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“Lilac,” I sooth her, “it’s okay. The Aurelians won’t hurt us.”

She looks up at me with those big eyes. “Promise?"

I smile and nod. “See here? See this, in my right arm? If I press that, I can knock anyone out – even an Aurelian. And see this? In my left arm? This will disable their ship engines. No Aurelian will be taking us anywhere. I’ll protect you, Lilac – I promise. Okay?”

She nods, and the trust in her eyes breaks my hearts.

She was only seventeen when she was taken. Now she’s barely twenty – but she’s acting younger than the day she was taken. It’s as if her personality had been beaten down completely, reducing her to the mentality of a child.

I hold her tightly, singing softly to her, trying desperately to bring back the vibrant, powerful young woman I’d one known.

“It’s going to be okay, Lilac,” I promise her. “It’s going to be okay.”

Suddenly, the ship rocks, and fear grips my heart. That wasn’t the lurch of an engine firing. It was an evasive maneuver.

We’re under attack!

The poison of hope wells up inside me once again.

After everything I’d done to hurt that triad of loyal, devoted Aurelians,somethingtells me that they’re the ones causing this chaos.

Beyond the doors to this cargo hold, there’s a sudden, thunderous roar. I hear the sounds of battle rattling through the bulkheads.

The door smashes open.

Lilac clings to me as Daccia stands looming in the doorway. He’s drenched in blood. The rest of my triad stand behind him – wearing their battle-armor, and they fiercely look down at me.

“Allie! You’re safe!” Kitos looks at me with nothing but concern – as if I’d never betrayed him. He grabs me in his huge arms, and then looks down at Lilac, realizing it’s my sister.

When he holds me tight, I finally realize the truth.

Idoneed these men.

I’d told myself I didn’t – I’d convinced myself to run from them and betray them. I’d even come close to seeing them imprisoned or executed.

But Ineedthem.

It isn’t just about safety. It’s because I’d never felt so alone as when their auras had winked out of my mind, because of this infernal device I have strapped to my head.

While I’m wearing it, I don’t sense their auras, and I can’t feel the Bond…

But it isn’t the pain of losing that connect which makes me realize how I much I need them…

It’s the fact that right now – totally free and independent of the Bond – I still feel the same way about them. I still care for them and crave them. I still want them and yearn for their protection.

I stilllovethem.

And I feel that way independent of the Bond. It never made me feel what I did for them. I’d always felt this way. Even if we weren’t Bonded – even if I didn’t have this incredible connection to them – I’d still belong to these three, towering, gorgeous warriors.

I finally realize, deep in my heart, that the only way I’ll evertrulybe free is if I surrender to this. If I allow myself to love them without fear.

I thought I was running from them – when, in fact, I should have been running from my own self-doubts, insecurities, and pain.

Kitos gently runs his fingers through my hair, testing the helmet. “We’ll get this off soon enough, I promise – but it needs a med-bay or a doctor.”

Without the Bond clouding my judgement, I suddenly know how badly I want these three men in my life. I wish I’d been clear-headed enough to see that earlier, but after all I’d been through, it had felt like I could never trust another man again – let alonethreeof them!

But while Kitos holds me tenderly, Lilac is screaming – practically dragging herself away from them, as far she can.

“She’s traumatized,” I explain quickly. “Right now, we need to get her somewhere where she can’t see you, okay?”

Daccia nods. “Come with us.”