POV: Lyra
After Sebastian was gone, I pulled Orion to a stop in the building, studying him with concern. My hand reached for his cheek, stroking with my thumb. "You okay, Orion?"
He didn't know why I'd stopped until hearing those words. Leaning into my touch, he smiled. Kissing my forehead, he said huskily, "Always okay with you."
Despite the neural sparks, I narrowed my eyes. "Really? So you didn't just throw fits at Cummings this morning and just now. Both times when I was right there. And what about—"
He silenced me with a deep kiss. I pulled away, whispering, "You're cheating, my indecent Emperor."
"Since when are new techniques cheating, love?" he asked coyly. "Kissing you effectively prevents losing arguments."
"Not lose." I noted his word choice with a smirk.
He pulled me closer, brushing noses. "Yes. Like a tie. Winning takes more skill. Still searching for Kaelari who know how."
I scoffed, stepping out of his embrace and tugging him along. "You'll never find them."
His hand found my waist. "Why's that, dear?"
Stepping into the hall, I said with a cheeky glint, "Because I'll make sure you won't."
Before I could bow to the crowd, Orion tickled my waist, eliciting controlled giggles. Most beings pressed back smiles at our exchange.
Not here, dearest, I sent through our bond.
You started this, love. Besides, showing how much I love you publicly makes our subjects happy, he replied as we returned the bow.
Walking toward the alliance, I muttered, "Indecent Emperor."
"Not entirely accurate." He spun me to face him. "It's YOUR indecent Emperor, Lyra."
I blushed. "I know."
"I want to hear you say it, baby."
Unable to suppress my smile, I whispered, "My indecent Emperor," then kissed him.
That worked. He went into a daze, deaf to squeals and giggles from subjects, only emerging when I tried moving. Kissing my cheek, he loosened his grip as we approached the alliance.
Seeing worried faces on our strongest leaders, Specialists, even Christian, we knew bad news was coming.
One person I didn't recognize. "Orion, this is Commander Clement from Forest Gloom Station. You spoke yesterday."
"Pleasure meeting you, Your Eminence." Clement extended his hand.
Orion shook it, glancing at me. My serious expression showed I wasn't the cheeky Commander from seconds ago—I was the Combat Specialist leader, future Empress.
I looked at everyone. "What is it?"
The Commanders pulled out their communicators, showing us messages simultaneously. Orion's hand moved to my shoulder as we studied them together. All similar—from their deputies, showing holo-images of white-papered notes next to large Lyrokan bio-prints.
I took Juan's device, enlarging the image to read: You've cast us out and eliminated many. You think you're winning but don't know the game's scale played against you for years. By dawn tomorrow, you won't be among the strongest stations anymore—your station won't exist. We've formed alliances. We've trained. We're ready. Are you? We'll see tonight.
"Rogues," Orion muttered.
As I returned Juan's device, we stared at each other with anger, worry, frustration. How would we secure victory at every station without sacrificing one?
"This is a trap," I said.
Through our bond, I felt Orion's agreement. The Rogue Collective never announced attacks. This was something else. Something connected to Sasha's extraction, to Greg's disappearance, to the deeper game we'd only begun to understand.
They want us separated. Want us rushing to defend individual stations.
"Then we don't play their game," Orion said aloud.
"Exactly." I faced the alliance. "Nobody goes anywhere alone. This isn't about individual stations—it's about dividing us. Making us vulnerable."
Christian's pathways flickered. "The Summit. Three days."
"They're clearing the board," I confirmed. "Getting us scattered, distracted, weakened."
Juan's expression hardened. "So we stay together?"
"We stay smart," I corrected. "And we make them come to us."
The game had evolved. And somewhere out there, Greg was either playing master strategist or desperately trying to warn us. Time to find out which.
I noticed we were attracting curious stares across the tactical operations center. Orion's hand found my shoulders, neural energy flowing through his touch as he suggested gently, "How about we discuss this at my quarters, Lyra? We'll determine how many Lyrokan warriors we need."
I nodded numbly, my skin shifting to that dull grey of anxiety. We walked toward the exit portal with Orion leading the way. Christian and the alliance followed, footsteps echoing in the metallic corridors. We didn't exchange a word during the transport, not even when Orion walked me into his private residence module and then his command office.
I'm worried. Stars, I'm so worried. But I can't show it. Not now.
