Page 94 of Bonded Queen: to the Alien Warlord Triad

What if she isn’t there with me, ever? What if I can’t even feel her?

I’m walking through the palace, but I’m barely here, blinking in confusion.

I smile. All is well. An expertly made wooden crib, and swaddled inside is a marble-skinned babe. He’s big, strong. He’ll be like me, only better. I’ve seen Prince Doman, the firstborn son of Queen Jasmine. They call him the golden lion, and he’s the only Aurelian who can stand as tall as Obsidian, one of the strongest of our species, for he was born of a Bonded Queen, just as my sons will be. Doman has golden eyes. What color will my son’s eyes me? He’ll be even taller, even stronger. I look down at him, knowing that I will teach him the arts of war and battle, of honor and duty, better than me. I reach down to touch his soft, marble cheek, but the instant I touch him, I’m ripped back to reality.

I stand, stunned in the hallway. Kriz is in front of me, his hand clapped on my shoulder, staring into my eyes.

“You’re here, dammit. Are you losing time again? Are you back on the Tomb?”

I shake my head. “The future. I’m in the future. Fuck! Dammit, but all I can think about is—”

“Our sons.” Orr growls it out, angry that he has to be away from her. “She could be with triplets. And if she is not? We have centuries to breed her. Imagine them, standing in a row, growing tall and strong. I am lucky to have you two to depend on. They will have dozens of brothers who would do anything for them.” He smiles, in deep yearning, but there’s a sorrow to it.

Every time we go into battle, there’s a chance we don’t come back. Now that means so much more than it used to. The less you have to lose, the easier it is to be brave.

“I cannot lead this attack.” I state the words coldly. Precise. “We are not in any shape to lead. We will damn men to death if we make the wrong split-second decisions.”

Kriz shakes his head. “What do you think Obsidian will do? He’ll view it as desertion. He needs us, and the defense of Elsinor depends on his Generals.” His voice is cold and analytical. “If we refuse, he could have us beheaded. The best chance of coming back to her is to lead. I know it’s hard. But when we go through the Orb-Shift, when we come back into reality and prepare the defense, we’ll be able to do it. We’ll have no choice. Ra’al, I believe in you.”

I take a huge breath in. I center my mind. As I have done a thousand times. My smartwatch flashes crimson again, telling me that Obsidian is online, awaiting us.

We stride down the hallway and burst through the door into the room, closing it behind us, so that it is only us and the War-God.

Obdisian stands in front of me. His image is clear, as if I am on his flagship with him. Stars flicker endlessly behind him. His two Shadows are in their wolf forms. They are monstrous beasts, with fur that flows like smoke, and two long, jet-black fangs descending from their mouths that can shear through metal and armor like an Orb-Blade. All three sets of black eyes are staring at me with anger…

And hunger, as if he yearns to rip my flesh asunder and swallow my still-beating heart.

Obsidian looks different. His eyes are a darker black, and his lips curl back. His teeth are sharp, pointed, his incisors lengthening and pulling back into his mouth, as if he is struggling to retain his Aurelian form, wanting to become a beast like the other two of his triad. Obsidian’s jaw clenches in anger.

He stands, silently, and the seconds pass, the tension growing and growing.

“My Lord. Was the mission a success?” I have a pang of grief for Krazak. His triad left me no choice. I had to send them to their death. Every waking moment of their life was infected by rage.

I hope they are at peace now.

“I find you your Mate. And this is how you repay me?”

So he knows. He would not have mentioned her if he thought us still grieving.

“My Lord, we pretended she was dead only to keep her safe. She abandoned us. Now she returned. We did as you asked. We found you a triad to send on your mission.”

“Your Mate is safe. Mine is not!” He booms out the words, filled with rage.

“My Lord, we—”

“You say you did as I asked?” His voice turns cold, as his twin Shadows snarl. “I asked you for cold, calculating strength. I asked for two triads of backups, in case the first did not go. You gave me one triad, Scorp-Blooded firebrands who have only the thought of fury. There was no time to find another. I sent Krazak and his battle-brothers through the rift. Pray he succeeds, or the deaths of billons are on your soul.”

I grit my teeth. I trust him, more than any other triad I could have sent. He was at our side for centuries…

But something gnaws at me. I never thought he’d kidnap a woman. I never thought he’d return with Scorp-Venom in his veins. “My Lord, they will direct their rage towards the Aurelian Empire. You can trust them.”

His lips curl back. His teeth slowly extend, sharpening, and black fur sprouts on his shoulders. “I can taste the uncertainty in your voice, Ra’al. You’ve never been uncertain before.”

I resist the urge to step back, and I meet his eyes, my chin up. I’ve never backed down in my life.

“It is done now.”

“You are stripped of your command of Elsinor. I do not trust you to captain the fleet. I trusted you. You failed me. Queen Jasmine’s ships will be in range of Elsinor soon. If they have their three flagships unscathed, the deaths of every man, woman and child will be on your conscience!” He roars it out. “You should have executed Krazak, not sent him on the most important mission yet! I should have your heads!”

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