I’m instantly awake.

SINTRA has a warrant out for my mate’s arrest?! How is this even possible?!

Leah turns to me, her eyes wide and filled with shock. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins, ruining this moment. Last night was beyond wonderful. Our very hearts and souls were connected. I’ve never felt better in my life.

Now I know what it feels like to be complete. And SINTRA wants to tear that away from me?!

Over my dead body.

I will protect Leah with everything that I have. They will rue the day they came for my mate.

“We must travel to the Sacred Order at once,” I say.

“You don’t think…”

“Of course not!” I growl. “The Zorans will never hand you over to SINTRA, I promise you that.”

“Okay,” she says. “Okay. I believe you.”

How I wish we could stay here on Arcor, in our own little bubble, far away from the world and its many problems…

Alas, that is not possible. We are Chosen. The universe has bestowed powers upon us, and with that comes responsibility.

We are both silent for the shuttle ride back to the surface of New Exon, the tension in the air palpable. This time we head straight for the temple, instead of the docks, and rush up the stairs to Mother Dragica’s room.

I open the door to find — who else — Resha there, along with a contingent of his soldiers.

“They finally show up,” Resha bristles. “The troublemakers themselves.”

Mother Dragica pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

“Davor. Leah. I am glad you came.”

“Is it true?” I say.

“It is,” Resha sneers. “That human you are harboring is a fugitive of the Federation. You are breaking intergalactic law with every passing second.”

“And since when do you care about upholding the law?” I sneer. “There was nothing lawful about locking me up, about beating a man when he’s down, about pointing a rifle at a fellow Zoran!”

Mother Dragica’s gasps. “Resha, is this true?! How dare you?!”

He shrugs his massive red shoulders. “He’s a freak,” he snarls. “Look at him! He’s an abomination!”

“I will pretend I didn’t hear that,” she says sharply. “May I remind you that you are on Temple Grounds, young warrior. And us Kazimir types have long memories. Very long memories.”

Resha straightens his back, although he doesn’t wipe the angry growl from his face. Still, I think he’s taken the hint.

“My point stands,” he says. “This is proof that outlanders can’t be trusted. And you violated every law we have by bringing her into our home. I did what I thought was right.”

“There’s your problem,” the Sacred Mother says. “Thinking! You should leave that to your Elders.”

A few of Resha’s men can’t help but snicker, much to his annoyance.

“The arrest warrant is false,” I say. “There is simply no way the Federation is looking for her. They are trying to deceive us.”

Resha shakes his head. “Fake or not, SINTRA was clear. If we do not hand her over, they will come get her themselves.”

His words make me teem with anger, so much so that my Zorashi symbols glow with white hot rage. I never thought highly of the warrior, but even I didn’t think he would sell another Zoran out.

“The Chosen are protected by the Sacred Order!” Mother Dragica thunders as she rises from her seat. She is thin but very tall, and she towers over all of us. “It is the duty of the Warrior Regiments to keep the temples and its guests safe! Or do you think that we Zorans should capitulate to enemy, that we should roll over on our back and expose our soft, weak bellies?”

“No,” Resha says begrudgingly. “I do not.”

“Then stop with this borderline treasonous talk!” Dragica says. “If these interloper think they can make demands of us, they have another thing coming. I suggest you ready your war ships, Resha. You will need them.”