Arton clasped his hands behind his back, afraid he’d punch his best friend squarely in the face if he didn’t see reason soon. “It was no empty threat, Kage. The Sarronti will attack if we don’t relocate. The other planet was—”

“I am not abandoning an uninhabited planet because you had a bad dream!” Kage seldom raised his voice, but he was shouting now, had been shouting for the past ten minutes. They stood in the living room of Kage’s cabin, both too wound up to sit.

“There is no other choice,” Arton insisted.

“I need proof.” Kage snarled then shook his head. “You said this wasn’t a vision, that your abilities didn’t engage.”

“It wasn’t. I don’t know how she did it.” He shrugged, hoping his calm would deescalate Kage. “Maybe Skyla can explain how it was done.”

“Has Skyla seen the elf witch too?”

Arton sighed. This was the first time in recent years Kage doubted Arton’s visions. But then, as Kage said, Arton’s experience hadn’t been a vision. Not even a dream really. How could he expect the overlord to accept what he was saying when he couldn’t even define what had taken place?

“Isolaund has appeared to no one but me. Lily saw her that day in the forest. Does that help my credibility?” His credibility shouldn’t need help. His warnings and advice had guided Kage for two decades.

“You think the cloaked figure Lily saw was this elf witch?” Kage managed not to sound dubious, but Arton still sensed his doubt.

“Isolaund admitted as much. She ordered her battle cats to capture Lily and bring her into the woods, but one of them bit too hard and Lily was hurt.”

“The elf told you all of this?” And his skepticism bled through in his tone.

“Yes, sir.” Arton ground out the title between clenched teeth. They should be packing up the ships, preparing for departure! “I wasn’t dreaming and I have no reason to lie. I want a home of my own as much as anyone.”

“Then why have you rejected your female?” Kage lashed out unexpectedly.

Arton just glared at him. What transpired between him and Lily was no else’s business. He would not justify his decisions concerning her to anyone.

“I’ll double the perimeter guards and we’ll start fortifying the Wheel. Without tangible proof to explain my actions, that’s the best I can do.”

Preparing for a war they could easily avoid made no sense to Arton. Still, he understood Kage’s position. The Outcasts were starting to settle into a routine. They’d established boundaries and made their surroundings functional, if not yet comfortable. If Kage uprooted everyone without tangible proof that his actions were justified, one of the warlords would challenge his right to rule. And the consequences of that could be disastrous.

“Understood,” Arton grumbled and turned toward the door. “I’ll keep searching for evidence.”

“Back to Lily.” The harsh snap in Kage’s tone brought Arton to an abrupt halt. “Stop avoiding her. That’s an order.”

Slowly Arton turned around. The overlord had no right to interfere in his personal life, and his best friend couldn’t issue orders. “I’m not avoiding her. Our affair is over. It’s as simple as that. End of story.”

“Bullshit. You think she’s too good for you and it’s really pissing me off.”

Arton glanced at Kage, then away, unable to bear the compassion in his friend’s dark stare.

“How many times do I have to say it?” Kage asked. “You did nothing wrong.”

Arton swallowed awkwardly as he turned his head back around. “I’ve killed hundreds of people and reveled in the violence.”

“Wiping out enemies within the context of war is not murder. As for enjoying it.” Kage shrugged. “It’s a risk for every soldier. Battle creates a powerful rush that can become addictive.”

“I also forced those girls to—”

“You kept them alive long enough to be rescued! A rescue you arranged at great risk to yourself.” Kage’s compassion was now tinged with an intensity that kept Arton from looking away. “If you hadn’t fucked them, each one would be dead. Harbingers don’t make idle threats. They would have killed the females one by one and forced you to watch them die. I’ve seen a whole lot more than you wanted me to see.”

Arton said nothing. His throat was too tight to speak.

“Knock this shit off and go claim Lily. You’ve tortured her long enough.”

“I’m not torturing her,” Arton finally found his voice again. “I’m freeing her to find happiness with—”

“She won’t be happy with anyone but you. Stop lying to yourself!”

“Stop interrupting me!”

Kage crossed his arms over his chest, his glare now as heated as Arton’s. “If I thought for one instant I could make her happy, I’d beat the shit out of you and go claim her myself.”

The barb found its mark, sending surges of possessive fury twisting through him. “Stay away from her!”

“Why? You don’t want her.”

Unwilling to make this physical, and relatively sure Kage would win that sort of fight, Arton just clenched his teeth again and continued to glare.

“Are you really going to make me do this?”

