20: Aurelius
Of course, the moment I find my mate, someone’s already hunting me.The Araxus Order.
Jovie says the Amphiran was looking at her and wore battle armor, not standard uniforms. And not just any plating, but the shiny metals of Royal Guards. I have no doubt he concealed himself in a chameleon cloak as he left. Jovie’s met my crew and is certain it’s none of them, which means he’s trouble.
“Why would they come here?” she asks, struggling to eat the omelet and toast she ordered. “We’re already together.”
“Not if they hurt you. Then they will try to force me into a union with another.”
“But they’ve disowned you, right?”
I sigh deeply. “Yes. Which is why the Araxus order is out on my head. My father sent it out, which means it’s likely one of his crew because they got the memo first and want the credits for my head.”
I finish my malgaron steak and biscuits and down the last of my coffee. “I bet my father saw me here and wants to tie up my loose end. Fleet Amphir’s elders have an image they want to maintain. I’m a loose cannon, an anomaly.”
“A variable they can’t control,” Jovie offers.
“Yes. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to spin a different story, like finding a way to hurt you so it looks like I did it. That way, they can have an excuse to disappear me and deter others from wanting to bond with us. But what is purity worth if we die off because we ignore our deepest instincts?”
Jovie sets her fork down and shakes her head. “I don’t understand how you can eat with all this going on.”
“I need my strength, just like you do.” I get up, grab a to-go box and a fork, help Jovie slide her plate of food into the container, then motion for her to follow me.
Allele, are they ready?
At the meet-up spot.
Jovie nibbles her food as I lead her through the complex. Minutes later, we round a corner and meet up with Blaize and Eluni outside of a janitorial closet in the males’ dorm wing. Blaize initiates the squadshield on his wristband, opening a green dome around us.
“Scanning.” Blaize watches his screen.
“Could be more of them if they’re hiding in one of these,” Eluni mutters.
“Clear. It’s just us.” Blaize lowers his arm. “Allele relayed what Jovie saw. I did a scan but they’re hidden from standard sensors. Even Allele isn’t sure. She seems to think it’s just the one but can’t lock onto them.”
Eluni plants her hands on her hips. “Has to be the Araxus Order.”
I shift between my feet, hating that there’s a bounty on my head and, worst of all, from my own people.
“Did you bring the tracker?” I ask them.
Blaize hands me a slender chip.
“Can you tuck this in a gauntlet somewhere?” I ask Jovie.
She takes the device and studies it. “What’s this for?”
“If something happens to him, I will protect you,” Blaize remarks. “If I die, Fieri will take over. If he goes, we have other contacts who will be notified.”
Eluni throws her hands in the air.
“We don’t know that it’s not you,” Blaize defends. “Lotta shit has shot sparks since you arrived.”
Eluni looks genuinely hurt. “You’re a jerk.”
“Whydidyou join them?” Jovie asks.
Eluni sways. “The king switched out some of the crews. Royals and Rogues traded places.”
