Page 56 of The Space Between Stars

She rolled her eyes. “What happened?”

Mitek gaped. “You mean to say you don’t remember our party being assaulted by a real live honest-to-Creation fucking Ruxian?”

“No. I mean after that.”

“We made it home. Got you into the medical ward. Nothing has happened since.”

“And the others?” The survivors.

“I’ve had them retained here, awaiting your orders.”

She nodded. “Good. Don’t let a word of this encounter escape. They may elect to leave the Ghosts early or receive double stipend in return for their silence.”

Mitek’s face screwed up. “When you decided to leave… did you know that—that kid—was what you were looking for?”

Fankalo tried to cobble together what had happened. The boy must be a Creation conduit. Only Creation and Destruction could cast lures. She hadn’t realized it for what it was because Calver’s had always been so passive. Had the boy done it on a whim, or did he know she was—

Understanding clicked into place. She had not been his target, but Calver. Cul’Mon was trying a new strategy.

“No,” she croaked.

Mitek rubbed at his eyes with his palms. “How the hell did you hit him? Not one of us could land a shot. The fucker was invincible.”

“Luck.”

“Did you kill him?”

If she could, she would have done. Her Luck hadn’t presented the opportunity.

“No.” She stopped herself from putting her face in her hands. “I’d wager he ended pursuit so he could heal himself. It seemed like he could only focus his powers on so much at once.” And he was a child. What would he be capable of a year from now, when they planned an invasion on Tera’thu?

Mitek put a fist to his mouth. “Heal himself? Ruxians can do that?”

“Ruxians can do anything if they’re practiced enough and have a conduit to ignite them!” she snapped—angrier at her own negligence than Mitek’s question. “This kid’s conduit was obviously Cul’Mon. Who has obviously trained him to be another killing machine.” Her chest tightened. Like Calver. “Except this one is worse, because it was raised in Tera’thu.”

Drogus clasped his hands behind his neck. Mitek paced around her cot like he might combust if he stayed still. Silence lapped at her nerves like the surf at driftwood.

“Can he find you?” Mitek finally choked out. “Like…?”

The question didn’t need finishing. Like Cul’Mon could find Calver?

“No.” Preservation be blessed, that was specific to Calver being a Destruction conduit. But Cul’Mon would know she existed now—and outside of the Nelfinden safe zone. The Ruxian had intended to exterminate her, but given the nature of Cul’Mon’s operation, she was sure he would want to capture her if he could. Extermination sounded like the better option.

“Drogus,” she started. Among his many talents was an affinity for languages. “He spoke to me—before failing to drown me. What does ‘Do Urdenka’ mean?”

Drogus tapped at his thick-bearded chin with a finger. “It does not translate well. It means something along the lines of ‘another vessel’, or ‘something else that carries’—no—‘something else that transfers’.”

“Another conduit.”

Mitek grasped her concern. “Does that mean Cul’Mon sent him? That he’ll be back to—” His words cut off at Fankalo’s glare.

She threw the crook of her arm over her face. Things could not possibly be any worse. Calver had officially lost what little mind was left to him. Seraphindo’s heir was set to take the throne in Nelfindar. And now, Cul’Mon had a Ruxian of his own. Just when she’d thought they were about to take the lead in this game of war, they’d been horribly outplayed.

A warm, albeit damp, body sat on the cot beside her. She rolled to her side, putting her back to Mitek for shame of the burn behind her eyes. Her father had always said to plan for the possibilities, not the ideals. What a fool she’d been not to heed him better. She had known there was a possibility that one of Calver’s bastards, the ones he’d been so insistent on saving, would be used as a weapon against them. She’d just hoped they had more time.

Mitek held a hand to her back as it quivered. She was even more ashamed of how much she appreciated him for it. “I’m just so glad you’re still here,” he said softly.

“Kretch.” She failed to keep her voice from trembling. “We’re in so much trouble. This is over our heads.”