Page 121

26

Allie

Iwish I could be mad at my sister, but I can’t.

She panicked, in the heat of the moment.

I curse myself for telling her about the device hidden in my arm. She’d been hyperventilating, frantic with panic, and when she’d been dragged onto this Aurelian vessel, she’d done the only thing she could think of.

She’d grabbed my arm, and she’d pressed my hidden shift-blocking device.

Gods! It's like poor Lilac has regressed to the mentality of a child. Whatever Torelli did to her broke her, and left her frantic and nearly mindless with fear.

Even as Law Enforcement drag Daccia, Kitos, and Hadrian away, I cling to Lilac so tightly, squeezing her tight in my arms.

I willneverlet her go.

“It's okay,” I promise her, stroking her hair. “It’s okay."

I say it over and over again…

…but it’s not okay.

My own life isfucked.

I’d only just realized that I trulywantedto be with the Aurelians, especially after they’d saved my little sister…

…and now this.

There is nothing I can do now.

Daccia, Kitos and Hadrian are going to be executed for what they’ve “done” to me, and for stealing an Aurelian Reaver. Two crimes punishable by death.

My only chance will be to plead for mercy for my triad – but even if I do, will they accept it?

The three Aurelians musthateme. They must view me as the worst kind of person in the universe. I’d betrayed them once already, and then they saved my life regardless –andthe life of my little sister…

…only to be left thinking I’d betrayed them once again.

I claw at the helmet on my head, trying desperately to wrench it off – to bring their auras back into my mind…

…but I can’t. Whatever Torelli used to attach it, it means it’s stuck there.

“Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll get that Bond-disrupter off of you when…”

It’s an Aurelian Law Enforcement officer speaking – smiling gently, foolishly believing that he’drescuedus.

However, the Aurelian stops talking the moment Lilac starts screaming and crying again.

My survival instincts take over. My grief and sorry get crushed down, and I just try to do what I must to keep my sister and I safe.

I gently motion the officer away. My sister can’t even benearan Aurelian.

As she sobs and wails, I hold her tightly, hating the panic in her eyes. The Aurelians sense her distress, and they lead her into one of the prisoner cells on their Reaver – then tell the rest of the Aurelian Law Enforcement agents to stay far away from us.

I stay with Lilac in the cell, and after an hour without sight of an Aurelian, she finally stops crying. She falls asleep in my arms, and I hug her tightly – squeezing her, thanking the Gods that my sister is alive, even if finding her tookeverythingfrom me.

Over the course of the next couple of days, I sense us Orb-Shift twice. Even though I can’t see anything of where we are – not in this windowless cell – I know we’re descending down on Colossus.