He sat back in his chair, completely numb as the vidcast terminated. The pregnancy had been difficult from the very beginning and only a few hours ago he’d received the message that Joslynn had lost the babe. The queen mother had contacted him personally with tears in her eyes and he’d known before she’d even said a word.

Sirus ran his hand through his hair and tried to figure out what he was going to do with all the rage simmering in his chest.

He wanted to tear the galaxy apart and roar his fury at the sky.

And now the love of his life was forced to go through this alone. He couldn’t even comfort her in this time of grief.

Queen Adelina had ordered them to pull back to the Core. But he’d stayed on Scyria with the forces on the front lines nearby. Close enough to reach Asher outside the Core’s shield in a few hours if needed. Giselle – was she even still a princess? – commanded that small army of criminals. They remained outside the Core’s shield as the first line of defense.

Neprijat showed themselves every once in a while, but their numbers were dwindling while they were trapped inside the Draga System thanks to the shields.

He looked around his destroyed room deep under the surface of the planet. It was better than the family seat on the surface, but those hounds had managed to reach even the bowels of his seat.

Growing up in this place as the third-born to the Countess of Scyria hadn’t been as awful as some made it out to be. Sirus had enjoyed training and studying with his brothers, completely content with his life. But now his oldest brother and his sister-in-law were dead.

Peter had taken his niece, Charlotte, to Priea with the rest of the Scyrian refugees. His only living brother had been signed on as Lord of Scyria until Charlotte came of age. No more court life for Peter. He was now essentially a father to a newborn.

Rage so hot and heavy that it nearly choked him, but it also burned up any tears he may have shed for his family and all that had been taken from him.

And now the gods and goddesses had seen fit to take his unborn child as well.

When would it be enough? When would they deem that enough had died and cease the suffering?

But this was war. The suffering had only just begun.

At least Sirus could feel a tiny bit of gratitude that his child would not suffer at the hands of the Neprijat. The new queen would take back the Hai System, but there was so much more to do – so many more of the Neprijat than they’d ever considered possible.

Sirus stood and grabbed his armor. He needed to work off as much fury as he could. Stepping into the spidersilk armor he activated it and then checked his weapons. Another patrol so soon would worry his warriors, but he couldn’t wait.

Hunting down those monsters had been his only solace the last few weeks.

They’d cleared Scyria within a few days, but the surrounding space seemed to have a never- ending source of Neprijat warriors. He was almost starting to figure out their exit and entry points.

Sitting near one of their popular locations would offer him an outlet. Then he could blow them all to pieces. The smaller ships didn’t take as much firepower to destroy.

“Sir?” one of his warriors asked as he strode through the seat for the lift they’d only just repaired the other day.

He couldn’t even bring himself to respond without raging. His warriors didn’t deserve the full brunt of his emotions. So he entered the lift and selected the surface. The male entered with him.

“Off to patrol again?” the young warrior asked.

Sirus didn’t bother trying to remember his name. It would come to him later, but all he could think of at the moment was the loss he felt so keenly – far too soon after the last one. They’d barely just lit the pyres of his mother, brother, and sister-in-law a little over two weeks ago. And so many more. Thousands who had died in the attack – warrior and civilian alike.

The queen mother had mentioned Joslynn was alive and well despite the miscarriage and intended to return to her people, soon to be their people, until the evacuation orders were lifted. And Sirus could do nothing to help her.

All he could do was fight and kill and hopefully finish this war so he could go home to her. So he could make their home safe again. Then maybe he would finally find solace. But Sirus knew it would be a while yet before that could happen.

He stepped out of the lift the second the doors opened and the warrior beside him called out for preparations for their ships – small fighters that had been tweaked to be able to resist Neprijat firepower and take them out.

Finally Sirus turned to study the male beside him. Young and fearless and reckless as they all were when they first joined up. But his face showed battle scars. “How long have you been serving?” Sirus asked.

