Once I was on the shuttle, moving away from Ral, it finally occurred to me that I still had no idea how we had survived. I would figure it out eventually, but there was no way I was going to contact the wolves to find out how.

When our ship was en route, a werewolf soldier came to find me. He handed me a small console.

“I have a message from Prince Ral.”

I handed him back the device. “No thank you. I’m not available.”

The soldier frowned, unsure of what to do. “It’s the Prince.”

“He’s not my Prince.” The soldier stepped back. I took a deep breath. “I’m a citizen of the United Coalition and an officer of the Coalition Space Defense Force. I don’t have to answer him if I don’t want to.” I went back to reading my antique paper book.

The soldier tapped the console. He looked at it. And then held the console in front of me. “Prince Ral has ordered me to stand here with the console until you answer.”

I closed my book, stood up, and began to walk away.

I thought better of it, returned and took the console from the soldier. I typed, “Bye,” and handed it back to the soldier.

“There. You’re free to go now, soldier.”

I turned and left. Couldn’t let a poor soldier be stuck standing guard for hours for the stupid whims of an arrogant asshole. I wouldn’t subject a fellow grunt to that kind of pain.

* * *

After getting back to a Coalition base, I checked my messages for the first time in weeks. There were dozens of coms from a particular Alzaran address. I deleted them all without reading, but unfortunately, I couldn’t help seeing the stupid little preview.

3@nightclaw*house*alzar4

You can’t run away. This is not

3@nightclaw*house*alzar4

We need to talk. There’s no point

3@nightclaw*house*alzar4

I’ll find you. You can’t hide forever

I will come for you, every time.

* * *

When we landed, Colonel Chan and Brigadier General Shah were on deck for debriefing. First, there was the official debriefing where I told the story I was supposed to tell. Later, Colonel Chan met me at a bar. She was an old friend and I gave her the unofficial debrief.

At some point when we were both deep into our cups, Chan looked away. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but Prince Ral’s office has made several inquiries as to your whereabouts. He’s left several messages.”

“Delete them. Whatever. I don’t care. He wants me to fly for him. The wolves are developing their own version of the Starbolt. They need someone to teach them to fly.”

Chan took another swig. “We’re already in talks with them about lending them some instructors from the Academy.”

“Is it getting that bad already?”

“Already? We’ve been at war for years. This is official confirmation.”

I clenched my fists. “I need to get back in.”

She shook her head, and put a hand on my forearm. “No. You’re politically too hot. You’re too high profile. In fact, you’ll get the news tomorrow: you’re being discharged. Honorably, of course, with the full range of benefits.”

It took some time for the statement to sink through, but when it did, it sobered me up quickly. “What?”

“Hello, recent elections. The new President isn’t as tolerant as the old one. And they have different prerogatives.”

“Holedark.”

“It’s called a democracy, pilot. Politics changes everything. By the way, you’ll also be awarded for extraordinary service, as long as you keep your mouth shut.

I laughed. Who was I going to tell? But I wasn’t hearing her anymore. All I could think was that I was free. With nowhere to go.

I laughed again. And ordered a few more bottles of sake. The extra cold kind.

* * *

I had only been to New Tokyo a few times, but it’s where my sister had made her mark.

Lauryn picked me up from the spaceport herself. It was all I could do to not burst into tears when she hugged me. Somehow, she knew.

“Oh, Skye,” she said. “You’re the strongest woman I know.”

She took me back to her newest place. The apartment was huge, several floors atop one of New Tokyo’s highest buildings. The penthouse, of course. I had never been there, but the lushly carpeted hallway, our mother’s homemade quilt hanging on the wall, and the familiar scent of childhood cookies brought back memories.

A bitter thought bubbled up in me and I squelched it before I could think of Ral anymore.

I sank down on to a couch that was too damn soft and plush. “You’re not living in this palace by yourself, are you?”

“Not exactly.”

Heavy footsteps. A familiar face appeared. “Xavier!”

