…there’s no sweat from an attacker. No faint musk of anyone or anything else.
A sudden chill hits me.
At the same time, a voice sounds from behind me.
“She wasn’t taken.”
I spin around and see Danielle standing there.
She’s groggy, barely awake, but the sound of our thundering feet must have roused her.
“What do you mean? Where is she?”
Danielle shakes her head, her red curls bouncing.
“She doesn’t want to be a slave to you!”
A slave? What nonsense is this woman speaking?
I would never treat Ashley as a slave. We rescued her from slavery, for the sake of the Gods!
“What in the name of the Gods do you mean?” I take a menacing step forward, but Danielle doesn’t flinch. “Speak the truth, woman – and speak it fast!”
Danielle looks up at me as though I’m an idiot – and perhaps I am.
“The Bond,” she says – as if that explains everything. “Ashley chose to live her short, human life in freedom, instead of a millennia-long one as your slave.”
I blink. What?
“We’ve heard all about it, even out here in the middle of nowhere,” Danielle explains. “We’ve all seen what happens to your so-called Queen. The Bond turns you into a mindless slave – a willing sex toy for a triad. Ashley was tired of being a slave.”
Anger flares up in me. How dare she!
But as soon as the anger flares, so too does reason. I must remember that this is an independent world. For a decade, they’ve lived outside of the rule of the Empire.
There must have been anti-Aurelian propaganda circulating here for decades – both before the decision to become independent, and to ensure the inhabitants of this planet continued to spurn Aurelian protection after the vote had been called.
That’s where this garbage about the Bond is coming from – lies and rumors they’ve been fed by those who hate Aurelians…
But…
But the worst part? There is some truth to her words.
The Bond grants many incredible benefits. For humans, there’s the massively extended lifespan, and health and vitality far beyond the normal for their species.
For Aurelians, the same is true; with the Bond granting combat prowess beyond even the already-incredible strength and power of our warriors.
But that’s not the real power, or majesty of the Bond.
The true, unique bliss it grants is the ability to sire biological children. To breed with a human female and impregnate her with your heirs.
The Bond gives a gift only a handful of Aurelian warriors have experienced. You get to watch your sons grow. For most Aurelians, the only way to leave a legacy is to step into a cryo-chamber when you’re old and feeble – leaving a genetically-identical clone in your place that may turn out to be a perfect copy of your strongest traits…
…but also, your defects or weaknesses.
Because most Aurelian warriors die in combat, our race has been dwindling in numbers for centuries – and those that do continue our kind, through the cloning process, create progressively weaker versions of themselves. Like a copy, made from a copy.
Only the Bond offers a future for our species…
…and a purpose for us.
But the Bond also has its own powers. The benefits come with an additional price. In addition to health, and longevity, and ability to birth Aurelian children…
…the Bond enhances every desire that a human woman has to be the vessel for such children. Any instinct for motherhood that a woman has ever naturally had becomes magnified tenfold, or more. She craves to be impregnated, and bred…
But…
“The Bond doesn’t brainwash anyone,” I snap at Danielle. “It merely enhances the desires that already exist. It can’t make a woman do or want anything that she didn’t already.”
Danielle screws up her face in disgust.
“Well, that sounds a hell of a lot like brainwashing to me!”
I say nothing – because she’s not necessarily wrong.
“As for Ashley,” Danielle points an accusing finger at me, “you three scared her off, dammit!”
We are to blame for this?
The terrifying thing? The moment I think those words, I realize it’s true.
“Ughh,” Danielle shakes her head. “Now she’s out there, alone in the streets of Lipa…”
I feel an icy grip on my heart. She’s in danger!
“It’s all my fault.” Danielle looks up at me, and I see her anger has transformed into guilt. “I’m an idiot – I was so tired, I wasn’t thinking, and…”
“…and what?” I demand. “Explain yourself!”
I’m yelling at her, because we don’t have time to waste.
“Ashley was scared,” Danielle angrily fires back. “She thought you three would be just as ambitious as that bastard Paradooli was. She thought you were only interested in conquering this planet – of becoming the next major crime bosses yourselves!”
I stagger back. Augustus and I had pondered the same thing, and been disgusted at the idea of adopting the very crimes we’ve murdered men for…
…but Ashley was not privy to that conversation, and it’s understandable how she might have got the wrong idea.
Danielle gulps dryly.
“I… I told her that the only way to know if you were genuine about your feelings for her would be to demand that you let her be free.”
Free? Free?
The bedside table shatters under my hand before I even realize what I’ve done. Shards of wood are embedded deep in my palm. Danielle cowers back in fear, bumping up against the wall as she sees the rage and power rippling through me.
I see the terror on her face, and I feel instant shame for letting my emotions overwhelm me.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammer. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” I take a deep breath, and murmur: “Thank you for telling me.”
She says nothing – clearly uncertain whether to accept my apology, or remain terrified by my barely-controlled anger.
I shake my head.
“Dammit, it’s a bloody madhouse out there – and Ashley’s all alone! With Peter Paradooli’s outfit disbanded, there’s no telling if a war is suddenly going to break out – and now she’s right in the middle of it!”
I step forward,
