Prologue

PROLOGUE

E ARTH

Ashlyn unlocked the door to her apartment with trembling fingers, the sound of the loud click as the deadbolt released a welcome relief. She didn’t wait, just pushed through the door and slammed it behind her, mind fixed on the text she’d just received from her sister, Rachel.

One word.

A code.

Taipan .

They couldn’t use the codeword they’d made up in high school unless one of them was in a DEFCON-1, nuclear meltdown kind of trouble. The kind you couldn’t talk about or text over the phone.

In record time Ashlyn stripped out of her dance attire, then threw on the first pair of blue jeans and t-shirt she could find. From the closet, she grabbed her favorite pair of sandals and slipped them on her feet. Her ponytail needed fixing, but there was no time to tame the long, unruly auburn mass. Besides, anything she did now would be wasted on the long flight to the alien base where her sister now lived with her new Caldorian husband and their half-alien son, Lee.

Grabbing a carry-on bag, the one that still had a working lock, she haphazardly shoved clothes inside. Her palms were sweaty, and she was having trouble catching her breath. Her fingers fumbled as she packed her toiletries in the cosmetics case and tossed it into the carry-on, her mind flashing back to the last time she’d been on the base nearly a year ago.

Her sister was getting married, or Bound , as the Caldorians called it, to the giant alien she’d fallen head over heels in love with. Festivities had been planned out for the entire week-long celebration. She’d been having a great time. Then the base was attacked. Most of the buildings were destroyed. Death was indiscriminate that day. Caldorians. Humans. People she loved had nearly died. Ashlyn had been terrified.

No amount of rebuilding or new security measures was going to make her feel safe going back there. She played it off like she was fine, but she was not nearly as carefree and resilient as most people thought she was, friends and family included. She'd hid her feelings. Kept going. Smiled.

Focus on helping Rachel. Worry about the rest later.

Bag packed, she ran to the kitchen, reached into the cookie jar, grabbed the last of her cash reserves, and headed for the door.

Caldorian Base, Earth 6:00 a.m.

Dressed in military black, Prince Zade Miralos, Commander of the Northern Sector of Caldor, gave a silent hand signal to his warriors as his battleship shuddered, settling into position on the landing pad deep in the heart of the Caldorian Earth base.

His most trusted warriors, also in full combat gear, lined up behind him, waiting to exit the ship. He completed one last weapons check. Knives. Blasters. Wire rope. All lethal. Well used. This was no social visit. He’d come prepared for war. Just outside Earth’s orbit he had an entire contingent of warships, and every weapon was ready to fire; the king’s urgent, coded message meant for his dead brother, along with the second one sent to Zade directly, tucked in the pocket of his uniform. He took out the missives one last time, looking for clues he knew he wouldn’t find. He didn’t need to read them, as he’d memorized every word–

Zedrick, my friend, don’t ask questions. Come to Earth immediately . I’ll fill you in when you get here. ~Dagan

And the second message, sent to Zade the previous solar day, which was even more confusing––

Commander Miralos, on behalf of King Dagan of the Western Sector of Caldor, I offer our sincere condolences on the loss of your brother. In his stead, your immediate presence is most urgently requested on Caldorian Base 12987, Galactic Plane, 0°, Earth. We know you have returned to the front lines of the Northern Sector, but I cannot stress enough the importance of your swift arrival on Earth–for all of Caldor. ~ Ambassador Arcam Shronti, Caldorian Representative to Earth

Now the ambassador, whom Zade recognized from holovids, stood waiting for Zade just beyond the docking bay. The ambassador was the first Caldorian sent to Earth, was King Dagan's best friend and right hand man. Rumor had it, both the king and the ambassador had bound themselves to human women, a politically charged move. Not everyone on Caldor approved of the king’s decision to take a human mate.

Zade hated playing political games. He could be political, but he was not a politician. He was a military commander. A solitary figure. There was no room in his life for the softer things, although he certainly never had to look far for a willing bed mate. He had the perfect arrangement. He never offered more than a few nights and they never asked. And if he occasionally wondered what it would be like to have more, the feeling was quickly doused by the next mission. The next battle.

With a flick of the wrist Zade’s visor clicked into place. He would remove his helmet once he knew more about what was going on. He stepped onto the open bay door and made his way down toward the ambassador. Barely an Earth week had passed since he released his brother’s ashes to the Beyond and found the first message in Zedrick’s belongings. Not knowing how old the missive was, he’d tried to contact King Dagan, with little success, or so he’d thought, until the second communication had come through his ship’s secure, encrypted channel.

“It should have been me they found, brother. Not you. Never you.” Zade’s whispered words felt like a confession, yet where was the judge to rule him unworthy, to bring his beloved brother back from the dead? Zade had no desire to take Zedrick’s place as heir to the throne and would happily trade places in the Beyond if such a thing were possible. Since he could not, he would honor his brother, finish whatever his brother started.

Beginning with the message from King Dagan. Zade’s sector of Caldor wasn’t always on the friendliest of terms with the Western Sector. King Dagan’s Sector. They were more political allies who left one another alone most of the time. So, why had his brother been summoned to Earth so urgently in the first place? Earth’s planetary security was handled by King Dagan’s people, and his brother was a politician, not a warrior. Why ask for Zedrick’s help?

Zade carefully folded the missives and slid them back into a pocket in his uniform.

“What were you caught up in this time, big brother?” Zade asked, despite knowing there would be no laughing jest, no sly response, no answer at all. Zade would never speak to his brother again. He was dead, his personal transport vehicle caught in the worst storm in Caldor’s history.

