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“I believe what they did, they did for the good of the Empire. If they don’t lie – and if they turn themselves in, like you promised… Well, if they plead guilty, I’m allowed to havesomeleniency – especially because you’re their Fated Mate.”

He shakes his head.

“But they still kidnapped you, Natali.”

I swallow. My heart beats quicker.

The Lieutenant continues: “The public perception of the Aurelian race is changing. Humans are declaring independence from the Empire in greater numbers, and any diplomatic incident like this could be the reason for entire planets to cast off Aurelian Protection and become Independent. You know what happens to the poor on those planets.”

I hate that he’s right. Humans don’t have a great track record of taking care of their poorest and weakest members of society.

But he’s avoiding the question.

“How many years, Taggar?”

Now, the Lieutenant stares straight into my eyes.

“Three hundred is the minimum. Three hundred in a high-security, Bond-disrupted cell. They can’t be allowed to enjoy the fruits of their crime by experiencing your aura.”

Three hundred years.

It seems like an eternity, and it stretches out in front of me almost endlessly.

If I can’t think of something – and fast – then the last time I’ll see my triad for the next threecenturieswill be in court.

13

Lazar

The instant she messaged us and put the Bond-disrupter on, I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.

Natali told us she needs time to think, but I can taste the betrayal in her prolonged absence from my mind.

She was always on the fence – wavering between a future with or without us. I suppose she finally made her decision – and, in Natali’s defense, it’s the only decision that makes sense.

When she winked out of our minds, it felt like she’d died. The cold hand of terror had gripped my heart, squeezing and pulling, until I was about to rationalize that it was the Bond-disruptor that had robbed her from us.

With Natali testifying against us, we face a terrible dilemma. We can go and face justice – and be locked up with our honor intact. We can be sentenced as Aurelians of the Empire; and face brutal punishment in doing so.

Or, we could spend the rest of our lives on the run.

Otho paces the room.

“Why would she do such a thing! She must have been coerced!” His aura overflows with rage.

Brennan clenches his fists. “She didn’t sound coerced when she sent the message. There’s still a chance she’s not lying. There’s a chance that Natali truly just wants to make her decision without the Bond.”

His eyes narrow.

“However, I can’t believe she’d not take the disrupter off to message us by now; not unless she’s made her decision, and it’s one in which we’re not involved.”

He shakes his head.

“I was blinded by the Bond. We can’t pretend to understand the mind of a human woman, or how little they think of the long term.”

Guilt gnaws at my belly. I hold on to hope that Natali’s aura will wink back into my mind at any second, but I fear the others are right – that she’s chosen to betray us.

I knew this might happen, and I didn’t let my triad know of my suspicions. We should have spent more time with Natali before we let her go free. We should have let our union become more powerful, growing with each mating – until we were linked firmly.