The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 132

POV: Lyra

I sighed, feeling the weight of command. "You're a Station Commander, Tate. You have a duty to fight alongside your station. You can't abandon them. And Juan," I locked eyes with my protective sub-commander, using my commanding voice that left no room for argument, "will NOT be following me to Forest Gloom."

Before Juan could protest, Tate continued in that same gentle but firm voice. "Fine. Don't take the Commanders or their partners. Take all the Combat Specialists, at least."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room. The idea had merit. Our stations were strong, and I'd trained more than one warrior in each station about strategy. Every strong station actually had at least one 'backup specialist' to take charge when the primary wasn't available. I'd recommended this redundancy as a precaution, for situations exactly like this.

I smiled to myself for the first time, shaking my head, and threw Tate a smirk. "You're actually using my own recommended protocols against me?"

"I don't know a better way to win an argument against you." Tate replied with his own smirk, repeating the exact words he'd used when we were on the transport to Jewel Station.

Always the charmer, Tate. Even in a crisis.

Orion's pathways flashed with something—jealousy?—so he took my hand and pressed his lips to it, marking his territory. His purple eyes locked with mine as he asked, "Well, star-heart, what do we do?" The intimate nickname was deliberate, reminding everyone that I was his.

I offered Orion an affectionate smile, stroking his hand with my thumb before turning to the alliance. "We'll go with Tate's suggestion."

Sighs of relief filled the room, the tension easing slightly. Toby slumped back in his seat, whispering, "Thank the cosmos."

"Well, Specialists," I stood, all business now, "let's establish temporary mind-links. We'll need them on the battlefield without our Commanders there."

Everyone rose. I went to Raden first since he was closest. We both extended a finger to our neural interface ports behind our ears, initiating the bio-connection protocol.

When our neural patterns began syncing, I spoke the formal words: "I, Lyra Ash, offer you, Raden Richard Stone, a temporary link to my consciousness."

"I, Raden Richard Stone, accept your offer."

Temporary links only lasted twenty-four hours, unlike permanent ones that lasted until severed. After Raden, Felicia came next. We repeated the process.

Meanwhile, Tate pulled Toby to a corner, their eyes glazing over in private communication. I assumed Tate was discussing strategy for their station. Just as I was better at tactics than Juan for Blue Crescent, Toby was superior to Commander Tate for White Blood Station.

When the Specialists finished exchanging links, all eyes fell on the Commander and Specialist of White Blood. Toby looked upset, maybe frustrated. Tate looked stern. Without a word, Tate walked away from Toby and toward me, initiating his neural interface.

As Tate reached for my hand to complete the connection, I pulled back, frowning. "What the void are you doing, Commander?" I emphasized his title to remind him only Specialists were coming.

Orion knew exactly what Tate was doing. He stood close behind me, hands on my shoulders, throwing Tate a disapproving look. His pathways pulsed warning black.

Tate avoided Orion's glare, offering me a soft smile. "I'm only second-best at strategy for White Blood, Lyra. Toby's better. Our station has better odds with him planning the attack."

My fierce eyes bore into his. "You need to LEAD the attack, Commander Tate."

Tate remained stubborn, casual even. "Eh, not really true. For Blue Crescent and White Blood, it was never the Commanders who led attacks. Our Specialists did that. And calling me 'Commander' won't guilt me into backing out, Lyra. I'm going to Forest Gloom with the rest of you."

Before I could argue, Toby's sad voice came from the corner. "It's okay, Lyra. As long as one of White Blood's members is with you, I'm good with it."

They discussed this. Tate overruled him. Typical Commander power play.

Even Christian looked at Tate with disapproval. Everyone except me knew Tate's real reason for coming. The Kaelari were aware Tate had developed feelings for me when I trained his station's warriors cycles ago. Not that I'd reciprocated or even knew about his interest.

The two royal cousins caught on without that knowledge. I groaned in defeat after Toby gave in. I initiated a new connection with Tate as he spoke: "I, Tate William Brownnan, offer you, Lyra Ash, a temporary link to my consciousness."

"I, Lyra Ash, accept your offer."

Orion didn't let Tate hold my hand a second longer than necessary, gently pulling it away and pressing my palm to his lips, using his neural energy to seal the connection point. Despite being embarrassed by his possessive display in front of everyone, my eyes stayed fixed on Tate as I declared in a low voice, "If anyone at White Blood gets hurt, I will terminate you for coming with us, Tate."

Tate shrugged like it was nothing. "Sure, why not?"

Wanting to escape the painful sight of Orion's intimate gesture, Tate moved to the next Specialist to form another link.

Christian then asked, "So, my Empress, where do you want me?"