7. Naeris
The next morning, I woke with my heart already hammering. My crew—Jax, Marek, Rylan—they’d been with me for three years of running, fighting, and burning every bridge the Luminous Order ever built. I needed to see them. Needed to know they were alive and whole.
I dressed quickly in the clean black clothes left for me and stepped into the corridor.
Two Pandraxian guards stood outside. I informed them that I wanted to see my crew, and they fell in behind me, giving short directions on where to go.
I guess Xandros was true to his word, and we were guests with shadows. Fine.
They led me to a decent-sized breakroom. Earth hung in the viewport like a blue-and-white promise. Two of my men were already there.
Jax Harlan looked up first, and relief flashed across his scarred face. Marek Voss leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, ever the quiet observer. Rylan Kane stepped in a moment later, all easy swagger and bright eyes.
“Commander,” Jax greeted, standing. “You’re okay.”
“I am.” I moved to the table, keeping my voice low. “We’re being treated as guests for now. The Pandraxians and… the others… aren’t our enemies. At least not yet.”
I gave them the short version: the Arkhevari, the three human women who seemed genuine, the ancient names Ashera and Caelor.
They listened without interruption, and their grim faces mirrored my own sentiments, but they agreed we should give the Pandraxians and Arkhevari the benefit of the doubt for now and to proceed with a wait-and-see attitude.
“What about Kael’Varyn?” Marek asked quietly.
I exhaled. “His last orders were clear: take the prisoners to Earth. We’re here. If the rebellion is still fighting, this is where he’ll find us. For now, we cooperate cautiously. Gather intel. Stay alive.”
Rylan dropped into the chair beside me, close enough that his knee brushed mine.
He’d always been like that, cocky, protective, the one who’d taken a blaster burn meant for me on Calyx-9 without hesitation.
Three years of shared blood and narrow escapes had forged something deeper than rank between us.
He’d never pushed when I shut him down, but the quiet hope in his eyes never quite died.
“You look like hell, Commander,” he observed. “But the good kind of hell. Like you could still kick the universe’s ass and make it thank you.”
I managed a tired smile. “Flattery won’t get you out of watch duty, Rylan.”
He grinned, but his eyes flicked toward the door, assessing. “If these golden bastards try anything?—”
“They won’t,” I cut in. “Not yet. We play this smart.”
The temperature in the room dropped when, as if summoned by my words, Thyros’ large body filled the doorway like a storm given form. His crimson-gold aura flared once, dark at the edges, the moment his gaze locked on Rylan’s knee, still brushing mine.
Rylan froze. For the first time since I’d known him, the easy swagger faltered. He’d faced down Sythari priests and slavers without blinking, but something in Thyros’ stare made even him go still.
I lifted my chin, refusing to shrink. The bond between Thyros and me snapped taut like a live wire dragged across raw nerves.
Heat flooded my core so fast I had to clench my thighs together under the table.
My nipples tightened against my shirt. Once again I felt him, felt the phantom weight of his body pinning me, the thick press of his cock, the low growl of mine echoed in my blood.
Thyros’ jaw flexed. His aura flared brighter, and crimson bled into molten gold. I watched his hands curl into fists at his sides, his knuckles standing out in a darker gold, as if he were physically fighting the urge to drag me out of the room.
“Can I help you?” I narrowed my eyes at him, making it clear I didn't welcome his presence.
Thyros ignored Rylan completely. His burning gaze stayed locked on mine, heavy, intense, full of too many things I didn’t want to name. The bond pulsed hotter between us, raw lust and bone-deep recognition that made my pulse hammer between my thighs.
Rylan, because he had more courage than sense, leaned back with that familiar cocky smirk. “She’s our commander. Been keeping her safe for years. Don’t think we need a golden babysitter.”
Thyros' aura flared so violently that the lights in the room flickered. The temperature spiked. He took one step forward, every inch the executioner. His cock visibly strained against his pants, and the muscles in his neck corded with the effort not to lunge.
I stood slowly, placing myself between them. My hand brushed Thyros’ arm accidentally, but the contact sent a jolt straight to my clit. I bit back a gasp.
“Enough,” I ordered, forcing sharp command into my voice. “All of you.”
