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I wish Esthi would stop getting so close to the enemy. It’s driving me crazy. The risk assessments run frantically in my mind with every move and twitch of Lenarro’s augmented body.

“Sort of like being a high-tech Wrecktank, you know,” Esthi tells Lenarro. “Still got a meat processor behind those eyes. Can’t replace that.”

Lenarro jerks against Karambit’s grip, and it makes me put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze.

“Hurt her, and I will pull you apart piece by piece,” I growl.

“Won’t bother me,” Lenarro sneers.

Esthi rests a hand on my side, but it only mediates a pathetically small amount of the hatred I have for him and his CSP brethren.

“You think I don’t know how much agony that causes?

” I add. “We all know very well. Solcrue killed us. Every Titan has been through death, through being assembled and disassembled and tested on, then put through battle after battle, getting blown apart and put back together. We all know agony and how it’s inflicted. ”

“He looks like Myria,” Esthi mutters. “I’ve studied her. I can fix him.”

Lenarro stops fidgeting as if a switch has flipped. “Esthielle.”

She slides back a step.

“Privately,” Lenarro says low, darting his eyes at the human behind him.

Karambit disagrees.

Esthi nods. “Alright.”

“What? No.” I slide an arm around her and glare at Lenarro. “I don’t like it.”

“How about I lock them up while you figure out the plan,” Karambit remarks.

ArmorKarambit: Good idea. I don’t trust either of them.

KarambitArmor: Found them hiding in a cargo bay, loading up on weapons.

“Since this is a CSP vessel, put them in Titan cells. She can repair whatever she’s able to while he’s chained up,” I suggest.

“Gladly.” Mace turns Joey around and shoves him down the hallway so that he tumbles to the floor along the hallway lined with Brothers waiting for a task. They take turns knocking him around on the way to the holding cells.

“How many of our Brothers have you tortured and killed?” Catalyst challenges.

Joey spits at him.

Catalyst punches him in the face. “Keep that attitude up and see if you live to see daylight again.”

Joey tumbles backward and falls. Lenarro picks him up and hauls him into the Titan holding room on his own. It’s a strange behavior I can’t place. The only thing I can figure is that Lenarro is trying to keep Joey alive.

But why?

Mace and Karambit isolate Joey and Lenarro into individual cells, then lock them away in private rooms where not even Titan telepathic signals can pass through the walls.

When Lenarro is strapped in and laid back on the table for repairs, I permit Esthi inside the room. “I will be watching from right here.”

“How much time do I have?”

I wish I knew. “Pretend you have none. We need answers fast.”

She looks to where Lenarro lies, puffs out a breath, and walks inside. The door slides shut between us, and I can’t stand the separation. It tears at me in a way I can’t explain.

ArmorCSP Transport Local: Status, all.

My Brothers report their individual health stats and their positions on the vessel.

In under a second, I know them all and can read them in the translucent text over my view of Esthi as she digs through her bag for tools and parts.

She has a little of everything with her.

But that’s often what it takes for humans to survive in space.

She needs a battle uniform of some kind.

“I agree,” Karambit remarks. “Wild, looking at a Creator’s sister, knowing we have a tech with us who’s qualified for Titan repairs. It’s like having another medic, but better.”

“In what way?” I demand.

“Easy, Brother. I mean, I’ve sort of forgotten what the Creators were like. Smart but fragile. Tough emotionally, but vulnerable. And soft.” The way Karambit studies her makes me uncomfortable.

“She is mine . I have Bonded with her and mated with her.”

Mace punches my side, but it barely moves me. “Easy, brute. We know you got a hard-on for the little lady. Maybe just let us tag-team a little hands-on learning?”

“Definitely not.”

Karambit snorts. “I want my own female, Mace. If Esthi is Bonded, then I won’t disrespect that.”

I cross my arms. “She freed me before Leah sent the message.”

“So you’re not really Bonded?” Mace asks.

Sighing, I turn to Mace. “You Spike Out, you’ll kill her. And you...” I glare at Karambit. “One touch and you’ll rip her skin off. I am most suited to her needs in this war.”

“What about after? What if she has a boyfriend?” Mace asks.

“After a decade, I doubt it.” But I am concerned she’ll lose interest if we end the war. She won’t need me then.

Karambit pats me hard on the back. “We’re just teasing, you lugnut. She is a curious female. But every Brother knows she’s your claim. And by the way that she looks at you, she doesn’t want any of us other metalheads.”

As they leave to check on Joey, I watch Esthi with concern. Lenarro speaks to her with unusual ease. I wish I could hear what they’re saying. All I can do is watch for any sign of movement I don’t like and stand ready to rip his head off.

Too many Titans and females have been decommissioned since my last battle. I’m eager to catch up on my body count.