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Vinicus is in awe. I look at the twenty-six Orbs with newfound respect and fear, not quite knowing what to make of them.

Iunia’s idea that the Orbs have a mind of their own is chilling – and suddenly believable.

“There was enough firepower from my explosive, trust me.” Iunia takes the credit for the victory, and I have to hand it to him – but therewasOrb-Energy in that explosion.

Still, he was the one who’d started the chain reaction. Iunia deserves credit.

Not everybody agrees.

“Well, it wasmyplan!” Vinicus laughs, and I can picture him downing pints of strong beer after the victory, laughing and cavorting. Hewasthe one who came up with the idea, it’s true.

Aelon stands up from the cockpit.

As far as credit is due, it washewho deserves the lion’s share. Aelon led us bravely into battle. His unshakeable calm gave us the confidence to fight a battle against nearly impossible odds.

He looks down at me and reaches out to touch my shoulder.

“Let us give credit where it’s due. It was Tasha who came back to warn us. Without that, we’d have been annihilated.”

Aelon’s battle-brothers nod in agreement.

The Captain kneels down, until he’s eye-level with me. His now-blue eyes smolder with affection. He squeezes my hands tightly.

“Tasha – I don’t care why you left. I just care that you came back.”

Then, he kisses me – and the feeling of being alive blossoms in my mind. It’s electric.

There’s a moan that sounds like it’s coming from someone else - and then I realize it is.

Iunia slaps the sub-coms, cutting the feed from Sawoot’s Reaver as unexpected, but loud and unmistakable moans of pleasure come through the feed. She’s clearly feeling the same lust for life as I am!

As, too, are the three Aurelians surrounding me. Suddenly, their hands are touching my body – igniting a need in me that dwarfs even the explosion we’d just witnessed.

Meanwhile, though the view screen, the sight of dozens of Reavers fill my vision. I realize the fleet from The Instigator has launched – hunting for Toad survivors, but finding none out in the empty vacuum of space.

That’s the last sight I notice out of the window, because my attention is suddenly elsewhere. My triad presses into me, three huge alien bodies making me feel so small and safe in their embrace.

I let Iunia pull the sleek material of my dress from my shoulders. I let Aelon’s lips press against my own. I allow Vinicus to step behind me – hands cupping my ass as his lips caress my throat.

I’m surrounded by love, hanging in the dead of space – yet never more alive.

And what’s even better than this? Not that therecouldbe anything better than the kisses, fingers and adoration of three hulking, magnificent warriors…

…it’s that this is just the start. These three are my Bonded triad. I am their Fated Mate. We have thousands of years ahead of us now – to explore every aspect of our lives, our future, and our love.

I’ve spent my life on the run – and the last decade in space, until this empty vacuum almost felt like home.

It wasn’t until I was in the arms of Aelon, Vinicus, and Iunia, however, that the sparkling void of the universe trulybecamemy home – with them, forever.

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