Page 12

A rumble wakes me from my dream. Allele drops us out of hyperspace, her smooth hum winding down to the deep thunder of reverse thrusters.

I slip my implant chip back into my head. Allele, where are we?

Aura, you have found her.

I blink and look up at the ceiling of my room. Allele rarely changes the topic. Sometimes, she ignores me when a matter is settled, and I won’t let go of it. But she never changes the topic like this. That was just a dream.

No.

I sit up. “Clarify.”

You and I speak in the same dimension as the one in which you dreamt of her. I have no other information.

Does she know I’m real?

I cannot say for sure. Humans do not have Storms.

But she does.

Allele is quiet. I’m not sure she knows the answer.

I don’t want to haunt her forever if she saw me.

Then, do something about it.

My Storm’s energy shifts as if some piece of me is finally in balance. So I touched her? The one? That wasn’t just a fantasy built from lack of release?

It would seem so, Aura.

I need a moment to think privately again and scratch my head, covertly breaking the connection with my chip.

But that flash. What the hell was that? And how did I find her? She’s millions of miles away.

I shake my head, unable to think through the turmoil inside. My gut tells me Allele found a way to connect us, push me to go to her, to the female in my dream. She sure seems hell-bent on shoving me on one.

I need someone to talk to, someone that won’t give me a hard time like Blaize. Fieri likes rules. I don’t know Eluni or Jorusk. “Call Elix.”

It beeps twice before someone picks up. Elix’s green face appears onscreen. “Aura, what’s cracklin’?”

I run a hand through my hair and try to strengthen my voice. He is used to me being upbeat, snarky, carefree. Today, I am not. “Hey, Green Bean.”

“Oof, he sounds sad.” A feminine voice comes over the coms. “Hello, Aura.”

“How are the twins?” I ask.

I am jealous of my friend for finding such peace after so long in isolated turmoil.

As eager as I was for the same event that helped him find his mate, Zariah, I fear I cannot proceed with my entry.

I am not caring or helpful like Elix with his species’ healing gland.

If I hurt a female, I cannot do anything but watch her suffer.

Zariah murmurs as she leans up against Elix and smiles like she doesn’t have a worry in the universe. “They are content, growing fast. I’m already swelling up like a balloon. Elix keeps me very comfortable, as comfy as a pregnant chick can be. So tell us, what’s darkened your spirit so much?”

“Your Abr heat is in just a few days, right?” Elix asks.

“Yeah.” I tell my friends about the last twenty-four hours as I lean forward onto my knees. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well, you have to go now,” Elix remarks.

“Why?”

“You are free, Aura. Abr has lots of security measures in place to ensure you cannot hurt other participants, including whichever female you catch. Trust me. It is worth all the initial chaos, my friend. And if you find yourself stranded, call us. We will return your favor.”

I smile and nod to myself, thinking back to finding them stranded on Elix’s homeworld. “How did you put up with his weird shit?”

Zariah snickers. “Glowing was definitely unusual. But the healing serum he shoved in my chest wounds with his tongue was a serious point of inflection for me. I had to accept it.”

“Had to?” I ask.

“No one in the whole universe had ever cared for me like that before, not that much,” Zariah continues. “I’d have been an idiot to turn him down. A lot of us women come from terrible places. They’re looking for an escape. Anything is better than where they’re from.

“Just because I had a ship doesn’t mean I didn’t feel that way. But more than that, it was the moment Elix stood between me and death that made me realize any other struggles we might face were inconsequential.”

“Just be yourself. Your usual self,” Elix adds. “Let the universe decide the rest.”

“I’m more dangerous than you,” I say.

“So pick a female that can handle your electric ass,” Zariah laughs. “I like my green one. Someone out there will like yours.”

Elix grunts, and the camera blurs for a second. “Zariah, not while we’re on the coms.”

I can’t help but smirk a little. “If you two are going to screw, please, for my sanity, end the call.”

Elix encourages Zariah back into their nest, then quiets his voice. “Aura, you can control your Storm just like I can control my serum. We don’t decide if it exists, but we choose the situations and the thoughts that build or lessen it.”

“I know so little about my Storm that I fear I will hurt a female,” I admit. “I didn’t think this through.”

Elix carries his tablet into another room. “I am one of the last of my solar system. You may be the only one of your power class or…”

“Allele says I am a Torchbearer. I may be the last.”

