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Then I realize I called them “my triad” in my head.

I’d finally accepted them asmine.

But I wonder if they could ever see me in that way again.

Charles shakes his head.

“I’m sorry, but that’snotgoing to happen. You’re thevictimin this case. Daccia, Kitos, and Hadrian aren’t going to be allowed to see you again – not until you’re watching them in the arena of the Gods as judgement is passed. Their headswillroll, I promise you that.”

My stomach twists and turns as I imagine Kitos head lying severed on the blood-soaked sands of the Arena of the Gods – a brutal place where Aurelians pass judgement upon the perpetrators of the most severe crimes, and matters of honor are resolved with brutal battles; live feeds from which are broadcast all across the universe.

“When is the trial?”

“Tomorrow,” Charles states coldly. “Queen Jasmine is going to send a message by punishing these rapists. Human and Aurelian relations have been going the right way ever since she took the throne, over two-hundred years ago – but allowing these three Aurelians to get off easy would send the wrong message to every Aurelian who disagrees with her policies.”

Oh, Gods – politics will be the death of my beloved trio.

“Rest assured – justice will be swift for those three. Now, please - follow me. I’ll take you to the hospital. We have the best doctor in the city awaiting you for removal of the Bond-disruptor.”

I nod mutely - reluctantly following him out of the landing bay and into the bright sunlight of the Aurelian home world.

I’m already grieving. I can’tfeelthe auras of the three men who care so deeply for me – and that makes this all so much worse. I can’t even explain to them what happened.

They must think that I orchestrated this betrayal. They must be living with such a hatred for me at this very moment. They must be cursing the day they’d ever Bonded with me.

If only I could convince Queen Jasmine not to execute them.

Charles’ words suddenly echo in my mind. My triad is going to be made an example of...

I feel like I’m walking in a trance as Charles helps me into a shuttle. We fly straight to one of Colossus’ premiere hospitals. I try to stay alert as we travel there, but I’m justdazed.

We arrive, and the hospital is spotlessly clean and sterile – typical of the high standards of Aurelian society.

There, an Aurelian doctor explains how the helmet was affixed into my skull. Torelli placed it there through a crude operation. It will need actuallysurgeryto remove.

That should have been a horrific thought – but in truth I barely register his words. All I can think about is the image of my beloved triad, each having their heads cut off one-by-one in front of a baying crowd of thousands.

I’m sedated in a medical chair, just like the one on the Reaver, while the huge, Aurelian doctor looks down at me with implacable eyes.

I feel the sting of sedation, and I let myself fall into the abyss before the surgery begins.

As long as my triad is there – in my head, when I wake up – everything will be better.