The male gave him a solemn shrug as they entered the hangar. “Since I turned eighteen cycles, Lord Sirus. I was never on your personal ship, but I joined your forces after the attack on Scyria. Previously I ran local patrols. I got into a fight with one of the great cats a few cycles ago,” he said as way of explanation for the state of his face. “I’m lucky to be alive.”

Sirus stopped and checked the seal of his armor. “Indeed you are. Your name, warrior?”

“Zane, Lord Sirus. I’m sorry about the Countess and…everything.” Those piercing blue eyes and nearly white hair were shocking anywhere else other than Scyria. The lad was tall and strong though, a fighter. “You looked like you could use some company.”

This young warrior thought he needed company? “You don’t have better things to do?” Sirus snapped, feeling that rage claw at him. He needed to get into his fighter now.

“I finished my twelve hour shift. This is my rest time. I figure I can do whatever I like with it – within reason of course, Lord Sirus.”

He grunted. “Fine, keep up or get left behind.” Sirus stalked to his ship and tried not to think about how much it touched him the young lad was willing to put himself in unspeakable danger – and on his rest time as well. All because he thought Sirus needed a companion.

Getting in the fighter and taking off was done in record time and Sirus felt like he could breathe again once he’d broken through the atmosphere and he was surrounded by nothing but stars.

Asher’s order to retreat to the Core hadn’t tempted him at all. Sirus had been surprised the dark prince had agreed and allowed him to stay on Scyria with his army, he supposed keeping a feel for the space between the Kharan border and the Core was smart. He would know the best route for them to take when the time came.

Because Sirus didn’t know when, but soon they would be called to advance. He could feel it in his bones – a warrior’s sixth sense he supposed.

“On your six,” the young warrior said over the comms. “Know where we’re headed?”

Sirus gritted his teeth, but deep down he was grateful to the boy. Being alone right now could be…dangerous – but with a young one to look after he couldn’t afford any mistakes. “Just follow me.”

They flew through space to one of Sirus’s favorite hunting grounds, faster than ever before now that Roxy’s engine tech had been spread across the Draga System.

Everyone had been upgrading ships and weapons at a speed just shy of dangerous. They only had time for one test round, but they all knew the risks. Mechanics stayed close just to be safe. Anything bigger than a fighter had a mechanic stationed on it who specialized in the tech.

Otherwise they might very well blow themselves up and leave Draga defenseless for the Neprijat to take without a smidge of resistance.

Sirus snarled and attacked when a Neprijat ship appeared. He fired instantly, taking it out. If he were lucky this would be a patrol of four. Such a strange number to favor.

Losing himself in the battle Sirus couldn’t think about what he’d lost – he didn’t have the time to. Survival was all he could focus on – that and working with the young warrior who was surprisingly gifted, matching Sirus move for move so they practically danced around the Neprijat.

The rage eased with each kill – with each ship he absolutely obliterated. They already had enough intact Neprijat ships to form a legion.

Destroying them completely helped settle the ache in his chest, but Sirus knew the grief would be there until the day he died. Only time could ease its sharpness – only the future he dreamed of could make it more bearable.

Charlotte would one day rule as Countess of Scyria. Peter had changed overnight once he’d been declared guardian. Sirus knew his brother would raise her well – teach her their ways and the warrior’s path. He hoped she would have his mother’s iron will and his sister-in-law’s kindness.

Sirus hoped that they could win this war without sacrificing too much so that they had something to come back to after it was all over.

Joslynn was strong and capable. She would manage her people—their people with grace and kindness. She would do whatever was best, whatever was necessary to keep them safe.

They were nearing the fleet of pirates turned privateers so Sirus turned back around, planning to do a loop before heading back to Scyria. Then he heard the series of sounds that indicated a royal message, overriding the Draga Royal Army’s fleet-cast protocol so all could hear.

“This is Adelina speaking,” a soft, whisper of words with a backbone of steel. “I am Queen of Draga.”

