Page 9

I return to my ship, past my waiting crew of Blaize, Eluni, and Jorusk, wondering why Eluni is with them.

Fieri runs down the hallway toward us, tapping off his earcom. Blaize ends a call, and I think they’ve been talking.

“None of you have to stay and implicate yourselves,” I tell them.

My father and Vybron call to them. Blaize looks at me and shrugs.

“Your choice.”

I call Allele as I walk toward the ramp. I am burning up with fury and need to blow off some steam before I hurt someone. Please open the discharge chamber.

Inside my ship, a door to my right slides open.

“Aurelius?” A sweet, gentle voice makes me stop and look back.

A plump, older female hustles up to me from a back alley. Her black hair is threaded with the first hints of silver and is drawn up in a thick bun. Her apron is dusted with maltrum flour, and she smells as sweet as her voice sounds.

“Ephinium, why are you following me?” I encourage her into a side alley, protecting her from my father’s view. “He will torture and interrogate you for coming up to me. I’m not a guard anymore. I cannot make civilian security rounds.”

She holds a brown paper sack that smells of buttery desserts. “I overheard the conversation from my bakery. Many of us cannot believe what your father has done. Can any of us give you anything before you go?”

I shake my head. “Do not risk yourselves for me. I would rather you be safe. I will find a way to make ends meet. I always have.”

Her eyes fill with pain, enough that I think she wishes she could join us.

And she isn’t the only Amphiran watching me from the back alley of the market.

Many faces, young and old, look on with desperation that eats at me.

I wish I could free them all, but I fear any action I take will only bring them more wrath from the Royals.

“Where will you go?” Ephinium asks.

“I have a vacation planned and some friends among the stars.”

“Who will I get to open the tazalka jars for me every Monday morning?” she asks.

Too many of our females are alone. I help the ones I can. “Maybe you and Cale can tag team. His crew is next up for the civilian rotation.”

“This feels all wrong.” Ephinium hands me the bag. I sneak her a stack of credit chips from my pocket. She looks at them, and her eyes tear up. “Aura, no. I can’t take this.”

“I have worked for others and saved my own credits,” I tell her. “I take nothing from Royal accounts because that’s the people’s money, not mine. I earn my way, or I go hungry.”

Cale watches from the alley, checking over his shoulder like he’s afraid we’ll get caught.

“And I have not renounced my family. My heart remains Amphiran,” I tell her. “It just doesn’t agree with monarchs because there’s no room for discussion or collaboration with them. In this era, I believe we need to pool all ideas, or we will not maximize our potential options.”

“You are an honorable Amphiran. Viestria, the mother of all Storms, would be proud to call you a son of the old ways.” Ephinium takes my hand in hers and rests her forehead on the back of it as is customary of peasants to Royals.

I’ve never liked the gesture. This feels wrong.

Ephinium’s lips quiver. “You have an old soul in your young heart. I hope you find peace out there. We will miss you.”

I do not know if she is scared or tired or lonely, likely all three. And yet she still feeds me when she has far less than I do.

Her Storm is a pale wisp of light over her skin. Mine begs me to draw her against me for a hug. I cave to its needs because it’s what I want, too. “I’m sorry I lost my cool in front of your bakery. I hope I did not hurt you or break anything.”

Ephinium hesitates to return my gesture and lets out a nervous laugh. “You have no idea how much hope you just gave us.”

Hope? That’s impossible.

“Call on me if you are in trouble.” I tap my wristband to hers, giving her Allele’s contact information. Then I kiss her forehead as is customary of young males saying goodbye to female elders.

I know she lost her son when he was young, taken from her for the military efforts as Nebulous Empire attacks increased. She’s never spoken about her mate. Many commoners don’t.

“Aura,” she whispers. “Your Storm feels unstable.”

An electric arc dances off my arm into her shoulder. What the shit?

I push back. “I’m sorry, Ephinium. I must go. It’s no longer safe for me to stay.”

All I wanted was to comfort her. Instead, my Storm did the opposite.

Touching her was a bad idea. My power is growing uncontrollable, so I hurry away from her and back into my ship. I toss the bag of food into Blaize’s hands as the others load into Allele behind me.

