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“I have some readings to do tonight.”

“Yes,” my father nods, paying no attention. “Yes, of course.”

He doesn’t hear my words. He doesn’t even say: “You need to eat,” like he normally would. He’s lost in thought, presumably mulling over the deal he just turned down.

My father won’t sell. It’s my instinct that tells me that. He’s stressed and anxious – but he’s determined. Like a pack mule, once my father starts on a journey, he never stops. He just keeps plodding forward no matter what, until he finally gets in his way.

As frustrating as it can be, that’s what I’ve always respected most about him. I hope I get that trait from him. I don’t want to give up on my dreams, either – even if they conflict with his.

I excuse myself from the table, and walk back up the stairs to my bedroom. It makes me remember the last time I’d climbed these stairs – that heart-pounding rush upstairs when the leader of the Aurelians had caught me staring at him.

Flushed and trembling, I enter my bedroom and change into my light sleeping dress.

As I look in the mirror, a strange sadness creeps over me.

I don’t want to give up on my dreams.

But whataremy dreams? What do Ireallywant from life?

I don’t know.

But I know you can’t find it cooped up behind walls.

4

Brennan

Otho runs his hand through his short mohawk, pacing the room. I can feel through his aura that his scar is aching.

“If we do this,” my battle-brother warns, “there’s no going back.”

His voice is dark as he strides the length of the penthouse we’ve rented for our stay on Marn. One wall is made of reinforced glass - spanning the full length of the living room and revealing the faint, glittering lights of the city below.

Even at night, this place is a jungle – just like many of the other independent planets of the universe. The human worlds that owe allegiance to neither the Human Alliance or the Aurelian Empire embrace all manner of debaucheries forbidden by both; and become wild, lawless places as a result.

Kidnapping. Murder. Prostitution. Slavery.

Lives and fortunes are won and lost in the dark streets far below.

One such life and fortune is being gambled on right now, in this very penthouse.

I turn to my battle-brothers.

“We have our mission. Investigate and secure Orb-Material for the Empire.”

I say it like I mean it – my appeal to logic.

Inside, though, I’m torn. I can avoid betraying my emotions in my facial expressions and tone of voice, but I can’t keep it from my aura – the telepathic link I share with Otho and Lazar.

There’s no poker face with the Bond – no lies, or deceit. Otho and Lazar have known my true emotions since the day our Bond was forged in battle.

He has a daughter.

That changes things.

When I saw Carani’s daughter, everything stopped. I mean, maybe time kept ticking for everybody else. Maybe my heart kept beating in my chest – but it didn’t feel like it. My mind stayed still – my thoughts washed away. I went blank when I saw her.

It wasn’t just her beauty. It wasn’t just the spark of intelligence in the girl’s eyes. It was a deep, primal reaction. When I caught her scent, filling my lungs, it triggered something deep and instinctual in the base of my spine, down in the very core of my being.