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I’ll do whatever it takes – even if that means enjoying their bodies and their desires while we’re en route to wherever we are going…

Where the hellarewe going?

“Are you taking me back to Colossus?’

Daccia shakes his head. “No. We’re going to a nearby planet. Salcus. There, we’ll get our Orb-Drive repaired.”

Salcus. We’re still not in Aurelian territory. If it’s like any planet I’ve been on that’s not administrated by the Aurelian Empire, it’ll be a hotbed of crime, slavery, and debauchery.

Exactly the sort of place to get rid of some pesky Aurelians.

“But it’ll take weeks to fix the ship. Wouldn’t it be faster to just standard travel back to Colossus?”

Daccia shrugs. “Yes – but we’ve been tasked to pick up more prisoners along the way.”

I feel a sudden flutter of anxiety through the Bond.

Daccia looks up at me – and although his face is a hardened mask, I can feel him pondering the wisdom of what he’s going to say to me next.

“At least, that’s what our Inspectorthinkswe’re going to do.”

Daccia leans towards me. “Allie… Can I trust you?”

I keep my face straight – and my emotions straighter. When you’re dealing with someone who canfeelwhat you’re feeling, betraying surprise – even internally – is a rookie mistake.

But the reason I need to hide my smile is because this is sounding fuckingperfect. If the Aurelians are picking up additional prisoners, it’ll mean more Aurelian Law Enforcement officers on the scene. I just need to get one of those officers alerted – and then Daccia, Kitos, and Hadrian will be ones captured and hogtied; and I’ll finally be free.

Free!

Free from the triad forever. If those three gorgeous bastards are trapped serving a lifetime in maximum security on Colossus, they can’t follow me.

A pang of guilt hits me. Itryto be callous in this cruel universe, but some remnants of weakness still remain inside me. I know I need to burn such compassion from my mind. This is about survival right now, and nothing else.

Ican’tlet Daccia feel my guilt through the Bond, or he’ll get wise to my scheme.

I still don’t know the ins and outs of the Bond – how it works exactly. Daccia at least has the advantage of learning about this near-mythical connection from a young age. All of this is so much more real to him – he already lives part of it. For example, rumors have always existed that Aurelians can communicate telepathically with the other members of their triad – and now I know that rumor is vividly true.

I look at Daccia, and feel cold-blooded as I murmur: “You can trust me, Daccia. Can I trust you?”

“Yes,”he answers, but his lips don’t move.

Hewilledhis thoughts into my mind. A wave of surprise hits me. I need to learn this skill.

Good.

Good.

“Good.”My eyes widen as I can feel myself transmitting the thought.

“You got the hang of that quickly.”

I snort: “I’m a quick learner – and the one thing that I’ve learned the most in this life is not to trust men.”

Daccia shakes his head. “We’re not like the pirates who stole your sister, Allie. We aren’t like your former employers who sold your body. You don't understand us. You are ourpurposein this life. You – our Fated Mate – are the only reason Kitos, Hadrian and I exist."

I shiver. Now,that'sa lot for a girl to handle. Another pang of guilt hits me.

Daccia detects my emotion – but misreads its source.