Page 102

Tasha’s stolen ship is a dot through the tempered glass of the bridge by now. Her Reaver seems so small compared to the emptiness of space.

“Tasha, turn around,” I order. “You can’t be here! This system is about to become a warzone.”

Tasha cuts the feed, approaching my ship.

She knows I’ll battle the Toad, but she’s piloting towards my loading bay anyway. She knows this could be my final fight, and yet she’s entering my ship.

12

Tasha

Theme is quivering at the controls of the Orb-Beam. During our approach, I restored power to vital systems, including the shields and weapons.

“Theme. Hands off.” He might take offense, but I can’t have him pulling the triggers by accident.

“Tasha, what are you doing?” His face is ashen. “You’re taking us right back into The Instigator!”

“Yes, I am – and you need to trust me.”

I can’t convince Aelon from afar, so we need to return to the ship that originally imprisoned us. Ineedto look Captain Aelon in the eyes and tell him my own plan. With me onboard, he might be less likely to plunge into a battle he can’t possibly win. This could be the last thing I ever do. If I’m onboard when the Toads arrive, I’m going down with my triad.

The loading bay doors yawn open. We just escaped from The Instigator, and now I’m bringing us right back. My own ship is missing – Chris and his crew got away, apparently. I hope they picked a direction to flee other than towards the Toads.

Deja vu.

Once again, this all appears to be a big circle. I’m back to where I began – only, this time, the loading bay is filled with Reavers. When we’d arrived, there were only a handful.

The vessel we’d stolen is just one of many, and now Aelon had gathered his fleet together, ready for battle. Triads are already on board to pilot the Reavers, waiting for their Captain’s order to blast off and strike.

Captain Aelon stands in the middle of the loading bay, flanked by his battle-brothers. Aurelians pass by him, rushing to man their ships as they prepare for combat. My Bonded triad awaits me, so I land softly before them – demonstrating my skill at the helm. At we touch down, I press the button to open the side hatch.

“Sawoot,” I order, “time for you to leave. You don’t need to be here. Take Theme and get the hell out of here. Aelon will let you go – it’s not you he wants, it’s me.”

Sawoot’s scared, but she shakes her head. “I’m not going anywhere without you, Tasha.”

“Alright – that’s your choice. Hang tight, then.”

I hop out of the Reaver, landing on the deck right in front of my triad of Aurelians. I’m in nothing more than that thin slip of a dress Aelon gave me, but for the first time, there’s no sexual tension between us.

“Aelon – I’m begging you: Don’t try to fight them. Iknowyou can kill them. I know you can beat them, even though there are so many more of them than you. I know you’re outgunned, but that you’ll find a way to defeat the Toads. But what if you get unlucky? What if there’s something else you hadn’t considered. Nothing is guaranteed – and you have alotof people relying on you.”

Aelon stands there. He’s like a statue on the outside, and his aura is emotionless in my mind – yet I can still feel that undercurrent, just beneath the surface. It’s like a calm day at sea, while sharks lurk beneath the surface.

Anger. Rage. Pain. It all threatens to breach the calm surface in a boil of blood; and those are the emotions burning in the core of Aelon.

“They’re expecting to catch you by surprise,” I warn. “Even with every advantage, you’re still facing impossible odds. Don’t you haveanythingto live for?”

I’m pleading with him now. I’m wishing, desperately, that he’ll realize he can live for more than just anger and revenge.

Iunia stands behind his leader. He wants to listen to me, but Aelon’s word is law for the triad. Vinicus is stoic and powerful. He, too, will go along with what his Captain commands.

“What do you expect me to do, Tasha?” Aelon sighs. “Those Toads are criminals. They’d massacre a defenseless mining camp for profit. I can’t let that evil go unpunished.”

After his hundred years of service to the Aurelian Empire, Aelon has lost faith in the ways of his people. He’s concluded that he can only ensure justice if he punishes his enemies. It’s noble, it’s honorable – and it’s going to get him killed.

I need him toneedme. I need him to value me –us– more than he values his Gods-be-damned sense of righteousness. I fear I might be beating my head against a brick wall, though.

Oh, Aurelians! They torment me! Why couldn’t rational Iunia be the leader of their triad? Why couldn’t I be Bonded to Garrick?