Page 91 of Star Bringer
“Enough!” Ian roars in a voice that echoes through the bridge.
I contemplate not listening to him. But for once Ian looks like he means business. Besides, I’ve already said everything I wanted to, and now that it’s all out, I actually feel calm. Calmer than I have in ages.
“Is that true?” Kali whispers, looking between Ian, Max, and me.
“Kali—” he starts.
“Don’t lie,” I interrupt.
“Look, we have important things to figure out right now, and none of this is making it any easier,” Ian says through gritted teeth. “Beckett, get back to your chair and get us to Glacea.”
I touch a finger to my forehead in a mock salute. “Your wish is my command, Captain.”
“If only,” he growls.
The bridge is quiet for several minutes, which might be a record. Eventually, though, Rain sits on the floor next to my chair.
“You okay?” she whispers.
“I’m fine,” I answer in a normal tone, because I’m not ashamed of anything I said or did.
She smiles gently. “I’m glad.” Her hand rests on my knee for just a few seconds.
I wish she had left it longer, but I get why she didn’t. Merrick still doesn’t look happy, and there’ve been enough fights on this bridge today.
Several more minutes pass before Ian starts, “Maybe the rebels—”
I shake my head, because I already know where he’s going. “I don’t think so. We just don’t have the resources to attack theCaelestislike that.”
“Maybe one of the other Ruling Families, then?” Merrick suggests, looking to Kali for confirmation. “We’ve all heard rumors of unrest.”
“And it’s a known fact that none of them have any real loyalty to the Empress,” Max adds.
“That’s because she’s a crap leader who’s in bed with the Corporation. And no one wants to go against them and be cut off.”
“Enough, Beckett.” Ian runs a hand over his tired eyes, then looks at Kali. “Do you agree? Could this be some sort of power play?”
She considers for a second, then shrugs slightly. “Maybe. There’s always some unrest among the families, someone who wants more power. But it doesn’t make sense—they would never willingly destroy theCaelestis. She was our one hope of saving the system. Without her, we’re all likely to burn.”
“But again, maybe whoever blew up theCaelestisis different from whoever is trying to kill us now,” Merrick points out. “Maybe whoever that is is taking advantage of the fact that Kali is vulnerable away from home.”
“So, maybe we really do need to take you home?” Gage asks Kali. “It’s what you want, right, and it’ll also get rid of the threat.”
“Or we could just shove her out of the airlock,” I suggest helpfully. “Take a picture of her floating in space as evidence. We’d lose the dead weight, and hey, maybe they’d even send us the reward. Win-win.”
Ian looks like he’s about to explode all over me, but it’s Kali herself who looks like she’s been punched. For the first time, I actually do feel a little guilty at the look on her face.
“Is that how you all still see me?” she asks quietly. “Dead weight?”
“Kali—” Ian starts, but before he can figure out what to say next, she’s gone.
Chapter 34
Kali
I don’t know what to do or what to think.
I’ve spent years hating the rebels because of what they did to my father. And even now, after everything Beckett said, I still hate them. Or at least, I want to hate them. How can I not? My father was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die.
