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I looked around desperately. The cell is drab, even by the standards of Aurelian warships, which are notoriously spartan. Aside from the bed, there's also a little toilet in the corner – but no window. No way to gaze out into the vastness of space. If it wasn’t for the lurching feeling in my stomach – as we leave the gravitational pull of the planet below – I wouldn’t know whether we were on the ground, adrift in space, or orbiting a different world entirely.

But that’s part of the reason for this punishment brig. It’s deliberately designed like this. In fact, I know there's also a slightly more comfortable room for prisoners on this ship – to gently encourage good behavior

No such comfort for me. For trying to escape, I'll be relegated to this horrible little cell for most of the entire trip back to Colossus – unless I can think of something.

All I know is that Colossus is at least two days away, even by Orb-Shift. This Reaver is an attack ship, which is capable of only short interstellar jumps. Larger ships could do the trip in one single jump – but the Reaver will take at least three, with course correction between each one.

However, without an Orb-Drive, it would take at least twenty-five days to reach Colossus, relying on standard space-faring drive.

A chill suddenly goes through my body. I’m getting an idea…

Firstly – we’ve all heard about Orb-Shifting being...unreliablelately. It’s almost as if those eerie, glowing, blue-black balls of otherworldly energy have consciousness of their own; and they’re getting riled up lately.

Secondly, sometimes you can reliablyencouragethings to be unreliable, if you catch my drift.

Yes, this is definitely the beginning of a plan – and, luckily, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve to implement it.

All I need is time. Just imagine – with twenty-five days, rather than just two, I could have these three powerful warriors eating from my hand. I know I could. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how to manipulate men – even towering, dominant, alien men.

And that’s all they are, really, isn’t it? Aurelians are just huge men – and men always think with their cocks. When the blood rushes between their legs, it leaves none left for them to use in their brains.

I lick my lips – shivering in anticipation.

There’s more to my plan than mere survival. It would also give me a sense of triumph to seduce these three Aurelians, the way I did the previous triad. It would prove to me that the first time wasn’t a fluke – that for all their muscles, and weapons, and haughty demeanor, I can still prove myself more powerful than them.

And there’d be other fringe benefits, I’ll admit. As much as I’m ashamed to admit it, I'veachedfor their species ever since I spent those weeks in the harem. Now I’ve lost everything, there’s no point in trying to deny my desire for these powerful aliens. No human man could ever compete with the feeling of ultimate surrender you experience when you havethreepowerful, dominant warriors that want to ravish and seed you.

And as much as I try to pretend it isn’t true – that Aurelians are all cold-hearted, callous bastards – there’s a dignity and honor to them. Those three who accepted me into their harem weren’t Bonded with me – I wasn’t their fabled ‘Fated Mate’ – and yet they still cared for and protected me.

In fact, the only regret I have in everything that occurred – more so than it sending me on the run from Law Enforcement - is that I ruined the lives of those three Elites. The Aurelians were prominent members of Imperial society, and they were left disgraced after it was revealed that I’d deceived them.

This time, at least, I’ll feel no such guilt at doing the same to the three Aurelian Law Enforcement agents who just snatched me from Spur’s joint. They should at least know better. I infiltrated that harem – I deceived those three Elites. These Law Enforcement officers? They know who I am, they know what I’m capable of, and they’re fully aware that their culture takes a hard line against any misconduct towards female prisoners.

If they slip up – as I fully intend to coax them into doing - it’ll be their own damn fault.

Suddenly, the door hisses open.

Kitos stands there, framed in the doorway again – practically filling it.

For a second, I think my plan might come to fruition more quickly and easily than even I could have anticipated. I half-expect him to lumber in here and just rip my clothes off – pressing me against the bed andtakingme…

…but then I see that, instead of the panting, hungry lust he showed before, Kitos is now back and fully in control of his emotions and libido. His jaw is set and his eyes are stern.

“Be warned – Iknowyour games, vixen.”

For a second I shiver. I know Aurelians possess the power of telepathic communication – between their Bonded battle-brothers at least – but Kitos’ sudden arrival and threatening words make me wonder for a moment if he could read my mind. Could hehearwhat I’d been silently plotting?

No… No, that’s ridiculous.

Even so, Kitos is keeping his distance from me – as if I’m a dangerous animal, and not a human female less than half the size he is.

For a second, I’m tempted to step forward and tease his body again…

…but, in truth, I’m intimidated by his cold, gruff words.

Kitos continues: “This isourship. On our ship, you listen to my rules and my commands. You obeyme, and my battle-brothers. We’re taking you back to Colossus. There, you’ll face justice. The letter of the law carries higher authority than the Gods on this ship – understand me?”

His cold, slate-grey eyes burn into me.