Delight shot through me. Xavier had been circling my sister for years. He had been my sister’s best friend, pretty much my big brother growing up.

I ran to him, hugged him. “Damn, you’ve gotten bigger than the last time I’ve seen you.”

“Being stationed on Alzar-4 for more than a decade and turning into a werewolf does that to you.”

Alzar-4. Ral’s home planet. Another reminder of why it never would have worked. It wasn’t an easy adjustment to the heavier gravity of shifter planets. Not that I would have had the time to be on his home turf that often.

What was Xavier doing here? Lauryn gave me a shy satisfied smile as if she were a tiger that had just caught its prey.

I let out a scream. Both of them jumped. “You’re together? That is so great! When is the wedding?”

Xavier gave Lauryn the look that he only used to give when he thought no one was looking. Lauryn gave me a fake dirty look, because she knew I expected a dirty look. Wait a minute…

“Cut the engines, did you already elope?!”

Lauryn blushed.

My hands went to my mouth. “What?!”

My sister held up her hands. “But don’t tell mom.”

Xavier snorted. “Or my moms for that matter. There’s no way either of us is going to get in the way of the three of them trying to planning a wedding.”

I screamed and jumped up and down some more. Xavier went off to make lunch while Skye and I perused about the gallery of outfits the moms were trying to get them to wear.

Xavier’s lunch was a treat made with real vegetables and protein that used to be alive rather than factory-made.

I told them both the whole story about Ral and me.

Xavier leaned back in his chair after I finished my story. “I wasn’t assigned to House Nightclaw. But they have a very honorable reputation. But I find it hard to believe that the Alpha would just visit anyone. He would only do so if he wanted to know if you were a threat.”

“Me?”

“Ral’s a prince. Potential marriage alliances are planned out for years.”

“Don’t think I don’t know that. In any case, Ral used me to as an excuse to break a peace treaty.”

“You’ve been up in space for a long time, Skye.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Xavier narrowed his eyes. “I see the game he’s playing. There’s another player emerging. Ral is trying to make sure the wolves are unified and prepared for what’s to come.”

“What’s to come? You sound like one of those stellarweb sites selling countdown signs to the end of the universe.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“Are you taking his side?”

“No.” Xavier looked at me. “You were collateral damage. You’re military enough to know that you were just another cog in his plans.”

I slumped down on my seat. I had told myself this from the very beginning. I had told myself it didn’t matter. And now I was telling myself I had been too stupid to even believe in any chance of anything else.

It still hurt like crashing into an asteroid, your ship shattering around you into tiny pieces.

Lauryn reached over to hold my hand. “He’s in town, you know. Your prince.”

I nearly choked on my once living, super expensive steak. I coughed for several moments before I could say the words “Excuse me?”

“Yes.” Her fork pushed at a green leaf on her plate. “He…came to my office.”

I was unable to speak anything other than one syllable words. “What? When?”

“A day ago. Supposedly here on a diplomatic visit. But he’s not.” She looked at me.

“How the fuck does he know who you are?” But I knew. He fucking slept in my quarters, figured out all my goddamn secrets.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“What did he say?”

“He wants you back.”

Anger roared in my head, boiling in me, exploding me to my feet. “He’s psychotic.”

Xavier looked at me. “It’s not a small thing for him to come here to Gaia.”

“He’s missing some screws.” I said again. Couldn’t he get a hint? No, because he was a thick and stupid idiot who was never denied anything.

“And there is this. He showed it to me. I think you have to read it.”

She slid an actual paper envelope over to me. A chill went through me. Only highly classified state secrets are ever put on actual paper anymore; you can’t remotely access, download or corrupt the files.

I looked at it. To me, it was more dangerous than a Four-Gen Superior Missile, the banned kind that had used to destroy one of the moons of Taursa. “What is this?”

“Open it.”

I knew I shouldn’t. Part of me wanted to mince it into tiny pieces, set it on fire, and scatter its ashes on the wind.

Instead I did as my sister asked.

It was the schematics for an experimental fighter. Pulsar-ion core. Reinforced starsteel armor coated with invisidust. Quantum particle guns.