Grief threatened to choke him. He pushed the emotion down, buried his pain deep so he could do what needed to be done. He was not the commander of the entire Northern Sector because he was a prince. He’d earned the position, despite some very loud protests, with a good deal of blood, sweat, skill and a ruthless lack of regard for political games. He could not be intimidated, bribed or swayed by outsiders. His loyalty to his family, to his Sector on Caldor, was absolute and unbreakable. As his brother’s had been. Whatever matter summoned Zedrick to Earth so urgently must be of vital importance.

“The advance team is in position. No one is getting in or out of the base without us knowing about it. We’re ready.” Bren, Zade's second in command and a Lumerian Knight, could easily be heard through their encrypted communication devices, despite the fact Zade could not see him. Zade only knew Bren was there from years of training and fighting together.

Like all Lumerians, Bren wore highly advanced spectral armor that rendered him invisible. There was no whisper of sound, no telltale movement to give him away. His armor concealed his presence in every way. Photonic hypercrystals created electromagnetically induced transparency, while acoustic cloaking rerouted all soundwaves.

“Did you see how many Council ships are just outside this tiny planet’s orbit?” Bren asked with a growl. “I didn’t think Earth had membership on the Council yet. Could be a secret meeting, or scouts before an invasion. We could take them out. Just give the word, Commander.”

“I know how you feel about the Council, and your day to avenge your planet is coming.” Zade’s hand closed into a tight, angry fist. “I would bet my last gold talod , whatever those thieving, blood sucking maggots are doing here, they’re up to no good.”

“Agreed.”

Zade took a long look around. He’d never been to Earth. Just outside the open bay doors were signs of spring. The air was still cool, but the shrubs and bushes were green. Well-manicured flower beds buzzed with life and vibrant colors. Many bloomed with tiny, fragrant buds. Beautiful. Peaceful. Yet every instinct demanded he remain on high alert. Uneasy. He hadn’t eluded the Intergalactic Council’s manipulations and trickery all these years because he ignored those instincts.

He spoke quietly into his comm. “Kataura. Status?”

Through the comms a female voice replied, “Sensors indicate three guards on the north side. Two around back. No trace of Lumerians, but I can definitely feel a lot of eyes on us right now.”

Kataura manned the ship’s sensors from the bridge, acting as his second set of eyes. She, too, was a Lumerian Knight, one of the few surviving females, and her ability to detect the presence of her kind bordered on spooky. If she said they were being watched, they most certainly were.

“Understood. Keep your eyes open. We don’t know what we’re walking into.” Lifting one hand, Zade gave the signal to move out. He led twenty of his warriors—ten seen, ten cloaked Lumerian Knights—past docking equipment, the hiss and clank of machinery attaching to his ship’s hull blending into a cacophony of sounds as they made their way down the gangway, toward the lone male awaiting his arrival.

Zade maintained mental calm, his muscles loose. Ready. He’d expected King Dagan to have Lumerian Knights at his command, just as he did. To anyone outside the royal families, the Lumerian Knights had become nothing more than myth. Legend.

As a royal of Caldor, Zade knew the truth. The Knights were real. They’d come to Caldor after their own planet was destroyed thousands of years ago, the survivors hunted by the Council. The Knights offered their skills as elite warriors, spies, and assassins in exchange for secret refuge. Should the Council discover Caldor was protecting the Lumerians, they would destroy Caldor as well.

Assuming Kataura’s instincts were right, an unknown number of King Dagan’s Knights had their sights trained on Zade and his men.

The tension in Bren’s voice resonated through the comms. “I now understand why the Council wanted to control trade with Earth. It's teeming with resources. Fulack. What a nightmare. No wonder the planet was attacked. Everyone will want a piece of this.”

“I doubt that's why King Dagan requested Zedrick’s help.”

“Guess we’re about to find out.” Bren cleared his throat and went silent as Zade approached the ambassador. The ambassador stood tall, back stiff, a slight frown on his face as he waited to greet Zade’s landing party.

Stopping a few paces away, Zade raised his visor and dipped his chin in a show of respect for King Dagan’s closest advisor and friend. Everyone knew the ambassador was also a highly skilled warrior. He would not have been named ambassador to any planet if he didn't have superior fighting skills to go along with his silver tongue, regardless of his friendship with the king.

“Commander,” Ambassador Shronti gave a slight bow, “King Dagan and Queen Sasha, along with the people of the Western Sector, thank you for coming. They offer their deepest sympathy and condolences on the loss of your brother. You have the king’s personal apology for not attending Prince Zedrick’s ceremony. Had the situation here not been so urgent, the king would not have missed it.”

Zade nodded his acceptance. Dagan had been a true friend to his brother, which was why he was here now. If Dagan needed something, Zade would do his best to honor their friendship and help in any way he could.

Zade clasped the ambassador’s arm in traditional warrior fashion. “It is I who must apologize, Ambassador. I hope I am not too late. I came as quickly as I was able.”

“Just. The selection is hours away.” The ambassador released Zade’s arm and stepped back to clear his throat. “Call me Cam. I see you brought The Reaper. I’ve heard stories about your battleship. King Dagan will be pleased to have it here.”

Zade cocked an eyebrow. “Then you really are expecting trouble.”

“We hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Zade grinned. Spoken like a true politician, an answer that was no answer at all. “What selection?”

The ambassador’s gaze darted around the grounds before coming to rest on Zade’s face. “My apologies, Prince Zade. I’m afraid explanations must wait until we are in a secure area.” The ambassador turned and led the way to an unmarked building nearby.

Zade fell into step beside him, stopping when the ambassador paused in front of the entrance to face him. “Do not bring anyone inside whom you do not trust with your life, the lives of your people, and the fate of Caldor herself.”

A shiver of cold foreboding raced through Zade’s body, as if his brother’s ghost had whispered the warning to the darkest places in his heart.