Before we could move, the two mercs started making their way over, parting the crowd like an approaching storm.

  The first was scarred and spiked, his armor mismatched and dented. Like he’d taken a few too many hits over the years.

  His partner—a bulky, reptilian alien with a spiked tail and rows of armored plating—grinned.

  Baring a set of teeth that would make most predators look tame.

  The reptilian sneered as they approached. “Human shouldn’t be mixing in cartel business.”

  I held up my hands in mock surrender, keeping my tone light.

  “I just got here.”

  He didn’t look amused.

  His fingers curled into fists, claws tapping ominously against his armor.

  Right.

  So much for talking my way out of this one.

  Time to try something else.

  I locked my gaze on the reptilian merc, focusing hard.

  Reached out with my mind.

  You don’t want trouble with me.

  You should walk away.

  The thought pressed out from me, weaving its way into his mind.

  His expression flickered.

  Confusion crossed his face as he looked from me to his partner, clearly trying to make sense of the thought I’d planted.

  But it wasn’t quite enough.

  He shook his head, the snarl creeping back onto his face.

  I muttered to myself.

  “Guess I still need some practice.”

  Sigh.

  Fine.

  I raised my hand—

  And let telekinesis do the talking.

  With a quick flick of my wrist, I sent the scarred merc flying clear across the bar.

  He crashed into a line of tables, sending drinks flying and a couple of patrons stumbling out of their seats.

  The reptilian merc looked back at his partner sprawled across the bar, shock registering just long enough for me to catch his eye again.

  “Now,” I said, calm and firm, “you still want to stick around?”

  Silence.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Then he took a slow step back.

  I turned to Zara, who was watching me with a mix of awe and something closer to fear.

  “Time to go,” I muttered, nodding toward the back exit.

  Killing cartel mercs would only draw more of them, and I wasn’t in the mood for a full-scale hunt.

  She nodded, and we slipped out, leaving the wreckage—and the mercs—behind us.

  The bar’s back exit slammed shut behind us as we burst into the chaotic streets of Draxis Reach.

  Dark, winding alleyways stretched ahead, lit only by flickering neon and the occasional buzz of a street vendor.

  Zara kept pace, moving fast but glancing over her shoulder.

  “So, this is your idea of ‘keeping a low profile?’” I muttered, ducking under a low-hanging sign. “Sitting in a public place where the galaxy’s trash gathers while you’re ‘hiding’?”

  She shot me a glare. “If you’d handled those mercs better, maybe it would’ve been. You just had to throw one across the room, didn’t you?”

  She wasn’t wrong… I just wanted to see if I could do it.

  The shouting behind us reminded me we didn’t have time to debate tactics.

  The mercs were closing in.

  And judging by the noise, they’d brought backup.

  “Split left,” I hissed, jerking my head toward a narrow passage between two buildings.

  We took a sharp turn, winding through twisting alleys lined with towering crates and metal scraps.

  The stench of something rancid filled the air, but I kept moving, Zara right on my heels.

  Behind us, voices barked orders.

  Ahead, two more cartel thugs cut off an escape route.

  Damn.

  This place was more of a maze than I remembered.

  I focused, reaching out with my mind to the stack of crates behind us.

  With a push—

  They toppled over, crashing into the alleyway with a deafening roar.

  A cloud of dust and splinters shot up as the mercenaries skidded to a halt, shouting and scrambling to clear the path.

  It wouldn’t buy us much time—

  But every second counted.

  “Smooth,” Zara muttered, glancing at the wreckage. “A little less subtle than I’d go for, but smooth.”

  I skidded to a stop, turning to face her, eyebrow raised. “Oh, so you’d rather handle them yourself?”

  She blinked, clearly thrown. “Wait—what?”

  I waited.

  Let the silence stretch.

  Watched her squirm a little as she struggled for a response.

  Finally, she huffed, looking away.

  “Thought not,” I said, smirking. “Shut your mouth and keep up.”

  I tapped into my wrist, connecting to Ares.

  “Got a tail on us. Be ready to defend the ship—or flee if it comes to that.”

  His voice came through, laced with his usual sarcasm.

  “Commander, outmaneuvered by mercenaries again? I’d almost say I’m not surprised.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Not you too, Ares. I don’t have time to deal with two people bitching at me. Less commentary, more readiness.”

  There was a pause. Then, dry as ever—

  “Understood, Commander. Preparing the ship for either action—though, let’s be honest, we both know which one you’ll choose.”

  I muttered, “Remind me to reprogram you when I get back to the ship.”

  Ares went quiet.

  “Good boy.”

  ***

  We finally lost the mercs, ducking into the backstreets.

  Both of us caught our breath, adrenaline still buzzing in our veins.

  Zara shot me a serious look.

  “If you’re actually serious about helping…”

  “I am.”

  She paused, weighing my words, then nodded.

  “I was waiting at The Broken Star for a reason. A couple of my guys—Cade and Harlan—were supposed to meet me there hours ago. They never showed.”

  “Okay…” I said slowly, unsure where this was going.

  She exhaled.

  “Astra’s being held on Kelthar-3.”

  I stiffened.

  “Ares?”

  His voice came through my earpiece.

  “Kelthar-3: a cartel-run mining planet known for its deadly working conditions and high mortality rates. Pleasant, as you might imagine.”

  “Wonderful,” I muttered.

  Zara clenched her fists, her voice tight.

  “The cartel’s not just punishing her. They know she’s useful. They’re making her work for them, using her skills for… something shady.”

  I frowned, half-thinking aloud.

  “So this isn’t just punishment… They actually want something from her.”

  Zara nodded grimly.

  “Exactly. Astra always had a knack for finding things—information, people, places that don’t want to be found. They’re making her track down high-value targets for them. If she doesn’t deliver— They’ll kill her.”

  My jaw clenched. A dark thought forming.

  “But it’s good they need her skills. If they want something from her, it might just keep her alive long enough to save her.”

  Zara’s gaze flicked up, faint hope in her eyes.

  “You think so?”

  I kept my voice steady.

  “Look, as long as she’s useful to them, she has value. That’s time we can use. They’re not going to risk losing her until she delivers what they want.”

  She hesitated, her expression conflicted.

  “And if she delivers?”

  I met her gaze.

  “We make sure she never gets to that point.”