Thyros’ eyes met mine again. Dark. Burning.
The bond roared between us like a live current.
For one dangerous second, the rest of the room faded.
Just him and me and the invisible storm that crackled in the space between our bodies.
My skin felt too tight. My pussy ached, slick and ready, my body having already decided I belonged spread beneath him.
I tore my gaze away and focused on Ella, who had appeared behind Thyros with Nadine at her side. Ella took one look at the standoff and sighed. “Boys. Really?” She stepped into the room, calm and steady. “We’re all on the same side here. Or trying to be.”
Thyros didn’t move. His gaze stayed locked on me, heavy and unrelenting. I felt it like a physical touch sliding down my throat, across my collarbones, lower. My body reacted before my brain could stop it. More heat pooled low.
I wanted to snarl at him. I wanted to shove him out the door. I wanted—No!
I tore my eyes away and focused on Ella. “What do you need?”
She gave me a small, understanding smile. “We’re heading down to the surface soon. We’d like you to come with us, if you’re willing. You might recognize things we don’t. Places, symbols, anything connected to your people’s history.”
I considered it. Part of me wanted to refuse on principle. The smarter part knew this might be my best chance to gather real information and maybe find a way to contact Kael’Varyn.
“I’ll think about it,” I said carefully. “After I speak with my crew. Alone.”
Thyros made a low sound in his chest, not quite a growl, but close enough to send another unwanted shiver down my spine. He finally stepped back, though it looked like it cost him.
Ella nodded. “Take the time you need. We’ll be in the main briefing room when you’re ready.”
She herded Nadine out. Thyros lingered one heartbeat longer, eyes still burning into mine, before he turned and followed them. The door slid shut behind the three of them, leaving me alone with my men and the ghost of that golden thread still tugging insistently at my chest.
Rylan, with his space slug survival skills, let out a low whistle. “Well. That was intense.”
Narrowing my eyes, I turned on him, “You have no idea who you just baited.”
He laughed, that cocky, careless sound that had gotten him into trouble more times than I could count. “Doesn’t matter. I can take him?—”
“I’d love to see you try,” Jax cut in dryly. “There won’t be anything left of you within ten seconds.”
Marek leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Five.”
Jax grinned. “You’re on.”
I shook my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Men.”
All three of them looked at me with varying degrees of innocence. I didn’t have the patience for their posturing right now.
“I’m going down to the surface with the others,” I told them. “Ella and Nadine seem to know what they’re doing, and they’re offering real answers about Earth. About us. This might be the only chance we get to learn what the Order never wanted us to know.”
Jax’s expression darkened. “You sure that’s smart, Commander? That golden… whatever he is… they’re not exactly the trusting type.”
"Arkhevari," I filled them all in. "That's what they call themselves."
Rylan muttered, still scowling at the door like he could burn a hole through it. “That one looked at you like he wanted to eat you alive. Or drag you off somewhere private. Maybe both.”
I ignored the unwelcome heat that flared low in my belly at his words.
“It doesn’t matter what he wants. I make my own choices.
And right now, going down to Earth with them gives us the best chance to gather intel and figure out our next move.
You three stay here. Rest. Stay sharp. If anything goes wrong, I need you ready. ”
Rylan opened his mouth—probably to argue—but I pinned him with a hard stare.
“Too bad,” I said before he could speak. “I’m still the boss.”
He closed his mouth, though the look he gave me made it very clear he wasn’t happy. Jax and Marek exchanged a glance but didn’t push. They knew when to trust my judgment. I turned toward the door. The two Pandraxian guards were still waiting outside, polite but watchful.
“Take me to Ella and the others,” I told them.
They nodded without hesitation, almost… relieved?
One of them even offered a small, respectful incline of his head as he gestured down the corridor.
All while we walked, I felt the pull of that golden thread tugging insistently behind my ribs, growing stronger with every step.
I could almost sense him, like a storm on the horizon.
I clenched my jaw and kept walking. Whatever this was between us, I wasn’t going to let it control me. Not yet; not ever, if I could help it.
But as the guards led me toward the briefing room where my hosts were waiting, I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that the universe had already made its choice.