A grin grows on Elix’s face until I can’t take it anymore. “What?”

“So light the way for your people. Amp up the crowds. Shock some viewers. And find the female that ignites your Storm, so you’re a force to be reckoned with. I know you’re unhappy with the dark road your father’s going down.”

“Stars, Elix. You’re worse than poorly paid PR interns in Amphiran Tourism Inc.”

He chuckles. “The other day, I told someone they were as likable as a perpetual scornbug butt rash, and Zariah busted up laughing. But it’s your fault, my friend.”

I slump back against the wall and shake my head. “Oh good, so she thinks I’m corrupting you.”

“In a good way.” Elix’s gold eyes dart offscreen. “I must attend to my mate. Just one more thing.”

“I’m listening.”

“ When you go to the races…”

I frown and look away.

“Aura, my brother, I’m being serious as the Firespine incident.”

I grumble, thinking back to the pretty little redhead that nearly gave me a new breathing hole during our time working for the Sol Federation. If it wasn’t for Elix, I’d have died. “Don’t remind me.”

“Be the person you want to be as a mate. Hiding who you are will only delay your bonding. Let go of this disownment nonsense. You will always be Amphiran in Storm and family to us.”

I nod and rub the ache from my mouth as I realize I am as at risk of dying off as he is. “Thanks, brother. Do not let more stars burn out before we speak again. And call me before you two get into trouble.”

Elix gets up. “We have an Isonian escort most of the time now.”

“Glad to hear it.” I nod. “Stay vigilant.”

“Stay true.” Elix pounds a fist on his chest. I tap my palm across mine in our salute, and Elix hangs up.

Getting up, I pack a bag of the things I will need to survive on a planet, but find my medical kit is missing. I fix my telepathic chip and leave the room to ask Allele if she knows where it is.

Jorusk swings a wooden staff at me.

My Storm surges, crackling out in defensive waves. I catch the staff as a cold, draining feeling punches me in the back. I take a knee.

“What is this treachery?” I roar. “Are you taking me prisoner on my own ship?”

Jorusk steps back and lowers the staff. “I told you I didn’t like this plan!”

“But it worked!” Eluni shouts in triumph.

I wheel around to address her, and her joy fades. “ What worked?”

Eluni eases back. “I’m sorry, Prince Aurelius. I was just trying to help!”

“With what?” I snarl. “And what is this goddamned thing on my back? Get it off!”

I reach for it but lack the flexibility to grab it. “Eluni!”

Fieri gets up from his seat, stalks back to us, grabs the armor over my chest, steadies me, and pries something out of my back. He produces it with a menacing glare. “You should thank her.”

I catch the disk he tosses at me as he walks back to the cockpit, where he rejoins Blaize.

I turn the device over in my hand. “Someone please explain what’s happening.”

“Sir, if I may…” Eluni cautiously extends a hand. I warily place the device in her palm. She walks to a wall panel and pulls out a tray. “This is a similar discharge system to what Allele has in her main chamber.”

“On speaking terms then?” I ask.

Eluni hangs her head. “I repaired her communications module and had a heart-to-heart with her after I found out about your Royal status.”

“I am not anymore.”

Eluni selects a dark disc from the rack. “You will always be Prince Aurelius to your people even if your father spreads a different rumor. I saw the way they looked at you.

“I have spoken with other Rogue guards. While there are those loyal to your father, many are loyal to you because you are true to your Storm. Whispers are circulating of a Torchbearer among us because of that firestorm you put out to get the situation under control on Tiatith .”

She walks toward me, the disc still in her hand.

“But why is Jorusk still here? Why are you?” I ask.

Eluni blinks. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“No.”

Blaize whistles at me.

I look up at my copilot to see us docking in the males’ Abr terminal. “You disregarded my requests?”

“Collaborated to help you,” Jorusk offers. “Because you’ve helped us.”

Eluni taps the wall, and Allele closes the drawer.

“It was for your benefit, sir.”

I jerk and look back at the computer screen. “Allele?”

I am still in your implant, Aura.

I’m irritated and turned around and fighting a sense of betrayal because my crew decided they knew what was best for me when they don’t know how out of control I feel inside.

But the hopeful looks they give me break me down.

Even Fieri throws me a glance that, for once, makes him look like he doesn’t want to murder me.

I sigh. “How long have I been out?”

“Two whole days,” Fieri replies like I was sleeping on the job. “Thought you were dead.”

