Chapter 4

I blocked Declan and started calling everyone I knew, swallowing my pride and asking for loans.

I had plenty of friends, but 500,000 credits was still a huge amount.

By late that night, I'd managed to scrape together 300,000.

For the rest, I sold the only thing my mother had left me—a necklace that still held a faint trace of her psychic energy.

Finally, I had enough to pay for my grandmother's treatment.

But as I boarded a ship back to my homeworld, an emergency call came in from our neighbor.

"Ronan, where are you? Something's happened to your grandmother!"

Susan Dalton was sobbing so hard she could barely get the words out.

"This afternoon, someone claiming to be your brother called her and said that he and Sienna had gotten married. He told her Sienna had dumped you and that you refused to let go. He wanted her to talk some sense into you and get you to stop embarrassing yourself. Then... then he sent her photos and videos from the reception. Your grandmother saw them, and her mindscape... collapsed! She's in the planetary hospital now. The doctors say... she might not make it!"

My head started buzzing.

The terminal slipped from my hand and hit the cold deck.

I took the fastest jump flight I could find. By the time I reached the planetary hospital, the light above the resuscitation room door had already gone out.

The doctor pulled down his mask and gave me a grim look.

"Her mindscape was already fragile. The shock caused a massive psychic collapse. We... did everything we could."

I stood there numb as they wheeled my grandmother out under a white sheet.

She used to save the sweetest nutrient paste for me, stroke my hair, and call me her good boy. Now she'd never wake up again.

I knelt beside her cold body, but I couldn't cry.

The grief and rage overwhelmed me. I was numb to everything but hatred.

I had no idea how long I'd been there before Sienna finally arrived, exhausted from the journey.

She looked stunned when she saw the white sheet, then came over and tried to hug me.

"Ronan, I'm sorry. I got here too late. I didn't know she was so sick. If I had, I never would have touched that money."

I slowly raised my head and glared at her through bloodshot eyes.

"Get out!"

My voice was so hoarse it barely sounded human.

Sienna wrapped her arms around me from behind, trembling.

"Ronan, I know you hate me for taking those credits! Blame me if you want, but please don't blame Declan. His psychic power is so weak. Without proper gear, he could die! He was scared. He just wanted to survive! Nothing can bring your grandmother back. Stop torturing yourself. I'll stay and help you with the funeral arrangements."

Just then, Declan's holo-call came through.

He appeared on the screen looking hurt and helpless.

"Sienna, I miss you. My heart is acting up again. When are you coming back? I report to the war zone in a few days."

Sienna hesitated and looked at me, torn.

"Ronan, what's happened can't be changed. Staying here won't help. I'll go back and see Declan first. He's leaving soon, and I want to spend more time with him. I promise I'll come back in a few days to help with the funeral. All right?"

I stared at her in disbelief. This was beyond absurd.

My grandmother was dead.

Sienna's "new husband" had caused her death.

And she was leaving me to go be with him.

I closed my eyes and forced down my hatred. When I opened them again, I was completely calm.

"Sienna. Go. And never come near me again."

As for what Declan owed my grandmother and me, I'd make him pay a hundredfold. A thousandfold.

But Sienna thought I was only speaking out of anger.

"Take care. Message me if you need anything."

Then she hurried away.

Three days later, I finished arranging my grandmother's funeral.

I sold the house on my homeworld.

I was packing the last of my things when my terminal chimed.

It was Expeditionary Command.

On the screen, a senior personnel officer looked over my file with a hint of regret.

"Ronan Cross, High Command has approved your commission as K-7's chief of staff. Given what just happened, we're prepared to let you withdraw. With your S-class psychic power and doctorate, you could take a senior research post on Capital Planet or a command position on a safer defensive line."

"Sir, I'm going to K-7," I answered without hesitation.

He frowned, his voice stern. "Have you lost your mind? K-7 has the highest casualty rate and the harshest conditions in the entire war. It's a death zone! Once I activate these orders, there will be no turning back. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

K-7. The same war zone Declan was about to enter.

Whatever he owed my grandmother and me, I'd collect it myself—a hundredfold. A thousandfold.