Doran captured his twin in a playful headlock, scrubbing his knuckles over Gage’s scalp. “Of course it worked. My brother’s a genius.”
Gage shoved him off and grinned as he straightened his hair. “A genius who doesn’t trust pirates. Your captain’s right. We should start packing.” He glanced at the two other patients. “And load them on the ship before they wake up. I don’t think they’ll mind if the first thing they see is the inside of a cargo bay.”
“Trust me,” Kane said darkly. “They won’t mind.”
A beep sounded from Cassia’s new com-bracelet. She knew without looking it was Kane’s mother calling to check in on him. They’d discussed his progress every day. When she accepted the transmission, Rena’s hologram appeared from within the farmhouse, where it seemed a party was in full swing. Several people milled about in the background making celebratory toasts, including Jordan, who wore a bittersweet expression that made clear the election’s outcome. Cassia’s heart sank an inch. She’d expected Rena to win, but it still stung.
“Doodlebug,” Rena said with laughter in her eyes. No longer frail, she crouched down to Kane’s level and reached out as if to touch him. “You look so much better, baby.”
Kane’s cheeks turned pink. “You too, Mom.”
Cassia told her, “I take it congratulations are in order.”
Rena offered an apologetic smile, clearly trying to be humble until Meichael appeared in the frame and covered the back of her neck with kisses. Then she ducked aside with a laugh. “I wanted you to hear it from me first.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You did the right thing, Cassia. I won’t let us down.”
Cassia smiled. Rena was well respected and would make a strong leader—she knew that now. Though the loss prickled, an invisible weight lifted from her shoulders. She would never again have to send soldiers into battle or sacrifice her happiness in service to the colony. She would never have to settle down or stop exploring. The rebels weren’t the only ones who’d earned their independence today. For the first time in her life, she was free to choose her own destiny.
“I know you won’t.”
Kane took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Congratulations, Mom. I’m proud of you.”
“That goes both ways, Doodlebug.” She blew him a kiss and then let a group of well-wishers pull her out of the frame, at which point General Jordan strode forward to take her place.
“Arric,” he said with a nod at Kane. “Glad to see you’re okay.”
Kane mumbled something resembling a thanks.
“Cassia, same to you.” As Jordan shifted his focus to her, his gaze lingered in that old, familiar way. He seemed to catch himself and quickly added, “No rush on returning the Hypersonic cruiser you borrowed, just bring it back when you’re ready. I can’t wait to fly it. Is it as fast as they say?”
She cringed and glanced at the tent wall, beyond which lay the cruiser’s skeletal remains. She’d landed it in a safe spot, but that hadn’t stopped the pirates from stripping all of its useful parts before Doran had busted them and established the resort boundary.
Jordan’s smile fell. “Please tell me you didn’t wreck the cruiser.”
“Got to go. We’ll talk later.” She tapped her bracelet to end the call, and Jordan vanished in a flash of irritation.
Kane scowled. “I can’t stand that guy.”
“Me neither, Doodlebug,” called Renny from outside the tent.
Doran snorted and Solara giggled. Kane didn’t bother glaring at them. He had to know a nickname that precious was bound to stick.
“Jordan’s not so bad,” Cassia said. “He came through for us in the end.” At the irritated look Kane gave her, she added, “At least you won’t have to see his face on your currency.”
“Thank god for small favors.”
She supposed the big question now was, What next? She’d been so preoccupied with Kane’s recovery that she hadn’t given much thought to what she would do if she lost the election. One option was to go home. Eturia was a free republic, so she and Kane were equals in every way. He could build a career in the clerk’s office, and she could probably persuade Rena to give her a job within the government. But picturing that life made her feel more claustrophobic than excited.
She wanted more.
Gage broke into her thoughts when he spoke from the other end of the tent, where he was smoothing healing accelerant onto the arms of the woman in white. “For what it’s worth, my job offer still stands—for all of you.” He glanced at Cassia. “A former queen would make an amazing emissary advisor. I can’t change the galaxy alone, you know.”
Change the galaxy.