And I realize with the worst sinking feeling what’s happened. She’s betrayed us. Shefuckingknew this was coming. I grab her wrist hard so she can’t escape like Yasmin.
"Power restoration in thirty seconds," my Security Chief reports. "But, Sovereign... we're reading multiple breaches in the lower levels. Maintenance tunnels. Someone's?—"
"Terra Ka," I finish. Of course.
The lights flare back to life, revealing devastation. In the general seating, bodies lie trampled, medical teams already rushing to help. Below, Ash and Ember are gone. The maze shows two empty platforms where champions should be standing.
That's when Aefre himself bursts into our VIP box, his usual composure shattered. His green eyes are wild; his trainer’s uniform is disheveled from fighting through the crowds.
"Where are my pets?" He advances on me, with actual tears streaming down his face. "Years of training and the fortune I invested. They were going to retire champions, breed the next generation of—" His voice cracks. "WHERE ARE THEY?"
"Trainer Aefre," I begin, but he's beyond reason.
"This is your fault!" He points at Eve. "Bringing humans into positions of power. Treating them as equals. Now look what's happened! She has betrayed you! Just like the humans you hired last year! You and your brother are a disgrace to the galaxy!”
He's not alone in his fury. Trainer Marath slithers over from her box, her scaled skin flushed with rage. "The Celestial Spire's security has failed us all again. My pets could have been taken."
No one wantsyourpets.
"The situation is under control," Lorian says coldly.
"Control?" Another trainer laughs. “Terra Ka just waltzed out with the Grand Champions while their leader, Gael, is supposed to be imprisoned and their movement contained. How is that control?"
Jin Kol stands, his expression unreadable, then his assistant whispers urgently in his ear. Something about his eagerness makes me nervous. As if he’s been waiting for this moment for awhile.
Jin Kol nods once, then turns to face us. "It seems the IGC's patience with the Celestial Spire's... progressive policies has reached its end."
"Tribune," I start, but he raises a hand.
"Eve Eden," he says, his voice carrying the weight of galactic law. "By the authority vested in me by the Intergalactic Court, you are under arrest for conspiracy with the terrorist organization known as Terra Ka."
Eve goes very still under my grip. "Tribune, I don't understand?—"
"Save your denials,” Jin Kol says as his assistant produces a pair of neural restraints. Not regular handcuffs, these are designed to preventany electronic communication or any last-minute data transfers. "We have evidence. Transmitted communications. Altered medical records. Security footage of your meeting with known operatives."
I stand, letting the threat creep into my voice. "Tribune, Eve is under our protection. Any accusations?—"
"Are supported by overwhelming evidence," he cuts me off. "Including the fact that the escaped pet Ash was pregnant. A detail hidden in the medical systems by someone with very specific access." His gaze bores into Eve. "Your access, Madame Eve. You may have been good enough to fool your employers, but not good enough to fool the IGC.”
The blood drains from Eve's face. Around us, the trainers explode in fresh fury.
"Pregnant?" Aefre staggers. "She was... I could have... the bloodline... that baby belongs to me. You will pay for this.”
"Unless you'd like to be charged with harboring a terrorist, Sovereign, I suggest you step aside."
Lorian positions himself between Eve and the IGC officers. "This is a mistake. Eve is our?—"
"Your pet? Your collaborator? Or simply another human you've deluded into thinking she matters?" Jin Kol gestures to his security. "Take her to the Spire’s dungeon until we can transfer her for trial."
The IGC officers move with military precision. Eve doesn't fight as they pull her arms behind her back, securing the neural restraints. But she looks at me as they do it. Those brown eyes full of betrayal and resignation and something else. Love.Goddesses. I love her too, despite her circumventing the real plans to Terra Ka. I know she did it out of empathy for her own kind.
I step forward, and put a hand on one of the guards to try to stop them.
"Rafe," she whispers. A single tear reflects in her golden eye makeup.“Let them take me.”
Jin Kol's security blocks me. "Due process will be observed, Sovereign. She'll be held in secure custody pending trial. Any interference will be considered an act of rebellion against the IGC’s authority. For the moment, the rest of the Spire and all the trainers will be seen as victims only, unless you’d like to add something?”
"You've been building this flimsy case," I realize aloud. "Waiting for the right moment."
