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CHAPTER ONE

There are love stories and then there are star-crossed love stories

Mine is the second variety

When I met Princess Corla ere sixteen years old I was still living in Akeela Systeovernor Still had a future in politics

She was the seventh daughter of the Cygnian king, destined to be his queen the day she turned twenty-three So innocent

But all that disappeared the nant and convinced us to help her escape

Twenty Years Ago

“Do you even knohat you’re doing?” I yell at Jimmy as I brace my hands on the two cockpit seats and lean over his shoulder

The ALCOR gate is half aon the co us to turn back immediately or ill be annihilated into dust by more than a dozen SEAR cannons armed and locked on this piddly little piece-of-shit ship as we coast towards them on leftover velocity

“Back the fuck off,” Jiot this, I fucking got this OK?”

“Akeelians are closing in,” Valor says in the seat next to Ji a little Then he yells, “They’ve locked on! Firing sequence imminent!”

“I’ate now,” Tray says “Hold for transmission”

“I’ the cannons, ready to fire back,” Luck says behind me

“A lot of fucking good that’ll do,” I mumble “This piece-of-shit defense system won’t save us”

“He’s just working e have, asshole,” ValorLuck’s side

Draden bu as Serpint coht sword

“Got you!” Serpint yells “You’re dead! I got you!”

“You did not!” Draden screa behind me

“You’re dead!” Serpint growls “You died! I killed you! Go to regeneration for five minutes!”

“Would you two shut the fuck up!” I yell

The whole ship goes silent Well, as silent as a ship can when it’s blaring es at you Draden looks up at me with those wide violet eyes of his and mumbles, “Sorry, Crux,” as he and Serpint slink away

“They’re just fucking kids,” Jiive us a few ot legitimate business