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“Trapped? What do you mean trapped?”

Theme’s eyes flash. “Trapped because I can controleverydoor on this ship. I’ll open all the ones between us and the loading bay—andlockall the others.”

Tasha whistlers slowly. I’m just as impressed. I knew Theme was good with computers, but he’s talking about neutralizing an entire battalion of Aurelian soldiers.

I nudge Tasha. “If we want a quicker option, we can just steal the access cards for a Reaver from one of the Aurelians, so Theme won’t have to hack into its systems. That’ll cut the escape time by twenty minutes.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Perhaps you can…ahem…distractAelon and steal a set?”

I saw the way she was looking at Aelon. There was more than just hate in her eyes. She aches for the alien captain, and he wants her just as bad.

“There’ll be no distracting ofanyone,” she responds, a little too curt.

So. I hit a nerve.

I’d been wondering what happened in the cell when they were alone together. She said I was a negotiating chip, but I wonder if she used anything…else to negotiate.

Theme’s cheeks go bright red. I almost feel bad for my crude tongue. He slowly raises his hand. It’s shaking, and I cringe inwardly at the poor boy. I can’t believe he’s twenty.

Tasha rolls her eyes. “You don’t need to raise your hand, Theme.”

“Well…Ineeda distraction, if I’m going to get into the systems,” he confesses. “I know this ship. I’ve studied the blueprints. I’ve got a…ahobbyfor old warships, especially ones that were in the great wars between the Toads and Aurelians.”

“This ship isthatold?” Tasha’s incredulous, but Theme nods enthusiastically.

No wonder the tea packets were dust. I thank the Gods that the Planet-Killers from that horrible war were banned. I thank the Gods that the major species haven’t plunged into war again…

But my skin crawls as I remember Garrick and his triad’s words. They are preparing for war. They’re building up a well-defended space station, and they’re going to pump out weapons and armor for the coming chaos.

I can’t think of that right now. All we can do is get off this ship alive.

“You’ve got to get to the control room to access the controls, right? Which is going to be tough—what with those three lunks outside.” Tasha grimaces, looking at the doors, knowing that Garrick and his triad are standing between us and freedom.

Me? I like knowing the three of them are on the other side of the door. Tasha thinks they’re assholes like the rest of the Aurelians, and she’s dead wrong.

These three havesomeredeeming qualities.

I give Tasha a scowl, not liking the way she lumps them in with the rest of Aelon’s crew. “Hey—they saved my life, or at least my ass. Don’t diss them.” The thought crosses my mind. “Ooh, now that I think about it, Garrick probably has a set of access cards for a Reaver.”

The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them.

That would be the one reason I could let myself succumb to my desires. Justifying it as the only way we’re getting off this ship alone. I’m desperately attracted to them…but I know I can’t let go. Unless it can get the three of us out of here safe.

Tasha shakes her head, world weary. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult them. I’m just under a lot of stress.”

We both turn to her, and I’m suspicious—and glad for a distraction from Garrick. Is there something she hasn’t told us?

“I warned Aelon about the Toad attack,” she explains. “Thecaptainsaid hewantsthe Toads to come. He’s known about it all along. He’s set up a trap for them—anti-air batteries in the mining camps.”

Fuck.

I knew Aelon was a bloodthirsty bastard. I knew he hated Toads.

I didn’t think he was cold-blooded enough to use mining camps as bait to lure them in just for a chance to kill them.

I nod at Tasha. “Hmm. If the Toads aren’t expecting anti-air, they’ll be massacred. They’ll think they’re going to rip their way through hundreds of innocent miners, and instead they’re going to have themselves a new asshole ripped open.”

“Hundreds of new assholes,” Theme clarifies. “Aurelian anti-air batteries can fire 1,500 rounds a minute—50mm depleted radium rounds with iron-filament casings.”

Our AI systems on theWayward Scythewent crazy when they locked in theInstigator’sbatteries on us. Now there’s a whole new set of weapons on Tarrion. The Toads won’t know what hit them.