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Lieutenant Taggar stands and addresses us.

“Brennan. Lazar. Otho. You three have been working for the Aurelian Empire your entire lives. You served your hundred years of service with accolades for bravery and ingenuity in battle.”

For all the evil I’ve done, no one can take that away from me. No one can take the Scorp I’ve killed from me – or the lives I’d spared; that the Scorp would have claimed otherwise.

Those achievements are my legacy.

Taggar continues:

“You then took a private mission for Queen Jasmine herself – to secure Orb Mining rights for the Aurelian Empire.”

I stare down Lieutenant Taggar. “That mission is between us and the Queen.”

The officer shakes his head.

“When you broke the laws to achieve your goal, that became between you andme.”

I clench my fists. What right does this man have to judge me? Can’t he see the future clearly? That the universe will be plunged into war?

I know it – just like any man with two eyes and the senses to know what he sees with them.

The victor will be whoever controls the Orbs.

I take a ragged breath.

Lieutenant Taggar’s words suggest we’re not just going to face kidnapping charges – although that alone could bury us.

No. The Lieutenant’s going to go after the extensive history of wrongdoing attributed to us – to all the dark things we’ve done in the shadows. They’ll all come back to haunt us.

I sit with my back straight.

I’ll go to the executioner without fear.

15

Natali

Ilook through the one-way mirror into the courtroom. I have a birds-eye view from this small viewing room. Three Aurelian guards are crammed in here with me – and I wish they’d stop looking at me with such veneration.

They all know I’m a Fated Mate, and they treat me like some kind of…alien.

My stomach churns as I look down and see my triad enter the courtroom. This might be the last time I ever see them again.

I begged to be allowed into the courtroom itself, but Lieutenant Taggar told me that there was no chance of it. I’d tried to convince him in every way I could that the Aurelians should be freed – even down to lying through my teeth.

Through it all, though, Taggar had shaken his head; unbelieving.

If only I hadn’t put the Bond Disrupter on! If only I’d been able to speak to the Aurelians – so we could find a way out of this together. If only Lazar’s big brain could have found a solution to this whole damned thing.

Lieutenant Taggar will make the decision whether the letter, or thespiritof the law will triumph.

I’m just glad the Aurelians kidnapped me. Whatever happens next, I’m just thankful they showed me the things I’m capable of – that they let melivefor the first time in my life.

You’ve set me free.

But what did Brennan do in the name of his Empire? Before this?

Does hedeserveto be locked behind bars?