It’s killing me to be away from the woman I believe to be my fated mate – but I saw the look in her eyes, and I knew we needed to leave her alone. I’m secure, at least, in the knowledge the Ashley is well-guarded. Conan would die before he let anything happen to her.
I try and distract myself with thoughts of her by learning everything I can about this criminal enterprise.
Peter Paradooli ran a grimy business. The bulk of his profits are from drugs and human trafficking. If we want to take control of his empire, we’ll have to work with people who eagerly condoned some of the vilest acts known to humanity. We’ll be working with scum, all of whom are as deserving of death as Paradooli was himself.
“This isn’t for us.”
Augustus’ voice mirrors my thoughts.
The realization hits me as I look up at Augustus. My battle-brother has lost some of his fire now. We conquered this manor, and we slew the cruelest crime lord on the planet, but if we choose to take this throne –it comes wet with the blood of innocents.
Augustus raps his hand against the solid wood of the desk. “This isn’t for us,” he repeats, “but there are women here who are now relying us to provide for them. We can’t just leave.”
He speaks the truth.
We’re now responsible for the slaves we freed – who took us up on our offer of service in exchange for room, board, and protection.
My triad can’t simply leave them all behind – just because the promise of conquering a planet comes with baggage attached…
…or because the challenge of conquering a planet pales in comparison to the ecstasy of conquering our mate.
But the hunger is gone from me. I no longer feel the urge to prove myself by conquering this world. Like Conan and Augustus, I’d felt the urge to prove myself – to redeem myself for ordering the retreat, back at that Scorp nest.
Now I realize I had nothing to prove – and as long as I can keep Ashley safe, I will be content with a much more humble future.
“We’ll take over the legitimate businesses and scrap the rest,” I decide. “Any man who was found to be dealing in drugs will lose two fingers. Human trafficking – they’ll lose a whole hand. Then we’ll exile them all from this planet.”
Augustus snorts: “That will not pay for the lives they destroyed.”
I nod my head. “No, it won’t. But it’s a start. Peter kept detailed records of the strength of the other crime outfits in Lipa – across the entire planet, in fact – and that places us in a strong position.”
I flip through the files in front of me.
“Paradooli’s strongest rival were a duo of Toads. They’re now the biggest criminal organization on the planet – after us, of course. They have over eighty henchmen ready for action.”
Ready for death, more like. None of them will withstand our blades.
I look up, and command: “AI, show map.”
Augustus and I both peer at the three-dimensional map projection that materializes in front of us – showing the different criminal sectors of the planet. I make the decision quickly.
“We need to move fast. Those Toads will already be wondering what’s going to happen, and start scrambling to fill the power void that they think Paradooli will leave.”
But there will be no void. We’ve already filled it.
“Those Toads may think we are going to parlay – to reach an agreement with them. But we do not parlay with slavers. The only agreement we’ll reach will be between their throats and our blades.”
Augustus nods, emboldened by my words.
“We’ll take them by surprise,” I growl. “We need to cleanse this city and make it safe – and we should keep our momentum going. Once we consolidate our power, then we can influence the legitimate government to pass anti-slavery laws across the entire planet.”
“Very good,” Augustus pounds his fist into his palm. “I’m ashamed to say I thought I’d lost my taste for battle for a second there – but killing slavers feels… righteous.”
Augustus doesn’t smile, but his passion flares through our Bond.
I know what he means, though. When we’d cut down the army of Peter’s henchmen, it had felt as though we were judge, jury, and executioner. It had felt as though we were making the world a better place. It had felt right.
I shake my head. I need to see Ashley – just once more before we go to war, at least.
I stand up wearily. I’m still in the blood-soaked suit, and Augustus has been dripping both blood and water on the ground of this office. We’d both been fired up on blood, battle and our desire for Ashley…
…but now our heightened senses are calming, and I feel filthy and uncomfortable.
We’ll have the hotel send over our clothes, and have the well-compensated concierge recommend local cleaners for these suits...
I snarl. Such issues seem so banal compared to the real, pressing concern.
And that is how we’re about to wage a war. We’re about to go up against an entire planet of gangsters and criminals. We’ll need the Bond on our side if we want to succeed. With the power of a Bonded union, our triad will be unstoppable.
It’s one of the many changes the Bond brings about. The coming together of an Aurelian triad and their fated mate does not just change the woman – turning her into the perfect mother for a generation of Aurelian babies...
No - we’ve also all heard the stories of how powerful an Aurelian warrior becomes when imbued by the strength of the Bond. We’ll grow stronger, and faster – more powerful than any Aurelian sired from a cloning chamber. We’ll become as Gods among even our own kind.
But that isn’t all. I don’t want the Bond merely for the strategic edge it will grant us. In fact, that seems almost fleeting in comparison to