He thought Kage meant beating the shit out of him, but suddenly he felt a stinging pressure inside his mind. “What are you doing?”

“Severing the anchor bond,” he snarled, stalking toward him with menacing purpose. “I will not be linked with a selfish asshole!”

Pain stabbed into Arton’s brain and he screamed, clutching his head with both hands. “Stop it! You can’t...” He screamed again as the pain intensified, tearing, burning, ripping through his head and down his spine. “I have to...”

With stunning strength and determination, Kage did the impossible. Suddenly their connection, a link that had thrived for twenty-three years split in two, leaving Arton emotionally savaged. His knees buckled and his stomach heaved. He stared up at Kage, tears of pain and disbelief escaping the corners of his eyes. “Why?”

“You’re blowing it,” he said simply, as if that explained everything. “You should be linked with Lily, but you’re too damn stubborn to admit it. Only something drastic is going to force you to see what everyone else on this planet can see. Now stop fucking around and go claim your mate. I’ve had it with you today.” Then he picked Arton up by the back of his shirt and the waistband of his jeans and literally threw him out of the cabin. “Don’t speak to me again until you’ve claimed her!”

And then the cabin door slid shut in Arton’s face.

Stunned and horrified, Arton just knelt there for long pain-blurred moments. What in hells’ outer rings just happened? His brain pulsed and his psyche felt ravaged. But more than the pain and disorientation was a horrible sense of isolation. He was alone, truly alone, for the first time in twenty years.

Why would Kage do this to him?

You should be linked with Lily, but you’re too damn stubborn to admit it. Kage’s angry words echoed, providing a harsh reminder of his motivation.

Was Kage right? Would she never find happiness unless he claimed her?

But he was so dark, so jaded, so moody.

She enjoys your darkness and she’s often the only one who can pull you out of one of your moods. Suddenly his inner voice sounded just like Kage. As for jaded? Aren’t we all?

Arton glanced at the door as he staggered back to his feet. There were a million reasons he wanted to be with Lily, but what did Lily gain by saddling herself with him?

A man who loves her and will always protect her, even from himself. At least his inner voice sounded like him again. But she doesn’t want to be protected from you. She wants you, and only you.

He closed his eyes and leaned his back again the wall. His legs still trembled.

If she truly wanted him as much as he wanted her, why should he deny her?

Kage’s door suddenly opened and Arton forced his lids apart.

“Can you walk?” the overlord asked, his expression all business.

Arton nodded.

“Then follow. We’ve got another visitor.”

Being able to walk and match the overlord’s hurried stride were two different things. Each jogging step jarred Arton’s head and pain ricocheted through his body. “Go on.” He waved Kage forward. “I’ll catch up.”

“On the river side,” he pointed in the general direction but kept on jogging.

Arton slowed his pace, allowing his mind a few more minutes to recover. He concentrated on his breathing as he walked, hurrying as much as he dared. He stepped into one of the central lifts and muttered, “Deck one.” The elevator sank with a smooth motion and he pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes squeezed shut against the throbbing pain.

The lift stopped much too soon to have reached deck one, so he opened his eyes to see why. Skyla and Lily joined him in the elevator and he couldn’t help but laugh. “The universe is out to get me today,” he muttered, resuming his earlier pose.

“Nice to see you too, dear,” Skyla said, sounding amused rather than annoyed. “Is something wrong? You look terrible.”

“Headache.”

Without asking permission, she gently touched the side of his face. Warm, tingling energy pulsed into his brain, immediately soothing the worst of the pain. “Did Kage—”

“Yes,” he said before she revealed the nature of his injury to Lily. The last thing he wanted was her pity. “Do you happen to know the identity of our visitor?” He blinked repeatedly, then looked at Skyla.

“I’m not sure how, but your father has located me.” The lift door slid open and she rushed out into the commons on deck one. “I won’t let him cause trouble. I promise.”

He lightly caught Lily’s arm before she could get away. “We need to talk.”

She licked her lips, then raised her gaze. “Are you sure you’re ready? I can’t take much more of this.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” He sighed and motioned toward the front of the ship. “This won’t wait, but I’m ready to resolve our issues for good.”

“So am I.” Still she twisted her arm out of his grasp and hurried after Skyla.

Did that mean she was ready to forgive him or escort him to hells’ coldest ring?

He took a deep breath and hustled toward the disruption. One calamity at a time.

Kryton’s sleek fighter, at least four times the size of Skyla’s long-range shuttle, hovered over the river. The ship’s subtle vibration created ripples on the glassy water and external lights shone out into the darkness, creating an eerie glow around the ship. People streamed out of the Wheel, curious and alarmed. All the Outcasts were brandishing weapons, while the females approached with much more caution.

