Olivia:

Bryce and I are unceremoniously moved from the mansion to Dariux’s treehouse. I don’t protest. The mood in the camp is tense and strained, and everyone’s nerves are on edge.

“What’s going on, do you know?” Bryce asks me once the two of us settle into the small room.

Oh, right. She was away with Dariux. I fill her in on the day’s events, and she whistles silently. “Do you think the other exile batch was going to kidnap us?”

I shake my head. “I think this was all one big misunderstanding. They found that dead guy and everything went to hell.”

“So that’s simple enough to solve, right?” She tilts her head to one side. “Dariux zaps the two Draekons with his med-kit, apologizes for attacking first, and all’s well that ends well.”

Something tells me things aren’t going to be quite that easy.

All evening, I wait for Zunix to knock on the door and tell me what’s going on, but he never shows up. By the time the sun rises the next morning, I’m struggling to contain my curiosity.

And, if I’m being perfectly honest, I’m also a little bit irritated. I told Liorax and Zunix about Felicity’s mates allying themselves with Herrix and Belfox. It’s only fair that they reciprocate by telling me what the hell is going on.

I wait for an hour, but when neither of them arrives to fill me in, I decide to take matters into my own hands. I might have dropped my cover with Liorax and Zunix, but the rest of the Draekons still believe I’m a ditz, and I’m going to take advantage. If I have to whip my top off and jiggle the girls in people’s faces, so be it. Something important is happening, and it is not in my nature to sit on the sidelines and watch the men take charge. Nobody puts Olivia in the corner.

I dress in my lowest-cut top. Bryce whistles admiringly when she sees the girls. “You’re up to no good, aren’t you?” she asks astutely. “Who’s the target?”

“Zunix and Liorax,” I answer grimly.

She laughs. “In that case, I’m not going to feel too sorry for them,” she says. “They can take care of themselves.”

* * *

Liorax:

Dariux is a reckless fool, and this time, he’s outdone himself.

At the crack of dawn, Zunix and I thread our way to the house where Dariux is holding the Firstborn and the other Draekon captive. Rezzix and Magnux are outside, standing guard. “Dariux said no visitors,” Rezzix says as soon as he catches sight of the two of us.

I don’t want to fight either man. “He isn’t here,” I point out.

Magnux stares at Zunix. “Your syn has made Paige’s life here comfortable,” he says. “You have my gratitude.” He steps aside. “Bolox and Narix will be here soon to relieve us,” he warns.

“That can’t be helped now,” Zunix says grimly. “We’re too far gone for that.” He gives me a sidelong look as we enter the large living area. “I really hope the Firstborn remembers you,” he mutters under his breath.

“You’re not the only one.” Like Arax, I spent summers in Giflan as a child. The Arax I knew from my childhood was calm and reasoned, but a man can change in exile. Arax had everything on the homeworld. The Draekon mutation would have been a huge shock. Would it have made him bitter, the way it has Dariux?

The two men are in the bedroom of one of the humans, still asleep. “Dariux is keeping them drugged,” Zunix says, his voice thick with disgust. “Until he’s ready to act.”

Of course, Zunix has already anticipated this move. “You have the antidote.”

He pulls two small vials from his pouch. Zunix’s syn does a limited amount of medicine. I take one from him and approach the Firstborn of Zoraht, resisting the instinctive urge to drop to my knees in the presence of the man who was once the second-most powerful person in the High Empire, next to only the High Emperor himself.

I tip the potion between Arax’s lips and wait. Not for long. The drug is a powerful stimulant, and it jerks him awake. The Firstborn of Zoraht coughs, and his eyes fall open. When they rest on me, he frowns in puzzlement. “Liorax? What are you doing here?”

This time, I kneel, as does Zunix. “Firstborn, I was exiled to the prison planet.”

“Yes, of course. I knew that.” He struggles to sit up, waving off my offer of help. “It’s strange to find a familiar face so far away from home.” His gaze sharpens. “Is Nyx okay? He was badly burnt.”

Zunix nods, still kneeling. “Yes, Firstborn. We have a med-kit. He is healed.”

“You have tech?” Arax sounds astonished. “How?” He catches himself. “Never mind, that’s not the most important issue.” He gestures for us to rise, and his eyes narrow. “Six dragons attacked us without provocation. Liorax, I trust you will not lie to me. Raiht’vi told us you abducted the human women. Were they forced into the mating bond?”

“No, of course not, Arax,” I snap, forgetting who I’m addressing for a second. “Don’t be ridiculous. We aren’t savages.”

Zunix’s face goes blank with shock, and he clears his throat, possibly to remind me that the Firstborn of Zoraht isn’t used to being addressed in that tone. To my surprise, Arax seems to relax. “Of course the scientist lied,” he says, shaking his head ruefully. “I should have known. Are they well, the five humans?”

“About as well as can be expected.”

Arax swings to his feet and sways. Zunix is there to steady him. “Who are you?” Arax asks him, his forehead furrowed. “I’ve seen you before, I’m sure, but I can’t remember the details.”

Zunix’s lips twist into a dry smile. “You weren’t supposed to,” he says mildly. “My name is Zunix und Kalox ab Mamarce. I was one of Surax’s assistants.”

