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I held up my hand, to reassure them that I hadn’t done anything to harm Allie.

“I restored her weapons.”

Hadrian grunts. “Are you out of your fucking mind? She’s used them against us once already. She’ll do it again, you know.”

“That’s a risk I accept. If she uses those weapons against us, we’ve got bigger problems than a broken Orb-Drive, or a 600-volt shock. It means our own mate rejected us.”

My battle-brothers stare up at me, and I feel the concern through the Bond as they face that grim reality.

“Allie needs to accept us on her own terms,” I warn them. “Not through coercion or captivity. If she uses those weapons on us? Then we deserve it. We’ve lost her forever.”

Kitos shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He hates that I’m right.

“It’s true, Hadrian,” Kitos turns to his battle-brother. “We need to give her those weapons back – so she feels safe on her own, even from us. Allie can’t think we’re trying to manipulate her into taking our protection. We need her totrustus.”

“Trust us?” Hadrian shakes his head. “Trust us? Are you kidding me? We can’t fucking trusther!We need to keep her locked up until we get somewhere safe.Therewe can explain her future to her – andmakeher understand what’s going to happen to her with us.”

Hadrian growls the words out, but I can sense he doesn’t quite believe them. He’s tense, and he has the same fear gnawing in his belly as the fear gnawing in mine:

The fear of losing our Fated Mate.

“Besides, we’ve got more pressing problems,” I try to divert the argument. Looking up, I bark: “AI – how long until we arrive on Salcus?”

“Twenty standard hours until atmosphere,” responds the smooth, emotionless voice of the ship’s computer.

Twenty hours.

Just twenty standard hours to plan an operation that will determine then rest of our lives.

This is supposed to be standard prisoner transfer – taking custody of two suspects from another triad of Aurelian Law Enforcement agents.

Aurelian Law Enforcement agents with a fully functioning Reaver.

With a functional Orb-Drive, we could go anywhere – even far, far away from the reaches of the Aurelian Empire.

And if we fail? What’s theft on top of one of the worst atrocities in the criminal code?

The Empire can only execute us once.

“Kitos,” I demand, “what do you we about the triad we’re meeting?”

“I took the liberty of researching them while you spoke with Allie,” Kitos nods. “They’re new recruits – led by a lad named Dantus. He’s fresh out of his hundred years of service, as are his two battle-brothers. Picking up these smugglers is only their second assignment.” Kitos’ eyes narrow. “He’s a smart young lad, though – and his triad is brave and loyal.”

“AI – bring them up on screen.”

The AI projects a hologram of the three young agents. I remember when I was just like them – eager, fresh-faced and inexperienced. I remember the thrill of my first arrest.

I remember, too, when life was divided into good and evil. Black and white. I remember when duty to the Aurelian Empire mattered more than anything else.

These young agents are still in the flush of youth. On the one hand, they’ll be unequivocal about the rule of law. If they find out what we’ve done, they’ll give their lives in an attempt to bring us to justice.

On the other hand – if we’re successful, and we steal their Reaver and escape, they won’t be judged too harshly for being hoodwinked by more senior agents. What is that Old-Earth expression?

Good judgement comes from experience – but experience? That comes from bad judgement.

“Okay, here’s the plan.”

Kitos and Hadrian look up at me. Dissent and frustration are suddenly gone from their faces. They’ve heard me say those three words before, and it’s always meant the same thing – order in the face chaos. Hope, in the face of despair.