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Marcel was cocky, until he realized I was his Fated Mate. At first, when he met me, he was arrogance personified – but as he tasted my scent, he lost that edge.

Through his aura, I’d learned how he feels a deep shame and sadness that he can’t keep me safe.

But I don’t want that frightened man. I want to bring back the towering Aurelian who cut the head off a Toad for daring to grope me, the first time I ever saw him.

I want to bring back the man that gave me butterflies in my stomach as I stared at him. The man I should have hated, but felt so instinctively drawn to.

I want to get to Atlantis – their retreat – and be far away from this disgusting Toad mothership.

Then, a word that Oblog said buries itself in my mind.

Obsidian.

What does it mean? He mentioned it in passing – speaking of the shipment he was demanding the Aurelians make for him.

But what do the Toads want with the Aurelian Priesthood? And what did they mean by ‘empty,’ and ‘kill?’

I know the universe is at the brink of war – but all I care about is being with my triad.

These games of the great and powerful throw us mere mortals around like branches in a whirlpool, disrupting our lives. Right now, I should have been on planet X12, tending to a little farm, sinking into obscurity…

…instead, I’m at the center of a conspiracy that could set the universe at war. Toads and Priests, conspiring together – where will it lead?

“I’m so tired,” I say slowly, and Tessa nods.

“It’s been a long, long day. I haven’t slept since… Well, since we were with the Aurelians.”

Tessa’s been through a lot. The first moment I met her, she was about to be raped – and things have gone downhill from there. It’s been one life-or-death moment after another, as Tessa is used as a pawn in Lord Oblog’s foul game of interstellar chess.

But what is that Toad Lord up to?

Kill. He said Kill.

“Two more gabnur wazni glub then kill all glem.”

Two more what? Two more what before they kill us all?

There’s something bigger than me going on here – something ominous between the Toad Finger, second only to the Toad King himself, and the separatist force of the Aurelians.

And, whatever it is, Lord Oblog isn’t going to leave evidence.

Maybe when he saidtwo,he meant two more shipments. It’s a leap, but my mind is rushing to conclusions, sharp and jumping.

Two more shipments - then he’s going to kill us, and hide the evidence of whatever’s going on between the Priesthood and the Toads. I’m putting this theory together from shards that shouldn’t make sense, I know, but my instincts have reached a new level – and Ling’s training has made my mind like a computer.

I know I’m onto something.

But I’m also exhausted. I pull myself into the big bed, right next to Tessa.

“I miss them,” she says, as she lies next to me.

I don’t need to ask her to clarify. She’s talking about the Aurelians.

Whatever you say about my triad, they have a comforting, protective presence. You feel so safe and small when you’re surrounded by them. Who wouldn’t?

I remember how I’d felt during the mating frenzy. I’d been so helpless, so vulnerable, and so utterly claimed by them – but even in front of a jeering crowd of Toads and Bullfrogs, I’d never felt safer than when they were inside of me; their huge bodies pressing against me as the three Aurelians took me, one after the other.

That was just hours earlier – but I ache for them again, already.