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That’s not the word I wanted to hear.

“It’s not as strong as conventional explosives,” Iunia continues, “but as long as Meelon brings those inside his shields and into his loading bay, there won’t be any armor to protect the Mothership. The explosion alone will damage the ship severely. If it starts a chain reaction with his weapons systems and engines, that Mothership will be crippled completely.”

If. Should. As long as…

Those are words that indicate so much can still go wrong. This plan is getting riskier by the second. I wonder if I should have trusted Aelon’s original plan of hiding on the dark side of the moon and waiting for the Toads to descend on Tarrion. Picking that fight would have been suicidal, but at least I’dknowwhat we were going to face.

Like this, at any second, our ruse could be discovered.

Aelon turns to me. His hazel eyes are clear and confident. “Trust the plan, Tasha.”

He can’t feel my aura through the Bond – not with the Toads still blocking it – but it’s as if he can read my thoughts anyway. The certainty of his voice centers me. I’m so used to being the one in charge that it’s actually reassuring to have that responsibility taken from my shoulders.

It’s not just the riskiness of the plan that worries me, though. It’s that feeling of not being in control. It’s still so hard to accept that all I can do is wait and hope.

The Toad assault ships surround the crates cautiously, like dogs sniffing at a meal. They send out scanner drones.

I hold my breath. Every muscle in my body is tense as the scanners analyze the crates. The Bond has enhanced my sight, my vision, and my hearing, but it’s also enhanced my emotions. I can barely control my anxiety. I experience fear so raw that it makes my skin crawl.

Then, the drones grab the packages, pulling them through space toward the assault ships. The vessels open their cargo doors and take the crates inside.

Now, they just need to return to the mothership.

“Come on… Come on…” Vinicus is edgy - hungry. The Toad assault ships turn towards the Mothership. They seem to be moving in slow motion.

Aelon holds his position, waiting and demonstrating to the Toads that he’s watching to see if any of those assault ships try to pass the line in the metaphorical sand he’s drawn.

“Just test me,” Aelon breathes – making the dark promise under his breath. If it wasn’t for the heightened hearing of the Bond, I wouldn’t have caught it.

“Ten minutes to denotation,” Iunia murmurs, “I hope.”

“Youhope?” I turn to Iunia nervously.

“I had only two minutes to mix up chemicals using a ten-thousand-year-old recipe. If it worked perfectly, then in nine minutes and forty-eight seconds, the reaction will be complete.”

Oh, Gods. What if the assault ships delay their return? What if the explosivesdon’twork?

Again, it’s as if Aelon can read my thoughts.

“Calm, Tasha. That Toad is going to be so greedy for the Orbs he’ll bring them right into his ship without question. First thing he’ll want to do is see them with his own eyes. I just wish I was there to see his expression when he realizes what we’ve done. He won’t have enough time to get them off his ship. They’ll be the last thing he sees.”

Aelon is so confident – but a minute’s delay could ruin this plan.

Tension fills the Reaver as the assault ships grow blurry. They’re entering the haze of the Toad Mothership shields. A moment later, they’re inside the immense, green ship.

Now, even if the explosives detonate early, they’ll wound the Mothership’s armor and exterior.

Wound.

Not cripple, or kill.

“Please, please, please,” I pray, hoping the Gods are listening. When I’m not in command, I don’t need to put on a front of bravery. I don’t have men and women depending on me for courage and reassurance. Instead, I can tap into Aelon’s inexhaustible well of strength.

“They’re going to dock! They’re going to dock!”

Sawoot’s shrill voice sounds through the sub-communications. It’s practically giddy. I want desperately to smack her for potentially jinxing this scheme – as if her words could affect the outcome of our plan.

The huge doors of the Mothership open. I feel awe as the assault ships dock inside. Even compared to The Instigator, that vessel ishuge.