IT LOOKED AS if stars were falling from the heavens when Valen and Andi entered the ballroom. There was no roof on this section of the estate, only the clear night sky, illuminated by two full moons and the Dyllutos Nebula above. Abstract sculptures sat upon the high-top tables that dotted the room. At the head of the ballroom, the flags of each Unified System hung above an elaborate, pearly stage set with four extravagant seats, one for each system leader.
Although the other decorations were enchanting, it was the floor that awed Andi the most. She wasn’t sure how they did it, but below her feet were the swirling colors of a royal blue nebula. It was as if they had bottled it up just to release the nebula below them, so the partygoers could dance atop the skies.
As Andi took in the space, she felt as if she were looking out the varillium sides of the Marauder.
“Are you ready?” Valen asked.
Andi glanced sideways at him. “Are you?”
He nodded curtly, and together, they entered the crowd.
The ballroom was a melting pot, filled with hundreds of people from all across the galaxy. People with many arms and legs. People with horns sprouting from their hairlines. Tenebran Guardians with constellation tattoos like Dex’s and the tall, billowing forms of Sorans milled about the crowd. They passed a Soleran woman whose expression was so sharp, it looked like she was carved from ice. Her dress was transparent as an icicle, sparkling with each step she took to reveal her body beneath. The woman momentarily glanced at Andi with white irises—a product of body modification, no doubt.
She spotted a man with technicolored skin that swirled and sparkled and changed shades at random, as if his whole body was covered with one migratory tattoo. He wore a red tunic that was tied at the waist with sparkling diamonds.
People of all races, backgrounds, ages and careers streamed around her as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
As if one of the Unified Systems wasn’t attacked mere days ago in a bloodbath drawn by the Olen System.
The wealthy citizens of Mirabel didn’t stop for anyone. A party was a party, no matter what hell was raining down around them. Money was the ultimate protector. As long as it was available in plenty, they would always feel safe.
Valen came to a stop near a high-top table toward the back. Andi was keenly aware of the stares and whispers that followed them like a shadow through the room. They saw a pirate and a prisoner, a decorated son and his sister’s killer. Andi had expected this, so she ignored them.
Valen, on the other hand, looked like a caged animal.
“Just ignore them,” Andi suggested. “It will only make you look stronger.”
She wasn’t that great at soothing others’ nerves—had never truly been able to calm even herself—but she tried her best with Valen as his eyes darted to different locations in the room.
His gaze finally settled on a group in the middle of the crowd. He smiled.
“They seem to be enjoying themselves.”
The music was soft and elegant, but Breck and Gilly were dancing wildly, arms and legs flying everywhere so haphazardly that the nearest dancers were at least five feet away. Andi choked back a laugh. They had their matching dresses on.
Lira was off to the side, talking to an Adhiran official. Her brows were scrunched together like they always did when she concentrated on something serious.
“Valen!” a voice called from behind them.
They both turned to see a plump man approaching, a shock of wine-red hair styled like a wave atop his head.
“Is that—” Andi started, cocking her head toward the approaching figure.
“Alodius Mintus,” finished Valen. “Yes, I believe it is. It has to be. He still has that mole above his left eye.”
Alodius, an old classmate who’d always been interested in Kalee, stopped in front of them, releasing a huge sigh.
“Good Godstars, man,” he said, grabbing Valen’s hand from the table and clasping it in his own. “I’m so happy you are home. I thought I’d never see you again!” He playfully swung two fists at Valen’s shoulder. “You gave those Xen Pterrans a good pummeling, didn’t you, Cortas?”
Andi wanted to cringe at his bad joke, but she resisted as his eyes drifted to her.
“And who do we have here? Already getting the girls, am I right?” Andi wanted to laugh, not at his second attempt at a joke, but because he tried to wink at her and ended up failing, scrunching his entire face instead.
Andi cocked her head. “What, you don’t remember me? I thought for certain you would, since you always asked me to pass your disturbingly intimate love poems to Kalee.” She felt immense pleasure as his smile dropped. Even his carefully coiled red hair seemed to go limp on his forehead.
“Alodius, you remember Androma Racella,” Valen offered.
Alodius opened his mouth, as if he was going to say something, but then thought better of it.
Valen and Andi watched as he started to retreat into the growing crowd of people.
“I have to... There’s someone... Oh, look at the time!” he squeaked, giving them a little wave before turning on his heel and nearly tripping as he disappeared into the crowd.
“Well, then,” Valen breathed. “That certainly improved my mood.”
For the next little while, he smiled as old friends, and those intent on becoming new ones, greeted him. The look on his face was genuine. Andi watched him closely, surprised to see that he’d fallen easily into the role he had to play. Valen the Resurrected, returned home from the horrors he’d faced, yet still with all the poise of a general’s son.
But his expression changed when the announcer appeared on stage and called for the official start of the ball.
“This is it,” Valen said, turning to Andi.
On stage, General Cortas’s face twitched as Valen and Andi stood together and swept onto the now-empty dance floor. A few gasps broke out, then whispers, trickling throughout the room like bugs.
Valen’s palms shook as he placed a hand on her waist and grasped her left hand with the other.
“Relax,” Andi whispered. “Let’s give them something to talk about.”
She flashed him a wicked grin as the music began.
And as Valen spun her into the first move of the dance, Andi saw Dex standing on the fringes of the crowd, an expression of longing clear on his face.
Chapter Seventy-Nine
* * *
DEX
DEX WONDERED WHY this was happening again. Either it was a very strong form of déjà vu, or a cruel joke being played just for kicks.
Here Dex was, dressed to make the ladies swoon, but all he could do was watch Valen and Andi waltz on the dance floor to the melodic music, wishing he could take Valen’s place.
He’d told himself he wasn’t going to do this.
That last night, after their kiss, they had said their goodbyes. He’d carefully placed his feelings into a locked box deep in the confines of his mind, then thrown away the key.