Kryton bio-streamed to the ground, surrounded by six of his guards. He wore body armor, as any good soldier would. But his head was bare, a telling indication that he didn’t feel threatened by the situation.

Outcasts rushed forward, ready to confront the intruders. Kage raised his arm and made a fist, halting the would-be assault.

Ignoring everyone else, Kryton strode directly to his mate. His gloved hands wrapped around her upper arms and he yanked her up, nearly off her feet. “Have you been harmed in anyway, or was this folly of your own making?”

“My eldest son needed my assistance, so I—”

He swept her into his arms and kissed her into silence. “You scared me to death, female. Do not do it again!”

“I was never in any danger. I just didn’t trust you not to tell Sedrik how to find this place.” She paused until he returned her feet fully to the ground. “Have you tattled on me? Are battle born forces on their way?”

“Not yet, but I may yet change my mind.”

Arton watched the loving banter between Kryton and his war bride turned mate. Their continual teasing and their obvious love for each other had fascinated him during his months in their household. Apparently, their relationship hadn’t weakened in three decades. The realization filled him with wonder, and hope.

He looked at Lily. Was it possible he could find such a connection with her?

She was watching the older couple with rapt interest, her expression part curiosity and part longing. Apparently her mood was rather like his.

Not ready to tackle that particular mountain, he shifted his focus back to the older General Lux. It had been eleven years since he last saw his father and the years showed on Kryton’s face. He didn’t look bad, just older, and more distinguished, if that was possible. There were more gray streaks now than blue in his dark hair, but his eyes were still sharp and filled with love for his mate. He stood straight and tall with the square-shouldered posture of those who spent their entire lives in the military.

“Now that you’ve found me,” Skyla teased. “What are you going to do with me?”

He picked her up and signaled his ship.

“Wait! I was kidding. You are not leaving without speaking to your son. Now put me down!” She smacked him on the shoulder and wiggled until he obliged.

“Will my son speak with me?” He glanced toward Arton, cautious hope flickering in his blue-ringed eyes.

Always in the past Arton had been the one to reject his father’s outstretched hand. It was long past time for him to make the first move. Fortifying himself with a quick breath, he straightened his spine and walked up to Kryton. Arton’s heart thudded wildly as he held out his hand. “It’s been a long time, sir.”

“Sir?” Kryton glowered. “Don’t insult me.” Rather than slap Arton’s hand away, however, he pulled him in for a quick yet firm hug. “You look like shit, son. Have you been ill?”

The criticism was so unexpected, and such a contrast to the tender look on Kryton’s face that it shattered what little remained of Arton’s composure. He laughed, almost hysterically, then was horrified to hear himself sob. What the fuck was wrong with him? But he couldn’t stop the tears once they broke free. Without an anchor to stabilize his emotions, Arton felt exposed, vulnerable as he’d never been before.

Kryton wrapped his arms around his son, shaking a bit himself. Soon Skyla joined the hug and Arton was surrounded with love and acceptance. He was supported—safe. He sobbed, unable to stop the torrent of tears and emotions gushing from his battered heart. All the years of bitterness and rage flowed out like pus from an abscess.

He purged the hatred and released all the anger, no longer needing their protection to survive. He couldn’t move on, couldn’t prove himself worthy of Lily, until he put the past in the ground once and for all.

The pressure gradually eased, leaving him drained and depleted. He felt empty, as if he’d been hollowed out by an over-zealous surgeon.

Then a spark ignited within the void. If even Brother Nanteen lied and Kryton had actually wanted him all along, how could Kryton explain the news streams and interviews? There had been actual evidence to support Brother Nanteen’s claims.

Arton took one last shuddering breath, then stepped back and wiped the last of his tears away. He was too exhausted to be embarrassed by his breakdown. Some things were unavoidable. He wanted this settled, needed to be free of the past so he could concentrate on his future with Lily.

“They showed me news files of you, interviews and documentaries,” Arton began without introduction. “You preyed on people’s sympathy to gain support for yourself and Pern Keire.” Who was one of the most corrupt rulers Rodymia had ever produced. “How do you explain what I saw?”

Kryton took a deep breath, then glanced around at the crowd of onlookers. “Is there somewhere we can go? I’d rather not do this with an audience.”

“Are you sure?” Arton sniped. “You seemed to prefer an audience from what I saw.”

“Use the war room,” Kage said sternly. “It’s as close as you’ll get to common ground.”

