by Vi Voxley
"I didn't ask for this to happen," she went on. "I know your bonds are true, I do. I just need to know a whole lot more before I commit myself to anything. I already brought Sean into a world where he wasn't safe and I had to run very far to get him away from it. I need to be certain that it will not repeat for him, or for me, or for any children you and I might have.
“I just don't believe happy families are born of fate or simple will. I believe they're born of love."
Even Chase didn't have an immediate answer to that. Havoc had reverted to his usual solemn silence, appearing to be deep in thought.
"Two days," he finally said. "What Chase said before. You can stay with us for two days and we'll try to figure this out."
"Are you sure?" Dana asked uncertainly. "I want to, believe me. But I don't want to drag this out needlessly in case it doesn't work. I'm told that the bonds get stronger every second we are together and I don't want that to cloud my judgment."
"Of course we're sure," Havoc said.
"And everything else?" Dana pressed on, the first light of hope in her eyes. "I know how important your future generations are to you and all Gargons. Say we give this a go. What if I am not ready to have another child for a while?"
"You are not a breeding mare," Chase reminded her, a bit sharply. "I know what you Terrans think of us but the ambassador of the Sanguine should know. You are our fated, our equal."
There was a fierce passion in Chase's voice, the same desire to prove himself that had always driven him. Ever since he'd been a young warrior, his refusal to back down from even the hardest challenges had been his driving force, the thing that made him who he was.
The equal of legendary warlords of old, the only man on Octava who could match Havoc, a leader of their armada.
While Dana hesitated, Chase thought of how cruel fate's ways were – to all three of them. Some fated brides reacted a little differently to others, less with glee and more with relieved acceptance. He didn't think he'd ever heard of anyone actually considering outright refusing. Dana had her reasons, that much was true.
Chase wondered what destiny's reasons were.
He also gave a second's thought to Isabel and all the other females aboard Dana's ship.
"Alright," Dana said at last, smiling in a way that told Chase that perhaps all this was just a proud, scarred heart fighting not to be broken again. "I think what you're saying is reasonable. I should give you – us – a chance at least. Tell me one thing though. What if at the end of that trial period I decide it's better for me and Sean to leave?"
"We will escort you back to the Sanguine," Havoc said, his voice distant and a little cold.
Chase knew the whole affair reminded Havoc of Hannah's death. It was not a memory he was happy to give life to.
"No matter what, you are our fated and we need you to be safe. The galaxy is in turmoil once again. It isn't safe out there. Especially for a civilian ship. When the Sanguine leaves, I think we should send a few battleships with her on the journey back."
"Agreed," Chase said when Dana began to protest. "Let us do this for you."
The look in Dana's eyes was breathtaking. Chase's heart leaped, knowing they were on the right track. So far, they'd done everything right with this beautiful and wounded creature. The tension in her body when she walked into his home was gone, replaced by relaxation which was all he wanted from her. To have her know she was safe and loved with her fateds as she ought to be.
Chase wanted to hold on to that. He wanted the moment to freeze and never end, to bask in that single second of pure joy it afforded him.
That was how it could have been. How it should have been.
Right then, a warrior barged into the room. With a furious glare, Chase rose to his feet. The sight of his commander's ire made the warrior back away several steps, fearful of his rage.
"The next words out of your mouth better be that the Iron League is hovering over Taria or I will skin you for this interruption," he hissed at the man.
There was no reply. The warrior just stood, shuddering ever-so-slightly under Chase's fierce gaze. The man's nod had almost been non-existent.
The room emptied of air. For a long moment, they were all too baffled to speak. The gall of the League was so unbelievable that it took the words from Chase's mouth.
"You mean they're actually here?" he managed after a long moment. "The Iron League dares to plot the assault of our world!?"
He roared that last sentiment. By his side, Havoc's expression was so thunderous Chase imagined he would burn the first League ship to ashes with his gaze alone.
Good. I need him furious. He's at his best – and most likeable – when he's so furious he can't function without spreading death around him. The League doesn't know what's coming for them.
"Yes, sir," the warrior said quickly. "They're not yet here, but a large fleet of the Iron League has crossed the borders of the CAS. It is clear from their course they are coming here with all their forces. They want to take us out first, commanders. Without us, the rest of the Alliance is–"
"Silence," Havoc snapped.
They both knew the word would have been either "helpless" or "doomed". Neither wanted Dana to hear that.
"The League is led by the twins," the warrior finished.
Havoc and Chase exchanged a heavy look. The twins were the most powerful warriors in the ranks of the Iron League. True warmongers, true miscreants. Without honor, without mercy, without anything redeeming except for the fact they were as strong as the foundations of a major planet.
"Leave," Chase ordered roughly. "We will prepare the fleet to protect Octava and take the fight to the League before they reach us. All civilian transports are grounded to the planet until we give them permission to leave.
"I know the League. They will come for the weakest first."
The warrior hurried away and both Chase and Havoc turned to Dana. The wide look in her eyes wasn't one of fear as Chase had been expecting. She had a staunch, stubborn expression on her face, breathing deeply.
