I don’t want to lose this—this love we have—these intimate moments when I feel vulnerable because my Storm is different.She makes me feel powerful enough to take on the universe.
As our bodies slow and she smiles up at me, I know I will kill anyone who hurts her. I hope she’s ready to do the same to stay alive for me.
“Ready for your first battle?” I ask her.
Jovie blinks an eye at me. “I’m on thruster duty.”
I grin. “Fair enough.”
After helping her up, I take one last long look at her in her beautiful dress. “Hang onto this. I want to see you in it again. For now, I want you in armor.”
“Yes,sir.”
The dirty way she looks at me has me considering jumping out of space and letting the others deal with the Denarso. But as leaders in space travel, I know Earth is more likely to win if we stay. I won’t abandon allies. We might need them soon.
32: Aurelius
“Terran Forces are engaging, sir. Denarso are slowing but not deterred,” Allele reports.
“Get us into firing position. Shields up.”
I help Jovie into a set of armor and attach the emergency helmet to the collar. “If you get knocked out into space, this will automatically open. If it doesn’t, punch this button by your throat.”
After helping her find the button, I let her test it. The helmet closes around her head. An Arkus shield ignites around her body, and I feel better about staying on the mission. “Again, to open.”
She folds it back and the shield switches off. “I hope you can show me all your gadgets when we have time.”
“Another day.” I motion her up to the front with the others, who’ve also changed into tactical suits. Only Jorusk wears simple body armor. His face is sealed behind a leathery mask.
Jovie laughs nervously as she passes him to sit beside Eluni. “Wicked cool, Jorusk.”
“Thank you, Princess,” he replies, his voice slightly muffled.
“No matter what, the females stay. The Denarso die,” I tell them.
Bullets light up the sky in threads of oranges and yellows.
Allele plays a signal from the Denarso ship in a language few know.
You refused our membership to your federation, refused us trade, and left us without protection from the Nebs. You are no better than them. So we will take what we need.
“We owe you nothing,” a human voice replies. “You must be an ally to become part of the federation. All you do is take. I doubt you would stop if you were part of us.”
“We would learn to follow the rules!” the Denarso replies.
“Allele, open coms.”
I get a ding, signaling an open channel. “You lie through your teeth. You, Denarso, take supplies and females because you are too lazy to cultivate anything yourselves.”
“Prince Aurelius,” the Denarso snickers. “I have conquered worlds since we last spoke.”
“You know each other?” Blaize asks.
My gut burns. “The deal with him was over medicine for a few crates of ores, a mistake made by King Haeros of mothershipGovisowith a mess I cleaned up years ago. Fieri remembers.”
“Not something I want to repeat. Many of our Rogues died,” Fieri mutters. “Haeros covered it up after we had toStorm the fieldto survive and get him out of there. Heprotectedus from backlash from the Royals.”
I don’t know what the Denarso want, but I have a feeling. “Bakka, you leave the new bonds alone. Do not engage the racers. Whatever you want, let us get it lined out. I’ll see what I can do.”