Arax raises his eyebrow. “The Spymaster’s assistant was struck by the mutation? Surax seemed to be something less than his usual competent self after Liorax’s batch was exiled. I now understand why.”

“Not just one of us,” Zunix says. “Two of Surax’s three assistants tested positive. Only Ru’vi was left. Which brings us to our current predicament. Dariux, Surax’s other assistant, is threatening to hold you hostage.”

Arax’s eyebrow rises even higher. “Is he?” he says grimly. “Perhaps you better wake Nyx up. He’ll need to hear this too.”

I do as the Firstborn commands, tipping the potion to Nyx’s lips. It takes only a few moments for the other man to sit up. “We’re both still alive,” he says to Arax, his voice weak. The med-kit has done its job, but Nyx will need another day or two of rest before he can fly again. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

“You were badly burned. I feared the worst…” Arax’s voice trails off, and his expression is strained. Then he gathers himself together, and his voice turns crisp. “Nyx, meet Liorax, Firstborn of Laris, and Zunix, one of the Spymaster’s assistants. They were exiled five years before we were. And,” he adds, “they seem to be holding us prisoner.”

“Is that so?” Nyx surveys us coolly. “Why did you attack?”

I hold up my hands. “I didn’t attack you.” I explain about the dead man, the metal knife, and the frenzy Herrix had whipped the others into. “They thought you were going to take the women.”

“Let me guess. The women aren’t in any danger, and once again, Raiht’vi has misled us.” Nyx shakes his head in disgust. “We didn’t kill anyone. We have no metal, except stray pieces of diarmod we salvaged from our drone ship. Our knives are carved out of bone.”

“You were searching for the women? That’s why you were here?”

Arax and Nyx exchange looks. The silence stretches out. “There was another reason,” Arax says finally.

“The ship,” Zunix guesses quietly. “So we were right. You were searching for the parts as well?”

Arax gives Zunix a sharp look, and Zunix meets his gaze. “My loyalties are always to the High Empire, Firstborn,” he says directly. “I have no secrets from you. We believe that four of our exile batch have found the ship. One of them is a technician.”

“Escape from this planet isn’t important right now,” Arax replies. “We should have returned back to our home last night. Our mate Viola will be frantic with worry. We have to get out of here.” He gives me a questioning look. “Why is Dariux holding us hostage? What does he want?”

Zunix answers. “He’s searching for something,” he replies. “I don’t know what. He believes that you hold the answers. And if not you, then Brunox’s daughter.”

Arax’s head snaps up. “Raiht’vi is Brunox’s daughter?”

“You didn’t know?” Zunix shakes his head wryly. “Surax really did love his secrets.”

Arax’s lips narrow to a thin line. “This changes things,” he muses. “Brunox will not allow his daughter to be stranded on the prison planet. He’s a powerful man. Asteroid belt or not, they will come for her. No matter how many die in the attempt.”

“Again,” Nyx points out, “that’s not important right now. What’s important is getting out of here. Before Vulrux and Dennox come looking for us.”

This time, it’s my turn to be shocked. “The Thirdborn is here too?” The Draekon mutation is blind to the well-being of the High Empire. It seems to have attacked the finest men from my generation, leaving behind the incompetent, the power-hungry, the ones that will act without regard to consequences.

“Yes,” Arax confirms. “And when we don’t return, they will come looking. I would like to avoid war. Any ideas?” He gives Zunix a searching look. “I’m quite sure,” he says, “that Surax was better informed than I was. I have no illusions that the Spymaster shared all his secrets with my father. Whatever Dariux is looking for, I don’t know it.”

Zunix looks unsurprised. “Let me work on a plan,” he says. “For the moment, Liorax and I are obligated to support Dariux. He healed Olivia, and the price of the med-kit was our cooperation. I know it’s hard to be patient, Firstborn, but I beg you, stay calm. If this matter can be resolved, I will find a way.”

“It’s not my patience I’m concerned with,” Arax replies. “It’s those in my camp. At last count, we were four dragons. If it comes to war, we will fight to the death, but we will lose.”

Never. “We will figure a way out, Arax,” I repeat.

“I hope you’re right,” he says bleakly. He tilts his head to one side and surveys us with a curious look. “Olivia’s your mate? Viola seemed to think she was,” he hesitates, “not too bright.”

Zunix grins. “She’s the smartest person here,” he says, a note of pride in his voice. “She’s playing a role. I’m assuming the humans sent her to spy on the High Empire.” There are footsteps outside. “Bolox, Narix,” Rezzix says loudly, his voice carrying into the room. “Are you here to relieve us?”

“That’s our cue,” Zunix says, his voice low. “We must leave you now, Firstborn.”

I hear another set of footsteps. Lighter this time. Zunix’s smile widens. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s Olivia now.” He winces. “I promised her yesterday that I’d explain everything.”

I chuckle. “You’re in trouble.”

His expression is sharp and focused. “Indeed,” he says. “But I have a way out.”

“What is it?” Nyx asks from behind us.

He smiles. “Why, I’m going to tell her the truth, of course. It’s time she knew everything.”