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“Aelon – can you spare a man to Orb-Shift Theme out if our plan fails? If we die, so be it. We’ll die by each other’s sides – but I want to know he gets out safe.”

“I can,” Aelon nods. He snaps his fingers at one of the Aurelians rushing past and points to the Reaver where Theme is still cowering.

“If our plan fails,” Aelon orders, “then you get that human out of here. If the Toad signal blockers jam Orb-Shifting, just fly as fast and as far as you can in the opposite direction until you’re out of range. Then shift out. Don’t stop for anything, got it?”

“Aye, Captain,” nods the Aurelian, boarding Theme’s Reaver.

As he boards, I can hear the Aurelian explaining what’s going to happen to my terrified crewmember.

Aelon cocks his head. “This way,” he says, and I follow him to yet another a Reaver.

There are pockmarked scars all over this one, from what looks like concentrated las-fire. Like the scars on Iunia’s body, they seem to have been patched, but not repaired or hidden; as if they’re marks of pride on this battle-worn ship.

“This is the Reaver I piloted during my hundred years,” Aelon explains proudly.

His hundred years. The hundred years of service to the Aurelian Empire, that ended with him leaving the Army to set off on his own. The Empire let the soldiers who’ve completed their years of service keep their Orb-Blades and their ships - everything a triad needs to forge their own path in this universe.

“You sure you don’t want me to pilot?”

Aelon grins. He’s back to his old former self – callous and carefree in the face of life or death.

He reaches over and squeezes my arm – with a gesture that’s similar to the comradeship of Iunia or Vinicus.

“You’re a skilled pilot, Tasha – one of the best I’ve seen. But I’ve got hundreds of years under my belt, and in this bird specifically.” Then, his eyes flash. “Mind you, soon enough you’ll have hundreds of years, too.”

I’m reminded again of the thousands of years of life I now have stretching out ahead of me – assuming I survive today.

I snort: “I can beat your three hundred years with three.”

Aelon laughs. He’s buzzing with electric energy. All four of us are. Vinicus and Iunia have returned, falling in line behind us as we march to the battle-damaged Reaver.

“You make me lose sight of myself,” Aelon says, opening up the doors to his ship. “You make me see things…differently.”

“That’s a good thing, Aelon.”

“Aye, perhaps it is.”

We board the ship. I realize the power imbalance has shifted between us. He’s no longer threatening to spank me for insolence – though he might do it in private, for fun, if we ever get out of here.

He pauses before climbing behind the helm.

“Tasha – you don’t have to do this. I estimate there’s a good chance the Toads will accept this offer, but there’s still a risk. You could stay back in the second Reaver with Garrick, if you’d prefer. If things go to shit, he’ll Orb-Shift you and Sawoot out of there.” His eyes flash. “Orb-shifting is risky these days, but it’s still less risky than trying to outrun a Toad Mothership using impulse engines alone.”

It might be safer – but I don’t want to watch the leader of my Bonded triad disintegrate in front of me if things go south.

“All things considered, Captain Aelon, I’d prefer to stay with you.”

I called himCaptainAelon.

It’s not a submissive way of thinking about him – heismy captain, now I’m serving a role in this mission. More than that, Iamhis prize.

Aelon’s brows furrow as he stares down at me. I can sense it through the Bond - this chiseled, dashing man is utterly obsessed with me. The Bond enhances it, but the attraction goes deeper than that. His lust and need for me eclipses even the way Garrick feels about Sawoot.

He smiles at me, and scoffs: “I’ve led thousands of hard men, Tasha – the most fearsome warriors in the universe. And yet, something tells me trying to leadyouis going to be much harder.”

Aelon turns back to the helm and starts touching the controls. He handles them like he was born into that seat. Even so, he jokes:

“It’s been too long since I was in the driver’s seat of a Reaver – I hope I remember how to do this.”