I slump back against the wall and shake my head. “Oh good, so she thinks I’m corrupting you.”
“In a good way.” Elix’s gold eyes dart offscreen. “I must attend to my mate. Just one more thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“Whenyou go to the races…”
I frown and look away.
“Aura, my brother, I’m being serious as the Firespine incident.”
I grumble, thinking back to the pretty little redhead that nearly gave me a new breathing hole during our time working for the Sol Federation. If it wasn’t for Elix, I’d have died. “Don’t remind me.”
“Be the person you want to be as a mate. Hiding who you are will only delay your bonding. Let go of this disownmentnonsense. You will always be Amphiran in Storm and family to us.”
I nod and rub the ache from my mouth as I realize I am as at risk of dying off as he is. “Thanks, brother. Do not let more stars burn out before we speak again. And call mebeforeyou two get into trouble.”
Elix gets up. “We have an Isonian escort most of the time now.”
“Glad to hear it.” I nod. “Stay vigilant.”
“Stay true.” Elix pounds a fist on his chest. I tap my palm across mine in our salute, and Elix hangs up.
Getting up, I pack a bag of the things I will need to survive on a planet, but find my medical kit is missing. I fix my telepathic chip and leave the room to ask Allele if she knows where it is.
Jorusk swings a wooden staff at me.
My Storm surges, crackling out in defensive waves. I catch the staff as a cold, draining feeling punches me in the back. I take a knee.
“What is this treachery?” I roar. “Are you taking me prisoner on my own ship?”
Jorusk steps back and lowers the staff. “I told you I didn’t like this plan!”
“But it worked!” Eluni shouts in triumph.
I wheel around to address her, and her joy fades. “Whatworked?”
Eluni eases back. “I’m sorry, Prince Aurelius. I was just trying to help!”
“With what?” I snarl. “And what is this goddamned thing on my back? Get it off!”
I reach for it but lack the flexibility to grab it. “Eluni!”
Fieri gets up from his seat, stalks back to us, grabs the armor over my chest, steadies me, and pries something out of my back. He produces it with a menacing glare. “You shouldthankher.”
I catch the disk he tosses at me as he walks back to the cockpit, where he rejoins Blaize.
I turn the device over in my hand. “Someone please explain what’s happening.”
“Sir, if I may…” Eluni cautiously extends a hand. I warily place the device in her palm. She walks to a wall panel and pulls out a tray. “This is a similar discharge system to what Allele has in her main chamber.”
“On speaking terms then?” I ask.
Eluni hangs her head. “I repaired her communications module and had a heart-to-heart with her after I found out about your Royal status.”
“I am not anymore.”
Eluni selects a dark disc from the rack. “You will always be Prince Aurelius to your people even if your father spreads a different rumor. I saw the way they looked at you.
