“Take the children and go to the basement,” he commanded Ellis. He was already punching buttons on the communicator.“I’m coming with you.”“No, you’re not,” Logan retorted. “It is not safe. Please… I won’t be able to keep my mind on the fight unless I know you are safe. Nin?” he glanced up.“The Emperor is correct,” Nin spoke, oddly calm. “You must stay here where we can protect the children.”Yes, Ellis sank. She had to protect the children.Logan was speaking frantically into the communicator. “We’re under attack. Launch everything. It if flies, it needs to be in the air.”Another explosion. This time, it was in the opposite direction.Laurel ran to the window. “It’s the space port!”Leo and Dorian ran through the connecting closet into their apartment. Ellis could see them head directly and pe

She gave a sideward glance at Ellis and then walked away behind the creature. Ellis knew that Nin would fare better if she didn’t need to protect Ellis. She could finish off these things and then come back to her side.Ellis crouched down beside Leo, trying to shake him awake. Despite multiple times, he could only open his glazed eyes and babble.“Ellis,” he whispered. “You have to go.”“I can’t leave you here!” she said. She glanced up and saw the reflection of the flames was closer.“You have to! Logan—”Ellis shook her head and said nothing."Glad I... didn't win you," Leo said. "Empire… needed you ... more."“Please try…” she whispered.“Done for…” he said, closing his eyes. “to be safe.”Ellis nodded. “I promise. I will be safe.”“Thank…”She waited,

“Lower me,” Ellis commanded, handing the child she held to another woman and laid her blanket aside. “Hold on to my ankles.”“No, Ellis,” Dorian protested.“I’m the only one small enough to fit through.”“Ellis, Logan will kill me if I allow you to risk yourself.”“It’s not dangerous,” she argued. “I’ll be fine.”His tail swayed in indecision.“I’m the Empress. Now, do it!” She laid down and wiggled through the hole before he could argue further.Dorian grabbed one of her ankles and another man took the other and they slowly lowered Ellis toward the terrified woman.Ellis’s hair hung around her face, blinding her.She gathered it the best she could and tied it in a knot behind her neck, stuffing the tail of it down the back of her tunic.She stretched out her arms… almost there. &ldq

“Ellis?” She heard it. The voice she longed to hear. She spun and there he was, a bit worse for wear but alive and safe.“Logan!” She threw herself into his arms and he scooped her up to shower kisses on her face.He murmured her name, his face ducked in her neck, nuzzling and purring. His tail wrapped around her leg.She burst into tears as she squeezed him and kissed him. The baby in her arms squawked in protest when he was squished against Logan’s chest.Logan looked at the infant and his eyes widened in distress. “Ellis, this is not our baby.”Ellis laughed through her tears. “I know. Ours are with Laurel. I found this one and I can’t put him down because he cries every time I try.”He gave her a smile..Communication was slow and tentative because the grid was still down and runners had to be sent with messages, but there were no other reports of attacks on other

They were taken to a minister’s home in the neighboring city. He and his mate had not been found, so Ellis felt uncomfortable using their house without permission. The Council wanted them to leave Zothea entirely, but this was as far as Logan and Ellis were willing to go. They could not leave their people in their time of need.Laurel was on her way back from the space station, and Leo and Dorian were headed to the second planet. Ellis wanted to wait for both of them, but Logan insisted they needed some rest.Ellis was certain she wouldn't be able to sleep, even as exhausted as she was because she was too wired, too anxious, too nervous. She agreed to it only because she knew Logan needed it. She decided she'd just lay there quietly with him. It would be warm and peaceful, at least, and give her time to think.They chose a small nest in one of the guest bedrooms. Logan laid Ellis amongst the pillows and she was out before Logan even had even settled down b