Bartanz leans back, his pupils narrowing. “You saw a tragic accident. You—”
“I know exactly what I saw.” Kyte’s voice rises.
I move my hand to my side where I’ve stowed one of many knives.
Bartanz clocks my shift, his gaze flicking to me. “If you’re thinking of attacking the high commander of the fleet, I’d suggest you think again.” He waves toward the door and a handful of soldiers enter, their weapons at the ready.
Lana’s power begins to vibrate down deep, in the place where her destruction lies. That dark area—the one Kyte mentioned—something is inside it and banging against the bars.
“Easy. Everyone, go easy.” I relax my hand and put both palms on my thighs where he can see them.
“You want us to lie for you. Why? What benefit is there to keeping the fleet in the dark about the Sentients? More lives will be lost if you don’t alert them to the danger, rally the fleet, and take the fight to them.” Ceredes tries reason.
Bartanz is having none of it. “I told you what happened was an accident. There is no Sentient threat, no war, no aggression from the Rift.”
“He’s working with them. At this rate, he’ll hand fleet control over to Warverian himself.” I itch to handle my blades, to put them to work on the traitor in front of us.
“There are more factors at play than any of you can comprehend. What I do, I do for the fleet. To save lives and keep our peoples safe. Now, you four will stay here at the academy, continue to go to classes, and continue to set an example for the rest of the cadets.”
“You mean lie to them for you?” I smirk.
He slams his hand on the table. “You will fall in line!”
“And if we don’t?” Kyte is vibrating with a mix of rage and sadness, and the energy pouring off him is almost tangible. The only thing keeping him grounded is Lana, but she’s right there at the edge with him.
“Then I will break this circle with my bare hands.” His eyes flicker to Lana. “I will take your Omega and make her mine, ship you three to distant galaxies to work in the deepest, darkest pits, and be rid of—” His words stop as a burning red barrier appears around his throat.
Lana stands, her hand outstretched. “If you so much as try to break our bond, I will crush you with nothing more than a thought.” She closes her hand the slightest bit, and the collar tightens. Bartanz claws at it, his eyes widening.
The soldiers pull their energy swords and guns, but Kyte throws up another barrier, walling them away from us.
“Lana isn’t feeling any of your threats. I don’t think I care for them, either.” I twirl my knives in my hands and jump the table before Ceredes gets to it and smashes it to pieces.
I fade and stand behind the high commander, my knives whirring as I spin them and think about ending his life for daring to threaten my Omega.
“You can play your game.” Ceredes flexes his fists as Bartanz struggles to breathe. “Lie to the fleet. Do whatever bullshit you’ve concocted, but you will never threaten Lana again. Are we clear?” Ceredes grips the high commander’s uniform—medals and all—in one hand and lifts him from the floor. “I asked you a question.” He tosses a look over his shoulder. “Lana, my love, can you ease up so I can at least hear his answer?”
“Do I have to?”
I lean over and get a look at her. Her hair floats on a phantom wind, and the sheer power pulsing from her makes everything in me tighten and thrum with need.
“Please.” Ceredes glares at Bartanz.
“Fine.” She pouts.
Bartanz gasps as soldiers yell and beat on Kyte’s barrier but get nowhere. The circle is more powerful than even Bartanz could have suspected.
“Are we clear?” Ceredes bites the words as I stop my blades and cross them around Bartanz’s neck like a giant pair of scissors.
“You’re going to want to give the right answer,” I whisper.
“Clear,” Bartanz spits.
I’m almost disappointed I didn’t get to end him. He’s a traitor or a fool, and we don’t have time for either, not when death is waiting just beyond the edge of the fleet galaxies and growing stronger by the day.
Lana releases her barrier completely, and Bartanz tries to turn and grab me, but I’m already gone, fading away like the space between the stars until I’m by Lana’s side. Bartanz may be a Bellatian like Ceredes, but he’s no match for any of us. Not with our circle around us.
“You may control the fleet, but you don’t control us.” Lana is like gravity, pulling her Alphas back to her side. “We’ll stay here at the academy and continue to grow and strengthen our bond to protect the fleet, but if the Sentients strike again, we aren’t going to sit and watch innocents burn because you’re too afraid to face the truth. If you have a problem with that, you’ll have to come after us.” She smirks, and I think I may fall in love even more deeply, if that’s even possible. “Good luck with that.” She turns and strides out.
