The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 124

POV: Lyra

In the security station, while I was still training fighters, Sasha sat in a holding cell for almost an hour. The containment field hummed around her, that distinctive energy barrier that kept dangerous individuals secured.

She attacked the Emperor. She's done.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Through my peripheral awareness, I sensed Orion's steady presence on the training ground, his pathways finally calm. Christian and Toby were deep in their sparring match. Everything seemed normal.

Too normal.

POV: Sasha

"Ms. Cummings, your uncle is here."

Sasha glared at the security officer. She had no uncle. When the officer's expression remained stern, Sasha reluctantly followed.

The interrogation room was standard—metallic walls that blocked psychic communication, recording devices in every corner, one-way observation panels. A man sat there, about her father's age, wearing civilian clothes and offering a small smile.

After the door sealed, he asked, "Want to get out of here, Cummings?"

This has to be one of father's connections.

"What do you think?" she replied carefully.

The man scoffed. "I have a proposition. If I get you out, you follow my employers' orders. All of them. Complete obedience. They say shut up, you shut up. They say stop, you stop. Can you do that?"

Sasha had never obeyed anyone in her life. Her father's influence with the late Emperor Lucas had ensured that. She'd only started obeying Orion because she thought she'd be Empress one day.

"Who are you?"

"I'm who people hire to get things done. That's all you need to know."

"You'll post bail?"

He scoffed. "Wow, they weren't kidding about this one being stupid. You attacked the Emperor and his match. There's no bail unless they approve it. And after today? That's never happening."

"So what? You're breaking me out?"

He sighed. "What do you think?"

Sasha pointed at the guard in the corner. "You're discussing this with him right here?"

"Cummings, you don't know what I'm capable of. I could terminate you now if I wanted. But I'm paid to retrieve you alive. He," gesturing to the guard, "is one of us."

"How did you know I'd be here?"

"We were here for a friend. You arrived while we were planning his extraction. When word came, our employers graciously offered you an exit."

This sounds like Greg's network. But he's soft on that mining trash. Unless something changed...

"Tick tock, Cummings. Yes or no?"

"Who do you work for?"

"Not authorized to say. These are people who can get you out and keep you out, if you don't anger them."

"Is it the Duke?"

"Another attempt to anger me, and forget the offer. Yes or no?"

She weighed her options. Father was in custody for corruption. Sebastian was too obsessed with Lyra to help his sister, still blaming her for Lyra's rejection.

No other relatives had these anti-government connections. After attacking the Emperor, she'd never see freedom again. Orion was blinded by that little Kaelari nobody.

"When?" she asked.

Both men smirked. "Tonight. Be ready."

POV: Lyra

Something was wrong.

The feeling hit me suddenly, a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the recycled station atmosphere. Through our bond, I sent Orion a pulse of concern.

What is it? his thought came back instantly.

Not sure. Just... something feels off about Sasha's arrest.

His pathways flickered with renewed anger. She's contained. Security's holding her.

I know. But Greg's message, her attack timing... it's too convenient.

Orion moved closer, his presence reassuring. "You think they're connected?"

"Greg's been missing nine days. Suddenly leaves evidence. Same day, Sasha attacks us publicly, gets arrested. If someone wanted a distraction..."

Christian approached, having overheard. "You think Sasha's attack was planned?"

"Maybe not by her," I said slowly. "She's impulsive, driven by jealousy. But someone could've counted on that. Predicted she'd snap if pushed."

Toby joined us, his tactical mind already working. "Create chaos, get her arrested, then extract her when security's focused elsewhere."

"Void," Orion cursed. "The corruption case files. If someone's cleaning house—"

"They'd want Sasha," I finished. "She knows things. About her father, about the network."

Christian was already activating his communicator. "I'll alert security. Have them double the guard—"

A proximity alarm screamed through the station. Emergency lights bathed everything in red. Through the speakers, Chief Dalloway's voice: "Security breach, detention level. All units respond."

I met Orion's eyes. "Too late. They've got her."

His pathways went supernova with rage. Through our bond, I felt his desire to tear the station apart finding whoever orchestrated this.

"We need to move," I said, already running. "If they extracted Sasha, they're not done. There's something bigger happening."

As we ran toward the detention level, one thought kept cycling through my mind: Greg, what have you gotten us into?

The extraction had been too clean, too professional. Someone with serious resources was moving pieces on a board we couldn't fully see yet.

And Sasha Cummings—jealous, impulsive, dangerous Sasha—was now their pawn.