Tannis sighed. She really didn’t want to go into this right now, but maybe Devlin deserved to know. If it weren’t for her, his brother would, in all likelihood, still be alive. She just hoped that by the end of this conversation, he still wanted revenge on the Church more than he wanted revenge on her. She wouldn’t blame him for hating her.
“Let’s sit down.” She gestured to the chair he’d just vacated and followed him across, sinking into the seat opposite with the low table between them. Staring over his shoulder for a minute, she considered what to say.
“So?” Devlin prompted.
She spoke quickly, confessing everything, then waited for the condemnation to come. Instead, his eyes filled with pity, and she clenched her teeth.
“So that’s what’s the matter with you—you have the Meridian poisoning?”
“Yes.”
Devlin pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression bleak. “You know, we used to talk about it, Tris and me, about how with the lives we lived, there was never much hope we’d die in our beds. Tris was never cut out for this life, but at least he died for someone he cared about. I don’t blame you, and I have no intention of killing you, but that bastard, Hatcher, is going to die.”
Daisy appeared at that moment, waving a bottle in her hand. They all looked at her and some of the tension seeped from the atmosphere. “I got this from Rico’s cabin. It’s almost the last.” She placed it on the table, then leaned across and kissed Devlin on the cheek. “I’m sorry about the Trog. He was really brave.”
“Thank you.”
She nodded, then went to fetch glasses from the cabinet at the edge of the room. After pouring the drinks, she perched on the seat on the other side of Skylar, twirling a stand of long green hair. Her skin was a pale, sickly green. She was taking this hard, but then she had hero-worshipped Rico.
“Where’s Jon?” Tannis asked.
“Still in his cabin.”
“No, I’m not.” Jon stood in the doorway. He didn’t look good, but at least he was still human, and the feral glint had gone from his eyes. He lowered himself into the seat next to Callum, stretched his long legs in front of him, and reached across for a glass. He swallowed the amber liquid in one gulp. “So how are we going to do this?”
Tannis turned to Callum. “Why don’t you explain?”
Callum nodded. “Right now, The Endeavor is on her way to Trakis Four—”
“The Endeavor?” Devlin cut in.
“She’s the Collective’s new flagship. Top-of-the-range stealth technology. Anyway she’s on her way to destroy the Church’s headquarters, and we plan to steal her.”
Tannis relaxed, sipped her drink, and let the rich tones of his voice wash through her. He had a beautiful voice and a way of talking that made everyone pay attention and sit forward in their seats. He was a born leader, that was obvious, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he would do after…after she was gone. And after he had fulfilled his promise to see her crew right. Would he go back and rule the Collective? He’d said he’d come to hate the job, but maybe he’d just needed a break so he could see things clearly.
“How do we steal her?” Devlin asked. “I’m presuming she must have firepower far superior to anything we can put together.”
“I’ll sort that out,” Callum said.
“Will you?” Devlin frowned. “Why would you go against your own people?”
“He will,” Tannis said. “Trust me.”
Devlin gave him a long look but then nodded.
A brief smile flickered across Callum’s face. “Okay, so we board her and between us we’ll work out how to fly her. Then we take her in to Trakis Four using the stealth technology. Meanwhile, Devlin can create a diversion with El Cazador and any of his people who can get there on time.”
“No.”
Callum turned to Devlin and raised an eyebrow. “No?”
“I want to be in the landing party. I want a chance at Hatcher. Tris was my brother.”
“He’s right.” Skylar spoke for the first time. “Besides, we’ll need him. The captain’s not up for this.” She glanced at Tannis as if expecting her to argue. Tannis opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again. Skylar was right, and it would be another day before they made it to the planet. Who knew what state she’d be in by then? Skylar continued, “We’ll need Devlin. That will make three of us, me, Jon and Devlin. Jon will shift—he’ll be able to find Alex better that way, but he’ll need us to watch his back and probably fight our way out of there.”
“I’m going in,” Callum said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“I hope this isn’t some guilt-fueled suicide mission,” Devlin said.
“Hardly—I’m not that easy to kill. But I think I can be of some help. I’ve been to the Church’s headquarters before on diplomatic missions. I know my way around the place better than any of you.”
“He’s right,” Jon said and Tannis glanced at him in surprise. She’d thought he still hated Callum, just for being part of the Collective. But he nodded to Callum, instead. “Thank you. I know the only reason we’re doing this is to get Alex.”
“Not the only reason,” Devlin growled.