildest dreams. You could have any sort of life you’ve ever wanted … and more.”
“Forget it. No freaking way.” Phox started to get up.
I sat, utterly dumbfounded, as all the wind rushed out of me like I’d been punched in the gut. He … He was really going to leave? Just like that? After everything we’d been through?
The realization settled over me like a bitter winter snow. My body went cold. All I could do was stare at him wordlessly, watching the fragile semblance of a world I’d found here suddenly shatter around me.
Alone. I was alone.
Phox was … leaving me.
Rout didn’t even blink. “And what about her, hmm?”
Phox halted mid-step, his powerful shoulders tensing slightly.
“Quite a position you’d be leaving her in, hmm? Don’t tell me all that comradery and loyalty, throwing yourself to her defense at the first sign of danger, was just an act for the camera.” Rout’s voice had a shrewd, somewhat devious edge to it. “Your ling-con readout indicated you were medically confirmed to be deceased for eight minutes. If she hadn’t run so fast, if the medical response team hadn’t reached you in time to bring you back, what’s to say you wouldn’t have stayed dead? They’d be cremating your remains along with all the others right now. You owe her a life-debt, Phox.”
Panic seized in my chest. No—no! Why was he saying this? I didn’t want it; I didn’t want Phox to change his mind out of guilt. Knowing he’d only stuck around because he felt like he owed me something would be worse than if he just tossed me aside like garbage.
“That’s quite a conundrum, isn’t it?” Rout continued, casually picking at his fingernails. “Far worse than the debt you already owe me, which is another matter altogether, isn’t it? Did you think I’d simply forgive your failure and let you walk away? How do you intend to pay us both back what we are owed, Phox?”
“No. P-Please, don’t … I mean, it’s not like that.” I managed to bite the words hard enough that my voice didn’t shake. I had no idea what he owed Rout, but Phox didn’t owe me anything. “He saved me a few times, too. At best, we’re even. He can … He should leave if he wants.”
“Oh?” Rout blinked in surprise. “You’d be willing to let him go?”
I ducked my head and answered quietly, “It’s not like he’s my … my anything, right? I have no right to even ask him to stay.”
He pursed his lips unhappily. “I see. Well, then, if you wish to—”
“No.” Phox spun suddenly, storming back and snatching the card out of Rout’s hand again. “Where she goes, I go. I’ll do it.”
I froze, gaping up at him. What?
Little by little, that sinking feeling in the center of my chest began to spread. It burrowed in deep, like a rot that ate away at my heart. Rout had planted that seed of doubt and it’d taken root in my mind instantly. He didn’t want to stay with me. Not really. He was only going along with this out of some ridiculous notion of settling a debt between us. It wasn’t real.
Maybe it never had been.
Dammit all, I was such an idiot.
“Very well. Brinna? What do you say? Do we have an agreement?” Rout extended a hand, offering me the one remaining citizenship license. It shimmered temptingly. A lot hung on that little card. A life—my life. A chance at being able to afford a way back through the jump-gate. A way home.
