Crossroads of Fate (Cadicle #5): An Epic Space Opera Series by Amy DuBoff Read Free Book Online

worry,” Michael continued. “I’ll be looking out for her, just like I’ll be looking out for the rest of my friends.”
    Elise relaxed against the railing and smiled. “Thanks.”
    “Who’s going to be looking after you?”
    Elise flushed. “I guess I’m on my own.”
    “I find that hard to believe.”
    “Well, apparently hanging out as the sidekick to a secret dynastic heir isn’t a great way to get noticed as an individual.”
    “Tell me about it.”
    She laughed. “Oh, right! I guess you’ve been down that road, too.”
    “I knew who Wil was from the start. He told all the Primus Elites on our first day.”
    “Lucky you, being in the inner circle.”
    “I’m far from that.” Who knows what it is Wil and Saera are keeping from us.
    “Well, regardless, Wil is lucky to have you as a friend. Based on what Saera has relayed to me, he counts on you.”
    “We’re a team. We try not to let each other down.”
    “For what it’s worth, I don’t think the Bakzen stand a chance.” She grinned.
    He smiled back. “Thanks.”
    Elise pushed off from the railing. “Now, if you don’t have anything better to do, I heard they were going to open up a special dessert buffet. No better send-off to a deployment than a proper sugar high, right?”
    “Was that an invitation to join you?”
    She gave him a sheepish shrug. “I figure us sidekicks should stick together.”
    “Okay, deal.”
    *       *       *
    “Can you believe we head out in two days?” Cris asked his wife. The news from Wil and Banks about the expeditious deployment was more of a harsh reality than a shock.
    Kate linked her arm around his as they situated themselves on the couch in their quarters. “It’s all so surreal.”
    Leaving their familiar and comfortable home was going to be difficult, despite the time they’d spent on the Vanquish over the years. This trip was different.
    “How’s Wil holding up?” Kate asked after a pause.
    “Well enough. He wants all this to be over.”
    “I can relate.”
    Cris leaned back. “But I wonder if it really will be over once the Bakzen are gone.”
    Kate brought her head to his chest. “There’ll still be another enemy out there. It won’t truly be over until they’re gone, too.”
    The Priesthood will bury evidence of the war and then move on to their next scheme to perpetuate their control. We’ll never be truly at peace until they no longer rule Tararia. “I’ll do everything I can to accomplish that in my lifetime. After what everyone has been through with the war, we need to look toward a better future.”
    “I’ll be right there alongside you through it all.”
    Cris held his wife close. “I couldn’t do any of this without you.”
    She smiled up at him. “You lucked out, then, because you don’t have to.”
    *       *       *
    “I have to say, the liquor stash was a great idea,” Saera commented as she took another sip of her pomoliqueur.
    Wil smiled back at her. “You can thank my dad for that one.”
    “Best in-laws ever! Sorry you got stuck with my family.”
    “It’s not all bad.”
    Saera sighed and patted his leg. “That’s nice of you to say. At least we don’t have to see them often.” It helps that we’re literally not living on the same planet.
    “Do you ever miss Earth?” Wil asked.
    “I may have lived there, but it was never a real home—at least not with that family.”
    “Then the TSS came along…”
    “At that moment, my entire perspective changed. I really didn’t know what I was getting into!” Saera chuckled to herself, thinking back on how out-of-place she’d been in the TSS at first, when things that she now took for granted had seemed like magic. “But, this is where I found the family I always wanted. I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”
    Wil wrapped his arm around her. “I can’t believe how far we’ve come.”
    Saera snuggled up to him. “I know, right? It’s hard to believe there was a time