“I don’t know,” Andi said honestly. “But I doubt they’ll be coming back.”
Nor may have been fighting for the wrong side, but Andi truly believed it hadn’t been with malicious intent. She’d loved her people, and even after everything that had transpired, the new leaders of Mirabel had granted the Olen System clemency. Its inhabitants were allowed to dwell anywhere across the galaxy, as long as they didn’t return to Xen Ptera.
Not that any of them would willingly return to the barren rock that had brought them so much pain.
The door to the Marauder’s lounge opened and the girls walked in. Alfie trailed behind, with Havoc gnawing on the lower leg of his new body. It was almost identical to his old one, with a chrome-plated exterior and exposed mechanical gears whirling in his skull. Havoc’s frothy drool dripped down Alfie’s leg, pooling onto the floor, but the AI didn’t seem to care.
In Andi’s short stint as general, she’d ensured that her ship was recovered from the Soleran Wastes. She’d used the best that Arcardius could offer to repair and resupply the Marauder, and now it was filled with the people she loved most once again.
Andi and Dex joined the girls at the porthole across the room. “Ready?” she asked Lira.
Her friend gave her a sad smile. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Memory, turn off the lights,” Breck said, and the ship went dark.
Lira turned to face the four of them, eyes twinkling with unshed tears. The only light in the room came from between her fingers.
“On Adhira, when a loved one dies, we send them off with an Orvana.” She opened her cupped hands to reveal a glowing blue flower. “The Godstars give us life, and it is our duty to live it to the fullest, to light the way for others. But when that light twinkles out, it doesn’t merely disappear. It moves to the skies.” Andi noticed Lira’s scales turning a deep purple. “In our religion, when death takes us, our soul becomes a newborn star. The Godstars made us, and now it is our turn to join them once again.”
A tear slipped down Lira’s cheek.
“Lon walked his whole life following the light of the Godstars. He was full of hope and wonder, of love and wisdom.” She stroked a petal, and it burst with light. “He was a light that shone brighter than all the rest. So for that, I honor you with this Orvana.”
Lira turned and opened the airlock, placing the flower inside the compartment and then sealing it shut. “I love you, big brother.”
Then she placed her hand on the unlatching lever, and with one swift downward pull, the compartment opened and the flower shot out into the stars, its blue light shining bright.
Andi came up behind Lira and enveloped her in a hug. Breck and Gilly joined them, followed by Dex.
They stood like that, watching the flower grow farther and farther away. But even in their sadness, Andi was certain of one thing.
They were a family.
And this was the most content Andi had ever felt.
“Fly true,” she whispered.
* * *
“Now what?” Gilly asked, shoveling a hunk of cheese into her mouth.
“Red,” Breck warned. “Close your mouth when you chew.”
Gilly opened her mouth wide and gave Breck a cheeky wink. Lira tried, and failed, to suppress a snicker.
They were in the bridge once more, Lira in her pilot’s chair, Andi in her captain’s seat and the others scattered across the room.
Dex leaned against the console, twiddling a knife. “I got word from an old Guardian pal that there’s a big ransom for a Fiora Kaii. She’s been snatching up displaced Xen Pterrans and selling them into unpaid servitude.”
Andi had made a name for herself in this galaxy by pirating goods and living outside the law. But maybe it was time to switch sides—not entirely, of course, for she’d given up her General status, handing it over to the one person who terrified her most.
Soyina.
The new general had done well, in the months after the attack. She’d rebuilt the capital city and turned Arcardius back to its military state, while Andi and Dex had helped to appoint leaders across the other planetary systems. Soyina, much to her credit, made a strangely refreshing general, albeit a terrifying one.
And now Andi was free. She knew she was meant for other things, and while the darkness in her was still great, she’d since decided to use it for good.
And if she could make a pretty penny and throw killers and criminals into the deepest pits of Tenebris, then hell. Sign the Marauders up.
Andi quirked a brow. “Ladies, what do you think?”
Breck and Gilly pounded fists. Breck had once rescued Gilly from slavers, so Andi knew they would be more than ready to fight. “We’re in.”
“Me, too,” Lira said with a wicked smile.
Dex shrugged. “Wherever you go, I’ll follow. Captain.”
Andi grinned. “Then let’s go kick some slaver ass.”
* * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
SASHA ALSBERG
Whether you have made it to the acknowledgments from reading Nexus, or are just flipping to the end: Hi! Thanks for being here! Wow, what an adventure this has been.
Lindsay, you are first, because... DUH! You and I have been on this crazy journey together for over three years, and although this chapter is coming to an end, I’m excited for the future—which probably consists of horses and rainbows.
To my boss queen agents, Joanna Volpe and Devin Ross. I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have you both by my side.
Thank you to the entire New Leaf team—Kathleen Ortiz, Mia Roman, Pouya Shahbazian, Hilary Pecheone and Abigail Donoghue—and to Peter Knapp and Park & Fine Literary and Media.
To Lauren Smulski—thank you for believing in us, these ragtag characters and this galactic world. Also to the fabulous team over at Inkyard Press and Harlequin Canada, as well as Sarah Goodey, Lucy Richardson and the whole team at HarperCollins UK. Forever grateful.
To my entire family and beyond: Dad, Mom, Marisa, Jennifer, Nicole, Stephanie, Marina, Aunt Marcia, Aunt Nancy, Sam Wood, Wanda Wood, Jeff Wood x2, Danielle Wood and Alberto Dagostino. And let us not forget my little beasties, Fraser and Fiona.
To my friends and author buddies: Gabby Gendek, JD Netto, Francina Simone, Laura Steven, Ben Alderson, Taran Matharu, Natasha Polis, Jackie Sawitz, Tobie Easton, Nicole Andrews, Carmen Seda, my BookTube pals (you know who you are!), Alexandra Cristo, Roshani Chokshi, Adam Silvera... Okay, I need to stop here, or else this will go on for pages.
To my online family: Without you, none of this would be possible. XOXO
Oh—and to Scotland. Yes, the country. Don’t judge me.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
LINDSAY CUMMINGS
It’s bittersweet to close out another series, but I have to say... Wow, what a journey everything surrounding The Androma Saga has been.
It’s stretched me in more ways than I ever could have imagined, as Nexus went through several drafts to reach its current state—all in the midst of pregnancy and becoming a mom for the very first time. What a year.
There are many people who helped support me and lift me up during this journey, and I’m always afraid I will forget some of the countless brave hearts who helped guide me along the way. Here we go:
First and foremost, as always, I want to thank God. It’s not through my strength, but yours. I am second, you are first, and I am so grateful that you help me see beyond myself.
To my husband, Josh—you are my best friend and my partner in all things. I love you, I love you, I love you.
To my baby boy, Zion. Little Z, you’ll never have any idea how much you’ve done for me—just how far you’ve pushed me to do better, be better, and yet also be wholly myself as I journey into motherhood (and writing books from home, with you in the background, is definitely an adventure, to say the least).
&nb
sp; To my parents and sister, I love y’all. You’re the best fan club a girl could ever ask for.
To my in-laws and many brothers-in-law, I love you all. Thank you for being in my court.
To my agent, Peter Knapp, I don’t think I can ever express to you how grateful I am for our partnership, your steady mind and your guidance. You’re the best of the best, and nobody will ever be able to convince me otherwise.
To the team at Park & Fine Media and at New Leaf, thank you for your tireless efforts in championing this duology.
To my church family, my lifegroup family and the other members of the church band: Thank you for loving me just as I am.
To the Duck Danglers (it’s a real club, I swear), thanks for helping me keep my cool when the days are long and frustrating.
To Honey: Woman, you’re a miracle worker for giving me days to write in silence.
To Harlequin/Inkyard Press and our editor, Lauren Smulski, and everyone who has had a hand in pushing this series to new heights: Thank you. You’ve made this so much more fun every step of the way!
To every reader, bookseller, teacher, librarian, bloggers, YouTubers and all others involved in the publishing world who have supported this series—our loyal Marauders, THANK YOU.
And lastly, to my coauthor, Sasha Alsberg: Wow, what a wild ride it’s been. It started with a simple Twitter poll, and it ended up taking us and our story around the world. It hasn’t always been easy, but the work was worth it. We made the dream happen, and I’m so, so grateful for it all. ♥
ISBN-13: 9781488034244
Nexus
Copyright © 2019 by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
Nexus Page 36