The next generation of Starbolt ships.

It was the starship that every pilot worth her engine dreams about. I looked at it again. Where had he got the specs for this? Had he stolen it from the Coalition? Arrogant, arrogant bastard.

He knew I couldn’t ignore this. He knew I wouldn’t have a choice but to come to him.

Another piece of paper fell to the floor. The old-fashioned expensive kind that you could tell actually came from plant fibers.

An invitation to a ball. With my name on it.

I will come for you, every time.

Did he think this was a fairy saga?

Sludgewad suckface.

I realized I was still clutching the schematics.

I looked at it. He wanted a confrontation. I would give him a fight that he would remember in his next lifetime. And then I would rip out his heart and buy old fashioned pointed heels just so I could step on it and stab it over and over again like he did with mine.

“Lauryn, I need another favor. Several, actually.”

The royal gorani-fucker would rue the day he met me.

* * *

Lauryn’s staff poked, primped, and pulverized me for an entire day. They refused to let me see myself until they were completely done.

Then they showed me the mirror.

My normally tightly braided hair was relaxed into soft waves curling around my face, streaked with blond. The one-shouldered dress slashed across me. It was the color of an ocean world viewed against the darkness of space. A stylized arm band curled around my bare bicep, making me look as if I had some strength in my biceps. More stylized forearm bands looked like golden vambraces.

One of the hair people twittered, “The Prince is going to have a heart attack when he sees you.”

I held myself straight. I was pissed off, determined and had what had to be the most amazing makeup job on Gaia. I was ready for battle.

* * *

I clutched my stupid tiny useless handbag as I approached the stairs, thinking about what an archaic, useless accessory it was.

At the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking that this was the wrong action to take. I could have turned the whole thing over to the Coalition Internal Security division and forgotten about it.

But then again, I wasn’t military anymore.

A woman walked by with fluttering pink bat-like wings. Another man, with heavy curled forehorns that would give him neck strain into his old age. The human Gaian elite loved showing off their wealth and status through surgical mods, which were banned in the Coalition military.

It was just another reminder that I didn’t belong here.

“Relax,” said Xavier, tightening his arm around mine. “You have to stop smelling nervous.”

“I can’t help myself. How does one stop smelling nervous? Do you know what a ridiculous statement that is?”

“Stop thinking about it. Look, there he is.”

I saw Ral through the crowd, laughing at a joke. His face was all sunshine and smiles, the perfect picture of a prince. All it did was remind me of the chasm between us.

He was royalty.

I was a nobody.

A vise clamped around my heart. “This was a mistake,” I said to Xavier, gripping his arm more tightly. Oh my stars, was Ral turning in my direction? I put my back to him. “I can’t – ”

“Too late,” said Xavier. “He’s coming.”

I moved toward the door, only to be trapped by Xavier’s strong arm. “Let me go!”

“Is this gentleman bothering you?”

I turned. Ral gave Xavier a murderous glance before turning back to me. “It’s been weeks Captain.”

I inclined my head. “Not long enough, Your Highness.”

Ral still looked as if he was going to disembowel Xavier right there. To his credit, Xavier had that perfect blank military soldier look going on. Ral said through gritted teeth. “Introduce us, Captain. Please.”

I shivered involuntarily at his request. “Your Highness. This is Xavier Stone. He was a liaison -“

“I know who he is.”

“He’s engaged to my sister.”

Ral stopped. He looked at me, his eyes finally taking me in. Lauryn was right. He was probably having a heart attack right there.

Good. I hoped he would fall to the floor and die. Unfortunately the werewolf was not so obliging.

“Your sister,” he said finally.

“Xavier, I need to talk to the Prince alone.”

Xavier released his hold on my arm. “Your Highness, pleasure to make your acquaintance, but I’ll take my leave now."

Ral stood there looking at me expectantly.

“Well,” he said. “Took you long enough.”

“Did you steal those specs from the Coalition?”

