POV: Lyra
Reflexively, I shoved Toby one way while diving the other. Let's see who this lunatic wants.
The grey-skinned attacker landed between us, bio-claws extended—those genetic modifications some Lyrokans had that allowed partial transformation, lengthening their finger bones into weapons. Without hesitation, they charged at me.
Of course it's me. It's always me.
The claws arced through the air. I prepared to dodge, but Orion materialized between us. The claws raked deep across his back, shredding his training suit and drawing purple Lyrokan blood.
"No!" I screamed, immediately pressing my hands against his wounds. Through our bond, I pushed healing energy, watching the deep gashes slowly close. His hand held me protectively behind him while his pathways went midnight black with rage.
The attacker—I could see now it was someone in a grey bio-suit with partial transformation active—retracted their claws, eyes widening in horror at the Emperor's blood on their hands. They dropped to their knees in submission.
"Orion, are you okay? Any internal damage?" I asked frantically, my hands still on his back.
His pathways softened slightly seeing my worry. He kissed my forehead. "I'm healed, baby. Thank you."
I sighed in relief, wrapping my arms around his, pressing myself against his side. "Thank the cosmos."
That's when I noticed my hands were stained purple with his blood. He lifted one hand and, to my embarrassment, started using his bio-cleanser implant—that thing where Lyrokans could sterilize through their saliva—to clean my palm.
"Orion, this is nothing—"
"Just let me, Lyra." He used that voice that always made me cave.
A low growl from the still-transformed attacker interrupted us. They were glaring at me with undisguised hatred.
I sighed, recognizing that particular blend of jealousy and rage. Walking to a nearby equipment station, I grabbed a covering cloth from someone's kit. "May I borrow this?"
"O-of course, my Commander," replied Adeline, the Transport Minister's daughter. She seemed surprised I knew her name.
I returned, holding the cloth out at safe distance. "Just deactivate your bio-mods and cover yourself, Ms. Cummings."
Gasps rippled through the training sector. Sasha Cummings. Of course. The Defense Minister's daughter who'd been obsessing over Orion since before his coronation.
Sasha's eyes went darker as she reached for the cloth. Then, faster than most could track, her claws re-extended and slashed deep across my arm. Blood—red Kaelari blood—splattered the training mat.
Pain shot through me like plasma fire. The cloth fell as I gritted my teeth, refusing to scream. Orion was beside me instantly, pressing my wound against his bare chest—he'd torn off his shirt—to accelerate healing through our bond.
His second growl was pure murder. Through the Emperor's Authority—that psychic dominance all Lyrokan rulers possessed—he forced Sasha to deactivate her modifications.
She stood there in her under-suit, and I immediately smelled arousal pheromones from several males nearby. Gross.
"The rest of you, turn around!" I commanded, despite the pain.
Everyone except Toby, Christian, Orion, and our female alliance members obeyed instantly. "As you wish, my Commander."
"Just cover yourself, Ms. Cummings," I said, exhausted.
She scowled. "Why? Feeling insecure that your body can't rival mine for the Emperor's attention?"
The growls from our alliance were vicious. But Sasha stood her ground, defiant.
Orion's voice dropped to subzero. "If you think I'm looking at you because of that, your empty neural processor can't comprehend your situation's severity. You'd be lucky to get execution after attacking our Commander. When I decide how to end your pathetic existence, Cummings, you'll be an example for ANYONE WHO DARES HURT MY MATCH."
Tears of rage ran down Sasha's cheeks, but she still refused to cover herself. Just to spite me.
Two can play this game.
As the healing finished, I smirked. "Ms. Cummings, I suggested covering yourself to save what little dignity remains. But since you prefer displaying yourself, I'll respect that choice."
I raised my voice. "Everyone can look now. Feel free to capture holo-recordings. Remember to tag Ms. Cummings in your social feeds."
"YOU VOID-SPAWN [BITCH]!" Sasha scrambled for the cloth, wrapping herself hastily. But dozens had already recorded everything.
