The deck of the Halloran rolled under me as the waves struck it, and around me the crew muttered nervously. Men and women who I'd seen leap into battle against a sea serpent held their breath. This was a hundred times as dangerous, and they knew it. That they'd agreed to this mad plan at all was a miracle.

At the horizon, the sheer cliffs of Perhar rose from the sea. And at their top, the castle of the Perhar Protector waited. We were hidden from them in the morning fog, but that wouldn't last.

"Any closer and their lookouts will see us for certain," Captain Orshak said quietly. "This close and it won't take long. Even one scout flying over..."

"I know," I said, gripping the hilt of my sword. "This will have to do."

It wasn't as close as I'd like. Once the Perhar were alerted to our presence, they'd have time to react — unlike their own lightning raid on my home. My fingers tightened their grip, knuckles going white as I thought about that dishonorable attack.

"You won't get away with this," Alishan said, struggling with the guard holding her. "My brother will kill you all."

I turned to her, face like thunder, and she shut her mouth with a snap. She'd lost her infuriating smile the moment that we'd taken her prisoner, and it hadn't reappeared yet. If this plan succeeded at nothing else, at least I had that.

Her capture had been easy enough. Despite her cunning, she'd assumed she was safe as long as her brother held Gemma, and the look on her face when I took her captive instead was one I'd treasure forever. Assuming my plan worked, anyway.

If it didn't, if it ended with Gemma's death — no. I couldn't think about that.

"Not sure why you brought the Perhar princess along," Orshak said. "Keeping her prisoner in your castle would give you leverage."

"No," I said, looking away from her. "No, it wouldn't. Ashir isn't the kind of man who'll change his plans because of a threat to his family. With us, though, she may have a use."

Alishan had guts, I'd give her that. Rather than shrinking away from me she glared, but she couldn't find it in her to argue. After a moment I turned away and looked at my assembled team. There weren't many of us, but it would have to be enough. There was no choice.

"If you try this and fail, it's over for you," Alishan said, a note of pleading creeping into her voice. "Your clan, too. You'll have no warriors left to defend yourselves, and my brother will take a terrible revenge on your people! It's not too late to turn back, to save the people you protect. Ashir doesn't even have to know that this happened."

"It was too late the moment your brother laid his hands on my mate," I said, and my guards murmured agreement. Gemma had only lived amongst us for a short while, but they all cared for her. Every one of them had volunteered for this mad mission, despite the risk. It warmed my heart and I smiled as I turned to them.

In the distance, a trade barge lumbered towards port. That was the signal, and it was nearly time to go. One last time I checked my weapons and the buckles of my wings. Around me the others did the same. One chance, one shot, it has to go right.

My only fear was that we might not reach Gemma in time. Ashir had already proved that he'd use her against me, and I knew that he wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I gave him the chance. This time, though, I'd be ready. I wouldn't fail my mate again.

I watched the barge sail up to the dock. A scheduled shipment of off-world goods, it was the kind of treasure that the crew of the Halloran would usually be interested in seizing. Not today. This time when they'd intercepted it, I'd convinced them to go with a different plan.

Everyone on deck held their breath, including me. Even Alishan did, despite not knowing what was about to happen. She could feel the tension in the air as the seconds passed.

"Something's gone wrong," Prisha said as the seconds stretched. "Did your men fuck it up?"

As though that was the signal, a bright light filled the sky. The sound of the explosion followed moments later, a rumbling boom like thunder that shook the deck. Flames engulfed the barge, and I saw them glint from the wings of the attackers who'd taken off seconds before the blast.

Almost all of my forces had been aboard the trade ship, and now they were on the attack at the dock. In the chaos and fire and confusion, they'd do a lot of damage... but unless we did our part, they had no way to escape. They were relying on me and the pirates to get them a way out.

"That'll have their attention," I said. "Now we take advantage of it."

With that, I drew my sword and leaped from the ship. My wings snapped out, the engine in their harness catching and carrying me swiftly over the waves. My guards followed, as did the pirates, and we flew at top speed towards the shore. We had to take advantage of the Perhar's shock and surprise, or this was all for nothing.

The morning fog still hid us as we closed in on the cliff, and behind us the Halloran accelerated, engines roaring as it raced for the burning port. That would hold the attention of the enemy as we approached, and let them think they understood what was happening. Phase cannons roared from the castle, energy beams ripping into the sea as they tried to target the ship. A pirate attack on the port was the kind of danger that they were prepared for.

What I was doing wasn't. That was the only reason that it might work.

I pulled up into a climb, faster and closer to the cliff than was safe. If my wings so much as brushed it, I was dead. But if I flew at a safe distance, there was too much chance of the lookouts seeing me despite the distraction. I'd take the risk.

I'd take any risk for my Gemma.

Behind me, the others followed, slower and more cautious. I pulled ahead, impatient.

Above me someone called out an alarm. They'd seen us at last, but it was too late. I crested the wall of the castle and a blade slashed past me. The lookout had good reactions but a lousy aim.

I didn't give him a second chance. Landing with both feet on his chest, I drove my sword into his throat before he could recover. A half dozen guards faced me, shocked by my unexpected arrival. Their commander reacted first, grabbing for his communicator. Smart: there weren't enough guards left on the walls to stop us. Most would be on their way down to the port to face the attack there. That gave me my chance.

Hitting the harness release, I dropped my wings and charged. No going back now.

I threw my knife, the heavy blade catching the morning sun before it struck the officer in the neck. He fell back in spray of blood, dropping his communicator, alert unsent. Then I was in amongst the rest of them, my sword swinging. One of the guards fell with a slash across his face, another barely parried my blade only for my kick to take his feet out from under him.

A third swung for my neck and I ducked under the sword. A lunge buried my own in my attacker's chest and dropped him, but that left me vulnerable. Another guard slashed at me, for a moment I thought I'd taken on too many

Then my allies arrived. Prisha came first, releasing her wings to drop down on the guard threatening me. A long knife in each of her hands, she knocked him to the floor in a bloody flurry of stabbing. Captain Orshak was close behind her, roaring with delight as he buried his heavy spear in another of the guards. In seconds, we had the roof under control.

"More'll be here soon," Orshak shouted, sounding happier with that than he had any reason to be. "Go! Get your girl, we'll hold them off."

The old pirate grinned and gestured with his bloody spear, directing his men towards the castles guns. I nodded to him. This was as far as our alliance could carry us — his first duty was to protect his ship, and his second was to gather loot to pay his men. That was the deal we'd made.

The rest was up to me.

Smashing open the door, I ran inside, my guards following. Somewhere in the fortress my Gemma was waiting for me to rescue her.