“Espionage? That is a serious accusation.” He offered me his arm. “Dance.”

I looked at him. “Really? After all that?”

“Yes.” His eyes softened. “Please. I’ll explain.”

I took his arm. He swept me out on to the floor.

I hadn’t danced with anyone in years. In the stupid evening gown and stupid shoes, I was as clumsy as a soldier wearing exo-armor for the first time. But Ral was as smooth and coordinated as I expected.

“Where did you get those specs? It’s clearly not something developed independently.”

“I bought them.”

“Impossible. The Coalition would never sell –”

“Open war changes plans. As does new leaders in recent elections.”

With every atom of my existence, I wanted to believe him. I wanted to be swept away by his warm hands and lithe movements into this impossible fantasy of a dream.

“I can’t trust you. That’s the problem.”

“The problem was that you ran away.”

“No. You never told me the truth about your plans.”

He shushed me. “I couldn’t.”

Anger boiled within me. I pushed his arms off and stepped back. “You're not even aware that this is something you should be sorry about. There’s nothing more to discuss.”

The room darkened for the beginning of some sort of holo-show. I pushed through the crowd, away from him. There were so many people here I couldn’t even figure out where the exit was. I had to settle for a random interior hallway with a bench. There was a perfectly manicured tree growing in the middle of it, blooming a cacophony of genetically engineered rainbow flowers as well as a few people sitting on other nearby benches.

I sat down on an empty bench and tapped at the com hidden in my bracelet. I sent off a quick inquiry to a friend, the sort of friend deep in bureaucracy who would be able to tell me if Ral was lying. I had barely finished when the response came, a link to a press release, hailing a closer relationship between Unified Alzar and the Coalition.

Ral was telling the truth. I didn’t know what to feel. Should I feel bad for being wrong? Or relieved? And even if it was the truth, then what? That didn’t change what had happened.

He fucking used me, manipulated me, to start a war.

But part of me knew that the war was already here. Now, governments actually acknowledged it. And now maybe something would be done about it.

If I had known what was happening, would I have changed anything?

No.

Then what was this about?

And then I realized.

I was scared, frightened, angry, a volatile mixture roiling within me that would was destined to turn into bitter acid. I couldn’t trust him. Because part of me knew a man like him would never want a woman like me. Part of me had known better. Part me had loved every touch, caress, kiss of his anyway.

I should have known. Men like him were liars. I hadn’t learned my lesson the first time.

This was a mistake.

I should never have come here.

I should never have given him a chance.

I should never have loved him.

I heard Xavier’s voice first. “She doesn’t want to see you.”

I looked up and saw Ral giving his alpha death-glare to Xavier who stood with his back to me. There was a growl, almost sub-vocal but enough to send goosebumps along my skin. It was the warning of a predator before it disemboweled you. Ral growled, his voice deeper and more beast-like than I had ever heard before, as if he were already shifting. “Move. Now.”

I looked up and saw the two of them circling each other. “Stop it!”

Xavier said, his back to me. “Do you want to see him, Skye?”

Fangs began to emerge and eyes began to glow, and Ral’s gorgeous suit tightened and began to tear as the wolf began to emerge.

He may be a prince, but at his core, he was a wolf.

I sighed. Fine. We could have this fight out now. It was what I had come for anyway. “Xavier, let him through."

Xavier glanced back at me. “Are you sure?”

I held Ral’s gaze. “Yes. It will be over in a few moments.”

Ral brushed past Xavier as if he wasn't even there and kneeled before me. What the fuck?

“Skye.” He looked around and realized we had an audience. “Everyone. Out. Now.”

And they listened. They actually fucking listened. All except for Xavier, who looked at me expectantly. I drew my hand across my face. “You might as well go, Xavier.”

Xavier squeezed my shoulder, ignoring the growl from Ral when he touched me. “I’ll be outside waiting if you need me, Skye.”

Ral waited until the double door closed behind Xavier. His hand closed over mine. The scar on the back of his right hand had faded but it was still there, a memory of the Teeth carved into his flesh forever. His voice was low. “You were unexpected.”

