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“She needs to make a decision without the Bond’s influence,” Otho finishes in a low rumble. His rage is calmed now.

I take a ragged breath.

Is it possible?

Logically, it feels like Natali would have only kept the Bond-disrupter on to sever ties with us permanently.

“But if that was true, she would give us a sign. She’d have communicated with us.”

Otho shakes his head.

“I’ve had faith in you two since the day we were first Bonded – back when we were killing Scorp and barely surviving. Now, I have that same faith in Natali. Wemustturn ourselves in. Wemustthrow ourselves at her feet. We must allow her tochooseus. Otherwise, we lose everything.”

Brennan’s mind flickers like quicksilver.

One moment earlier, he was ready to go Rogue.

The next, he’s gained a new confidence.

“Fuck. I’ve got a bad feeling about this – but if we turn Rogue, we know for a fact we’ll never see her again. If there’s even a chance…”

It feels thin. I saw the hesitation on Natali’s face. I felt her withdrawing from me, even when I was at my most vulnerable and open. I worried even then, deep in my heart, that she’d choose a future without us. Without the Bond to help us entice her, I fear Natali won’t want to be with us.

You’ve set me free.

She meant those words. They were not a lie.

If there’s even a chance…

…wehaveto take it.

Brennan pulls his smartwatch to his face. “Put out an open call – Aurelian Law Enforcement frequency.”

Within seconds, the holograph of an Aurelian Law Enforcement Lieutenant, in his signature light blue armor, is projected from his watch.

I recognize the man instantly – one of the officers with the highest arrest record in the agency. He’s particularly brutal in sentencing those who work against the Empire. If he learns of everything we’ve done, but knows we did it for the good of our Empire,maybewe have a chance.

“Brennan.” His voice is cold.

“Lieutenant Taggar. We wish to turn ourselves in.”

“For what crimes?”

Something feels off.

“You know bloody well what crimes,” spits out Brennan, the anger burning inside him. It’s not like him to lose control, but we’re all pushed to the limit. Making him spell out his crimes may be a way for Taggar to humiliate him.

“I need to hear it from your own mouth.”

I freeze.

Some instinct is telling me that there’s more to this.

“Wait,”I telepath to Brennan, before he can utter another word. I’m trying to buy us a second to think.“Tell him that we know Law Enforcement is after us, and we wish to come in for questioning.”

Brennan shoots me a glance of confusion.

The plan was to plead for mercy and hope for leniency – but plans change. Lieutenant Taggar wouldn’t need the power of the Bond to communicate this change with me – I could see it in his slate-grey eyes.