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If I’m going to survive, I'm going to need to steal from these Aurelians.

"How are you going to live after your salary is cut off?” I ask, blocking the guilt of my scheming from my aura. “Once Law Enforcement learn what you’ve done, won’t they freeze your accounts?"

Kitos gets a shrewd look in his eyes. “Good question,” he nods. “We’ll liquidate our assets before they do. We’ve decided to pool almost all of our funds into purchasing two small Orbs."

Gods!

Orbs. The mysterious, otherworldly material that powers so much of the miraculous technology of the Aurelian Empire.

The three, small Orbs-Shards that power the Orb-Weapons of this triad are already worth far more than I could probably make from a lifetime stripping. The much larger one that powers this Reaver is probably worth as much as the entire hotel we'll be staying in.

…and the thing about Orbs is that they're small enough for me to steal.

It's suddenly so clear to me. The second I get one of these Aurelians alone with me, I have to make my move. I’ll stun whichever one of them it is with the electro-shock device in my arm. Then, I’ll slit his throat with...

…oh Gods!

I can't.

As cold and callous as Ineedmyself to be, I can't dothat!

I could probably be capable of murder if it was my life or theirs… Or if it was somebody who truly deserved it – like one of the men who kidnapped my sister.

But to kill somebody in cold blood? Especially one of the men sworn to protect me?

I could turn them into the Aurelian Law Enforcement – which almost certainly guarantees their execution – but I couldn't possibly be the one toactuallywield the blade.

I look down. My guilt is pouring through the Bond.

Kitos gently strokes my cheek. "You aren't to blame. We're going to do everything in our power to find your sister – and, if it comes to it, to get revenge. Lilacwillhave justice, Allie. She won’t be just another statistic – another faceless name in a database of missing persons."

Gods. He thinks I'm guilty about what happened to my sister!

That suddenly makes me question everything I think I know about myself.

Am I doing this because I need to be a strong woman?

…or am I justevil?

I shake my head. I can't let myself be fazed. Kitos might be acting kindly – but kindness is only ever shared for its own selfish reasons.

Kitosneedsto do everything in his power to keep me reliant on him. If he can't make me choose to remain with the three of them by choice, he and his battle-brothers will need totrickme – manipulate me into thinking that they’re the key to finding my sister.

The Bond is everything to these men. The future of their fucking species depends on menotleaving them...

…and that’s why I must.

Inwardly, I feel so ashamed that I've let myself and my emotions be manipulated this way.

But Iwillbe free of these three men.