He looks down at her. His eyes are blank and grey, like all unBonded Aurelians, but there’s something else in his gaze. There’s caring, longing, and a desperate need.
Garrick gently runs his fingers against Sawoot’s cheek, and I feel like I’m witnessing something too intimate for such a public setting.
“Sawoot, I don’t know if you’re my Fated Mate or not – and I don’t care. I’ve never bothered with a harem, like the Aurelians on Colossus. I’ve never found a woman worthy of me before, and I haven’t chased every female I’ve seen just in case they’re my mate.”
He takes Sawoot’s hand gently.
“It’s not ego to say that – it’s a fact. If you’d accompany my triad on this mission, we’d be proud to fight by your side. You’re a woman of honor, and I’d never be capable of loving one without it.”
Love.
Garrick loves Sawoot. After so little time, is that even possible?
Maybe. I mean, the Aurelians just seem to know. I’ve felt adoration and need from my triad, but I don’t know if my Aurelians even know the meaning of love.
It doesn’t matter, though. If we survive today? We’ll have plenty of time to figure everything out.
But for once – and I never thought I’d say this – my situation with Aelon, Vinicus and Iunia is simple.
When it comes to Sawoot and Garrick – can an Aurelian and a human find true love without the Bond? If it’s possible, Sawoot would certainly be the one to find it.
She and I seem to be approaching our relationships with Aurelians in opposite directions. She’s found love, but not the Bond. I’ve found the Bond, and I just hope to find love at the end of all this.
I know I’m risking myself, and I’m risking my crew – but it’s the right thing to do. For once, I see Aelon’s perspective, just as he sees mine. He has come to understand that reckless vengeance and bloodshed is a life without a future. I’ve come to learn that there’s no point in having a future if you sacrifice your integrity to get it.
Sawoot, on the other hand – there’s no way to stop Sawoot from following her own path with Garrick and his triad. She’s a force of nature, like a solar flare. All you can do is get out of her way.
I turn to the leader of my triad one more time.
“Aelon – can you spare a man to Orb-Shift Theme out if our plan fails? If we die, so be it. We’ll die by each other’s sides – but I want to know he gets out safe.”
“I can,” Aelon nods. He snaps his fingers at one of the Aurelians rushing past and points to the Reaver where Theme is still cowering.
“If our plan fails,” Aelon orders, “then you get that human out of here. If the Toad signal blockers jam Orb-Shifting, just fly as fast and as far as you can in the opposite direction until you’re out of range. Then shift out. Don’t stop for anything, got it?”
“Aye, Captain,” nods the Aurelian, boarding Theme’s Reaver.
As he boards, I can hear the Aurelian explaining what’s going to happen to my terrified crewmember.
Aelon cocks his head. “This way,” he says, and I follow him to yet another a Reaver.
There are pockmarked scars all over this one, from what looks like concentrated las-fire. Like the scars on Iunia’s body, they seem to have been patched, but not repaired or hidden; as if they’re marks of pride on this battle-worn ship.
“This is the Reaver I piloted during my hundred years,” Aelon explains proudly.
His hundred years. The hundred years of service to the Aurelian Empire, that ended with him leaving the Army to set off on his own. The Empire let the soldiers who’ve completed their years of service keep their Orb-Blades and their ships - everything a triad needs to forge their own path in this universe.
“You sure you don’t want me to pilot?”
Aelon grins. He’s back to his old former self – callous and carefree in the face of life or death.
He reaches over and squeezes my arm – with a gesture that’s similar to the comradeship of Iunia or Vinicus.
“You’re a skilled pilot, Tasha – one of the best I’ve seen. But I’ve got hundreds of years under my belt, and in this bird specifically.” Then, his eyes flash. “Mind you, soon enough you’ll have hundreds of years, too.”
I’m reminded again of the thousands of years of life I now have stretching out ahead of me – assuming I survive today.
I snort: “I can beat your three hundred years with three.”
Aelon laughs. He’s buzzing with electric energy. All four of us are. Vinicus and Iunia have returned, falling in line behind us as we march to the battle-damaged Reaver.
“You make me lose sight of myself,” Aelon says, opening up the doors to his ship. “You make me see things… differently.”
“That’s a good thing, Aelon.”
“Aye, perhaps it is.”
We board the ship. I realize the power imbalance has shifted between us. He’s no longer threatening to spank me for insolence – though he might do it in private, for fun, if we ever get out of here.
He pauses before climbing behind the helm.
“Tasha – you don’t have to do this. I estimate there’s a good chance the Toads will accept this offer, but there’s still a risk. You could stay back in the second Reaver with Garrick, if you’d prefer. If things go to shit, he’ll Orb-Shift you and Sawoot out of there.” His eyes flash. “Orb-shifting is risky these days, but it’s still less risky than trying to outrun a Toad Mothership using impulse engines alone.”
It might be safer – but I don’t want to watch the leader of my Bonded triad disintegrate in front of me if things go south.
“All things considered, Captain Aelon, I’d prefer to stay with
