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“You idiot! You reckless bastard!”

I hammer at Aelon with all the rage I can muster – but I might as well be pummeling a brick wall for all the good it does. The towering Aurelian is like a statue, totally unmoved by my furious blows.

Still, I continue - raging:

“How could you think it was a smart idea to spank me in front of a crew of men who haven’t seen a woman in…”

Aelon whips around andslamsme against the wall – his hand only coming up at the last second to rest behind my head so I don’t smash my brains out on the hard metal.

Aelon pins me against the wall, and his right hand closes around my throat. He holds me there, forcing me to meet his eyes.

Then, as suddenly as he snapped, he lets go.

I drop to the floor, clutching my throat. With one squeeze, he could have ended my life just then – and it makes me realize that beneath his cynical, cocky exterior, there’s aragethat controls him, always lurking beneath the surface.

As I gasp for breath, Aelon stalks out of the doorway, totally ignoring me. His battle-brothers follow behind, without even sparing me a glance.

I’m suddenly left in Aelon’s bedchamber, all alone.

“Fuck!”

I just hope Sawoot’s okay. The soldier said theyattemptedto rape her. I’m just glad somebody stopped them. Sawoot is a feisty and defiant spitfire of a woman – but even she would be powerless against three horny, sex-crazed Aurelians.

I trip over myself as I pull my pants and panties back on, the harsh material rough against my aching ass – but the pain is the least of my worries as I run after Aelon, Vinicus and Iunia as they stride down the hallway.

The three Aurelians are moving like angels of death. Aelon has his hand on the hilt of his Orb-Blade – the signature weapons of an Aurelian warrior.

All Aurelians who serve in the Aurelian Army – to which each of them owes a hundred years of service - is granted a shard of Orb with which to craft their own Orb-Weapon. The weapons themselves are worth a fortune – the rarest and most deadly hand-to-hand weapons known to existence.

At a glance, an Orb-Blade looks like nothing more than a hilt, crafted from the bone of some alien creature. The hilt has no buttons on it – nothing except for the shard of Orb, embedded in the bone – and no one knows how Aurelian warriors activate their weapons…

…but, when they do, blood is always spilled.

The moment an Orb-Weapon is activated, the blade or edge of the crafted weapon shimmers into existence – wrought in blackish-blue energy that is both solid and intangible, blacker than black yet somehow glowing. An Orb-Blade can cut through anything; and they hum and pulsate like they thirst for the blood they spill.

I’m sharply aware of Aelon’s hand on the hilt of his weapon as I follow the aliens back to the mess hall where I’d been punished. As we burst into the room, the atmosphere is far different to the last time I was there.

Now, there’s a nervous, tense energy in the room.

Many Aurelians are gathered all around us – but they’re not jeering or cheering this time. Instead, they’re looking at three Aurelians gathered in the center of the room, bound in handcuffs and down on their knees.

Sawoot stands there too – guarded by three more Aurelian warriors at the side of the room. I run up to her, and the warriors part before me so I can embrace my first officer in a tight hug.

Her hair is all amuck, and she’s clearly scared – but she looks up bravely as we embrace.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“Those… thoseanimals,” Sawoot shudders. “Iunia escorted me back to the cells. I guess the three who attacked me had the keys, though. They waited for him to leave, and then came in quietly – grabbing me by the mouth before I could scream for help.”

Sawoot gulps dryly.

“If it wasn’t forthistriad,” she indicates the three Aurelians surrounding her, “who rushed in, called for reinforcements, and then beat down my attackers…” She shivers. “I don’t evenwantto think what might have happened.”

The three Aurelians guarding Sawoot form a protective wall between her and the rest of the crew. I’m so grateful that they were there to protect Sawoot – but I don’t have time for gratitude.

“Aelon willpayfor letting this happen,” I snarl, finding myself once again hating the man.

The hatred I feel for him is just a distraction from my own guilt, though. I know it, and it just makes the situation worse.Iwas responsible for my crew.Iwas responsible for Sawoot. I let myself be separated from her in my lust for those three aliens – no better than some dumb harem girl, instead of the captain I style myself as, who always makes sure her crew is safe.