She paused and Sirus watched the stars fly by without really seeing them. This was what he’d been anticipating, but he felt his heart lurch into his throat as he waited to hear what she had to say.

“There are 1.3 million Neprijat warships headed for the Khara System. Each planet in Khara has a force of Neprijat guarding it, but three legions of over a million each on Khara Prime alone. I’m telling you this so you know what our odds are.”

Holy gods. Sirus’s grip tightened on his steering as he did the math.

“I’m not telling you this so that you may despair; I’m telling you this so you know that I believe our way of life is worth the risk,” Adelina said. Her words were quiet, but Sirus could feel that Draga dominance even over the cast. It made his spine straighten. “I will do anything and everything necessary to protect Draga, Hai, and then free those still in Khara. With all of you, I believe we have a chance. A small one, but it’s there. And I refuse to give up.”

Even Sirus could sense her hesitation and he closed his eyes, fearing the worst.

“But…but if you think we would be better off if I were to surrender to the Neprijat…I will do so.”

They didn’t deserve her. Adelina was a true leader – a true queen.

Sirus had never met anyone like her before in his life. She was…exactly what they needed.

Whatever she asked of him, he would do. He would fly right into the horde if she told him that’s what was needed to win – to give Joslynn the safety he’d promised her.

He wasn’t surprised when Asher’s voice cut in. “Dear sister, I believe you’re trying to steal all the glory.” The words were carefully bored, mimicking the way he always was on the livestream, but after spending time with him, Sirus knew better. The dark prince was desperately trying not to let the people know he feared their queen would sacrifice herself for them all.

“Lord Sirus, she can’t—she won’t, right?” Zane asked over their private cast, desperate fear lacing his words.

“Hush, and listen,” Sirus snapped.

He could hear the smile in her words as the queen responded after a long pause. “Are you saying you want to fight, brother?”

“I’m saying I refuse to let you give yourself up when I am more than willing to slaughter every last one of them,” Prince Asher snapped. “Allow me to advance to the border so that we may discuss in person the best way to win? I can think of at least three battles where we were outnumbered ten to one and still met with victory.”

Sirus completely understood the prince. He felt much the same. These females in their lives…the gods and goddesses had to be laughing as the males scrambled to keep up with them.

The queen continued speaking as Sirus tried to think which battles Asher referred to. “Delphine is on her way to you with the information that I couldn’t share over the livestream or fleet-cast. She will have the rendezvous point as soon as she is finished with her hunt.”

He didn’t know who Delphine was, but he did know they needed to get back to Scyria, pull back all the forces, and ready for departure. “Let’s head back,” he told Zane. “We’re going to move out soon.”

“She’s not going to give herself up, right?” the boy asked again, still worried.

And Sirus understood that fear. They finally had a queen worth dying for.

“No, she won’t,” he reassured. “She has us.”

And he sent in his reply, a severe resounding ‘no’ for her to turn herself in.

“Lord Sirus?” Asher’s voice crackled over a private transmission.

“I heard.” He steered them back toward Scyria with blinding speed. The combat landing had personnel coming out of every crack and crevice to see what was going on. “I’m readying the Scyrian Army now. Orders?”

“Send me the best route to the border closest to the Hai System,” Asher said, sounding a bit distracted. “Head to the coordinates I’m sending you and send back any intel as you scout ahead. I’ll be amassing the rest of the armies and leaving within the day.”

“Yes, sir,” Sirus said, feeling his purpose renew for the first time in weeks.

They’d freed the Hai System and now had those Drakesthai forces. If they could just take Khara before the horde arrived they had an actual chance of winning.

Then Sirus could go back to Joslynn.

He stepped out of the fighter and his people looked to him. “I want everyone and everything ready to move out in three hours.”

The scurrying that followed lifted his spirits.

Nothing could make up for what he’d lost, but Sirus planned to make the universe pay for what it had made him and the people he loved endure.