Kage was right. Arton’s cabin would make Kryton feel defensive and Kryton’s ship would do the same to Arton. He accepted the suggestion with a nod, then swept his arm toward the ramp leading to the Viper.

Lily looked at him uncertainly as he moved up beside her. “There’s no way Skyla will be pried from his side. I’d like someone there to support me.” He held out his hand as his blood rushed through his ears. He was half afraid she’d refuse him.

Lily took Arton’s hand without hesitation, thrilled to be included in his reconciliation. She’d never seen him like this, so open. Or so vulnerable. He looked as if he’d just fought the most demanding battle of his life. Maybe he had. This couldn’t have been easy for him. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze and moved closer to his side.

The war room was on deck four, adjacent to the command center. Kryton led the way. Apparently he knew the design of these ships, which shouldn’t have surprised her. Most of the Outcast ships had been salvaged or stolen from the Rodyte military.

Kage didn’t accompany them. After shooting Arton an encouraging look, he entered the command center instead.

The couples chose seats on opposite sides of the raised table. Lily tried not to fidget, but she honestly thought she was more nervous than Arton.

“So, let me have it,” Kryton encouraged. Luckily, there was no condescension in his tone. “What did you see? Let me explain each situation from my perspective.”

“All right.” Arton sounded sincere, likely for the first time. “I only trusted one of my tutors and he was the one who showed me the video clips. The first was some sort of fund raiser. You told an audience of at least two hundred all the horrible things the harbingers were doing to me and all the other trainees. You claimed that the money would be used to wage a legal war against Harbinger Guild.”

“There were several such events,” Kryton admitted. “I’m not sure which one he showed you. You explained my motivation for doing them. What don’t you understand?”

Arton tensed, but his voice remained calm. “If you ‘waged a legal war’ against them, why did nothing every change at the academy?”

“Because Harbinger Guild was feared and protected by very powerful people,” Skyla told him.

“More powerful than a crown striate?” Arton challenged. “Wasn’t Pern Keire more powerful than anyone else on the planet at the time?”

“Yes and no,” Kryton countered. “He had the authority to close down the academy, but my influence over him only went so far. He allowed my ‘pointless campaign’, that’s what he used to call it, because I amused him and won wars in his name. But the harbingers also assisted him. There was no way he was going to choose one side over the other.”

“You honestly took them to court?” Arton’s expression was so conflicted, she couldn’t decipher his reaction.

Kryton looked at Skyla. “Eleven times?”

“Fourteen, love. And that doesn’t count all the official complaints and requests for an injunction.”

Arton looked from one to the other, his gaze filled with pain. “And the interviews? Why spend so much time in front of cameras retelling my pathetic story.”

“The story of what they did to you was shocking and vile, but never pathetic,” Kryton objected. “When it became more and more apparent that I would never succeed through legal channels, I waged a war of public opinion. It was slightly more successful yet ultimately failed.”

Arton reached beneath the table, obviously searching for her hand. She quickly slipped her hand into his and tightened her fingers, offering support and encouragement the only way she could without a mental link.

“And still, nothing changed.” Now Arton sounded pained. Was he remembering all the things he’d suffered, all the times he’d been told no one wanted him.

Tears stung her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. Breaking down now would only make him feel worse.

“I never gave up,” Kryton insisted. “When the public moved on to their newest cause, I planned the first of many attempts to rescue you.”

“But it’s hard to spring a surprise attack on a harbinger?” His voice was barely a whisper.

“Exactly.” A long pause followed. “You know the rest. My final attempt worked, but by then they’d succeeded in turning you against me.”

“Why did the final attempt succeed when all the others failed?” Something in Arton’s tone told her he already knew. Apparently, he needed to hear it.

“Because of me,” Skyla told him. There was no bravado in her tone or expression. It was a simple statement of fact.

“I knew the only way I would best them was if I used magic to combat magic. I honestly pictured some grand battle with fireballs and spellcasting, but that wasn’t what happened at all.”

“He never would have taken a war bride if he hadn’t been desperate to rescue you,” Skyla stressed. “He has always found the practice abhorrent, and was instrumental in having it outlawed.”

“So you snatched a dream walker and she contacted me so I could plan my own rescue,” Arton muttered more or less to himself.

The convoluted explanation caught Lily’s attention. “How did you help plan your own rescue?”

“We connected in the dream realm,” Skyla told her, “but because my dreams are also prophetic, the Arton I contacted had already been rescued. All he had to do was tell me how we’d done it.”

