as Inara rushed over and clamped a dish towel around my bleeding arm.
“Jesus, Ellis, what the hell?”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’ll drink a few bottles of juice and be healed in no time.”
“This isn’t going to work,” Inara said. “There’s no way we can steal a ship without them noticing.”
“The first workers don’t show up at the bay until seven,” I said. “We leave at dawn and we’re gone two hours before they even know a ship is missing. The king won’t send anyone after us because of the war.”
“Ellis, you’ll be in so much trouble,” Inara said.
“Only if we get caught.”
“I can’t ask you to do this.”
“You’re not asking, I’m volunteering,” I said. “I want to help save your sister, Inara. Let me.”
For once, I wasn’t lying. I couldn’t save my own sister, but I sure as hell could save Inara’s.
“Ellis, are you sure?” Inara said.
“Yes,” I said. “Meet me at the docking bay in a few hours and we’ll leave. But you know that you’ll have to go into hiding with Wendy, right? You’ll go to prison for breaking your work contract with the Draax.”
“I know,” Inara said. “I don’t care. Wendy is the only thing that matters.”
“Then let’s get the fuck off this planet and save her life.”
* * *
Galan
“Galan?”
I lowered my sword and bowed to Laos before turning around. A Draax whose name I didn’t know was standing in the doorway of the training room.
“What is it?” I sheathed my sword.
“Melu needs to speak with you immediately,” the Draax said.
“Keep training,” I said to the recruits who had all stopped their swordplay to stare at the Draax. “I will return shortly.”
I glanced at Krey who sheathed his own sword and followed me out of the training room. We made our way quickly to the docking bay without speaking. The bay was dead silent, the Draax who worked there had gathered in small groups and were studying Melu without speaking. Melu was pacing back and forth near the landing pad, one hand clenched into a fist, the other holding a wrinkled piece of paper. We drew closer and Krey dodged to the right when Melu’s tail almost whipped him across the face.
“Melu, what is it?” I said.
He turned, the scowl on his face making his anger more than clear. “You said I could trust her, Galan. You swore she would behave.”
My stomach clenched. “What did Ellis do?”
“What did she do?” Melu snarled at me. “Your little pet thief stole my fucking ship!”
I staggered back as Krey grunted in surprise beside me. I stared blankly at Melu as Krey said, “She could not have stolen a ship, Melu.”
“She did!” he roared.
“She has a tracking chip in her,” I said. “If she leaves the castle, my vertex -”
“This tracking chip?” Melu threw the chip at me. It bounced off my chest and I caught it before it could fall to the floor. I stared at the blood-stained chip, my guts churning as Melu waved a piece of paper at me. “She left you a note.”
I took the paper from him, reading the three words with a numb type of shock.
I’m sorry, Galan.
“Where did you find the tracking chip and the note?” Krey said.
“In the spot where my fucking ship should have been,” Melu said.
“We don’t know it was her,” I said. “Someone could have taken the chip from her arm and -”
“Have you gone mad?” Melu said. “Or are you just so horny for the little thief that you have lost all of your common sense?”
Krey shoved Melu back. “Watch your tongue, Melu. Galan is the head of the King’s Guard and you will show him the respect he deserves.”
Melu glared at him, his chest heaving, and Krey stared coolly at him before placing one hand on the handle of his sword. “Do you wish to settle this with swords?”
“Krey, enough.” I put my hand on his arm. “Do not -”
“Galan!”
Krono. I blew out my breath before turning. “What is it, Teo?”
“Quill wants to see you.”
I glanced at Melu. “You told the king already?”
“Of course I told the king!” Melu snapped. “She stole a ship, Galan.”
“Come, Galan,” Teo said. “You as well, Melu.”
The three of us followed Teo to the council room. Quill sat at the end of the table and my stomach dropped when I didn’t see Sabrina. My hope that our queen would convince our king to show mercy on Ellis died.