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“When we brought down food and water,” the soldier reports, “four of the prisoners jumped us. One of them had a hidden knife.”

The wounded Aurelian coughs painfully.

“It’s my fault, Captain. I didn’t search him well enough.”

Him.

The Aurelian can only be referring to Chris.

Fucking Chris!

I thought he’d left all the weapons behind – but, instead, he disobeyed my direct order; and now he’s endangered everyone.

My mind races. The Aurelian reported that four prisoners attacked them. I already know that Theme was the one member of my crew who wouldn’t have joined in the attack – he’s too much of a coward…

…but cowardice won’t save him on an Aurelian ship. It’s probably despised more than Chris’ treachery

“I’ll be down shortly to deal with them,” Aelon responds.

His voice is suddenly flat – emotionless. It’s even more terrifying than before.

Captain Aelon lowers the watch and then meets my eyes, blinking slowly.

“Did you order this? Don’t lie to me, Tasha – I can always sniff out a lie.”

I shake my head – but suspicion doesn’t leave his face as Aelon tries to interpret my motives.

“I swear, I didn’t order them to attack,” I promise. “It’s a foolish attempt.”

Aelon snorts – but this time there’s no humor to it, and he doesn’t pair the snort with his typically cocky smirk. His face is a mask.

“You might be a skilled pilot, Tasha – but you’re a piss poor commander. You need complete obedience from your crew. They need to betrained.”

My pride is wounded, but I’m too nervous to care. Whatever punishment he’s going to inflict on Chris and the rest of my crew, I can only hope he goes easy on Theme.

I asked anxiously: “What are you going to do to them?”

Captain Aelon’s lips curl back in a snarl. That’s when I see the true danger within this man. His triad might have been the ones covered in blood and dirt, but there’s an equally sinister violence lurking in the captain – just below the suave, sophisticated surface.

“I’ll do to them whatever I must.”

My blood runs cold. The punishment for mutiny on an Aurelian ship…

…is death.

4

Tasha

The five men of my crew are handcuffed. There are fresh bruises on their face from their struggle with the Aurelians, and Chris is sporting what I can only assume is a very well-deserved black eye.

I hope it fucking hurts!

“Let me go! I’ll gut you, you fucking Aurelian scum!”

Despite the black eye, Chris is unrepentant. He’s yelling – spewing his words with pure hatred towards the Aurelian soldiers guarding him.

One of the soldiers calmly turns to Chris, and meets the furious miner’s fiery glare – before giving him a hard backhand.