The cyborg fleet had been all but wiped out thirty years ago, after the Population Wars. The cyborgs had been created to work on a mining planet, but they had revolted and slaughtered all the human inhabitants. They had no planet of their own, and had decided to take over Ilyria by releasing a deadly virus. Half the males and ninety percent of the females, including Lukan’s mother, had died. Lukan’s father had been the commander of a fleet who had sacrificed themselves to destroy the cyborgs. The Federation had finished off most of the rest, but rumors had been circulating that the cyborgs were rebuilding.
“We have intercepted their communications,” Kaspar said. “They appear to have targeted the Thorolf stronghold.”
At that, red-hot fury boiled through Lukan’s veins.
“Prepare our fleet for interception,” he snapped.
“Are you sure? We could let them attack the Thorolf territory first. They do not appear to be aware of the cyborgs’ approach yet.”
Under other circumstances, it would be tempting. The Thorolf clan had started the conflict when they raided the Wor-Lans and stole women and cubs after the Population War. Then the Wor-Lans had struck back, rescuing their kidnapped pack members, and killing many Thorolfs in the process. The Thorolfs had staged an attack in revenge, and the fighting had gone back and forth, for decades.
Normally, Lukan’s orders would have been to have all of his fleet standing at the ready in case the cyborgs attempted to attack them, but he would not have defended the Thorolf pack, any more than they would have defended his pack.
Not today.
Today, the cyborgs were attacking his true mate.
“My mate is there.”
“Ohhh.” Kaspar nodded vigorously. He headed for the door. “She is being held prisoner there? We must stage a rescue immediately afterwards?”
“No, she is just visiting there for the day. She will return to me tomorrow.” He prayed she would.
“Yes sir,” Kaspar said, although the expression on his face suggested that he did not understand at all.
Lukan hurried after him. He would man the lead ship in the Wor-Lan sky fleet.
Fury boiled inside his chest, and for the first time in his life, a sharp stab of fear. Had he come so close to finding the love of his life, only to lose her?
Chapter Seven
Talia sat glumly at the table in her guest chambers, ignoring the sumptuous feast that had been spread out before her.
“Humans need nourishment,” Mar-ee said. “You should consume calories.”
There was a golden plate heaped with chunks of meat in a sweet, savory sauce. She’d taken one bite and set it down. There were exotic candies in a bowl, and plump berries in another, and a jug of wine, and a jewel-encrusted goblet.
For once in her life, food just wasn’t appealing to her right now. It really, really hurt her feelings to think that Lukan had spent the last year believing she was a horrible person. No wonder he’d been so cold to her. On the bright side, sort of, his feelings for her had been so strong that he’d still kept her near him, and he’d even made Mar-ee specifically for her. He’d cared for her despite himself.
But still.
Ouch.
It was sincerely killing her appetite.
Earlier, there had been a banquet to welcome Cora Lee to Treffon’s castle. Hundreds of pack members had crowded into the massive banquet hall to welcome the new member of the Thorolf pack, and plates of food had magically floated past Talia, piled high with luscious, tempting meats and breads and vegetables and desserts.
Talia had just picked at her food there, too.
And now Cora Lee had been nice enough to tear herself away from Tristao for a little while to explain things to a bewildered Talia.
“By the way, I checked, and your message got through to Rosamund, and the email went to your family,” Cora Lee said, plopping down in the cushioned chair next to Talia’s and grabbing a handful of candies, which she stuffed in her mouth.
“Thank you for that,” Talia said gratefully. She had written a message to be delivered to Rosamund, apologizing for vanishing from the party. She’d said that she’d been called away by a family emergency which might keep her for a few days. Cora Lee had also spoken to Treffon, who was Alexandra’s other business partner. He would see to it that Giorgio was fired immediately; Rosamund would not be harassed again.
Talia had also recorded a video message to her family, saying that she’d had the wonderful opportunity to travel overseas for work, and would not be returning home for several weeks.
Treffon had sent a messenger through the transporter, back to Earth, to relay the messages. Apparently, the transporter was able to send people anywhere in the galaxy as long as there was a receiving station on the other side. The secret elevator in the Anders tower was a receiving station.