“Aura?” Ephinium calls after me, but Allele’s closing up. We launch quickly.

I’m sorry, Ephinium. Everyone. I’m sure it doesn’t look good to see the prince of one’s mothership disowned and fleeing with a perceived criminal.

I’m letting down hundreds of thousands of Amphirs on Tiatith . Word will spread that Prince Aurelius has left his post, taken an alien off-world, and is now disowned by his father for refusing a match. They will think I am the enemy.

Maybe I am.

Get us out of here, Allele.

Once I’m inside, Allele closes the door to the discharge chamber and locks it. No one will get in or out until I am safe to be in contact with others.

And finally, I can let go.

The arcs surface on my skin, filling the chamber with green light and blue smoke. The tingles turn to painful crackles and sizzling flesh. Heat rises with so much force inside me that I fear I might explode.

I collapse to my hands and knees as the power takes over. My Storm turns the chamber into a field of frenzied light.

Aura . Allele says it with an heir of condescension. Blaize is right. You need release.

Just let me burn this out!

A chart illuminates on an insulated screen.

Storm Status: Prince Aurelius of Tiatith of Amphir - Nova warning. Recommended action: immediate release. Primal Power Class: Beta Wave 39/40Hz.

My heat rises. Electricity lashes out of my body into the room with destructive force. I watch my beta waves rise to forty, then forty-one, forty-two. I am above the normal limit.

This is not how I want to live my life, leaving my home behind and trying to keep others safe from my inexplicable power.

I writhe under its heat and the twisting, barbed threads that tie knots in my bones. Electricity fills the room, roaring out of me like a lightning storm until I cannot see anything and have to close my eyes.

My insides continue pushing outward, each beat of my heart slow and powerful, until I can barely breathe through the tension and miserable, searing agony. Then, slowly, it eases, dropping, draining, returning me to balance.

I finally relax, lightless and out of breath. A few random arcs still zigzag through the air into the ported walls. Allele doesn’t need fuel. She has me.

“Aura?” Blaize calls to me through the door. “Everything okay in there? The lights flickered out here.”

I get myself to my feet, fix my armor, and step up to the door. Allele doesn’t let me out.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” I solemnly say to the empty room, hoping she’s listening.

Allele opens the discharge chamber. As she lets me out, it hits me. If that is what my mating will look like, I will kill her, even if she is Amphiran.

“I’m not going to the races. Drop off the others. Then take me to a desolate planet. I’m not safe for a female of any species. I’m…”

I throw a glance in Eluni’s and Fieri’s directions. Jorusk is belted in just behind the copilot’s seat. I don’t want to explain myself, or they’ll try to find a way around it. “I need to be alone.” Forever.

Allele protests in my mind. But I am tired and broken and aware of how very dangerous I am becoming.

My father was right about one thing. I have taken too long to find a mate.

Blaize looks bewildered. “Is this decision because of what just happened on Tiatith ?”

“Yeah, what the hell?” Eluni hugs herself. “With respect, sir. You didn’t tell me you were the prince!”

“Was.” I sulk to my room. “My father has disowned me. Allele can guide you.”

Aura, this is irrational. What has gotten into you?

I am thinking clearly, Allele. I want you to bond with Blaize and Fieri. Leave me behind. I’m getting to be too much for you.

No, you are not, sir.

Enough. I’ve decided. I take out my implant chip and set it in a static barrier storage drawer in my room. It’s nice to have Allele out of my head for a change. The silence is desperately needed.

“Just tell me when we’re in orbit so I can pack,” I mutter to Blaize.

I let the door close, then lie on my bed and close my eyes.

I used to wonder how anyone as powerful as my father could be so lost. But I am now in his position, except my power is my Storm, and I don’t know where I belong anymore.

The last thing I desire is to hurt the only thing I’ve ever wanted. I won’t do it.

I won’t.

But as I fall asleep, I can’t stop thinking about a mate. She’s out there. I can feel her like I felt Allele—crying out for help.

I’m sorry, whoever you are. I just don’t think I’m safe for you anymore.