The Duke and the alliance entered with grim expressions, taking their seats around the holo-table with their Emperor and—still strange to think it—their Empress. Commander Clement and his Combat Specialist, Felicia, looked around with barely concealed curiosity. The space was massive, all dark metals and purple-tinted lights that matched his pathways.
My eyebrows furrowed as I ran calculations in my head. My fingers laced together on the cold table. Everyone stayed silent, watching me think, waiting for my decision.
My eyes remained on the holographic display when I finally spoke. "How many Lyrokan warriors are at your disposal, Orion?"
His large hand covered both of mine, neural sparks cascading through the contact. "It's 'our' disposal, star-heart. And after sending three to Forest Gloom Station yesterday, we have forty-seven left."
"Mm." My features stayed hard, even with Orion's thumb stroking my hand, trying to send calming energy through our bond.
We all knew why there were so few Lyrokan warriors. Lyrokans had been complacent for cycles, untouchable in their own territories. That advantage was gone now.
I cleared my throat. Everyone's backs straightened like cadets at inspection. "We don't know the numbers the Rogues have, or if they're as skilled as they claim. From recent attacks, it's clear they're not as skilled as we are. The only reason they're confident now is because they have Lyrokans this time."
I bit my bottom lip. "There are fifty Lyrokan warriors total. Five stations here. Every station takes ten each. All of you must return to your stations to fight alongside your people. Sylvia will join the Forest Gloom warriors since her station is the only one among us that didn't receive such a threat."
"And you?" Juan asked, his voice carrying that protective edge I knew too well.
I locked eyes with him. "I'm going to Forest Gloom. I'm confident our warriors, together with the Lyrokan warriors, will defend Blue Crescent successfully, Commander."
Using his title won't make this easier, Juan. You know I have to do this.
Juan's eyes darkened, his skin shifting to angry red. "I wasn't asking as your Commander, Lyra. Can't you see this is the Jewel Station tactic all over again?!"
"I can." My response stayed calm.
"Then, for cosmos' sake, don't go to Forest Gloom alone!"
Hale didn't try to calm her partner; her own skin was cycling through worried colors.
"I won't be alone," I said. "Forest Gloom has its own warriors and we're taking the remaining Lyrokan warriors who'll join the three already there. Besides," I glanced at Orion, whose pathways were pulsing possessive purple, "I doubt Orion would let me go there alone."
Orion smiled despite his worry, giving my hands a gentle squeeze. "Good that you know that."
Juan spoke more controlled. "With respect, Your Eminence. None of the Lyrokans have been in actual battle. They're trained but nothing beats experience. Reflexes and muscle memory are crucial for survival. I understand you'll protect my sister—"
Sister. Not Commander. He's pulling that card.
"—but we're talking about protecting an entire station and its allies. Forest Gloom isn't small. She will do anything to protect everyone, even if it means sacrificing herself."
When I felt Orion's grip tighten, his pathways flashing black, I said dryly, "Gee, thanks Juan. That didn't make my match tense at all."
Zelena shouted, her eyes fierce, her skin flashing combat-ready orange. "You're the target, Lyra! You were their target since Jewel Station. You can't expect us to let you go without any Kaelari from this room!"
"We're not taking that chance, Zelena," I replied. "You'll never forgive yourself if something happened to your station and you weren't there. I won't forgive myself if I took every station leader and specialist with me while your people defended themselves."
Toby slammed the table. "OUR STATIONS WILL BE FINE, Lyra! THE LYROKANS ARE NOT ENOUGH! YOU SAID SO YOURSELF THAT OUR SPEED IN COMBAT IS SOMETHING THEY'D TAKE WEEKS TO MATCH! HOW DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO FIGHT HUNDREDS OF ROGUES TONIGHT?!"
If Orion hadn't seen Toby's eyes glistening with unshed tears, the Emperor would've unleashed his rage. But Toby's expression—scared, worried—stopped him. They were all worried about me. I was more worried about the station members we had to protect.
They don't understand. It's not about me. It's never about me.
Before I could respond, Tate spoke softer than Toby. "Lyra, you need at least half of us with you. If you don't, we'll all follow you to Forest Gloom. Our stations would defend themselves without us. Like Blue Crescent, I'm sure the rest of our warriors will manage."
I glared at Tate, who matched my hard expression without flinching.