Xavier stayed on the balcony, one hand resting on the rail, the other holding the device steady as the stream rolled on.
"After they let me out," he said, "I came to Helior Prime. That's where I am right now. I figured if I stayed somewhere public, nothing stupid would happen."
The chat reacted instantly, comments stacking on top of each other.
HELIOR PRIME??
BRO THAT PLACE IS INSANE
WHICH HOTEL?!
Xavier glanced off to the side like he'd already said too much. "I mean—" he paused, then gave a small laugh. "Doesn't matter. I shouldn't have said that. Ignore it."
Arlen's grip on her phone tightened. She knew that pause. She knew the way he'd let it slip just enough to look human, careless, younger than he really was. He hadn't made a mistake. He'd planted something.
Xavier went on before the chat could spiral too hard.
"When I got here," he said, "I found out something else. There's a bounty out on Reva and Lyra, and my other friends."