"You can't let the Sanguine leave either, can you?" she asked quietly.
"No," Havoc said with regret. "Chase is right. The League will come for any vessel that tries to leave Octava at once. You will be blown to dust before we'd ever reach you under attack. This is the safest place for you now. For you and your son and every female that came with you."
Dana nodded.
"I know," she said seriously. "I'm not objecting to being safe from the League. I'll do what I can to help you as will my ship's crew and passengers, I'm sure."
She raised her blue eyes to them and the gaze was as determined as Chase had ever seen a female look.
"I just want you to crush them," she said. "For all of us."
9
Havoc
Her words struck deeply, more powerful than Havoc would have expected.
What a woman.
That was the pivotal thing about the Gargon bonds. When they hit, they hit hard. He hadn't known this female for more than a few hours, yet already the thought of living without her was quickly becoming unbearable.
It had nothing to do with logic or reason, as some Terrans wanted to think. It was a pure, unchecked pull that dragged the fated together. They were soul mates, even if it was harder for some people to discover, let alone accept.
In the end, even being matched by the stars and gods and fate – whoever knew what truly guided their lives – wasn't a guarantee. People of all species, Terrans and Gargons alike, were born into the universe with the ability to deny everything, even the very core of their being, for better or for worse. As such, there was nothing absolute that could be counted on.
Chase had fallen silent, as he often did when faced with a worrying problem. Havoc knew his mind was already millions of miles away, in the battle with the League. That was the true measure of a warlord. Even faced with their fated, their minds were already preparing for the trial of war.
"As for us, this changes nothin
g," Havoc said, wary of the rough way Chase spoke when his mind was on battle. He himself at least tried to focus on the bond and not the massive fleet approaching his home world.
There would be plenty of time for that as well and the Iron League would suffer for the mere idea that they could attack Octava. At least in that, Havoc knew that he and Chase were on the same page. They would make the League eat their own hearts, with the twins left last so they could see their vicious dreams of war turned to ashes in their mouths.
Dana was looking at him, a fierce stubbornness about her. Havoc knew she was thinking of her son. He had never truly become a father, but he could understand the sentiment she had. No matter how far she'd run, her child was still in danger.
"The League was always the enemy and we were always going to fight them," Havoc went on, trying to comfort her. "This is nothing new. It's just actual, now. I still want to see what we can make of our bond. Even if I do not understand how Chase and I could be paired together in this."
There was a curious little smile on Dana's lips that said she had thought something similar. Havoc didn't even need to question Chase on the matter. He knew the other warlord well enough.
"Even so," Havoc said decidedly. "You can't stay here. Taria will be the main target of the League's attacks."
"What about the others?" Dana asked with a frown. "I am responsible for the Sanguine and everyone aboard it. I can't just go into hiding while they remain here."
"They won't need to," Havoc said. "I want to take you to my villa near the mountain range of Roapur. It is the safest place for you on Octava. Trust me when I say it could take a blast from orbital plasma cannons and still stand.
"You can take the Sanguine and your crew to the city of Soralla nearby. It is a small settlement with little strategic value. We will make sure all the females are accommodated, whether or not they found their luck here."
He hesitated. There was something weighing heavily on his heart and whether it was wise or not, the words came to his lips, forcing their way out into the world.
"The most important thing is that you are safe," he repeated, his deep voice filled with grief as Chase looked at him wordlessly, knowing what was coming. "I... had a fated once before. Hannah. She died during childbirth and our son with her.
“The loss of them was the most horrible thing I've ever experienced, like having your beating heart torn from your chest. To know you are away from harm's way is everything to me."
For once, words seemed to be helping. The way Dana was looking at him, Havoc could see her mind being made up, together with a deep sadness for him.
"That... that is terrible. I am so sorry," she said, sincere grief in her voice. "I didn't know that."
She was quiet for a moment before going on:
"Thank you for telling me, and for offering us all protection. That is all I could ask for. And I will go with you gratefully. I understand this world will come under attack. I just need to protect the others too. Most will get their hearts broken today. To live through a war after that, it's a lot.
"Terrans aren't warriors like you. I must do what I can for them."
"We understand," Chase cut in at last, his golden blue eyes shining with emotion. "We understand what it's like to be responsible for someone."
His words made Dana recoil a little and Havoc wanted to slap Chase so hard he couldn't speak for a few days.
"Fuck," Dana murmured. "Hear me complain about one ship when you guys have the weight of the entire CAS on your shoulders."
"It is not your fault," Havoc said, glaring at Chase. "You are not a warrior, as you said. You fight for your people, as you should. We, on the other hand, were born to rule over armies. That is our burden, not yours. Don't compare them. It's not worth it."
Dana nodded, still deep in thought. Havoc seriously contemplated sewing Chase's mouth shut for the remainder of her stay. Little of worth seemed to come out of it this day.
"What about the festival?" his fated asked suddenly, pointing to the windows that allowed distant noises of the celebrations through.
