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If I’m going to beat these Aurelians, I need to know their motivations – theirtruemotivations...

…but what happens if I make them snap?

That thought makes me slink deeper into the sleeping bag. No matter how far they’ve gone, these three lust-fueled aliens have always stopped short oftakingme – even though it’s been clear they’ve been balanced on the brink.

They haven’t succumbed to the mating rage – though they were balanced on the knife-edge. I’m almost disappointed…

…I still remember how it felt to be handcuffed in the bed, with Otho’s fingers trailing down my spine...

…but then, my eyes widen.

That’s it!

If Brennan is right – if these three are still loyal to the Empire, and willing tobendthe rules, but not overtlybreakthem…

…could they still keep me captive if theytookme?

If I can get these three Aurelians to snap – to do the unthinkable…

Gods, what a thought…

….wouldn’t they have to let me free?

After breaking one of the most fundamental rules of their Empire, they’dhaveto.

I’ve read enough to know how seriously the Aurelians take this kind of thing. There was another triad – part of Aurelian Law Enforcement, who’d famously succumbed to their urges when they’d realized that the human prisoner they were transporting was their Fated Mate.

Judgement had been swift – and while that triad escaped the Kill List, they were still exiled from the Empire – forced to become Rogue Aurelians.

I shudder.

What if my plan backfires? What if I do the reckless – the irresponsible and desperate – and make these Aurelians snap…

…but in doing so, push them into going Rogue – giving them no reason not to take me as their slave?

But the worst part? The most shameful part?

That part of mewantsto make them lose control – escape or exile be damned. Some dark part of me wants their desire – theirneedfor me – to overwhelm everything they stand for.

I remember the words fromOn Aurelians– words I’ve read and re-read countless times.

“The Bond also has purported psychological effects. While there is less evidence, it is believed that the Bond draws out the deepest desires of the affected party, especially any urges to reproduce.”

That line makes me wince, and tingle.

Deepest desires? What are the desires lurking deepest in my mind? I fear I know – and I fear the Aurelians are pulling these desires out of me.

Suddenly, a gunshot cracks out.

A scream leaves my mouth, and I pull myself from the sleeping bag, leaping to my feet…

…where I promptly fall, losing my balance in the chaos.

“Stay here!”

It’s Brennan – yelling his orders at me as he builds up to a full sprint. He barrels up the metal stairs, and suddenly I’m left alone.

What does it mean?