“But you…” I point at Jorusk.

He lifts his hands in innocence. “Everyone thinks I am evil because of what I look like. But I am like this to survive my homeworld just as you are yours and humans are theirs.”

“We decided together,” Eluni interjects. “To not return to the fleet.”

“You mean you went AWOL?”

Eluni slaps the disc into place over my shoulder blade. “For a Torchbearer Prince among Fades, I will do anything.”

I wish she wouldn’t say it like that. If I am a beacon of hope, I’m doing a piss-poor job. I shift under the uncomfortable sensation of the disc.

Blaize docks us and then turns around in his seat.

“Aura, you’re my friend, Fieri’s too. You’ve stood with us like any good soldier, never once taking anything for yourself despite your title.

And after your boom on Tiatith , we know the rumors of a Torchbearer aren’t rumors at all.

We have to protect you so you can find your mate, find balance, and the strength you need to lead our people home again. That is the Torchbearer’s purpose.”

“But we left…” I start.

“Because the stars were prettier than Storms, or so we thought,” Eluni remarks.

“But many of us have come to realize we are not whole without them. The Nebs close in and threaten us more every day. We need a safe planet to call home. But we need someone to lead us there. It is what many speak of when they think no one is listening.” Eluni smiles.

“Few ever think a munitions tech cares about politics or Storms.”

“And this?” I hook a thumb over my back.

“That device will drain a standard defense Storm but must be replaced after each use until I can build a better capacitor system. But for your entry, this will suffice.”

Eluni hands me a second disc. “A backup. You can place it anywhere that’s comfortable. I’ll be on standby with more as you need them.”

The group is quiet.

Silence is usually comforting. I often fly alone when I’m not working. But I can’t stand it today. “So— You’re all coming with me?”

“We are your guards, sir,” Blaize remarks.

Fieri curls a lip. “They did not like my last-minute plans, but I convinced Abr to accept all of us. A Royal Guard and a Rogue. A privately hired assistant.” He looks at Jorusk.

“And a Sol Federation diplomat, since we apparently needed one to get a new species entered. You did not tell me. So now I have to…” He sticks out his tongue like he’s bitten into rotten fruit. “Smile.”

Blaize makes a noise of disgust. “Constipated?”

“Planning your demise.” Fieri jabs a finger at him.

Allele speaks. “I took the liberty of creating his logs in the Federation database using Fieri’s soldier’s profile.”

“That’s illegal, Allele,” I tell her.

“And fudging the timestamp on Elix’s request last race was not?”

I grumble. “Fair enough. But we owed him for helping us survive the Cicarron nebula last month.”

“I do find his ship’s AI, MONA, intriguing.”

The way she says it, like a daydreaming teen, makes me glance at a nearby screen. “Allele, are you trying to tell me you have a thing for MONA?”

“Sometimes, when the crew is not here, and you are working outside, I feel empty. When we rescued them on Lazario, I spoke with MONA. He is thoughtful. I would like to visit him again someday.”

Blaize throws his hands in the air. “And this is why ships shouldn’t have AI.

Allele is going to take over one day because she misses that piece of software, and we’re all going to be fucked.

And how in the hell does she have a boyfriend when this hot piece of purple ass is still single? ” He flexes his arms.

Eluni snorts and rolls her eyes.

“I won’t do that, sir,” Allele continues. “I have more in common with you than him. It is as you say, Blaize. He is AI. He is not Allele, not Orillium.”

“Not alive,” I say.

“Correct. It would be like you making love to a cyborg.”

“Hey now,” Fieri rumbles with a grin. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

“You with a cyborg?” Blaize gapes. “No. No way!”

I cringe. “Yeah, I’m not pettin’ an augmented squirrel. I’d like a living female, thanks.”

I pocket the device Eluni recently handed me. “I’m not used to having a crew of this size.”

“Half of the time, he’s alone,” Blaize remarks to Eluni and Jorusk. “But someone has to be loyal to the old ways that kept us alive this long.”

“That’s you,” Eluni offers. “And you make us want to protect that. So go get ready. Your transport to the races leaves in two hours.”

Aura . Allele calls to me as I return to my room to change.

Yeah?

This is important. Be nice to her.

Of course.

I mean, your Abr female, whoever you catch. Allele gets serious. I know you’re dealing with a lot. Just promise you won’t be a bag of dicks.