Neron Wars

o that planet where it

ture,” Bardek finally says, and I

y hand. “Welcome to the Ne

le, and something in me says

n the barracks. I introduce Bardek to all the key players.

hen w

taken over the duties of keeping us all nourished. We eat in rotati

mily, chatting and catching up and laughing and being h

ugs, I show my family to the

en comes in for the night. And

arters the entire morning, working with Valen, working with Lazarus, comm

I keep feeling Za

when we take a break to eat lunch toge

ugh my words. “I don’t know what his deal is. I mean, he sa

t in awe that he used to m

dark look. “I’

up and takes his dishes to the bin. Without another wo

ile Valen and I work in headquarters, going over

to their bunker for sleep, I head out

ee the flickering of a fire. And maybe it’s our history, o

heavy, I find Zayne. With a deep breath, knowing what’s abo

s face. I can see the fire just under his skin. I know he’s moments from that yelling ma

nto the darkness that surrounds us. “I

ys needed, Z

d I know this isn’t

ing to feel a lot better when it’s over,” I say, watching his face as the fire flickers lig

running away with Valen Nero. I didn’t know if he was holding you captive, or if he’d done some crazy mind trick to make you think he wasn’t the galaxy’s second most evil person. And then Edan brings

lacing his fingers, and then unlacing them, angry

es, Nova. You were my best friend, and I kind of thought I was yours. But then you started keeping all these secrets from m

traight through. Hit

he isn’t

ed, we still gravitated back to each other after things end

ad from him what I never felt from Zayne—a

wing it’s a poor reason. “And I didn’t want you worrying over me. I neede

not saying anything. I see the gears turning i

’m not wro

pretty well, even if we don’t alwa