Silence.
I sigh. I know I’m right. “Look how motivated we are to get on that ship. We’re willing to put everything on the line. It consumes our thoughts. You think they’re not just as motivated? As long as they know that ship is here, they’re going to throw everything they have at us.”
Kate slowly nods. “If the Dokhalls took the ship, we’d be devastated. We’d mourn, and we’d want revenge against anyone who remains. But eventually, most of us would probably start building some kind of lives here.”
“That’s assuming a hell of a lot,” Alexis says. “Since when are the Dokhalls logical?”
I shrug. “We know the ship works. Am I the only one who’s scared to leave it sitting there for too long with the Dokhalls marching toward us?”
“You’re definitely not the only one,” Makayla murmurs. “It feels like we’re asking for it to be damaged again.”
Nevada studies my face. “Are you sure about this?”
I know she’s not talking about the plan. She’s talking about the commander.
Temporary mate.
“I’m positive.”
“You know what this will mean. Arix and Vivian are going to attack from the west. They’re the distraction.”
“I know.”
“You won’t get to say goodbye.”
My eyes are burning, and I push my palms against them. I refuse to lose it until I’m alone in my kradi.
“Believe me, I know.”
Clara wraps her arm around me. “A true leader sacrifices for her team,” she murmurs. “You’re right—this is the best chance for us to get everyone loaded onto that ship without drawing attention.”
Makayla shoots her a look. “You know, Sarissa never asked to be our leader.”
I can’t talk about this anymore. I get to my feet, ignoring the look of concern Clara gives me. “I need to go. I’ve got some things to do.”
Nevada raises her eyebrows at me, and I scowl at her. Yes, the commander is one of those things I have to do. Bite me.
But first, I need to talk to Zoey. I find her in the healers’ kradi talking to a woman named Harper. She’s grinning at Zoey, her dark hair in a long braid, her bright blue eyes lit with fun. I don’t know her well, but she seems like the kind of woman you can count on when some serious shit is going down.
Zoey’s busy mixing some kind of concoction that smells disgusting, and she gives me a wry smile as I make gagging sounds. “Yeah,” she says, “it’s gross. It’s also one of the best ways to prevent infection we have. And yet some of my deadliest poisons smell like perfume.”
“Actually, that’s kind of what I came to talk to you about.”
“Oh yeah?” She wipes her hands on the apron she’s tied around her waist and glances around the kradi. “I need some fresh air. Let’s take this outside.”
Harper glances down at Zoey’s concoction. “Smartest thing you’ve said all day.”
We trail after Zoey, and I can’t help but grin at the way she breathes in the air, raising her face to the sun. For someone who spends most of her time inside, Zoey sure seems to appreciate being outdoors.
I get straight down to business. “I know you’ve been working on poisons, and I have some thoughts for how we can use them.”
She glances at me and raises her eyebrow. “You know, I’ve been mulling this over for some time. I know for sure I could poison their water source, but it sounds like the Dokhalls are on the move.”
Harper tilts her head. “I like where you’re going with this.”
I smile at them both, pleased we’re on the same page. “I think we need to dip our arrows in poison. From what Vivian told me about the poison on the knife you gave her, even the slightest scratch could slow them down significantly.”
“That’s what I was thinking too,” Zoey says.
“Well, I have a few other ideas in mind as well.” I tell them both what I’m thinking, and nods.
“I like it.”
We smile at each other. “Let’s take this fight medieval,” I say.
“I can help mix up some of the poisons,” Harper offers. “As long as they don’t smell as bad as whatever you’ve got going on in that kradi right now.”
Zoey laughs. “They’re not all that stinky, I promise.” She nibbles on her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t be this excited about someone else’s pain and suffering.”
I shrug at that. As far as I’m concerned, the Dokhalls deserve everything they get.
“I’ll talk to Nevada,” Zoey says. “I look forward to working with you both.”
I grin. “Sounds like this is the start of a beautiful working relationship.”
Makayla and Blaire walk past and Harper goes still, the smile dropping from her face. I nudge her with my elbow. “Something wrong?”
She sighs. “Promise not to say anything?”
Zoey and I both nod.
“Makayla was responsible for creating security systems to lock up some of the prettiest things on Earth. And I was responsible for taking them back out again.” She wiggles her fingers. “Without the owner’s permission.”
My mouth drops open and Harper nods. “Yeah,” she mutters. “Oh, and Emma is a cop. It’s only a matter of time before we have to have that conversation.”
Zoey nibbles on her lower lip. “You should probably have that conversation sooner rather than later.”
I tense, feeling him before I see him. When I glance over my shoulder, Korzyn is standing outside Rakiz’s tashiv, his eyes on me.
He stalks toward me, and Harper laughs. “Wow,” she murmurs. Then she lets out a choked cough. “Choking on the sexual tension.” She makes a strangled sound, raising her hands to her throat, and I roll my eyes.
“Ha ha.”
Zoey grins at me as they both walk back into the healers’ kradi. But I barely notice. All my attention is on the way the commander