The streets were still bustling with life, joyous people taking one day off from whatever troubles they had in the world to come and see true love being born, or searching for their own. Havoc had no doubt that many drinks would be poured in their honor.
He hesitated.
"We can let them have today," Chase said then, giving him a hard look that said he wasn't nearly as dense as he sometimes looked. "The League will not approach rashly. While the army musters, Taria can have this one last peaceful day. Tomorrow, everything will change for them."
"You should stay here," Havoc told Dana, unable to take his eyes off the female yet. "No matter what awaits us all, hope is a powerful weapon. It would crush everyone's spirits to see you return to the Sanguine today."
"Alright," Dana said after a moment of contemplation, the light in her beautiful eyes shining as she sensed an opportunity to do her part. "I wasn't planning on returning anyway. I promised you two days and it looks like it will be longer now. That's out of my hands but I don't have to waste the opportunity it has given us to see if we're really as great of a match as the gods seem to think we are.
“I want to bring Sean here, though. I won't stay without him."
"We can send someone to bring your son here," Chase offered. "You're right. He should be with you."
"That's settled then," Dana said, cheerful despite the bad news of war, giving her fateds hope too.
"If you'll excuse us for a moment, Chase and I need to send out the orders for the mustering of the armada," Havoc said reluctantly, hating having to part with Dana even for a second. "We will send after your son too."
"Of course," Dana said, smiling, eying the banquet laid out for her. "I think I'll be fine here."
Wordlessly, Chase and Havoc left the room and walked until she could no longer hear them. Immediately, Havoc rounded on the other warlord.
"I wonder if you ever really consider the words that come out of your mouth," he snarled.
"I do," Chase replied coldly, his golden blue eyes flashing. "Do you consider yours? You heard her. This is a woman who has been deeply hurt by that asshole I wish I could strangle with my bare hands. She needs safety. You implied an all-out war is somehow a natural, seamless part of that."
Havoc took a step closer, rage building inside him, threatening to come to the surface like it did in battle.
"She is our fated," he snapped. "Everything else is just background to that, details that we need to fix. The war will happen one way or the other. Are you suggesting we need to set the bond aside for the time like it's a weapon we can shelf when we don't need it?"
"She is our fated, yes," Chase agreed, making sure she wasn't overhearing them. "Tell me the thought of some foul play hasn't crossed your mind. She's the ambassador. You know what she thought of the bonds right up to meeting us. Not to mention you and I should not be part of the same bond. And the timing, above all, is worse than anything we could have predicted."
"It's unorthodox," Havoc admitted warily. "Naturally I wonder why fate decided to bring the two of us into this together. And if Dana doesn't feel comfortable with more children, it will be the end of both our lines. It does make the timing all the more worse, I agree. You're forgetting that doesn't change anything."
Chase looked at him and Havoc was forced to wonder if he wasn't the one who was taking everything too lightly. The other warlord's gaze was almost pitying.
"It changes everything," Chase argued. "The League is coming and with it so are the twins. You remember, don't you? The last time we met them.
"The things they promised to do if we destroyed their ship, which we did? If they catch even a whiff of her, Taria will be a distant second in terms of targets."
Havoc didn't reply. His memory was excellent when it came to the twins.
They'd always harbored a grudge against Chase and him, considering them natural enemies. After a brutal battle on a distant world,
Gargons had the chance to target a hive ship of theirs. Rabors, the twins’ species, were terrible, down to their smallest child. Bloodthirsty cannibals first, and a galactic menace second.
Havoc and Chase had destroyed the hive ship, undoubtedly saving the galaxy a lot of trouble. Of course, that had painted a permanent target on their backs as far as the twins, and the rest of the Rabors, were concerned.
Havoc recalled the threats, too. It was too painful to imagine them being carried out on Dana. There was no doubt in his heart the twins would wear her skin on their armor as a badge of honor if they were given the slightest of chances.
"We will protect her," Havoc said staunchly. "She is our fated. It is our duty and place in life."
"True again," Chase said darkly and his eyes flashed. "There is something I want you to understand, Havoc. War is coming for us and you and I can't be everywhere at once. If the choice is put to us, who will you save? Octava? The Alliance? Or her?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Havoc stared Chase down, unable to believe the words out of his mouth.
"We won't let that happen," he growled. "You are an asshole, Chase, and I might not always agree with you, but you and I together can hold the League off."
"I believe that," Chase agreed grimly. "There is no match for us in the League's ranks. That still does not make us gods, Havoc. We can't guarantee victory and safety for all. That is the domain of fate."
He didn't answer at once. There was a truth in Chase's words, as much as he loathed to admit it.
The question itself was an ancient one. Gargon bonds were a force of nature in their own. So was the loyalty of their warriors to their people. It had been disputed many times over which of the two would win if worst came to worst, and Chase was right. There was no guarantee it wouldn't.
As warlords, they could force their will upon the galaxy, yet it didn't make them infallible.
There was another part of the equation, though, one he didn't think Chase considered.
"That sounds like giving up to me," Havoc said.
