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Soft. Uncertain. The late General Asmod was right. A Mate weakens a man. My lips curl back, and saliva drips down my chin.

Footsteps, now. Triads leaving. Cowed by the General’s words. I’ve heard Ra’al bolster men before combat, leading them into unwinnable forays, the odds stacked against us. Every word chosen to impart his strength and courage. This is the opposite. His words are corrupting the morale, and even triads who had religious fervor are shaken.

“Threat risk lowered. They can enter. It’s your call.” The voice comes from the sniper. I know how I look. Bringing Lola to her transport, I went through the forest, and I’m covered in brambles and dirt. My robes are slick to my body. In the entrance hall, when the young triad challenged us, my muscles tensed and I sweated like a beast.

“You put your blades down, I grant you audience,” says the guard. Bolden’s aura fills with rage at the thought of being disarmed, but I send the order through the Bond, slowly reaching to my hilt, not making any sudden movements, taking my blade from my belt and putting it on the ground. The Orb in the unactivated hilt glows, as if angry to be on the ground.

“Enter then.”

Bolden growls and steps forward, kicking the door open in his fury, and we march into the grand hall. There are still triads standing in order, the stink of uncertainty thick in my nostrils.

“We’ll do it.” My voice is cold and certain, though the sickly green venomous rage is burning through my veins. The General’s eyes widen in surprise. He’s been changed. His eyes are no longer slate-grey, but burning blue from finding his Bonded Mate, something we will never have. The hum of Orb-Blades fills the room. An eager Aurelian has drawn and strides towards me, ready to cut me down before I get close to the general.

“Sheathe your swords!” Ra’al booms out the order, as he sees us unarmed, the hidden snipers pointed straight at us. I can see the barrel of a gun pointed at my temple from an alcove above. His eyes glance down to my boot. He knows I keep a second dagger there, and he’s on guard despite my lack of an Orb-Blade.

“We’re dead men anyways, General Ra’al. We deserted our post. We kidnapped Lola. We’re done running from our destiny. Let us die for a purpose.”

I say the only words I can for the General to give me one last chance to make my death meaningful, even if my life could not be. I’m filled with religious fervor. The emptiness is gone. I thought that Lola was my salvation, but we were hers. We reunited her with her last remaining family member. We gave her what happiness we could, using ourselves for that purpose.

Now it is done, and there is only one thing left. To fulfill the prophecies. This is what the Priests meant when they told us we would be a great blow into the heart of the Aurelian Empire. We are made to use our bodies to destroy them.

“The woman! Where is she!” Ra’al booms it out, striding forward, drawing his blade so quick he’s a blur, but I’m faster. I could grab his arm and stop him, but I fear nothing except dying here in this room instead of in battle as I’m meant to. His Orb-Blade is at my throat in a second. My lips curl up in a smile as I anticipate the blade shearing my throat, the way my blood would rush out. Nothing scares me anymore. I am immortal, until I let myself be consumed by destiny.

“Stay back,”I telepath to my battle-brothers. Both are being consumed by green rage, but they will not jeopardize our final chance to make our death meaningful.

“She’s safe, in Ridgetown. Let us erase our memories, General Ra’al. Let us erase it all.”

I smile at that. Knowing that Lola is safe and sound with her father. Knowing that because of us, she wasn’t killed when the Scorp attacked, that she’ll have her decades of life in happiness, instead of emptiness. I’m grinning like a madman, despite the blade at my throat. Even if I’m cut down here, even if my death is meaningless, I was wrong.

My life did have meaning.

I gave it for her.

His cold blue eyes stare into mine as his blade hums, hungry for my blood.

Then he deactivates it. “Clear the throne room!”

Men file out. It’s empty. Just us and the General’s triad. Snipers leave their posts.

He pauses, long moments, looking me up and down. I remember our hundreds of years fighting by his side.

“Report to the hangar bay.”

My smile widens. It must look like the grinning of a corpse.

“Thank you, Ra’al.”

To my shock, he hugs me. I’ve never seen the brutal General show any emotion like this, but I hug him back, the hug of brothers who know they will never see each other again.

29

LOLA

“The General’s gone mad. Trusting this mission to those Scorp-Blooded freaks?”

The older Aurelian slaps the younger so hard his head jerks to the side. He reaches for his blade, but stops, licking his lips, gauging his competition, his eyes going down to the black mark of the honor on the older alien’s chest.

“Those three were killing when you were in Academy, boy. They’re trading their lives. You will not speak ill of them.”