"Can't. She owns me until I turn 18-only turned 17 a few months ago. As long as I'm a minor, I'm trapped with her."
(Imma hope that he's like-17/18 as well...?)
"Akira-as far as they know, I don't have any friends. And it wouldn't be safe for me to stay with you while the queen was there-she HATES cyborgs-laws in Rusaya are stricter than they are here, and that's saying something. And especially if she figures out I'm making tech for you-it's too big of a risk to take."