Once covered, Orion used his Authority again, forcing her to kneel. She fought it, confusion clear as her body betrayed her. Her head bowed until her neck nearly snapped, and her voice—not her words—emerged: "I submit my most sincere apologies, my C-Commander. I plead for the highest degree of pu-punishment for my actions today."
Sasha gasped, trying to scream but unable to. Orion's cold voice continued, "Rest assured, that's exactly what you'll get. You've challenged me, your Emperor. Perhaps you and your father can share adjoining cells."
Her mouth opened again: "I-I shall live the rest of my life r-regretting what I did to you, my C-Commander. I beg that you'll allow me to be tortu—"
"That's enough, darling," I interrupted.
Orion's expression remained hard. "She could've killed you, Lyra."
I pulled myself up to kiss the corner of his lips, sending neural sparks to calm him. My hand stroked his cheek. "Just send her to the Chief. Let law enforcement handle it. You've done your part, dearest." Another kiss on his cheek. "Please?"
His Lyrokan consciousness slammed against his mental walls in frustration before surrendering. Traitor, he thought at it.
He sighed, kissing my forehead. "Fine."
I smiled, pecking his cheek. "Thank you, my love."
Despite his frustration, I felt his pathways warm at my words. He arranged for Phelton and two female guards to get Sasha properly dressed and delivered to Chief Dalloway.
After Sasha was removed, Orion examined my healed arm with predatory focus. Satisfied, he started using his bio-cleanser on the blood stains. My cheeks burned as everyone watched.
"Everyone else, back to training," I commanded, hearing my own embarrassment.
Chuckles and knowing looks followed their "As you wish, my Commander" as they returned to their mats.
Juan looked at my perfectly healed arm with surprise. "Yeah, thought that would scar too," I told him. "Crazy how bond healing works."
Juan patted Orion's shoulder gratefully before returning to training. Christian challenged Toby to spar, leaving us alone.
"I'm not sure letting Cummings go was right, Lyra," Orion said. "She attacked her rulers."
"Were you going to kill her?" I asked.
"No. Too easy. Life torture seemed fairer."
"She'll be tortured through legal channels, won't she?"
"Yes," he admitted grudgingly.
"Then didn't I give you what you wanted?" I blinked innocently, stroking his shoulder.
He pulled me close. "I suppose. But what did you want for Cummings?"
My pathways flared with rage. "After the wounds she gave you?"
In a low, deadly voice, I continued: "I want the public to access everything—today's incident, her arrest, her trial. I want everyone to know her name until she begs to change it. I want her face so recognized she'll crave surgical alteration. I want harassment so constant she'll plead for deafness. I want her cell's speakers playing everything that makes her feel worthless. Physical torture is outdated. I want to destroy her mind. Drive her insane enough for permanent psychiatric commitment. Make her wake up wishing she'd never been born."
Orion's pathways went from shocked to... aroused? His Lyrokan consciousness actually purred.
He pulled me against him, hand tracing my cheek. "My, my. Who knew my adorable little Commander could devise something more brutal than me." His thumb traced my lip. "What else do you have hidden to turn me on?"
"I better not smell your arousal pheromones, my Emperor."
He smirked, kissing my nose. "As you wish, my Commander. Though you make it very difficult, especially when you're so attractive discussing criminal punishment."
I narrowed my eyes. "That was supposed to make you disgusted or afraid, Orion. Not aroused."
"And yet it did."
"For clarification, dearest, I was speaking from anger. Don't actually tell the justice system to do those things."
His arousal stopped cold. "But why? It's perfect!"
"We're civilized beings. Creatures have rights."
"Creatures who hurt you have no rights!"
I spoke softer. "Her punishment will already be the highest historically. It's enough."
"You shared your perfect plan with no intention of executing it?"
I kissed his cheek. "Yes, my love. Exactly that."
He shook his head, muttering, "Waste of good ideas. Too merciful."
I laughed, and he kissed my forehead before I jogged off to mentor other fighters. His thought reached me through our bond: Unbelievably amazing.