Lily tried to wrap her mind around how that would have worked, but it just made her head throb. So she nodded, deciding she didn’t need to fully comprehend everything they discussed.

Arton let go of her hand and folded them on the tabletop. “You have to understand how convincing my tutors were, how...”

Kryton reached across the table and covered Arton’s hands with his. “I don’t blame you for your attitude. I never did. You were what they had programed you to be. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to deprogram you fast enough to spare you life as a mercenary.”

Arton allowed the touch, seemed hesitant yet comforted by it. “Trust me, it wasn’t just you I was running from. A battlefield was the only appropriate place for me those first few years. I was so filled with rage.”

“Are you less angry now?” Kryton sounded hopeful.

“Much.” Arton pulled his hand back and wrapped his arm around Lily’s shoulders. “And I have two incredibly persistent females to thank for that change. Thank the gods I’m only responsible for one of them.”

Skyla smiled brightly, clearly thrilled with the praise.

“So what should I do with my wayward mate?” Kryton glared at Skyla playfully. “How much longer is this adventure going to take you?”

“A month?” she proposed, turning her beaming smile on Kryton.

“Two weeks,” he countered firmly.

“With a one week extension for especially good behavior.”

Kryton laughed, the sound rumbly yet warm. “I’m pretty sure you’re not capable of it, so I agree.”

“Can you locate and train your replacement, or replacements, in just two weeks?” Lily asked Skyla.

“Not entirely, but once everyone has access to the metaphysical plane, logistics won’t be a problem. Or I can go old school and use a holo-com.”

“Only if Kage agrees to a detectible form of communication,” Arton reminded. “That’s rather doubtful.”

She made a face. “Fine, we’ll keep everything hush-hush.”

Kryton shot her a warning look. “You expect me to keep this from Sedrik?”

“I would very much appreciate it if you did,” Arton stressed. “The last thing we need is the battle born rushing in to rescue a bunch of females who no longer want to be rescued.”

“Are you sure that’s true of all of them?” Kryton asked carefully. “Or have they become cooperative because they all believe that returning to Earth is simply not an option?”

Arton squirmed as if his chair were suddenly uncomfortable. “A vote was taken, but returning wasn’t an option at the time.”

“Is it an option now?” Skyla pushed a little harder.

“It’s not my decision to make,” Arton said. “I’ll have to ask Kage.”

“With one com, I can make it an option,” Kryton warned.

Lily braced for Arton’s response. He never reacted well to threats.

“I’m aware,” he said evenly. “And I will encourage Kage strongly toward offering to return any female who doesn’t want to be here. But ultimately it’s the overlord’s decision.”

“I think we should give Arton the same two weeks you’ve given me,” Skyla proposed. When Kryton didn’t immediately refuse, she looked at Arton. “You work on the overlord for the next two weeks, help him see reason. We’ll reassess the situation before we leave.”

“Agreed.”

Everyone exhaled at the same time, then laughed at the reaction.

“Well, I feel better.” Skyla scooted back her chair, then stood.

“I know this is only the beginning,” Kryton said suddenly serious again. “But I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made.”

“I am too.” The two men stood and started to hug, but Arton held out his hand instead.

It was hard to be disappointed after everything he’d offered. Besides, Kryton didn’t seem overly concerned. He shook his son’s hand, then led his mate from the room, whispering something wicked in her ear if Skyla’s throaty chuckle was any indication.

Arton took both Lily’s hands and helped her slide down from the raised chair. “Can we postpone our talk until morning? I’m honestly struggling just to stay awake.”

“Of course.” She tried not to be disappointed. He had to be emotionally drained by everything that had happened. But then, he’d seemed exhausted before he encountered his father. What had transpired between him and Kage? She’d seen Arton heading toward the overlord’s cabin on her way to share a nightcap with Skyla. “Are you okay? Kryton wasn’t exaggerating. You look ill.”

He started to say something, then shook his head. “I haven’t been sleeping well. I hope that’s about to change.”

“I hope so too.” They held hands as they walked down the corridor.

“Can I ask one more thing?” He sounded adorably unsure.

“Of course.”

“Will you stay with me tonight? I won’t do any more than hold you until we’ve talked, but I can’t be without you right now.”

Her heart gave a happy flip. He needed her, wanted her near him. That was a wonderful start. “I wasn’t sure how to ask, but I was hoping you weren’t going to send me back to my old cabin.”

“Never again.”

True to his word, once they reached their cabin he pulled her into his arms but didn’t even try to kiss her. She snuggled close, thrilled to be back in his embrace, but secretly wishing he were a little less exhausted.