I was raging angry over losing Caspian, my blood boiling in my veins. I knew I should have just kept my lover by my side, but I didn't. I thought Caspian would be safe on our home planet, which hadn't been attacked in centuries. None of the aliens would dare attack us here, or so I had believed.

Zantos and I got into the ship, the sleek vessel humming to life as Connor initiated the takeoff sequence. Zantos looked around. "This is a sleek-looking ship; I wouldn't mind owning one like it," he remarked, his fingers trailing over the smooth control panels.

I ran to the bridge where Connor was piloting the ship, the stars streaking past the viewport as we hurtled through space. "Do you have a lock on the ship that made off with Caspian?" I asked.

"I'm unsure if it's the same ship, but I tracked it to a much larger ship that's reminiscent of the same type of capital ship that you own," Connor replied, his fingers dancing over the controls.

Zantos laughed, the sound bitter and harsh. "No shit, so we were attacked by one of our own. Now, who would be dumb enough to do this?"

We looked at each other, realization dawning on our faces as we both said, "Regis."

"Head to the capital ship," I ordered.

Zantos looked at me like I was crazy, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. "There's no way this ship can take on one of our capital ships."

"I don't care. The only thing I need is an opening to get on board. Get to the guns and start firing on that capital ship once we get there. Connor, look for an opening, even if it's one that Zantos has to blast open. I'll use it to get inside," I commanded, leaving no room for argument.

"Acknowledged," Connor said, his fingers flying over the controls as he plotted our course.

As we reached the capital ship, the battle raged around us, with Xil's ships engaging Regis's fleet in a deadly dance of laser fire and explosions. Our ship weaved through the chaos, the shields absorbing the stray shots that managed to hit us. I tried to get Regis on the comms to talk to him, but he wasn't answering. Not getting an answer from him only boiled my blood with the desire to tear him apart.

Xil's voice crackled over the comms. "I'll help create an opening by driving back the rest of Regis's fleet and blowing a hole in the airlock of Regis's capital ship. That'll be your only chance to geton board."

I headed to my room, the metal walls cold against my skin as I suited up in my lightweight black armor. This time, I would need my helmet on, so I pushed a button at the collar, the helmet wrapping around my head with a soft hiss. I grabbed my blaster, the weapon heavy in my hand, and headed to the airlock of my ship. I got inside, the door sealing behind me with a soft click, and was ready to go once I spotted the opening in the airlock. Space gliding was always dangerous, especially during a battle, I could be hit by laser fire from the ships or by a ship or debris from any destroyed vessel. But it didn't matter. I would do anything to save Caspian, even if it meant risking my own life. I tapped my booster at the base of my armored feet, the thrusters flaring to life.

The airlock of Regis's ship was blasted open, the force of the explosion sending unfortunate souls hurtling out into the cold vacuum of space to meet a gruesome end. I quickly opened my own airlock door and flew out, using the boosters to guide me towards the gaping hole in Regis's ship. I landed roughly but safely inside, the impact dislocating my shoulder with a sickening pop.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I bore it, my focus solely on finding Caspian. I wasted no time getting up and rushing through the ship, the corridors filled with the acrid smell of smoke and the sound of alarms blaring. I noticed some guards coming my way and prepared to fight them, but to my surprise, some of them just ran past me, completely ignoring my presence. I had no idea why they were fleeing, but I wasn't about to let them go without answers. I stopped one of them, removing his helmet to reveal a scared young face.

"Why are you running away? What's going on?" I demanded.

The soldier stammered, his eyes wide with fear, "His Royal Highness Prince Regis has lost his mind. He killed one of our own."

"Where is he?" I asked, my grip tightening on the soldier's armor.

"He was on the bridge the last time I saw him. Please, let us go. We're done with whatever Regis is doing. All we want is to get away from this madman," the soldier pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation.

I let the soldier go, even though I thought he was a treasonous piece of shit. But Caspian was my number one priority, and I would do whatever it took to save him. But make no mistake, every soldier who served under Regis would be tried for this act of attacking the palace.

I headed to the bridge, my boots pounding against the metal floor. As I entered, Regis turned around, his eyes wild and his face twisted with madness. He was holding Caspian hostage, his blaster pressed against my mate's head. "If you come any closer, I'll kill him," Regis threatened, his voice shaking with insanity.

I laughed, the sound cold and humorless. "Caspian, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just feeling a bit of a headache coming on, but otherwise, the babies and I are fine," Caspian replied, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.

"That's good news," I said, relief washing over me.

Regis yelled, in his rage, "I will not be ignored! Call your ship here and use it to take down Xil's forces. Once Xil is dead, we'll retreat together, and I'll use you for the next phase of my plan."

I called him insane, and Regis said, his voice filled with a manic edge, "I wouldn't have gotten as far as I did if I wasn't a little bit insane. I guess I got it from our father. Now he is the one who is truly insane, for making you an heir. It's not much of a secret what you are - a lowborn bastard. But the fact that he favors you over me is something I won't tolerate. It's an insult to me and my mother!"

"I've turned down my right to be heir and won't inherit anything, so using me in this plan won't work," I said. Regis didn't believe me at all, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, it's the truth," I told him, my voice filled with conviction.

Regis was fine with that, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "It doesn't matter. Your crew will still listen to you, unlike my own crew who have abandoned me."

I pointed at the dead soldier on the floor, his blood pooling around his lifeless body. "Your crew rightfully abandoned you if this is what you do to them."

Regis said, his voice filled with a crazed intensity, "That soldier allowed a group of important human subjects to escape - the key to our prosperous future when I become king. I'll have a harem of these disgusting human hybrids, and I'll have hundreds of children all over the galaxy."