Huh. Unexpected. Like a sudden rainstorm. I was the weather. Incidental. I wasn’t going to be “incidental” to anyone, him least of all. “Why are you still here harassing me? You’ve won. Open war. A unified planet to rule. Your own version of a Starbolt. Oh wait, you still need pilots. There are others –”

He interrupted me with a firm, “No. Finding you was unexpected. I didn’t think –”

If I heard any more I would burst into tears. And there was no way in the universe I would give him that satisfaction. I shoved him as hard as I could. The suddenness of my movement almost dropped him on his ass, but he caught himself. It would’ve almost been funny in a different situation. “Stop pretending now. There’s nothing to be gained.”

He leapt up, my hand back on his. “There is an entire lifetime at stake.” He took my hand and placed it on his chest.

He was so warm.

“What are you talking about?”

“Us. Don’t you feel the truth of what we have, Skye?”

My heart was tight. “What did you ever tell me that was the truth?”

“I never lied to you. But I couldn’t tell you the whole truth.”

“Let me guess. It’s complicated. The wolves needed to show those damn tiger shifters they couldn’t go and imprison two royal werewolves without consequences. When you went back, you were daring them to fire on you to start a war. Having them fire on a Coalition ship meant you turned the tigers into a Coalition enemy.”

“Skye! My brave beautiful Captain Skye!” He crushed me to him. He smelled amazing. His voice lowered to a whisper. “I didn’t know I would meet you. I didn’t know how important you would be.”

I tried to pull back. “Yes, important to your plans –”

He grabbed me by the shoulders. “No. Not just to my plans. To me. To my heart. To my future. I don’t want a future without you.”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep the tears from coming to my eyes. “I can’t give you what you want.”

“All I want is your forgiveness, Skye.”

“Now you’re the one who is lying.”

“You’re right. I want you with me for a lifetime.”

The words started to sink in slowly. Improbable. Impossible.

“After all that’s been said and done? There’s something wrong with your screws.”

“I have nothing to lose.”

I looked at him in his classic black suit, the crispness of the white collar at his throat, the carefully tousled hair, and the intense focused gaze that had the power to make my knees weak.

He knelt again before me. He pulled me against him, his breath warm against the thin fabric against my abdomen.

I was no match for him. It was all I could do to hold the line. I had to hold the line. My life was on the line. My voice trembled. “Stop it. I’m not royalty. I’m not a werewolf. I’m not even a Coalition soldier anymore. I’m not anything. I can’t be your concubine on the side while you go make legacy babies with a werewolf princess.”

“You’re the best pilot in the known universe. You’re a warrior who takes impossible odds and smashes them to atoms. I don’t want you to be my limited term contract bride. I want you to be my wife. Always. Forever.”

My head echoed with the enormity of his words.

I was trembling. No more exo-armor. No more defenses.

If I let him in, I would be gone forever. I would go beyond the stars for him. I would face space dragons and fly to the edge of a black hole for him.

A small voice, that couldn’t possibly belong to me. “Is that even possible?”

His hands steadied mine. “If you say yes, it is.”

He would utterly and completely destroy me.

“It can’t be that simple.”

His hands tightened against the fabric, crumpling some parts of the dress that probably shouldn’t be crumpled. “I’m a prince, Skye. It is that simple. Say yes.”

But without him, I was a crashed flaming wreck.

I forced myself to breathe, stiffened my spine. “I thought I told you. I don’t take orders from you. Why don’t you put it in writing, make it an official request.”

Ral’s smile was wicked. “If it pleases you I will. For now, please accept my humble request. Please, marry me. Please, Skye. Please, be my wife.”

For every ‘please’ I utter, there will be a time when you will return them to me tenfold.

His hand found the slit of my dress. Fingers with calluses stroked the skin of my upper thigh. The sensation was at odds with the image of the perfect prince in front of me. It reminded me of who Ral really was: a warrior.

A man who loved me.

It really was that simple.